I went into this book more or less blind. I only knew that it was about a woman who lives in a kind of cave or prison with other women, and that was about it. I ended up liking it a lot. Not perfect, but still a fantastic read.

„Deep underground, thirty-nine women are kept in isolation in a cage. Above ground, a world awaits. Has it been abandoned? Devastated by a virus? Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only vague recollection of their lives before. But, as the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl – the fortieth prisoner – sits alone an outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the story that awaits them. The woman who will never know men.“

Blurb

I really enjoyed the writing style. It is poetic, yet very comfortable to read. One is thrown into the story without any explanation, and I think that knowing less beforehand is actually beneficial. For that reason I would strongly recommend avoiding introductions or any additional material until after you finish the novel. I read a hardcover edition and my girlfriend read the well known paperback edition (the one with the girl on the cover), and in both editions the introduction spoiled the entire plot. That was infuriating. Fortunately we knew about this issue beforehand and decided to read the introductions only after we finished the story.

As I said, I liked the book very much. There were a few moments where I wondered whether certain reactions were realistic or whether something would truly be possible, but that was just me overthinking. Overall it is an amazing novel with strong themes that stay with you long after you finish it. The main takeaway for me was this: even if you do what you love, if you have no one to share it with, it is very hard to find happiness. A great read that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️