For a book that seems to want to subvert and challenge pre-existing societal hierarchies based on its premise, this sure does rely an awful lot on stereotypes. The men do manual labour, the society as a whe is gentle and aesthetic etc.
Arthur's narrative voice was infuriating, he seems like an unlikeable twat. Victoria's character was a little better, marginally less stereotypical.
I think, ultimately, this is overly unrealistic - it goes beyond what my suspension of disbelief can allow. The Quickening occurs to quickly I doubt any drastic change like this could happen so close to now, so close that now would be living memory. Social change takes decades upon decades to produce incremental advances. A shift to matriarchal, misandrist society by the 2040s is fucking ridiculous.
Maybe if this took place in the distant future and followed minor characters, regular people who have no part I the actual Quickening it would pique my interest. But as it stands, I think this book would p*ss me off.
Arthur's narrative voice was infuriating, he seems like an unlikeable twat. Victoria's character was a little better, marginally less stereotypical.
I think, ultimately, this is overly unrealistic - it goes beyond what my suspension of disbelief can allow. The Quickening occurs to quickly I doubt any drastic change like this could happen so close to now, so close that now would be living memory. Social change takes decades upon decades to produce incremental advances. A shift to matriarchal, misandrist society by the 2040s is fucking ridiculous.
Maybe if this took place in the distant future and followed minor characters, regular people who have no part I the actual Quickening it would pique my interest. But as it stands, I think this book would p*ss me off.