Synopsis
'Does the world seem right, to you?'
Years ago, Dana Mayer had a vision of a better world: one where women are in charge. Now her manifesto, The Quickening, has established the rules for a new order, designed to elevate and protect women. A genteel and peaceful society that prioritises nature, good manners and aesthetics. Of course, in order for women to maintain control, the freedoms of men have been necessarily limited.
Arthur Alden loves Dana Mayer but hates the world she has created. But can he find a way to resist, without losing everything? And with Dana intent on making men pay reparations for their past crimes, can Arthur be allowed to live without punishment?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
- ISBN: 9781473640870
- Number of pages: 352
- Dimensions: 220 x 146 x 34 mm
- Weight: 460g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Kept me gripped!
I love dystopian fiction and this new society where females are in power and males are second class citizens was a fantastic new twist in this genre.
The... READ MORE
A disappointing ending
The quickening a disappointing end
When I read the sample of this book I was so excited. A story about a future where women are in control, it seemed like... READ MORE
Chilling and intriguing
A really intriguing premise, especially in current times. I’m not sure I’m supposed to but I kind of loved Dana, though I wouldn’t want to cross her! Some ... READ MORE
Interesting premise, poorly written
This book had a great deal of promise, but unfortunately Riley was unable to fulfil what she set out to do. As an alternative, reversed retelling of "The H... READ MORE
A Shocker!
When I first read the the few pages I was quite eager to continue on, to discover a world which goes against the sort of patriarchal hierarchy that our soc... READ MORE
An extremist dystopian
The quickening follows a group of mostly female university friends who believe the patriarchal system is not fit for purpose. We follow the change in the ... READ MORE
The Pink Q of The Quickening
This dark, dystopian tale tells the story of a futuristic world, post ‘The Change’ in which women rule. Big Ben becomes Big Bess, all phallic buildings are... READ MORE
A disturbing dystopian
The premise of this book was so intriguing and I couldn't wait to get into it, to see how the author depicted a world with a matriarchy instead. The future... READ MORE
Certainly Different
This book is certainly different to anything I've read before. I must say it was an easy read although some areas of the storyline could have been disturbi... READ MORE
A shocking, yet compelling Dystopian read!
The Quickening was an absolutely phenomenal book and I cannot believe how shocking, yet compelling it was to keep reading about this Dystopian world Talula... READ MORE
Woman Power
The Quickening is not a fabulous read. It's mediocre and there were many times when I wanted to give up, but I stuck it out and I'd say the last 2 chapters... READ MORE
A bit disconcerting
I suppose the whole point of a dystopian novel is that it's a bit disconcerting, but it doesn't really make for a comfortable read. I felt there was a bit ... READ MORE
Not sure where to start
I was really looking forward to reading this book after I won a review copy from Readers First. The book is set in a dystopian world where women rule the U... READ MORE
Dystopian and disturbing- exactly what it says on the tin!
Thank you to Readers First and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.
I really enjoyed The Quickening, described as a dystopi... READ MORE
Dystopian rollercoaster
I wasn't sure what to expect of this book, and still don't really know where to start reviewing it..This book is a lot, it is engaging, exciting, interesti... READ MORE
the quickening
A dystopian set in the future of London where women are ruling the world, following a virus that spreads around the world and war. This book is very engagi... READ MORE
Different but interesting
I was really excited to read this book and from the first look it seemed really interesting and a definite twist with women being in power. I did really en... READ MORE
The corruption that power can bring and the impossibility of utopia
The flip side to the handmaids take, in this dystopian world, women rule and they rule with cruelty. Thousands of years of oppression and abuse have create... READ MORE
Not my favourite I have read in this genre
Dana Mayer has literally taken over the and destroyed the patriarchy and installed instead the matriarchy.
The world is do,I aged in every way by women, me... READ MORE
I didn't want to like it, but I loved it!
I was a little bit sceptical when I learned that the author of the book was famous, and with some pretty amazing connections (her ex-husband is Elon Musk).... READ MORE
The Handmaid's Tale in reverse
Perhaps the best way of describing The Quickening is that it's a bit like The Handmaid's Tale in reverse with a female-led society and strong female charac... READ MORE
Worth a read
I was so looking forward to this book. I love dystopian narratives as they really make you question the world. And to some extent this book delivered.
Th... READ MORE
Disappointing sub-Atwood dystopia
I was quite enthralled at the beginning by the vision: everything is ‘perfect’, the future is female, men are second class citizens! So we have replaced a... READ MORE
A sobering read - ironic and humourous in parts
The Quickening is an impressive take on the dystopian genre, quashing the classic literary vision of future female generations as oppressed. In Talulah Ril... READ MORE
Love the execution of it
I haven't read it yet so this is a first impression.
This seems genuinely so interesting to see how society would work with the roles reversed and it woul... READ MORE
A frightening read
Set in London in the not too distant future The Quickening is the story of a female dominated world. Me and women are not equal. Women are in charge. After... READ MORE
Disturbing
A disturbing dystopian novel set in the near future, where women rule the world.
The story starts with the two main characters Dana and Arthur meeting at u... READ MORE
Dystopian matriarchy - more like misandry
After reading a preview of this book I was excited to finally get a copy and read it, until I read it. I was sorely disappointed, especially as the initial... READ MORE
An unexpected, subversive world
As I read the first chapter I wasn’t particularly drawn into this story, but as I read on, this book really consumed me. In a nutshell this is a very futur... READ MORE