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laurenbaggy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, Confinement, Abortion, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Medical content, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
annierosebel's review
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
thebelljoy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Gun violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Self harm, Sexual assault, Confinement, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Rape
jennylo's review
- 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
- 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
ambb's review
- 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
amiee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence and Abortion
lpdx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Trafficking