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al_davies_jones's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
calmcelebration9888's review against another edition
2.5
I have very mixed feelings about this book. From a thought provoking perspective, it’s great. The plot of this book is so absurd that it reminds me of Poor Things. It’s gross in a lot of ways. But some of the ideas I think are a little too out there and off putting so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who doesn’t like tragic dystopian stories. I think if you enjoyed The School for Good Mothers and you’re not triggered by some trans phobic topics then you might enjoy this book. I was definitely engrossed by it to a certain point. But I think it went off a cliff at some point and ventured too far into areas that were unsavory. I would almost call it horror at some points to give you an idea.
I definitely had some complaints about the book. I didn’t understand Miranda at all. Miranda was married to Nick. Nick left her destitute and then killed himself. Shortly after, the world descended into chaos. Yet somehow Miranda perceives his positively. I just don’t understand how she can do that given the situation it left her and her daughter in. The fact that she would name her son Nick is beyond ridiculous.
I think the most interesting part of the book was the relationship between Win/Jen and Miranda. Those were probably the best parts of the book. I really liked how it was revealed that Miranda was going to turn in her mom for killing her dad, and that’s why Win faked her death and started living full time in Femlandia. Also, finding out that Jen and Win were more than just mother and daughter was a shock.
I should also add that I think the part with the strip search and belief that a woman is only a woman if born one is an absurd idea and didn’t have a place in this book. I can see why the book received so many negative reviews because of that.
I definitely had some complaints about the book. I didn’t understand Miranda at all.
I think the most interesting part of the book was the relationship between Win/Jen and Miranda. Those were probably the best parts of the book. I really liked how it was revealed that Miranda was going to turn in her mom for killing her dad, and that’s why Win faked her death and started living full time in Femlandia. Also, finding out that Jen and Win were more than just mother and daughter was a shock.
I should also add that I think the part with the strip search and belief that a woman is only a woman if born one is an absurd idea and didn’t have a place in this book. I can see why the book received so many negative reviews because of that.
novelvisits's review against another edition
4.0
I like just a touch of dystopia every now and then and that’s exactly what Christina Dalcher delivered with her new book,
gloreishun's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I do agree with some of themes and more specifically fears that the book touches upon but the execution and handling of them just didn't sit right with me. The main heroine was insufferable as always and I agreed little to none with her world views etc. My main take from this book was that, no matter if you are a woman or a man, we all have the capacity to be monsters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Confinement, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
ragingfemme's review against another edition
Did not need to get far into this book to see how it’s an extremely poor attempt at saying “misandry is JUUUST as bad as misogyny guys! “ and yeah- thank you but next!!!
meghjcollins's review against another edition
1.0
As someone who has had VOX sat on her kindle for too long, when I saw Femlandia on Borrow Box, it was a no brainer to give it a go.
Oh boy, was I wrong.
This book completely missed the mark for me, I wasn't into it at all, and I pushed through thinking this has to get better, but it didn't. The tone of the narration was cliched and predictable, Dalcher was building suspense but for no reason, it kept pointing to things that we knew about and honestly it gets boring very quickly. It felt very YA and lacked links through the key themes - I found the characters unlikeable and cringey, and honestly would not re-read or recommend.
goodreadsspy's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
annierosebel's review against another edition
3.5
This was a really interesting concept - but I felt like the pacing was a bit off? I get that we needed to understand the extend and horror of the economic collapse, but I think that took up too much space at the extent of a satisfying arc about Femlandia, without ever explaining how the collapse happened and how or whether it is men's fault. I also wonder if there were just too many rich details squeezed in - I wanted to slow down and sink into elements, but we kept racing ahead. The dark twists were predictable, and the epilogue was deeply unsatisfying - there was no sense of how we got from the end of chapter 78 to the epilogue, it was a wild leap, and also seems to undo half the message of the book in a very contradictory way?
It feels like a really interesting idea but just not terribly well executed, with some red flags that make me worry this isn't the kind of feminism I'm interested in supporting. The idea and the concept of cults kept me interested, rather than the story or writing.
****spoilers****
The epilogue seems to contradict the idea that misogyny and patriarchy is taught/nature, rather than innate and nurture. The second you have men, raised in a female-led community, they raise up in charge and overpower the women? And are misogynistic?
Also, it feels a bit disquieting to me to have transphobic characters and just leave it at that without those views being challenged or really explored - like someone said 'what about trans and non-binary people' and the author made the powerful characters transphobic to avoid having to meaningfully engage with the complexities and non-binary nature of gender.
It feels like a really interesting idea but just not terribly well executed, with some red flags that make me worry this isn't the kind of feminism I'm interested in supporting. The idea and the concept of cults kept me interested, rather than the story or writing.
****spoilers****
Also, it feels a bit disquieting to me to have transphobic characters and just leave it at that without those views being challenged or really explored - like someone said 'what about trans and non-binary people' and the author made the powerful characters transphobic to avoid having to meaningfully engage with the complexities and non-binary nature of gender.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Gun violence, and Child abuse
jazminrose's review against another edition
2.0
A strong premise, I wanted to enjoy this book. But, to begin with, the protagonist/narrator is extremely unlikeable. The plot became progressively worse as the book continued. This book is like if #NotAllMen was a novel, but with an absurdly cruel ‘twist’ thrown in to prove the point. (Plus, all of the ‘twists’ are laughably obvious anyway.)
Do not recommend.
Do not recommend.
nursingthepages's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25