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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.
terranovanz's review against another edition
4.0
A ripping second half made up for a slow start. A worthy companion to The Midwife and Etta.
bethtabler's review
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
As much as I wanted to, I cannot become engaged with this story. It is a post-apocalyptic novel that delves into gender identity. On the surface, this sounds damn interesting. But this story is hampered by its flowery writing style, I think more so than the other books in the series. I tried an audiobook, a paper copy, and an e-reader to see if a different reading device would help, and it didn't. I don't think I am the correct person for this book and I had to DNF at 30%.
As much as I wanted to, I cannot become engaged with this story. It is a post-apocalyptic novel that delves into gender identity. On the surface, this sounds damn interesting. But this story is hampered by its flowery writing style, I think more so than the other books in the series. I tried an audiobook, a paper copy, and an e-reader to see if a different reading device would help, and it didn't. I don't think I am the correct person for this book and I had to DNF at 30%.
slovespie's review
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lazyeggo's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
queerofcups's review against another edition
2.0
This book was bad. The writing itself was fine, Elison clearly knows how to put a sentence together well and every one of these characters are interesting. I wish Elison had given them time and space to be as interesting as they were. I'm not sure how a book can be too long while also feeling like the writer didn't have enough time, but this one did. Everything that was supposed to be emotionally heavy about the last chapter needed to have started in the second book and I found myself skimming through literally anything characters added in the final hours of the book had to say.
Also, I thought what Elison was trying to do with the meditations on sex, sexuality and gender were interesting in the second book, but the introduction of "frags" and confusing discussion on what I guess were supposed to represent intersex people ended up feeling really gross and dehumanizing (also...I don't think evolution works that way.). All in all, it felt like Elison (or her manager) wanted to bank on the success of Book of the Unnamed Midwife and didn't give herself enough time to write a worthy sequel of what was a really great book.
Also, I thought what Elison was trying to do with the meditations on sex, sexuality and gender were interesting in the second book, but the introduction of "frags" and confusing discussion on what I guess were supposed to represent intersex people ended up feeling really gross and dehumanizing (also...I don't think evolution works that way.). All in all, it felt like Elison (or her manager) wanted to bank on the success of Book of the Unnamed Midwife and didn't give herself enough time to write a worthy sequel of what was a really great book.
vkshiro's review against another edition
4.0
At first I was a little disappointed that the main character was Flora -- I wasn't a huge fan of her but I did end up liking the book. Connie's rampage seemed to come a little out of left field though so I wish that had either been explored more or written better. But I still liked the book and the ending discovery of women who do not need men to procreate was a good way to end. Also, I'd never heard of Guevedoces so that was interesting to learn about. This happens in a remote village in the Dominican Republic where some babies are seemingly female when born but then develop male sex organs at puberty. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34290981