Reviews

Another cracking feminist dystopia novel from Christina Dalcher. A fascinating read with some good twists and turns. I’d have liked to read more about life in Femlandia itself and I wasn’t especially wowed by the ending, but did find this quite a gripping one.

miriamw95's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

alongreader's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm never quite sure what Christina thinks of men. They're always the agressors, the evil, in her books, but there are always good male characters as well. However, in this one, even though Miranda argues that men can learn to be better if they're taught better, the epilogue seems to contradict it. Christina seems to think that men are intrinsically bad and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

There's a lot to unpick in this novel. There are some fairly serious triggers and I can understand why a lot of readers have had to take breaks or put the book down. I had to take some sections slowly.

I always enjoy a good cult novel, and this is one of the good ones. Although we, on the outside, can see the manipulations easily, it's harder for the people in the middle of it, and everyone's reactions made sense, however horrific they were. I did see the twist coming (I read a fanfic like this a few years ago) but I can see where other people would be surprised by it, as it is pretty shocking.

I did think the background was a bit confusing. I could have done with more explanation. But I was able to follow more or less without it anyway.

I'd love to revisit the world again - either in those missing years or afterwards - but then again I'll read almost anything Christina puts out.

hannahchesley's review against another edition

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

1.5

I found the message cloudy and weak. And I thought some parts had transphobic undertones. The paratext by the author literally says it’s a reaction to the big feminist response to her successful novel ‘Vox’, and personally I think Femlandia reeks of that bitterness towards certain feminists.

Content Warnings

lmclar12's review against another edition

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1.0

2.5 stars. This is the second book by this author where I have hated the ending. I think if she just hadn’t included the epilogue I would have thought it was better. I really enjoyed the premise of this book: a utopia just for women. And the conflict of having all the boys born into the camp had a « the ones who walk away from omelas” feel that I really enjoyed but why would things go back to normal in the epilogue. It makes me sad for the author that she has enough imagination to write these books yet not enough to ever, even in her wildest dreams, break free from the patriarchy in her books. Is it that ingrained in her? I think she had a really interesting opportunity here that she completely squandered.

Edit: Changing my review to 1 star because there was a scene promoting being a terf and that is absolutely not on.

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