Gather the daughters by Jennie Melamed.
On a small isolated island, there's a community that lives by its own rules. Boys grow up knowing they will one day take charge, while girls know they will be married and pregnant within moments of hitting womanhood.
But before that time comes, a ritual offers children an exhilarating reprieve. Every summer they are turned out onto their doorsteps, to roam the island, sleep on the beach and build camps in trees. To be free.
At the end of one of such summer, one of the younger girls sees something she was never supposed to see. And she returns home with a truth that could bring their island world to its knees.
I really did enjoy this book. Different. Great story and characters. 5*.

Gather the Daughters is a dark and gripping tale of a remote island cult where men rule. The story is a chilling one, and is reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale. The story follows the women of the island as they follow the rules set down on them by their husbands and fathers, never disobeying or questioning the world beyond the island.

Gather the Daughters is Jennie Melamed's debut novel, and it is an incredibly impressive one. Her writing is beautiful and haunting and I completely fell in love with her writing style. The story is a thought-provoking one and touches on a whole rage of themes including rape culture and patriarchy, friendship and family. Gather the Daughters is by no means a light read, but it definitely worth reading.

Gather the Daughters is a taught and emotional read and one that sticks with you long after reading. If you're looking for a slow burn read with beautiful writing, this is definitely the book you're looking for.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

This book was gut wrenching. The Tale was wonderfully told and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes dystopia; however, the topic can be very disturbing. It definitely left a mark on me which stayed for a while after I’ve turned the last page.

I was kindly accepted to read this ARC but sadly after I downloaded when I was first accepted, it now won't open so I can't read it - I'm so sorry!

First things first, this book is absolutely brilliant.

Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, this is the story of an isolated island cult where girls live as wives-in-training, knowledge of the world outside is kept to a minimum, and men rule everything. Girls must obey and serve their fathers, until their summer of fruition when they must marry and have children. But what happens when inquisitive minds start to question this way of life? Some secrets simply cannot be kept forever.

When I first started this book, I really wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it. The subject matter was rather intense and creepy, and I didn’t particularly like the writing style (different points-of-view, all present tense). However, after the first few chapters I was completely and utterly drawn in, and the style really fit the book. Jennie Melamed’s narrative voice is very strong, while the concept is both fascinating and dreadful. It was similar to The Handmaid’s Tale in the sense that it is a story of female oppression and uprising, but on a very different and original thread. It actually wasn’t really what I was expecting at all, and all the better for it.

It should be noted that the book might need some trigger warnings: the entire concept is based on child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and incest, but this is all implied rather than explicitly referred to. There are no graphic descriptions and the reader is required to fill in the blanks themselves (which can be considered to be better or worse depending on your imagination).

As you may have guessed, some of the implied content is fairly horrific (at least to those of us living comfortable lives in the western world). But it isn’t all doom and gloom. Some parts of the story are fun and uplifting, and the characters are fantastic. I LOVED that this story is told from the point-of-view of the young girls, rather than their mothers, and getting to read the story from the point of multiple girls allowed a full and rounded view of the situation.

My single criticism is that the ending is very unsatisfactory, but it is actually a perfectly apt end to this novel. 5 stars. A must-read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gather The Daughters by Jennie Melamed is the story of a group of girls living in a strange, ultra-patriarchal religious cult on an isolated island. The descendants of 10 families who came to the island several generations ago to escape the 'wastelands', as they call the outside world, the girls are married as soon as they reach puberty. Birth defects - as you might expect in a community with such a small gene pool - are common. By the time adults reach their 40s and are no longer needed for breeding or childcare, the usual practice is for them to end their own lives by voluntarily 'drinking the final draft' - although a chilling rhyme sung by the children suggests that refusing the poison is not an option. Most unpleasant of all, the abuse of prepubescent girls is practised as, essentially, a form of birth control.

The story is told from the point of view of several of the island girls, but I didn't find their voices particularly distinctive. Only Janey, who has been starving herself to delay puberty and avoid marriage in a bid to retain some form of control over her life, felt like a fully realised character and there were times when I forgot who was who, which isn't something I usually struggle with at all when reading fiction with multiple points of view or narrators.

Melamed's prose, however, is richly descriptive and I can't fault the vivid picture she creates of the island itself, miserably thick with mosquitoes all summer, or the well-chosen details of the islanders' strange life of isolation. I was particularly struck by the image of the island's church - in which the islanders, of course, worship their ancestors rather than any god - which was poorly built from stone too heavy for the land and consequently sinking into the mud. Rather than knock it down and rebuild it more efficiently, the islanders simply add more stones to the walls to restore its height.

