Scan barcode
gridner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
What was this story? Part knock off handmaids tale, part mythology, part damsel who stays in distress? If not for a book club I would have DNF’ed this so early on, annoyed that I did spend the time finishing this.
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy
alyssatuininga's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
kutreen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Murder
Minor: Torture
siriface's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Pregnancy
spookyaz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
thebankofbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
20sidedbi'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
nostradamnus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's very frustrating to like this book less than The Handmaid's Tale because I think this book is arguably better--it has higher and more specific spec-to-fic ratio, characters that were real, and a really graphic description of watching someone give birth--but I read THT years ago, and I read FHOTLG in 2023. It's the day after my state put in an emergency stop for all trans healthcare. Roe v. Wade is dead. Abortion pills may be next. And I think right now, forced birthing centers, pregnancy policing, and a rising Christo-fascist government just feel a bit too real.
Maybe I'll be able to reread this in a few years and be able to really take it all in, appreciate it for what it is, but wrong place, wrong time.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Torture and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
rachaelwho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I think the people who didn't like this book wanted it to be spookier and more sci-fi. This is a book about motherhood, womanhood, pregnancy, autonomy, family, ancestry, and what we owe each other. Authoritarianism and institutionalization, too. It is also about climate and catastrophe, near-future dystopia. The sci-fi conceit isn't superfluous, but this isn't quite "genre fiction" and if you wanted to get into that, I guess you probably wouldn't love this one. Reviews hung up on the "science" of the setting not making sense are... Really stunningly, jaw-droppingly missing the forest.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Deportation
emzconklin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Violence