Scan barcode
A review by nikkitewes
Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Erewhon Books for allowing me to listen to this audio ARC. I had heard of a mutual friend on Booktok mention this book and I raced to Netgalley to request it.
I loved the premise of this book. The science fiction elements and some magical realism thrown in. It was a book that in theory, I should have loved. In Womb City we're following Nelah. She and her husband are expecting a daughter. She seems to have it all, a successful career, a loving family, a supportive husband, but that unravels fairly quickly. Nelah is the 2nd or 3rd consciousness to live in the body she inhabits.... yes, you read that correctly. Consciousnesses can switch bodies up to three times in a lifetime, which seems to be around 200 years. Women tend to be demonized and tracked with microchips if their bodies (present and past) ever commit a "crime." Nelah is one of those women and has a microchip in her neck. She has a lover, Jam, and they are planning a life together. On a night drive together they hit a woman with their car and what they do next changes their lives forever.
This book was fast paced and beautifully written. There was so much detail and I loved how the author used language in this book. That being said, there were a lot of details. At times, it was hard to follow what was going on, especially in the last third of the book. I feel like some of my confusion came from the audiobook and missing an entire chapter (Chapter 39) didn't work on the Netgalley audio. I tried several times and couldn't ever get it.
If you love sci-fi, magical realism, and an apocalyptic type world, I would give this one a try! If not, it may not be for you.
I loved the premise of this book. The science fiction elements and some magical realism thrown in. It was a book that in theory, I should have loved. In Womb City we're following Nelah. She and her husband are expecting a daughter. She seems to have it all, a successful career, a loving family, a supportive husband, but that unravels fairly quickly. Nelah is the 2nd or 3rd consciousness to live in the body she inhabits.... yes, you read that correctly. Consciousnesses can switch bodies up to three times in a lifetime, which seems to be around 200 years. Women tend to be demonized and tracked with microchips if their bodies (present and past) ever commit a "crime." Nelah is one of those women and has a microchip in her neck. She has a lover, Jam, and they are planning a life together. On a night drive together they hit a woman with their car and what they do next changes their lives forever.
This book was fast paced and beautifully written. There was so much detail and I loved how the author used language in this book. That being said, there were a lot of details. At times, it was hard to follow what was going on, especially in the last third of the book. I feel like some of my confusion came from the audiobook and missing an entire chapter (Chapter 39) didn't work on the Netgalley audio. I tried several times and couldn't ever get it.
If you love sci-fi, magical realism, and an apocalyptic type world, I would give this one a try! If not, it may not be for you.