Although Gather The Daughters had promising elements, I didn't really feel it delivered overall. I was at least halfway through the book before I felt it picked up any real momentum - an awful lot of the book is essentially scene-setting and 'patriarchal cult controls women and shuts off from the outside world' is not really anything new in fiction. I also found the ending anti-climactic.

Moreover, we only hear from the girls who have lived on the island all their lives (one has a vague memory of a single moment of being a toddler on the mainland but it's fleeting and unclear) and not from any of the rare women who are not descended from the original settlers but joined the community more recently from the outside world. What was it that brought them to this isolated community ravaged by mosquitoes, sky-high infant mortality rates and death by 40? Were they sold some sort of Amish-style old world utopia, or a forward-thinking hippy commune? Or were they simply coerced by controlling husbands? It's clear fairly early on that the outside world is not the wasteland it's claimed to be, and certainly at least one pair of incomers consists of a husband who apparently sees his new life as a licence to abuse little girls. Frankly, I'd like to have heard from his wife.

Gather The Daughters held my interest but ultimately disappointed me. I don't think it's spectacularly memorable and there are better books than this with similar subject matter.

Very atmospheric, elaborate, often haunting prose; a little "grimy" in places but nonetheless effective and memorable. I enjoyed the writing style and world-building, and found the plot intriguing to begin with; however, it stalled around halfway through the book and unfortunately never really recovered. Another slightly detracting element was the large number of barely distinguishable minor characters, some of whom had repeating names so that it was hard to keep track of them. The ending is ambiguous enough to be tantalising yet also sadly somewhat anti-climactic. While I feel that the book did not live up to its early promise, there is still plenty to enjoy.

Gather the Daughters is a dark tale, one that silently unnerves you. When I first began reading this novel, I struggled to get into it; around the 30% mark, I was debating if I wanted to finish it or put it back on the shelf and return to it at a later date. I opted to persevere and I’m glad I did because this is a novel that gets better with each page you turn.

The daughters are on an island, isolated, they’re not sure what the truth is or how big the world really is and it’s this sense of wonder, wondering if there could be a better way of life for them that really touches the reader on an emotional level. As an adult reading this book, we know there is a better way of life and we so desperately hope these girl can find a better way of life outside of the cult, but they are only young, how can they escape and survive?

This novel is narrated from the viewpoints of several of the daughters, living the same life but experiencing things differently – some fathers are kind, some are abusive, some mothers care, some don’t, some have friends, siblings, some feel so alone. It’s these individual experiences that allow you to get to know the characters and essentially make this book the deeply tender read it is describes as.

My favourite of the characters was Amanda, one of the first girls to want a better life, I admired that in her and it made her instantly my favourite. Closely followed by Rosie, a girl who doesn’t narrate her own story but through the narration of others, her bravery is displayed. Janey, Caitlin, Vanessa, this is fiction but you feel all their stories as though they are real people.

Regarding the ending of this novel, it was left a little open in the sense that Melamed doesn’t explicitly state what happens but the way it’s written, the reader can make a very good guess as to what will happen – the novel has ended but we know how the story continues. Gather the Daughters contains some very dark themes, one being incest, but there’s no descriptive details, Melamed informs us it’s happening but removes the horror from the telling.

On an island where men are in control and each of the daughters is hoping for just one more summer, Gather the Daughters, is a book that will sneak up on you and have you highly invested in the plot and the outcome; it indeed does explore the resilience of the human heart. This is a debut novel you won’t quickly forget.

Due to the popularity of Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, expect a glut of dystopian novels set within a patriarchal society. Gather the Daughters is one such offering, set on an island community where the male dominates, when girls hit puberty they are forced to enter into ritualised mating, due to the enclosed community many women will have 'defective' births and if they have more than 3, their husbands remarry to produce offspring. This is a novel of abuse, domination, control and male power. I think it is a novel which will work in the young adult market, the writing felt clunky at times and clearly this subject matter is mainstream now.

I thought this was a stark and memorable debut. I was completely pulled in by the haunting backdrop which was slowly revealed, detail by detail, to the nightmarish reality it was. I loved the haunting voices of the girls and the rich, unraveling plot that had me racing through the pages - dark and original, I would definitely recommend this to others.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book.

