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phildrysdale's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
clonegarden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
dynamics between queer, trans, and intersex people who don't always have the words or tools to communicate their experiences for the win!
jessdone's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful prose, complicated concepts, it's everything good dystopian science fiction should be. As with all of the books in "The Road to Nowhere Series," this book produced a certain level of depression and anxiety in me. In this case it over took me and I wasn't able to finish the book. It's still excellent though.
Obviously I can't speak to the ending as I only got about a third of the way through, but with this series, the ending wasn't really the point. It's a great journey and exploration of cultural and societal expectations. While I don't agree with every twist Elison makes, I don't have to agree to join her exploration.
While I hope one day to return to this book and complete it, I don't want to wait to review it when I know I'd recommend it to others. An engaging thoughtful read.
Obviously I can't speak to the ending as I only got about a third of the way through, but with this series, the ending wasn't really the point. It's a great journey and exploration of cultural and societal expectations. While I don't agree with every twist Elison makes, I don't have to agree to join her exploration.
While I hope one day to return to this book and complete it, I don't want to wait to review it when I know I'd recommend it to others. An engaging thoughtful read.
emujxox's review against another edition
3.0
Nowhere near as good as the other two in the series in my opinion. Still had some really interesting ideas around gender and societal structure in a post-apocalyptic world, but the plot was a lot less captivating than the previous instalments.
I will say that the final chapters were a bit silly - Flora was right in the sense that I just don’t believe humans would evolve asexual reproduction in just over a century. Will also echo the opinion of other reviews in that having the only NB character be inherently evil compared to the other characters was an odd choice.
being_b's review against another edition
2.0
Collapsed like a flan in a cupboard. I loved the realism of the first book which chronicles society's collapse, and the second book which gives a pretty good sampling of the various ways people are trying to survive in this new world. The conclusion goes in some some fantastical directions and gets a bit preachy (luxuries = slavery, etc), plus the ending is a weird out-of-nowhere letdown.
Also, apparently nothing of interest has happened to Flora for 40 years, from 104 to 144- she's found no new lovers, no family, no changes in her worldview or role at all? Beggars belief.
Spoiler warning for enbyphobia:
Also, apparently nothing of interest has happened to Flora for 40 years, from 104 to 144- she's found no new lovers, no family, no changes in her worldview or role at all? Beggars belief.
Spoiler warning for enbyphobia:
Spoiler
Can we please not have the only nonbinary character in the book turn out to be a murderous genocidal crazypants? Like, after three books of juggling gender and identity in many fascinating permutations, we end with "nonbinary person, traumatized by their body, tries to kill everybody"? How does that work? I'm left with the impression that the author thinks almost any way of doing gender is fine except opting out entirely. No thank you.greenhedgehog's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the final book of the trio. Really helped with the second book and loved the main character.
nicekweenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
lostinagoodbook's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley in return for an un-biased review.
You should know before starting this book that it is the third book in a trilogy that really needs to be read in order to completely understand what is going on. Both books are excellent and you won’t be sorry if you pick up all three.
The first book follows the story of the original Unnamed Midwife, a woman traveling a post-apocalyptic world where women have become extremely rare. As a result, women are commodified. It gets bleak, believe me. The Midwife, a former nurse, tries to make sense of the world, keeping herself safe, and helping other women when she can.
Book two, beginning roughly a hundred years after the Midwife’s story, follows Etta, a queer, black woman who acts as a raider. She searches the detritus of our world for items that can be of use to people in her town, and saving captive women whenever possible. One of those women is the main character of book three.
Shortly after I read book two I heard about the title of this third book and I was ecstatic. Flora is a fascinating character. She is a trans woman living in this hellscape who has maintained a caring a gentle spirit. No mean feat I tell you that. I needed to know more about her, where she came from, how she came to the town where she met Etta in book two.
Book three opens shortly following the events of book two. The world of these books has devolved into a virtual hellscape over the years. All of the women’s stories are full of suffering, but their strength shines through. None of these three are women to be trifled with. They are indomitable, but not untouchable. I really enjoyed getting to know these women, and seeing how society would progress as time progressed. Would things get better or worse? I can’t tell you, but I’m happy with how it finally ended.
The author certainly has a lot to say about the treatment of women and LGBTQ women in particular. It is a refreshing perspective for what can be at times a tired genre. I’m looking forward to more books from this author in the future now that this trilogy is ended.
You should know before starting this book that it is the third book in a trilogy that really needs to be read in order to completely understand what is going on. Both books are excellent and you won’t be sorry if you pick up all three.
The first book follows the story of the original Unnamed Midwife, a woman traveling a post-apocalyptic world where women have become extremely rare. As a result, women are commodified. It gets bleak, believe me. The Midwife, a former nurse, tries to make sense of the world, keeping herself safe, and helping other women when she can.
Book two, beginning roughly a hundred years after the Midwife’s story, follows Etta, a queer, black woman who acts as a raider. She searches the detritus of our world for items that can be of use to people in her town, and saving captive women whenever possible. One of those women is the main character of book three.
Shortly after I read book two I heard about the title of this third book and I was ecstatic. Flora is a fascinating character. She is a trans woman living in this hellscape who has maintained a caring a gentle spirit. No mean feat I tell you that. I needed to know more about her, where she came from, how she came to the town where she met Etta in book two.
Book three opens shortly following the events of book two. The world of these books has devolved into a virtual hellscape over the years. All of the women’s stories are full of suffering, but their strength shines through. None of these three are women to be trifled with. They are indomitable, but not untouchable. I really enjoyed getting to know these women, and seeing how society would progress as time progressed. Would things get better or worse? I can’t tell you, but I’m happy with how it finally ended.
The author certainly has a lot to say about the treatment of women and LGBTQ women in particular. It is a refreshing perspective for what can be at times a tired genre. I’m looking forward to more books from this author in the future now that this trilogy is ended.
lacyk_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Between three and four stars. This had the same great character development of the first two books, but the story was just a bit weaker to me, especially the ending.
I really appreciated Flora. She was steadfast and calm and reassuring in such an unsure world. The writing kept me reading one more chapter.
I really appreciated Flora. She was steadfast and calm and reassuring in such an unsure world. The writing kept me reading one more chapter.
ctomps's review against another edition
5.0
Despite not being a trans woman myself - which is a big part of Flora's journey - I felt more connected to her than any of the other story tellers we meet in this series. I related so deeply to Flora's struggle as a woman unable to give birth herself, and her deep, deep desire to still find beauty, love, and a way forward in such a dark future along with the unending love she showed, even for people who had hurt her. I laughed imagining the modern LSD Church's reaction if they saw Meg Ellison's future version of their prophet.
I was overjoyed when we saw Eddie again and honestly, I cried at their reunion. And I was grateful, that in the end, Flora was allowed a place to grow old and was willing to sacrifice all of it for her people.
I was overjoyed when we saw Eddie again and honestly, I cried at their reunion. And I was grateful, that in the end, Flora was allowed a place to grow old and was willing to sacrifice all of it for her people.