In a feminist fantasy epic, a revolutionary spell gives women the ability to control their own fertility—with consequences that rock their patriarchal society to its core.“A compulsive read, riveting characters, life-or-death stakes . . . a smashing book!”—Tamora PierceWhen a nobleman’s first duty is to produce a male heir, women are treated like possessions and bargaining chips. But as the … bargaining chips. But as the aftereffects of a world-altering spell ripple out physically and culturally, women at last have a bargaining chip of their own. And two women in particular find themselves at the liberating crossroads of change.
Alys is the widowed mother of two adolescent children, and the disinherited daughter of a king. Her existence has been carefully regulated, but now she discovers a fierce talent not only for politics but also for magic—once deemed solely the domain of men. Meanwhile, in a neighboring kingdom, young Ellin finds herself unexpectedly on the throne after the sudden death of her grandfather the king and everyone else who stood ahead of her in the line of succession. Conventional wisdom holds that she will marry quickly, then quietly surrender the throne to her new husband. Only, Ellin has other ideas.
The tensions building in the two kingdoms grow abruptly worse when a caravan of exiled women and their escort of disgraced soldiers stumble upon a new source of magic in what was once uninhabitable desert. This new and revolutionary magic—which only women can wield—might well tear down what is left of the patriarchy. The men who currently hold power will do anything to retain it. But what force in the world can stand against the courage and resolution of generations of women who have tasted freedom for the very first time?
Praise for The Women’s War
“The Women’s War is an epic feminist fantasy for the #MeToo era. . . . The Women’s War does what so many classic adult fantasy books do not: It gives us a nuanced portrayal of grown women dealing with a wretchedly unfair society. It is rare to read a fantasy novel with a middle-aged mother as a main character. And it is refreshing to see women becoming heroes in a world that wishes to keep them muzzled.”—Sabaa Tahir, The New York Times Book Review
“A blend of the traditional Western European epic fantasy and the birth control revolution of the 1960s, The Women’s War takes the reader on a journey toward revolution. . . A fascinating and entertaining read, and a welcome addition to the world of epic fantasy.”—New York Journal of Books
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A rich and multilayered dark fantasy filled with unforgettable characters.
Gloriously paced, plotted, and constructed with such elegance that it ceases to feel like a story and begins to feel like the truth.
Secret magics! Secret passages! Systematic destruction of the patriarchy! The Women’s War is a thrilling and heartwrenching tale that explores the issue of body autonomy, with a middle-aged mom as the heroine. I couldn’t put it down… Simply fabulous.
A compulsive read, riveting characters, life-or-death stakes… a smashing book!
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one!!! I’m not going to say more; you’ll just have to read it.
The Women’s War is a must-read, with gripping action, a complex plot, and engaging characters. I thoroughly loved it!
A wonderful read set in a well-realized world filled with terrific characters… I cannot wait for the next book!
In a feminist fantasy epic, a revolutionary spell gives women the ability to control their own fertility—with consequences that rock their patriarchal society to its core.
The Women’s War by Jenna Glass was a phenomenal and truly refreshing novel. It stands alone in the world of epic fantasies by using feminist twists to turn epic fantasy conventions on their head. But the novel is far richer and deeper than simply that. The characters—both the women and men—are as memorable and unique as are the situations and hardships they face. I love that this novel includes a myriad of points of view. This added to the epic feel of the story and allowed me to become absolutely immersed in the world’s shattered and changing societies, not to mention it’s settings and magic.
It’s rare that the world of a novel traps me and leaves me daydreaming about the characters’ futures to the degree that this one did. I have my own theories about where this story and its characters may go in the future, which I’ll keep to myself. But in an world where people were so constrained and subjugated for so long and then pivoted so quickly, it’s not hard for me to imagine that they are still blind to a lot, especially when it comes to ingrained gender and sexual norms, as well as the full ramifications of what has happened.
Wow, what did I just read? It had a super dramatic beginning that set the stage for what was to come. It was definitely an adult story with plenty of depth when it came to plots and people. Its also an adult story because of some it’s content when it came to what happened to women who were banished by husbands or fathers. And The Crown became as what I viewed as pimps when most women were forced to sell themselves and the money went to the Crown. It’s also adult because of some of the violence.
It took me awhile to get all the people straight in the story. But they were well fleshed out, and had depth. The world building for each kingdom and it’s cultures was also well done.
At the end of this book, there is a shocking twist that I didn’t see coming. But I also had hoped for more things to be settled as well. I found it disappointing that it wasn’t. Especially since it was a long book to begin with. Then I noticed there is another book that might finish things. I guess that is up to each individual reader about that. At this point I am undecided.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
The many ways in which The Women’s War mirrors our own society make it almost painful to read, especially for victims of sexual harassment or violence. Among the characters walk very human villains and heroes under the pen of an author with a Martinesque willingness to do them harm. This read speaks a powerful correlation to our own world.
A brutal description of treatment of women that is not for the faint of heart. I usually refuse the read this type of book but was captivated by the hope and the changes. #metoo
Too much packed into too small a space. Skipped too many details, I just didn’t connect to the characters, too shallow. Which is a great shame as the story was fascinating, as was the world.
Dark and unexpected at times, the characters needed more fleshing out. While flawed in a way meant to be realistic, it came across more as shallow and unlikeable.
All that said, I had no trouble reading to the end, Very readable, the story itself, totally engrossing.
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
The description defined this a “high fantasy feminist epic,” and that is dead-on. This is a secondary world setting where women are marginalized, abused, and maligned, and they finally start to fight back. That also means this is a difficult read at times, as it doesn’t shy away from incidents of rape and abuse. That said, this IS a book from a mostly feminist perspective, and it doesn’t let those horrors become the defining moment for those characters.
The book follows a largely female cast in various parts of “the Wells.” This is a world where people can focus on their Mind’s Eye and see elemental orbs that can then be combined to different magical effects. I found this very easy to picture because it seemed video game-like to me, and I loved that. Women, of course, are almost entirely forbidden from tapping this power. The very sight of a women using magic, her eyes going to all-white, is regarded as obscene. The only place where women are permitted to use limited magic is if they are exiled to abbeys–rather like government-run bordellos, where unclean women are forced to give out sexual favors or otherwise peddle wares in lowly ways.
A matrimonial line decided, in ages past, to break the very way magic functions in the world in order to give women a way to fight back. They essentially bred themselves to cultivate this ability. They carry this out near the beginning of the book, to immediate physical and magical results. I am keeping the particulars vague to avoid spoilers, but I will say this: the consequences are myriad and truly make you think about women and the power they carry over their own bodies. I enjoyed seeing this analyzed through the lens of magic.
A few criticisms. I was surprised that there wasn’t more queer representation, especially within the confines of abbeys. I also wish the villain had more nuance, because yeesh, is he a nasty villain. He’s almost too easy to hate. I felt like bathing in bleach after scenes in his perspective.
This is the first book in a series and it ends on something of a cliffhanger. The one peril of getting an early reviewer edition of the book is that I have an even longer wait until I find out what happens next!
The Women’s War is more than a story. It is a roar. And it’s magnificent! The wonderful fierceness of its women will steal your breath and your heart.
A bold, gripping story of women and power that had me cheering both for its rich, wonderful characters and its vital message.
This is an amazing and well thought out story with engrossing political intrigue, calling into question how hostile the world is to women and how little some men will do about it even when they have their own consequences.
Though this takes place in a medieval-esque setting, it’s still so relevant to what goes on today.