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kailajay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I first read this book a couple of years ago and when browsing my Kindle notebook noticed a highlighted quote from the 3rd book in the Road to Nowhere series and decided to reread the series.
The premise is a virus that sweeps (at least) America that kills 98% of men and 99%+ of women, particularly during childbirth. The US becomes a degenerative hellscape, where the straight men of the world battle for the few women left alive, and generally do horrible things to them.
The main character is assaulted within a handful of pages. There are in depth descriptions of FGM, sexual assault, miscarriage, stillbirth, child death, death during childbirth, child sexual abuse, and general violence against women.
But it's still a deeply interesting book that draws you in. Written in a mix of direct storytelling and frantic journal entries, the 'Unnamed Midwife' is a complex and intriguing character who will do (nearly) anything to survive. We're introduced to concepts expanded on in the next books, the idea of these journals being copied over and over again to preserve both the story and the medical information, the 'wooden belly' that Ina wears, the settlement of Nowhere.
The main character, the 'Unnamed Midwife'- she gives a different name to everyone she meets, and is an experienced midwife- goes through a long and complex journey to find her way to Nowhere, an ex military base. I don't know much about American geography but the people she meets, and the stories that she tells through them, are all incredibly gripping and while they don't always move the story onwards, they move the character onwards and build the new world up (or tear it down just that little bit more).
It's really hard to recommend this book because of how deeply dark the content is. I enjoyed this book in a very complex, rough way, but whether you want to read this needs to be a personal choice, based on whether you can process the content in a safe way. I'd advise taking breaks when you need to, even in a reasonably short book.
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Torture, Medical trauma, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Trafficking
sophiesbookshelf2's review
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
perfectcupoftea's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Slavery, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Homophobia, Alcohol, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, Self harm, Physical abuse, Medical content, Racism, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Rape, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Infertility, Drug use, and Death
readinginfl's review against another edition
4.25
*My star number review is based solely on enjoyment.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
meaghanelizabook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Infertility, Child death, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Vomit
cham721's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Slavery
stabilesero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For me, this hit hard on what it is to be a woman, what hardships it brings already and what can be further brutalised and used to others' advantage when it becomes rare. I also loved the raw description/addition of Dusty's need, want and lust for stimulation, because it added another level to this type of dystopian ficion novel that many other overlook or focus on male pleasure.
I am thoroughly looking forward to the next two books in this series!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Slavery, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Kidnapping
lauraxxpaige's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Murder, Child death, and Suicide
Moderate: Trafficking and Slavery
ola2109's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Abortion, Sexual violence, Slavery, Miscarriage, Blood, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
lady_bountiful's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Blood, Violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and Murder