Scan barcode
A review by deereadstoo
Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thank you Kensington Books and Erewhon Books for sending me an ARC of this book to review!
"If you hate these toxic roles you're forced into so much, then change it."
Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase was a tumultuous journey beyond epic proportions. It began like the slow crawl up a steep, nearly vertical, rollercoaster track. It's not too crazy and doesn't garner much fear. It's almost relaxing. A gentle caress that lulls you to sleep. However, when the car creeps to the top, everything changes. Your heart starts racing, your palms begin to sweat, and your stomach plummets to the floor. You start to wonder why anyone would think this is fun. Then you drop. All the chaos begins to build to a crescendo. That's what this book is. A build-up to a crescendo.
This book was quite boring in the beginning if I'm honest. It was also quite clunky and confusing in its world-building as the author was trying to explain a system/government that would've benefitted greatly from either footnotes or a glossary. I was constantly at a loss trying to understand the body-hopping system, the microchips, how that information and practice is used to keep the society they live in crime-free, etc. It was overwhelming so for the first 30% I was going off of vibes. However, after 30%, the drop happened and we were going full throttle into catastrophe.
Now, this is where the story sends me for a loop and it truly is vibes but make it sci-fi meets body horror meets women's fiction? I felt like there was some inspiration from Beloved by Toni Morrison and Cabin in the Woods (movie). There were so many moving parts in the last 70% that had my head on a swivel. Once we put pedal-to-the-medal, I feel like the overarching message of 'women are at the brunt of a patriarchal society' got lost at points. I could see how the author tried to bring it all together at the end but it felt as though it was plopped into the plot again last minute to re-establish the main point. I think that might've been my biggest disappointment with this book. I hate to say it but I felt like either the patriarchal plot device could've been left out entirely or we could've removed the murder-mystery plot. Even with the clear outline from the synopsis, I don't think the execution of both together was done particularly well. I had a fun time though and that's my overall opinion on rollercoasters.
"If you hate these toxic roles you're forced into so much, then change it."
Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase was a tumultuous journey beyond epic proportions. It began like the slow crawl up a steep, nearly vertical, rollercoaster track. It's not too crazy and doesn't garner much fear. It's almost relaxing. A gentle caress that lulls you to sleep. However, when the car creeps to the top, everything changes. Your heart starts racing, your palms begin to sweat, and your stomach plummets to the floor. You start to wonder why anyone would think this is fun. Then you drop. All the chaos begins to build to a crescendo. That's what this book is. A build-up to a crescendo.
This book was quite boring in the beginning if I'm honest. It was also quite clunky and confusing in its world-building as the author was trying to explain a system/government that would've benefitted greatly from either footnotes or a glossary. I was constantly at a loss trying to understand the body-hopping system, the microchips, how that information and practice is used to keep the society they live in crime-free, etc. It was overwhelming so for the first 30% I was going off of vibes. However, after 30%, the drop happened and we were going full throttle into catastrophe.
Now, this is where the story sends me for a loop and it truly is vibes but make it sci-fi meets body horror meets women's fiction? I felt like there was some inspiration from Beloved by Toni Morrison and Cabin in the Woods (movie). There were so many moving parts in the last 70% that had my head on a swivel. Once we put pedal-to-the-medal, I feel like the overarching message of 'women are at the brunt of a patriarchal society' got lost at points. I could see how the author tried to bring it all together at the end but it felt as though it was plopped into the plot again last minute to re-establish the main point. I think that might've been my biggest disappointment with this book. I hate to say it but I felt like either the patriarchal plot device could've been left out entirely or we could've removed the murder-mystery plot. Even with the clear outline from the synopsis, I don't think the execution of both together was done particularly well. I had a fun time though and that's my overall opinion on rollercoasters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, and Trafficking
Moderate: Rape