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ahixon1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Abortion
avocadotoastbee's review against another edition
3.5
In the acknowledgements, Atwood says that The Testaments answers questions left by The Handmaid's Tale and shows what happened after the novel. In my opinion, however, it doesn't do that at all.
Don't get me wrong, there was definitely more information about Gilead and what led to its downfall, although it is never really said how Gilead collapsed.
Another thing that really bothered me was that it basically stuck to the extended storyline and characters from the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale. I would have liked the book much more if it had been narrated by other characters and abandoned the plot of The Handmaid's Tale's nameless narrator (June) completely, or at least partially.
All in all, I think Margaret Atwood did a great job of building this dystopian world (some of which, unfortunately, isn't that far from the reality we're living in right now), but The Testaments didn't meet my expectations and was predictable, and kind of unnecessary.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Murder
leonormsousa's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
jlohnes'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
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Gaslighting, and Classism
jaylaccey's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism
bandysbooks's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
The story follows three different POV characters as we learn what happens after Offred’s testimony. I thought this was an effective way to show a lot of progression in a lot of different places without making the book 1000 pages.
I will say that while it did provide closure, it didn’t have the same emotional impact as HT. I did appreciate the resolution with some of the older characters like Aunt Lydia.
If you’re considering this series, I’d suggest:
Read Handmaid’s Tale
Watch The Handmaid’s Tale tv series
Finish with The Testaments
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
chamaeleontis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
tessa_specchio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
only things are at some points to so hard to read because of some pretty violent situations as well as a lot of triggering content
if the content won’t trigger you absolutely read it
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
natalie_1127's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Vomit
chronicallyplotting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy