Reviews with content warning for Torture - The Women Could Fly

Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

28 reviews

blueyogi's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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stellahadz's review

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I liked the premise of the story and the author's writing style, but some of the worldbuilding felt a bit clumsy and left me with a lot of questions. There was also a shift in the book's tone partway through, and everything from there on out felt a bit rushed. The Women Could Fly has a lot of potential, but a lot of it fell somewhat flat for me. I can see why people enjoyed it, I think certain aspects just weren't for me. I've heard good things about the author's other book, so I do want to read that one.

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leanneymu's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book has some really interesting ideas about the way women are treated in society (especially black and brown women) and I really wanted to love it for it's progressive politics. However, I couldn't get on with the writing style. Too much tell and not enough show. The ending felt very predictable too.

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haileyhardcover's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Modern-day witch trials, a search for a missing mother, an island of witches… and an author I just gave a very enthusiastic five stars to! By all accounts, this should have been another easy five stars, but no. I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed by a book. This is 277 pages of going nowhere SLOW. Every time I thought the story was about to ramp up and get good, I was let down. Like, he most interesting part is when the MC is aggressively investigated for witchcraft, and even that managed to be dull somehow.

I can see what Giddings was trying to do with this book. The themes of sexism and racism are loud and undoubtedly important, but damn I wish they were presented with a better written story. I’m really sad to be rating this one so low.

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wlreed312's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.75

Well this was glorious.

The Women Could Fly is a novel set in a world that is just a step off from ours, the major difference being that magic is real, but carefully controlled and regulated. It is said that only women are able to access this magic because of their highly emotional nature. Our main character is Jo, who is approaching the age of 28, where she must be registered, and closing in on the age where she must have a man (father, brother, spouse) to be accountable for her actions. Jo is a messy messy character who has a tremendous amount of trauma due to the disappearance of her mother 14 years ago, and her subsequent questioning about witchcraft (torture, not to put too fine a point on it). This is an examination of racism, homophobia, and misogyny, yes. But it's also a story about how bad it screws you up when the adults in your life (especially your parents) don't see everything that you are, and only love an image of you they have in their minds.

This was one of those books that touched me deeply for reasons I can't fully articulate. I love how complicated Jo is, and how she wants to be better for the people she loves. I love that her romantic relationship with a man is complex, because while she does care for him, she resents the fact that she must be in a heteronormative relationship or be monitored in truly invasive ways. There is a power imbalance in every relationship between men and women in this world, and it's explored in interesting ways. My only very minor complaint is that I wish we had a little bit more resolution between Jo and Angie

(how long has Angie had that doll? Why didn't she tell Jo what she knew ?

) I also loved the writing, and highlighted many passages (which is unusual for me). I can definitely see that this is a book I appreciate in a different way because I'm older, but I just really really loved it.

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faliiza's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

5.0

Unbelievably brutal yet beautiful story. Such a dark and unforgiving world. Mesmerising prose. Main character who contains multitudes. A wholly unique and dark twist on a modern world with witches.

This book had the feminist in me raging. I was shaking in anger at points, so close to throwing the book. But it was not only the women who are wronged in this world, white supremacy is wild at large and black people are paying the price. And add to that poor parenting and generally sucky people. There are so many things wrong here, a real dystopian cornucopia of awfulness.

But. There’s also light. Beaty and wonder. MAGIC. Love. Friendship. True reflection and revelation of oneself. Power and imagination.

I truly love this book. It seeped into my soul.

Here’s a bunch of quotes from the book. Most of them made me angry, some sad. All stuck with me.

”In the class textbook was a chapter titled "The Protectors." It was all about how women needed men to guide them and help them stay on the path of light. Marriage is, yes, for love, but also a way to keep us all safe.”

"The only safe place for a woman is 100 percent alone."

"When the great creator made women, he made the glue that holds this world together. Women give birth, they care for their children, their husbands, their parents when they age. They create beautiful homes, beautiful meals, and see the world with gentleness and care.

"Women were made smaller and gentler and kinder and obedient because without those qualities the whole world would crumble. Isn't it miraculous? To be made something so wonderful, to always know your path and to never be lost."