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alongreader's review
2.0
So, in the world of this book, women somehow got a law through a male-dominated Parliament to force all men to wear electronic tags. Men must be in their registered address by seven at night and stay there until seven the next morning. Since this limits the work they're able to do, women have drifted into power - apparently, we're never shown that. This is very specifically a UK only phenomenon; we're told about one character's parents who live in France and never visit because her father doesn't want to pay for a temporary tag.
We're told that this one simple change has put women in power over men, by ensuring that they can go out at night, walk home alone and so on. And I can see how that would be true. Certainly a lot of violence against women happens at night, in dark places. However, a lot of violence against women doesn't happen at night in dark places. How does the Curfew stop domestic violence? How does it give women any power at all? It means there are no false alibis, I suppose, but that's not helpful to the woman who's been attacked in a car park, or who's been beaten to death in her own home.
Apart from that; all the men here are horrible. The only one I feel at all bad for is Billy; we're told once that his Male Temper came out, but that's after literal weeks of Cass torturing him, and there's still no implication that he hit her or touched her at all. I think some shouting is the least she deserved. Everyone is is a violent, bullying, abusive mess of a man. I know that there are men like that out there, but there are also some men who are perfectly normal and nice. Where are they in this novel?
All in all, I liked the idea of this novel, but I think the execution leaves something to be desired.
We're told that this one simple change has put women in power over men, by ensuring that they can go out at night, walk home alone and so on. And I can see how that would be true. Certainly a lot of violence against women happens at night, in dark places. However, a lot of violence against women doesn't happen at night in dark places. How does the Curfew stop domestic violence? How does it give women any power at all? It means there are no false alibis, I suppose, but that's not helpful to the woman who's been attacked in a car park, or who's been beaten to death in her own home.
Apart from that; all the men here are horrible. The only one I feel at all bad for is Billy; we're told once that his Male Temper came out, but that's after literal weeks of Cass torturing him, and there's still no implication that he hit her or touched her at all. I think some shouting is the least she deserved. Everyone is is a violent, bullying, abusive mess of a man. I know that there are men like that out there, but there are also some men who are perfectly normal and nice. Where are they in this novel?
All in all, I liked the idea of this novel, but I think the execution leaves something to be desired.
bushph's review
5.0
This was such an intriguing take on a basically dystopian Britain where men have been given a curfew and are electronically tagged, and women make up most of the workforce. I did have my reservations when picking up this book, but I really didn't need to!
We get the story written from different perspectives who also have differing opinions on the curfew and how men are now treated. We have Sarah whose husband is in prison for breaking curfew, her daughter Cass and then her teacher, Helen who has just got a new boyfriend Tom. Through these characters, we were really opened to every experience of this world. Helen and Tom have to go through sessions before they can be granted to live together and we see their relationship evolve. Sarah works at a tagging centre where she has to check and fit the tags that the men have and she's also dealing with the fact that her husband will be released from prison pretty soon. Cass is your typical angsty teen who isn't sure that the curfew is a good idea and thinks that it should be reconsidered.
And in the midst of all the above, a womans body is found at the start of the story and we get to also follow along with the Detective who has this case, Pamela whilst she tried to figure who could have killed this woman and what she is hit with, when she dare suggest that it may be a man who has killed the woman, despite the curfew.
This really was a fantastic book and is such a good spin on a 'dystopian' future that people may have considered.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the advanced copy.
We get the story written from different perspectives who also have differing opinions on the curfew and how men are now treated. We have Sarah whose husband is in prison for breaking curfew, her daughter Cass and then her teacher, Helen who has just got a new boyfriend Tom. Through these characters, we were really opened to every experience of this world. Helen and Tom have to go through sessions before they can be granted to live together and we see their relationship evolve. Sarah works at a tagging centre where she has to check and fit the tags that the men have and she's also dealing with the fact that her husband will be released from prison pretty soon. Cass is your typical angsty teen who isn't sure that the curfew is a good idea and thinks that it should be reconsidered.
