Femlandia by Christina Dalcher

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.

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I'm never quite sure what Christina thinks of men. They're always the agressors, the evil, in her books, but there are always good male characters as well. However, in this one, even though Miranda argues that men can learn to be better if they're taught better, the epilogue seems to contradict it. Christina seems to think that men are intrinsically bad and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

There's a lot to unpick in this novel. There are some fairly serious triggers and I can understand why a lot of readers have had to take breaks or put the book down. I had to take some sections slowly.

I always enjoy a good cult novel, and this is one of the good ones. Although we, on the outside, can see the manipulations easily, it's harder for the people in the middle of it, and everyone's reactions made sense, however horrific they were. I did see the twist coming (I read a fanfic like this a few years ago) but I can see where other people would be surprised by it, as it is pretty shocking.

I did think the background was a bit confusing. I could have done with more explanation. But I was able to follow more or less without it anyway.

I'd love to revisit the world again - either in those missing years or afterwards - but then again I'll read almost anything Christina puts out.

Femlandia publishes on the 19th of October, 2021. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.