amylfabry's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
tlaynejones's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
I think this should be classified as a YA novel. I’m not sure if the reason it isn’t is because of the depictions of coercive control, adult/ minor “relationships”, rape, and murder. However there is no explicit description of sex/ rape at all, and only brief descriptions of violence. The abuse is all described through implication and, in my opinion, is suited to a teenage reader. The reason I think this should be reclassified as YA is that the story itself, and it’s message of feminism, is written in quite an obvious and straightforward way. This novel would be a great provocation for a discussion with teens about what it means to be a woman in relationship to the patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and the ‘male gaze’. However, the story is possibly too predictable for adult readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent
monkeyreader's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amy_rose29's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
qofdnz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lian_tanner's review
4.0
Gripping, horrifying and ultimately deeply satisfying, this is the story of 16 yo Chelsea, who's the only one asking questions in a misogynistic, violent town on the brink of collapse. Then a stranger rides into town. A woman.
Great writing, wonderful characterisation. I pretty much read it in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy, and congrats to Kathryn Hore for a book that not only takes us into a whole new genre, but also subverts the old one so satisfyingly.
Great writing, wonderful characterisation. I pretty much read it in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy, and congrats to Kathryn Hore for a book that not only takes us into a whole new genre, but also subverts the old one so satisfyingly.
anothergirlanotherbook's review
4.0
I knew I had to read this book as soon as I heard about it. Westerns and dystopian fiction are two of my favourite genres, combine that with a feminist bent and you have a winner. If you enjoyed Outlawed by Anna North, I daresay you’d enjoy this too.
lauramardon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘When the Stranger rode into town, everybody took notice.’
In a small isolated and gated town called Darkwater, somewhere in an unnamed country we meet Chelsea. She is sixteen years old, and as the young lover of the town’s feared leader Granger, she is luckier than most. Food is becoming scarce, and the wells are drying up. The gates, people are told, are to protect them from outsiders carrying a virus that kills. Everyone who enters the town (and there are very few visitors) is tested.
But Chelsea’s life changes when a stranger rides into town. She has a gun on one hip and a whip on the other and talks of life outside Blackwater. She also seems to know a lot about Blackwater’s past. Chelsea is curious and as the story shifts between past and present, we learn something of Chelsea’s life before her mother died and her father became an outcast.
There are rumours in Blackwater: about the past, including a murder of a woman twenty years earlier. But everyone fears Granger and his gang control the people of Blackwater, with violence if needed. Chelsea must make a choice: does she try to find out the truth, which seems to mean supporting the stranger, or does she try to stay safe under Granger’s protection?
‘But I’d never know the truth if I didn’t try to find out and nobody from Darkwater was going to help me.’
As the story unfolds and Chelsea’s view of the world widens, we see that Darkwater has dark secrets. Granger’s control is based on fear and ignorance. Why has the Stranger come to Darkwater? Could there be a future outside? Will Chelsea (and other townsfolk) have the courage to find out?
I really enjoyed this novel, with its strong female characters finding the courage to start tackling a chauvinistic dystopian world. Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In a small isolated and gated town called Darkwater, somewhere in an unnamed country we meet Chelsea. She is sixteen years old, and as the young lover of the town’s feared leader Granger, she is luckier than most. Food is becoming scarce, and the wells are drying up. The gates, people are told, are to protect them from outsiders carrying a virus that kills. Everyone who enters the town (and there are very few visitors) is tested.
But Chelsea’s life changes when a stranger rides into town. She has a gun on one hip and a whip on the other and talks of life outside Blackwater. She also seems to know a lot about Blackwater’s past. Chelsea is curious and as the story shifts between past and present, we learn something of Chelsea’s life before her mother died and her father became an outcast.
There are rumours in Blackwater: about the past, including a murder of a woman twenty years earlier. But everyone fears Granger and his gang control the people of Blackwater, with violence if needed. Chelsea must make a choice: does she try to find out the truth, which seems to mean supporting the stranger, or does she try to stay safe under Granger’s protection?
‘But I’d never know the truth if I didn’t try to find out and nobody from Darkwater was going to help me.’
As the story unfolds and Chelsea’s view of the world widens, we see that Darkwater has dark secrets. Granger’s control is based on fear and ignorance. Why has the Stranger come to Darkwater? Could there be a future outside? Will Chelsea (and other townsfolk) have the courage to find out?
I really enjoyed this novel, with its strong female characters finding the courage to start tackling a chauvinistic dystopian world. Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith