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katec9999's review against another edition
5.0
In Jenna Glass's amazing new book, it is considered unladylike for women to use magic, unless it is for healing or vanity spells. That all changes when three generations of women make a sacrifice that will change the world forever, shifting the power balance between men and women.
For fans of Game of Thrones and The Handmaid's Tale.
For fans of Game of Thrones and The Handmaid's Tale.
sharkiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
I actually really bloody enjoyed that. It was feminist, it was raw, and it was heart wrenching. I still don't know how to take that last scene.
stephanieviolet's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing epic, filled with magic and women learning to stand for themselves in a world that has treated them like cattle. Amazing - I could barely put it down!
bookenthusiast13's review against another edition
4.0
I've read some harsh reviews on this book about how for a book about women it lacks certain empowerments. However, this book is all about the set up. This book is the foundation before we really get into how much a society changes once women have the power to control their own lives. The characters are just beginning to grow. I have super high hopes for the next book. I feel like that's when readers will see how women being able to control their fertility will effect society. Defiantly an enjoyable read, especially if you get a review out of me.
juliannegern's review against another edition
4.0
This was another book club read. I did not look forward to reading it because I did not like the title and hated the cover. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and ended up enjoying it immensely. It started off a bit slow, but it picked up nicely about halfway through and ended up being a bit of a page-turner for me. I loved the strongly feminist plot. I also loved that it didn’t follow the now common tropes of a teenage girl saving the world while dealing with a love triangle. Instead, one of the main characters was a nuanced and intelligent middle-age woman. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
taylorthiel's review against another edition
4.0
This one got off to a slow start for me, which is probably more because of the world building than anything else. Once I understood how the world functioned, I got into it.
Deeply feminist, which of course is right up my alley, this book did a great job at balancing the customs of the world with modern beliefs around women.
I appreciate that rather than writing male characters than changing the name to be female, most of the characters in this book felt like genuinely strong and smart women. It didn’t feel like they had to be masculine in order to be strong.
I also appreciated than rather than making all the women into warriors, it focused on the political nuance and intelligence of each woman.
The parts that were lacking: some of the characters choices were presented as being “the only option” when to me as the reader it felt like there were many options.
The magic system felt a little clunky but got better as I understood more.
All in all a great read and I will likely finish the series.
Deeply feminist, which of course is right up my alley, this book did a great job at balancing the customs of the world with modern beliefs around women.
I appreciate that rather than writing male characters than changing the name to be female, most of the characters in this book felt like genuinely strong and smart women. It didn’t feel like they had to be masculine in order to be strong.
I also appreciated than rather than making all the women into warriors, it focused on the political nuance and intelligence of each woman.
The parts that were lacking: some of the characters choices were presented as being “the only option” when to me as the reader it felt like there were many options.
The magic system felt a little clunky but got better as I understood more.
All in all a great read and I will likely finish the series.
unicornbanzaiiking's review against another edition
1.0
It was quite assuredly one of the worst books I have ever read. The author took every trope and stereotype about men and women, then wrote a book about it. The only interesting element within the story was the author's magic system.
If you hate males just because they are male, this book is for you.
If you hate males just because they are male, this book is for you.
keepinitcourtney's review against another edition
4.0
Handmaids tale meets magic fantasy and quite a bit more explicit. Check the trigger warnings. Overall made me angry. Also very much for white feminists. There’s no diversity in this book whatsoever.
twistedblonde's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, this book is complicated. I chose it because I wanted a 'women's rage' book. You know, the kind where they burn the patriarchy to the ground.
This book is kind of that. It is very clearly setting itself up for a trilogy, so there aren't too many ashes in this book.
Now, if you've read the reviews on Goodreads you'll notice most of the DNF cap out at 50% of the book. And they are kind of right. The first 50% of this book illuminates how horrible this world is for women in the most grim way possible. ( The second half of this book uped it from 2 stars to 4 for me).
This book is one giant trigger warning. It is brutal, violent, and despairing of the women characters. The villains are the most vile villains I've experienced in a long time, made all the more chilling by their realism. Thanos has nothing on these guys.
But the second half of this book is really good, if you can push through to it. The women become more than a walking tragedy, you get to know some pretty awesome male characters, and there are some glorious scenes of revenge.
The magic system in this book is awesome! Like magical chemistry- really really cool.
However as I said it is the first in a trilogy. There aren't too many 'ashes of the patriarchy' by the conclusion of the book- we'll have to wait for later books for that I imagine. And the ending has a massive gut punch.
Be prepared- this book doesn't have a completely happy ending.
All in all, this is an enjoyable book IF you are mentally prepared to experience it.
This book is kind of that. It is very clearly setting itself up for a trilogy, so there aren't too many ashes in this book.
Now, if you've read the reviews on Goodreads you'll notice most of the DNF cap out at 50% of the book. And they are kind of right. The first 50% of this book illuminates how horrible this world is for women in the most grim way possible. ( The second half of this book uped it from 2 stars to 4 for me).
This book is one giant trigger warning. It is brutal, violent, and despairing of the women characters. The villains are the most vile villains I've experienced in a long time, made all the more chilling by their realism. Thanos has nothing on these guys.
But the second half of this book is really good, if you can push through to it. The women become more than a walking tragedy, you get to know some pretty awesome male characters, and there are some glorious scenes of revenge.
The magic system in this book is awesome! Like magical chemistry- really really cool.
However as I said it is the first in a trilogy. There aren't too many 'ashes of the patriarchy' by the conclusion of the book- we'll have to wait for later books for that I imagine. And the ending has a massive gut punch.
Be prepared- this book doesn't have a completely happy ending.
All in all, this is an enjoyable book IF you are mentally prepared to experience it.