“Thousands of years in the making, fine-tuned by woman in the dark creases of history, helping each other.” - pg 61
The interesting thing about the writing style of the book is how Zumas negated addressing the main woman by name, instead reducing them to titles (most that stem from relationships with others – The Wife, The Daughter… ), which was such a unique, powerful way of demonstrating the lack of agency woman have in this narrative. It honestly is a character study at it’s very finest.

I love the look at female competition and comparison – not just the nod to its existence, but the fact that the woman acknowledge it happening and struggle not to participate in it, even while recognizing the uselessness and toxicity. That even in a (not-so) dystopian ‘future’ where woman have even less control over their own lives, bodies and decisions, they are still conditioned to see other woman as competitors or yard-sticks, instead of relying on each other or coming together.
Such a phenomenal book, told is an intricate, nuanced way.