And in the midst of all the above, a womans body is found at the start of the story and we get to also follow along with the Detective who has this case, Pamela whilst she tried to figure who could have killed this woman and what she is hit with, when she dare suggest that it may be a man who has killed the woman, despite the curfew.
This really was a fantastic book and is such a good spin on a 'dystopian' future that people may have considered.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the advanced copy.
nannyf's review
5.0
This is a brilliantly written dystopian story with veins of truth running through it. Something like this could happen in the future, who knows? It certainly got me thinking a lot while reading it. The ending could suggest there is more to come.
noomlum's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
frombethanysbookshelf's review
5.0
"When I was a young women at the police training academy, I learned two important things. The first was you never forget your first dead body. And the second was that behind every dead woman was a man who would swear that she was the love of his life, even as he stood there in a blood-soaked t-shirt with the knife still gripped firmly in his hand."
After Dark is a gripping and timely relevant speculative thriller that gives us a glimpse into a world where feminine fury has taken over, and men are being held accountable. But like any revenge, it can go too far sometimes. It let me indulge in a dark fantasy of retribution, of feeling hopeful and free, while speeding through a brilliantly engaging thriller (while also reminding us that a victim can become a villain in another story)
Our story jumps between women from all walks of life experiencing this familiar yet startling different world — from Pamela who is a police officer on the case, Sarah who works tagging men and her daughter Cass dealing with the aftermath of her ex-husbands imprisonment, and Helen who is getting the paperwork ready to let her boyfriend move in. We wait anxiously to see how their stories intertwine and what their part to play in the unfolding chaos is, as they learn about it all along with us.
Of course this story is a searing indictment of the victim blaming women receive and the consistent mistreatment they’ve faced, but each character authentically explores their own issues and fears that they bare on the pages through distinct yet deeply personal and conversational storytelling. I’ve read so many stories similar to this that speculate on a world where women didn’t just get equality, but payback and so far most of them disappointed me- either just being revenge porn or sympathetic towards systemic sexism so this is the book that I have searching for and I finished the entire thing in one sitting.
Wickedly smart and sharp, this is an absolute powerhouse of a novel that everyone should read.
Our story jumps between women from all walks of life experiencing this familiar yet startling different world — from Pamela who is a police officer on the case, Sarah who works tagging men and her daughter Cass dealing with the aftermath of her ex-husbands imprisonment, and Helen who is getting the paperwork ready to let her boyfriend move in. We wait anxiously to see how their stories intertwine and what their part to play in the unfolding chaos is, as they learn about it all along with us.
Of course this story is a searing indictment of the victim blaming women receive and the consistent mistreatment they’ve faced, but each character authentically explores their own issues and fears that they bare on the pages through distinct yet deeply personal and conversational storytelling. I’ve read so many stories similar to this that speculate on a world where women didn’t just get equality, but payback and so far most of them disappointed me- either just being revenge porn or sympathetic towards systemic sexism so this is the book that I have searching for and I finished the entire thing in one sitting.
Wickedly smart and sharp, this is an absolute powerhouse of a novel that everyone should read.
agavencrumble's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
charlotteyoungs's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lianareadsblog's review
4.0
I’m not sure what to say about this story without giving away too much honestly.
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, which rarely happens in my case. There’s a lot going on and some intriguing characters in here. However, I was totally taken aback by the man's hate. I am all about feminist and fighting the patriarchy but somehow this book took it is a bit too far for me. Maybe because I have a teenage son that I really want him to live in a better equal life. Yes, this is fiction and a “dystopian” type of story, but just my opinion.
It’s a must-read book because it’s compelling and challenging in so many ways as the topics are very intriguing and will make for lots of interesting discussions and views.
NetGalley arc
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs, which rarely happens in my case. There’s a lot going on and some intriguing characters in here. However, I was totally taken aback by the man's hate. I am all about feminist and fighting the patriarchy but somehow this book took it is a bit too far for me. Maybe because I have a teenage son that I really want him to live in a better equal life. Yes, this is fiction and a “dystopian” type of story, but just my opinion.
It’s a must-read book because it’s compelling and challenging in so many ways as the topics are very intriguing and will make for lots of interesting discussions and views.
NetGalley arc