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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is going to be one of those books that people either hate or love, because the way the author unfolds the story can feel tedious and half-seen by the reader for the majority of the book. A lot of nuance and imagery that's pretty stark, though, and the premise is emotionally wringing. Loved all of it.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If "I Who Have Never Known Men" had an evil twin book.
You're very quickly and unceremoniously flung into violence and depravity, set in a post-apocalyptic world of poison rain, barren land, famine and disease, read as hidden journal entries from a member of the Secret Sisterhood. We shift from a pseudo-present to memories from her past, stories of survival, desolation and love.
It's a scathing rebuke from Agustina Bazterrica to essentially get our sh*t together -- the destruction of our planet and wildlife, the wars over our dwindling resources, the predatory nature of religion and its exploitation, the violence against women and children -- it goes on. And couldn't have been told with any less brutality.
But Bazterrica's main throughline centers around female intuition and the innate spirituality that bonds us, with all its complexity and heartbreaking beauty, how we have more strength than we know.
I recommend this for the tender stories woven among the terror that keep this from being too agonizing, even as a short, fast read.
You're very quickly and unceremoniously flung into violence and depravity, set in a post-apocalyptic world of poison rain, barren land, famine and disease, read as hidden journal entries from a member of the Secret Sisterhood. We shift from a pseudo-present to memories from her past, stories of survival, desolation and love.
It's a scathing rebuke from Agustina Bazterrica to essentially get our sh*t together -- the destruction of our planet and wildlife, the wars over our dwindling resources, the predatory nature of religion and its exploitation, the violence against women and children -- it goes on. And couldn't have been told with any less brutality.
But Bazterrica's main throughline centers around female intuition and the innate spirituality that bonds us, with all its complexity and heartbreaking beauty, how we have more strength than we know.
I recommend this for the tender stories woven among the terror that keep this from being too agonizing, even as a short, fast read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
sad