#BookReview FEMLANDIA by CHRISTINA DALCHER #Audiobook

ABOUT THE BOOK

A chilling look into an alternate near future where a woman and her daughter seek refuge in a women-only colony, only to find that the safe haven they were hoping for is the most dangerous place they could be.

Miranda Reynolds always thought she would rather die than live in Femlandia. But that was before the country sank into total economic collapse and her husband walked out in the harshest, most permanent way, leaving her and her sixteen-year-old daughter with nothing. The streets are full of looting, robbing, and killing, and Miranda and Emma no longer have much choice—either starve and risk getting murdered, or find safety. And so they set off to Femlandia, the women-only colony Miranda’s mother, Win Somers, established decades ago.

Although Win is no longer in the spotlight, her protégé Jen Jones has taken Femlandia to new heights: The off-grid colonies are secluded, self-sufficient, and thriving—and Emma is instantly enchanted by this idea of a safe haven. But something is not right. There are no men allowed in the colony, but babies are being born—and they’re all girls. Miranda discovers just how the all-women community is capable of enduring, and it leads her to question how far her mother went to create this perfect, thriving, horrifying society.

PUBLISHED BY   HQ

PURCHASE LINK
Amazon

MY REVIEW

I listened to the audio version of this book – extremely well read by the narrator!

 The author is back with more dystopian fiction, and it’s even more scary than ever! The world has gone through many changes and what is left is bleak, especially for women. It’s every man for himself and woe betide any woman who gets in the way. That leads to some upsetting and harrowing scenes at times, so beware if you are easily triggered. Miranda and her daughter Emma have to look out for themselves and desperate times lead to desperate measures, and Miranda makes the decision for them both to head to Femlandia – an all female ‘utopia’ set up by her mother – in the hope for some safety and relief.
You follow them on the journey to Femlandia, but the main action takes place when they arrive and Miranda is soon left to face the facts that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. It’s a very scary look at human behaviour and shows that both male and females are all flawed, especially when power is involved.

They face a shocking truth when it comes to pregnancies in the camp, along with all mentions of male history being removed from the past which leads to young girls growing up with no knowledge of life on the ‘outside’.

This was a shocking read at times, although it did run out of puff a little towards the end and it just left me feeling hatred towards men and women in equal measures!! No matter the best intentions of some, there’s always those who are more interested in power and control over others with no thought to the consequences. A bleak but gripping read!

★★★★

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#BookReview Q by Christina Dalcher

ABOUT THE BOOK

Elena Fairchild is a teacher at one of the state’s new elite schools. Her daughters are exactly like her: beautiful, ambitious, and perfect. A good thing, since the recent mandate that’s swept the country is all about perfection.Now everyone must undergo routine tests for their quotient, Q, and any children who don’t measure up are placed into new government schools. Instead, teachers can focus on the gifted.Elena tells herself it’s not about eugenics, not really, but when one of her daughters scores lower than expected and is taken away, she intentionally fails her own test to go with her.But what Elena discovers is far more terrifying than she ever imagined…

PUBLISHED BY HQ

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

MY REVIEW

This is a horrifying but totally engrossing glimpse into a world that doesn’t seem too far away – which is what makes it even more terrifying! We are used to being judged on how we look, what products we have etc in our world, but here you are tested to see your quotient, Q, and that will determine the school you go to – either one that nurtures you and encourages the gifted members of society, or sent off away from you family to a school, more like an institution, that is run by the government.

Elena Fairchild is living a blessed life – teaching at one of the elite schools, married to Malcolm who is working for the government behind the scenes, and mother to 2 daughters. They see those who haven’t ‘succeeded’ in life but the way that life is run it is best not to think too much about them. If you have a higher Q it allows you a life of privilege such as extra items at the supermarkets, different queues at the tills, even the school buses are different for children with higher and lower Q’s. In this world, even illness requires verification so no playing poorly for a day off work!

But her world is about to change when one of her daughters scores low in her Q test and she sees the other side of the coin – and she doesn’t like it. You’d think she’d get support from her husband to try and save their daughter from being sent away, but you’d be wrong! And her life starts unravelling as she looks back at different points in her life and starts to regret certain decisions she made that have led to this moment.

The more that Elena looks into the whole system on which their lives are based, the more she is horrified and desperate to find a way out of it all. You really can sense her devotion to her daughter and imagine yourself in that situation, battling both your other half and the society you live in. go

This is a scary glimpse of a future reality and I loved how real it all felt!! The despair shown by Elena, the harshness of her husband as he towed the government line, and the uncovering of the true reality of the institutions was truly shocking!! A brilliant read!!

★★★★

#BookReview Vox by Christina Dalcher #100words #Vox

About the book

Set in an America where half the population has been silenced, VOX is the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter.

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words daily, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial–this can’t happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

This is just the beginning.

Soon women can no longer hold jobs. Girls are no longer taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words a day, but now women only have one hundred to make themselves heard.

But this is not the end. 

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

Published by HQ

Publication Date – 23rd August 2018

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Hive.co.uk

Book Depository

MY REVIEW

A terrifying prospect is brought to life by the author in this dystopian novel where women have been silenced. Forced to wear ‘counters’ that add up their daily word count and if they go past 100 words in one day then they will suffer pain.  Women have been forced to give up successful jobs and careers, girls are given sewing lessons at school – this truly is a man’s world.  And for Dr Jean the only way out is to help the men she despises.

The initial impact of this book is startling! I was gripped by this world that had seen fit to demean half the population all because of the rise of religious beliefs in many States.  The way that intelligent women were made to comply, and seemingly have very little support from their husbands’ and even sons, in fighting back against their awful treatment.  It really showed just how damaging certain messages could become and influence the minds of seemingly level headed men.  In her own home she is faced with the viewpoints that women are better off staying at home and ‘knowing their place’.  Fancy hearing that from your own child – whilst you are doing all your best to raise a daughter who has nightmares and gets  awards at school for speaking the fewest number of words in one day..

I did find though that the shock factor of this book did begin to wear a little thin as the story seemed to run out of steam and it moved away from the controlling aspect of those in authority into different areas, but it did a great job of teaching you to be aware of what is going on around you in the world and to be engaged with how views and society is changing!  I’m sure a lot of us sleepwalk through life unaware of small changes to laws and thought processes, and that’s how easy it is to see those in power start to take control of what you see, what you think and how you can respond.

A thought provoking and fascinating read none the less so can highly recommend it!

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