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annierosebel's review against another edition
3.5
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.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Gun violence, and Child abuse
beccajdb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Bullying, Violence, Sexual content, Rape, Confinement, Child death, Blood, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Abortion, Pregnancy, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death
hurlyburlywitch's review against another edition
- 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
1.5
The book decides to toss in some arbitrary transphobia, has a mysterious dearth of disabled characters, and contains deeply nauseating and absolutely plot critical
I was also deeply horrified by an epilogue that
Whilst moderately predictable, I found the characterisation in this book to be inconsistent and extremely variable.
Graphic: Torture, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Physical abuse
jennylo's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
It rang very "not all men", which I just feel is not a point that needs to be made. There's also brief transphobia toward the beginning which was very icky. The protagonist is written as though she doesn't necessarily agree, but doesn't fight the point. It left me wondering about the authors personal views.
I also feel like it completely avoided a whole topic that felt too obvious to me to be ignored, that socialising all new humans in a healthy way would probably make the world a much better place. Instead it's one extreme or the other: either men abuse women, or women abuse men. I get it's a dystopia but the idea wasn't floated until the epilogue
I think I partially guessed the key twist so was reading more to see if I got it right, than actually enjoying it. I guess it's kind of an interesting take on a female led dystopia, but I won't be recommending it to anyone in a hurry.
Graphic: Blood and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexism, Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Rape
rhi_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It’s certainly fast-paced, but this pace is achieved by cutting out almost all character development and relationship dynamics. Every choice made by the characters seem completely random. Why does Emma latch on to Jen Jones (the charasmatic leader of this seeming idyllic off-The-grid community, with a name so subtle she may as well just have been called Dr Evil) as soon as she meets her, to the point where she abandons her own mother? Jen has done nothing to earn this, there’s absolutely nothing to suggest Emma supported the extreme ideals of Femlandia before all this.
The ‘twist’ of the book was gross and not even especially clever, but don’t worry because it’s all resolved in pretty much the next chapter.
There are some absolutely sublime 1* review for this book on StoryGraph that go in to more detail about why exactly this book is so awful, Id suggest reading them over reading Femlandia - you’ll certainly experience more nuance, structure, and entertainment. My search for a great feminist dystopian story continues.
Graphic: Child abuse, Slavery, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Gun violence
Minor: Transphobia
thekaylie's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Transphobia, Suicide, Rape, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
ambb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Slavery, Misogyny, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Transphobia
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Abortion, Fatphobia, and Grief
hattie's review against another edition
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Child death
Minor: Abortion and Suicide
secanno's review against another edition
Also, it’s possible this changes later in the book, but as far as I can tell, the main characters are all white cis people. The book conflates feminists with misandrists, in a way that is overblown and makes it seem like the norm in feminist movements, rather than an extremist viewpoint held by a select few. And, despite the book’s portrayal of feminism and the patriarchy as two sides of the same unreasonable coin, the author somehow completely ignores the very real, very common power dynamics within feminist movements and how white cis feminism perpetuates racism, ableism, and transphobia. At this point in the book it’s as if Black, Indigenous, and people of color don’t exist, nor do disabled and/or trans/ nonbinary folks.
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
shaziareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
i won't go too into my thoughts about this book but overall i just feel like this had so much potential, and instead christina dalcher went about it in the worst way possible. warning that the rest of my review is going to contain spoilers. femlandia is supposed to be a safe haven for all women, and most of its inhabitants are women who have been victims of abuse, violence, and more by the hands of the men in their life. however, win's vision of this perfect place to live was blinded by her pure hatred of men and this is where things got really weird for me, especially since our protagonist miranda was like, an apologist for men? so on one hand we have a character that hates men and claims they are inherently evil, and then on the other hand we have a character that is great but also gives off these heavy "feminists are dumb" vibes. like why ......... couldn't there be a more normal character in this book lol?
i'm kind of bummed out that i didn't like it cause i really do think it could have been a great book. i also felt there were some parts where the writing was weak. i want to end this on a positive note though so i will say that the narrator of the audiobook was really good and i don't normally notice that kind of thing so there's that. i wouldn't recommend this book but if anyone i know happens to read it i would love to discuss.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape