This book was just not for me. The writing was uncomfortably slow, dry, and overall boring. Nothing held my interest and I DNF'd about 30% in. I can see how this is a gender reversal of the Handmaid's Tale but that was all this book had going for it.

This book doesn't take it easy on you. It doesn't ease you in gently into its world. But it is thought-provoking and emotional. You are left feeling uncomfortable, but in a way that feels like you're supposed to feel that way. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for those with the courage to try it.

Genuinely, I don’t know how to rate this. I read this in between romance books because it’s not the type of book you binge. I initially thought it was going to be like I Who Have Never Known Men and Handmaid’s Tale, but it was a bit different than those.

It wasn’t my favorite book, but it wasn’t bad. You definitely have to be in the mood to read this— it had all the makings of a weird girl litfic in conversation with the harm men cause, religion, and control.

I’m just not sure it was entirely for me. This is the second Scandinavian translated fiction book I’ve read and the first one also had a similar tone, so I’m beginning to think it’s regional.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC!

DNF at 56%. This book is not for me. Aside from the pacing being way too slow, I disliked the writing style and plot. Maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more if I had read handmaiden’s tale, since this is a gender reversal of that. What really contributed to my DNF was how comically over the top everything was. There are no subtle plot devices here, everything is so extreme that it reads more as satire than as fiction: the story focuses on the magical properties of menstrual blood infused cakes, a Christian church that relies on menstrual blood donations and performs services that involve snake-venom fueled rituals, a 200lb python that only eats male animals, and a stolen 10 year old boy who’s feared for his testosterone. There are audiences may find this less bizarre than me, and perhaps they’ll be able to enjoy the story more. I could not.

Furthermore, I found some of the content super inflammatory, like the repeated idea that “men will rape women unless medicated,” (a direct quote) but I suppose I could chalk that up to being used as exposition for the post-patriarchy world in the story.

Well-written and thought-provoking. The novel goes through the POV of four women living in a future where men have all but disappeared from society, and the few men remaining are kept in Centers for the benefit of women's pleasure and procreation. While the concept of the novel is sold as a reverse The Handmaid's Tale, it felt closer to Alderman's The Power, to me. Despite what the blurb makes you think, 'men' are virtually absent from Eleven Percent. The focus is on the four MCs - all women - and the female-only society in which they live.

Each woman's POV was interesting to read, each character flawed, imperfect, and morally gray. I liked that there was no big overarching moral message to this book, which - given the theme - was rather refreshing (and in that sense, deserves its comp with The Handmaid's Tale).

I'd recommend this book to readers looking for a good dystopian novel focusing on nuanced female characters. I would caveat this by saying it's not a novel for the squeamish or the faint of heart. Mind the content warnings before reading.

DNF at 35%. Unfortunately, I did not understand the plot line (it may be due to the writing style, which just may not be for me. And the pacing felt too slow for me.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. Maybe it was the style it was written in? The plot was a bit dry and not intriguing to me at all. That being said, the twists and how it ended was wrapped up nicely.

This book was definitely interesting, but took me a bit to get into. I liked the different POVs and seeing how their stories intertwined. As for the content of the book itself, it was definitely a different take that was somewhat refreshing (even if a bit disturbing) to read about, especially in this current political climate! It’s nice seeing women truly rule the world for once. Not my favorite, but definitely an interesting read.

A thought-provoking sci-fi masterpiece! This novel flips conventional power dynamics, exploring a world where women dominate society with fascinating and complex implications. The writing is sharp and imaginative, offering a gripping narrative full of intriguing twists. The characters are well-developed, and the societal commentary is both compelling and insightful. A must-read for those who enjoy groundbreaking speculative fiction with deep, engaging themes.