The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
dev921's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Child death, Cursing, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Infertility, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail
angryglitterwitch's review against another edition
2.0
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"Not for nothing do we at Ardua Hall say Pen Is Envy..."
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
avocadotoastbee's review
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: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Incest, Classism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Infidelity
Minor: Murder
mini_malist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Self harm, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
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: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Abandonment, Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, War, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Grief, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, War, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Blood, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Suicide, Trafficking, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Sexism
isabellesbookroom's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Minor: Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Medical trauma
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.Â
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, Blood, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, War, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Infertility, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Torture