Book Review: Queen B by Juno Dawson ‘Queen B’ by Juno Dawson was released in 2024. It is a prequel novella which predates the events of Dawson’s ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ series, which is due to conclude with the final book, ‘Human Rites’ due to come out in 2025. This book was a surprise toContinueContinue reading
Category Archives: Feminist Fiction
Book Review: The Break-Up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely ‘The Break-Up Artist’ by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely was an audible original novella, and is only available to listen to with an Audible subscription. It tells a compelling story of grief, jealousy, miscommunications, imposter syndrome and all the nuanced issues with falling inContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Medea by Rosie Hewlett ‘Medea’ by Rosie Hewlett was released in 2024. It tells the story of Medea, the tragic heroine who married Jason of the Argonauts, killed her brother and then subsequently murdered both of the sons she had with Jason to punish him for leaving her. She is often seen asContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Weiner Across The Way by Amy Award ‘The Wiener Across The Way’ by Amy Award is the second book of the Cocky Kingmans’ series. It was released in early 2024, and is preceded by ‘The Cock Down The Block’, which I reviewed back in March. I cannot even begin to say howContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Love Flushed by Evie Mitchell ‘Love Flushed’ is the second book of Evie Mitchell’s ‘All Acess’ series, and was released in 2021. It is preceded by ‘Knot My Type’, which I reviewed previously, and will be followed by ‘Darn Knit All’, which, unfortunately, doesn’t yet have a release date. You can read myContinueContinue reading
Book Review: That Kind Of Guy by Stephanie Archer ‘That Kind Of Guy’ by Stephanie Archer was published in 2021. It is the first book of her Queen’s Cove series, all of which are available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription. This was a book that I kept seeing all over social media, andContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Cock Down The Block by Amy Award ‘The Cock Down The Block’ by Amy Award was released in 2023, it is a short, immersive romcom with a plus-sized female lead, and is available to read with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, as is the sequel, ‘The Weiner Across The Way’. It is theContinueContinue reading
‘Fresh’ by Margot Wood was released in 2021 and follows the story of Elliot McHugh as she begins the next stage of life: Freshman Year at Emerson College. Before she left Cincinnati for Boston, having lived with her seemingly perfect sister, Izzy, who is studying medicine, and her younger sister, Remy, who has an eclectic obsession with dryer sheets, Elliot was betrayed by the people she held closest to her. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her for months, and her three best friends knew and didn’t tell her. Vulnerable, alone, and seeking fun, sex, and freedom, Elliot is ready for a new adventure.
Book Review: The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble ‘The Situationship’ by Taylor-Dior Rumble was published in 2023. It’s an empowering story of navigating the corporate world and the realm of dating apps. It is Rumble’s first novel. The story follows Tia, a woman in her twenties living at home with her family in London. She’s strugglingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo ‘With The Fire On High’ by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel in verse. It was her second release, preceded by ‘The Poet X’ and followed by ‘Clap When You Land’. This book follows Emoni Santiago. a teen mum from Philadelphia, who is starting her seniorContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson ‘Another Brooklyn’ by Jacqueline Woodson was released in 2016 and tells a moving story of girlhood, of friendship and grief. I loved how grief and loss manifested for these characters in multiple ways. August, our protagonist is an anthropologist and has studied the culture of death across theContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell ‘Knot My Type’ by Evie Mitchell is the first book of Mitchell’s ‘All Access Series’, and was released in 2021. It is available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited Subscription. The story follows Frankie and Jay, who live in the small town of Capricorn Cove. Frankie isContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons ‘Fair Rosaline’ is a historical fiction novel inspired by the events of the Shakespearian classic, Romeo and Juliet. The book, by Natasha Solomons was released in 2023 and was her ninth release. Her name may be familiar because she’s the author behind ‘I, Mona Lisa’. This is theContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Shite Before Christmas by Serena Terry ‘The Shite Before Christmas’ is a hilarious story by Serena Terry that was released in 2022. The book follows a family in the lead-up to Christmas, detailing the mundane and ridiculous events that happen in a household with young kids. Although I doubt that I amContinueContinue reading
Book Review: A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers ‘A Certain Hunger’ by Chelsea G. Summers was released in 2020. It was her debut novel. The book follows the life of serial killer, Dorothy Daniels, a famous food writer, who happens to be a cannibal. The book was alarming, stomach-churning and gripping. I was captivatedContinueContinue reading
‘Lessons In Chemistry’ by Bonnie Garmus was released in 2022. It was her debut novel, and received great acclaim due to its frank nature, and upfront depictions of sexual violence and misogyny. It wasn’t a book I would have necessarily bought, but I was swayed by BookTok, which praised the novel, and decided it was worth a punt.
Book Review: An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi ‘An Emotion of Great Delight’ by Tahereh Mafi was published in 2021. It is her sixteenth novel, and one of few stand alone stories amidst her popular series, Shatter Me (2011-2021). Due to the nature of the events in this story it is worth acknowledgingContinueContinue reading
I enjoyed this book, but I hated Frances’ character, I think that made it easier to relate to the other character’s opinions of her. Her narration, which started off witty and wistful quickly became snippy and snide as she came to terms with the emotions she felt. I didn’t like being in her head, she was quick to try and reassure herself that she was above other people because she and Bobbi were so astute and theoretical and critical of the world around them.
‘Lady MacBethad’ by Isabelle Schuler was published in 2023 and tells the story of Gruoch, or Groa, to those who knew her closely. A direct descendant of Pagan king, King Coinneach, Groa is imbued with ambitions of greatness, far beyond her station. This book blends fiction, the classic Shakespearian character, and the historical details of the figure that inspired her together, through a distinctly feminist perspective.
‘Medusa’ is a novella by Jessie Burton that was published by Bloomsbury in 2021. It follows the story of mythological figure, Medusa, and offers a take on her encounter with Perseus, one of the demigod sons of Zeus.
Book Review: Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison ‘Such Sharp Teeth’ by Rachel Harrison was published in 2022. It was her fourth novel. This is a piece of powerful, feminist literature within the horror genre. It is a moving, emotional story of bodily autonomy, trauma. The book follows sisters, Aurora or Rory as she’s betterContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati ‘Clytemnestra’ by Constanza Casati was released in 2023. It was her debut novel. The story, follows Clytemnestra, known as Agamemnon’s wife and Helen of Troy’s sister. Having absolutely eaten up the trend of mythological retellings, I was elated to get my hands on this book. I loved reading manyContinueContinue reading
‘Diary of a Void’ is a feminist novel by Emi Yagi, which was published in 2022. It follows the life of Ms Shibata, the only woman in her office, who is subconsciously obligated to do menial tasks for her male colleagues such as make coffees, prepare snacks that clients have gifted the firm and clear meeting rooms of the coffee cups left behind by her colleagues.
‘The Women of Troy’ by Pat Barker was released in 2021. Although it can be read as a standalone novel, the events of the story follow almost directly from her book ‘The Silence Of The Girls’, which I’ve reviewed previously.
‘Kaikeyi’ was Vaishnavi Patel’s debut novel and was published in 2022. It was recommended to me whilst browsing online for other mythology related books. Despite knowing nothing about the original source material, Ramayana, I was excited to read it.
‘Circe’ is Madeline Miller’s second novel, and was released in 2019, it follows the immortal life of the nymph, Circe, daughter of Helios, one of the few Titans who sided with Zeus in wartimes. The book begins in her childhood, lingering significantly on a meeting with Prometheus upon the declaration of his punishment for giving mortals fire to wield as their own. While Helios and his people observe the spectacle of the fury, Alecto, whipping Prometheus, the event eventually loses its gravitas, and thus the interest of the people. All Helios’ courts, except Circe, leave him.
Ariadne’ is a novel by Jennifer Saint and was published in 2021. It follows the Cretian sisters, Ariadne and Phaedra during their youth, growing up above the lair of the Minotaur, and their fates after Ariadne’s coil of thread aids Theseus in his escape from the labyrinth.
‘The Shadow Cabinet’ by Juno Dawson was released in May 2023, and was a highly-anticipated sequel to the sensational ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’. I was worried that ‘The Shadow Cabinet’ may suffer the infamous second book slump that affects many series’, where the second merely exists as a segway from Point A to Point B – but I had nothing to fear!
Book Review: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ is a novel by Juno Dawson, which follows an ensemble cast of middle aged witches living in the UK. These witches are, or were once, affiliated with the nation’s primary coven for witches: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, (shortened to HMRC) and servedContinueContinue reading
‘Juniper and Thorn’ was Ava Reid’s second novel and was published in 2022. It is a dark fantasy which leans into gothic traditions. The novel follows the story of Marlinchen, the youngest of three sisters living under her father, the last wizard of Oblya’s roof.
‘Ghosts’ by Dolly Alderton was her second novel and was published in 2020. It followed the story of Nina, a thirty two year old single woman living in London and coming to terms with her friends entering the next stage of their lives, getting married and having children while she remains single.
‘The Silence of the Girls’ by Pat Barker was published in 2018 and retells events that take place during the siege of Troy from the perspective of Briseis, one of Achilles’ war prizes and former Queen of Lyrnessus. Breisis tells the story of her enslavement throughout the years of war on her land.
Lifesaving For Beginners’ is Josie Lloyd’s 2022 novel. It is a split-narrative, told in the first person and following the stories of several women who bond over wild swimming in the sea on the coast of Brighton.
Imogen L. Smiley 