hngisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Gore, Rape, Blood, Sexual violence, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
angelakay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the sequel to The Book of the Unnamed Midwife, which I read back in 2014 when it first came out, about a fever that kills a massive percentage of the global population–and kills women 10 times as often, and also makes pregnancy and childbirth fatal for mother and child more often than not. Etta takes place about 100 years later. A raider for the enlightened colony of Nowhere, led and managed by women, Etta’s job is to travel around to abandoned cities to collect useful relics and other materials–and also to free enslaved women and girls and bring them back to Nowhere where they can live free and full lives. On the road, Etta dresses as a man and goes by Eddie, which if she’s honest, has come to feel more authentic than living and dressing as Etta. The rare post-apocalypic sci-fi offering that also gets pretty deep into gender diversity territory, with Etta/Eddie and other characters as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
shontellereads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
So once again I loved the way this was written and how deep into the psyche of the main character we went. However, this lacked the key aspect of the first book that I enjoyed- the "end of the world"ness / post pandemic setting. Instead it kind of just felt like a backward world with lots of cult vibes. What I did enjoy was the discussion around gender identity, it was really interesting and (in my not-own-voice opinion) well done.
This was darker than the first book and I would really emphasise checking the TWs.
This was darker than the first book and I would really emphasise checking the TWs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Trafficking, Slavery, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gore, Infertility, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Confinement, Drug use, Transphobia, Body horror, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Abortion
More...