Gather The Daughters was a middle of the road read for me. The premise was interesting but it never quite reached its full potential. It didn't have the impact that it should have considering the subject matter. I wanted it to get under my skin but instead, I found it to be predictable and I was left rather disappointed.

The characters came across as carbon copies of each other. There is quite a large cast of young girls in the book and there was only one who stood out from all the others. Things did pick up character wise a little later on in the book but by then it was too late.

All in all, it was ok. I'm not sure I would recommend it though.

My review as posted.

I'm in mixed minds about this one.

The Handmaid's Tale meets The Lord Of The Flies meets M Night's Shyalaman, The Village. That's what I took away from this book.

Gather The Daughters falls into the dystopian genre and the blurb gives enough information to outline the story. What it doesn't say is that the book is disturbing on so many levels. Incest, rape and a rotten world for young girls and women is what's at the heart of this book. For me personally, I came too soon off The Handmaid's Tale to be reading this one. There are similarities; from a male dominated, controlled environment where a woman's sole purpose is to give herself and breed. Charming! Never before has the island where Wonder Woman hails from been so appealing!

I guess the storyline itself was ok. What I had a problem with was the repetitiveness of it all. I got tired of the mud, mosquitoes, the defectives, the blood; lordy so much blood and just the whole feel of it really. The narratives are from a few different girls alternately but even their voices didn't engage me enough. I only really kept going because I wanted to see where it was all going. There's nothing wrong with the writing; Melamed can write..... just ...... *sigh*

An overwhelming feeling of sadness pervades throughout this book and not even the end could lift this one.

Gather The Daughters is an uncomfortable read but if you don't mind uncomfortable dystopia then give it a go. Sadly on this occasion it didn't quite work for me.

My thanks go out for my review copy.

An incredible clever and thought provoking read.
I was completely gripped, and at the same time terrified of this alternative world.

Gather the Daughters gives a fascinating examination of society by way of religion, gender, sexuality, education, power, and control. The story is entirely engaging and gripping throughout. I can see this being huge in book clubs. Definitely a discussion read. The writing is strong. The setting is outstanding. There isn't anything out there like this. Highly recommend to readers of original literary fiction. You do not want to miss out.

I can’t quite bring myself to use the word ‘enjoyed’ to describe how I felt about this book. I mean it’s deeply unsettling but it’s so compelling, I couldn’t put it down!

Melamed’s writing is in itself beautiful, but for me, it’s her telling of the story through multiple characters that really makes this book. You slowly develop an understanding of what’s going on, aided by the perspectives of the multiple daughters.

I’m truly hesitant to reveal too much as I feel it could impact upon Melamed’s storytelling. However, if you’re looking for a book to keep you reading and don’t mind battling that constant unsettled feeling, that deep unease that comes with reading about families, relationships and communities that lie out with the social norm then get reading!

**WIN A COPY**

If you are in the UK the publisher is currently giving away TEN copies over on Goodreads. Here’s the link. Good luck!

On a small island lives a group of people who believe themselves to be the only survivors of the plague and fires that scourged everywhere else. Their world is small, with no outside contact, patriarchal and repressive, with life following the rules, the "shalt-nots" set down long ago by the founders. The only people allowed to leave the island are the Wanderers, all men, who regularly travel to the "wastelands" in search of things the island cannot produce, and very occasionally bring back a family to settle on the island. Although claiming to hold their women in high regard, the men exploit them; a girl is married shockingly young - the first year she's old enough to bear children - she's allowed two children, and then her husband's sexual desires turn elsewhere. Childhood is brief, and for the most part hedged round by restrictions, but each summer when the mosquitoes are biting, the children run wild and free, naked and covered in mud from head to foot, over the island while the adults stay indoors. But one summer, rumours spread about something one of the girls has seen, which calls into question everything they've ever been taught.
Janey has always been known as an angry, troublesome girl, one who questions the rules they live by, and is determined to avoid marriage and the inevitable child-bearing, so by starving herself has delayed puberty. Her extra years give her a natural authority over the other unmarried girls, and when she decides to run away from home and live wild, they gradually join her. Janey's actions are seen as rebellion against the established order, which must be stamped out at all costs.
Gather the Daughters is disturbing, yet gripping, dystopian read, but a difficult one to review without giving away some of the huge reveals and plot twists within it.
In such an isolated community, whoever is seen as 'in charge' can bend facts to suit themselves - and that certainly seems to have been going on here for many years. With a hint here and a revelation there, the reader comes to realise that everything is not quite as the islanders believe. Anything could be happening in the wider world, but everyone has been brainwashed into believing the tradition that they are the few remaining survivors of the devastation; could it be nothing more than a horror story to frighten the islanders into obedience? It's hard to see how they'd accept that, but, with no one to tell a different story, they do. Same for the way girls and women are treated, and the dubious sexual practices considered 'normal' by the islanders; no one knows any different way, and although some feel it isn't right they are considered the odd ones out.
For some the emphasis may fall on the weird cult-like community and the treatment of their daughters, but to me there's a wider issue being raised here; in our alleged post-truth world, with little social media bubbles of like-thinking folk, how do we choose which sources of information to trust, and which beliefs to follow? It's becomes easier to see how people may become indoctrinated into believing almost anything, and convinced that theirs is the right and proper way to live ...

WHAT I THOUGHT

Most book bloggers tend to have a reading comfort zone whereby we only review genres we know we like. However in the case of this book, I wanted to throw myself in at the deep end as this isn’t my typical read. I decided to request it for review, mainly because I knew that my 17 year old self would have loved it!

My initial thoughts were how beautifully descriptive the writing is and I was eager to find out what literary journey I was going to be taken on…

The story follows four girls who live on an island that is completely cut off from the rest of the world. There are a firm set of rules that must be followed by everyone, and the main goal of the island is to raise females until their summer of fruition (aged approx 12-14) so that they can play their part in adding to the population with a trusted male. People (mainly elderly) that can no longer add to society are euthanised and their bodies used to fertilise the soil (sounds pretty sick, I know!). But you can tell that Jennie Melamed has a real eye for imagination and a lot of thought has gone into the details of this book which clearly shines through.

The four main girls are curious Vanessa who has yet to reach puberty, pregnant Amanda who has just been through her summer of fruition, an emotionally disturbed Caitlin and an anorexic Janey (she is making herself unwell to put off her period and the dreaded “summer”). All four of them are going through a different point in their lives.

One day Caitlin witnesses something that makes all of the girls question everything that they believe in. They go on a rebellious mission to try and find out the truth… but where will it lead them, and will everyone on the island be punished as a result!? I will leave it with you to find out for yourself (no spoilers in my reviews!).

The island has been built on the basis of a cult set in the future. It is creepy, and the way Jennie Melamed writes makes it feel like it is part of every day life already. This is a creative piece of work with some very dark undertones. You can see how Jennie’s work as a psychiatric nurse is reflected in the book and she has drawn on her experiences to create some vivid characters who you can’t help but feel for. The book in my opinion has been left open for a sequel which I would definitely give a read.

Be warned though, Gather the Daughters makes for disturbing reading!

Thank you so much to Tinder Press / Headline (via Netgalley) for allowing me to review this title in return for an honest opinion.

My final word: Unusual.

This is a timely book. Not only does it hit the shelves at a time when the TV adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaiden’s Tale is capturing the ratings; it is also prescient in the light of what is happening to women in many countries across the globe.

Gather The Daughters is a dystopian novel – a dark and chilling story which takes place on an island ruled by a patriarchy. No-one is allowed to leave the island, save for the ten men who are deemed ‘the Wanderers’. These men look for others of a similar patriarchal mind in the ‘Badlands’ – the world outside; a world which most of the islanders know nothing about, but they do know that bad things happen there. Whether plague or pestilence, overpopulation and famine, or simply just rampant immorality, the inhabitants of the island have fled there to live the kind of life they yearn for.

This life is both hard and authoritarian. The children have never known anything different, so for them it is normal life. We learn from four young women what their lives are like and the hardships they have to endure. Even although they have known nothing else, there is still, in a few of these young women, an instilled sense that not everything is OK.

Nor, indeed, is it ok. Because this is a society where reading is severely frowned upon and where women are not only subservient to men, they are first ‘broken in’ by their fathers, but only up until they have their first period, because this is an island which already suffers from too much inbreeding.

Then, as they reach puberty, they are allowed one summer when they can run wild and enjoy themselves before the night when they are all brought together and the men each choose a girl as a wife and breeding mare.

These women will then go on to have children of their own – but as soon as they are to become grandparents, they will ‘drink the draught’ and end their lives. Overpopulation, with just 2 children each allowed, is not going to be a problem here.

Vanessa, Amanda, Caitlyn, and Janey are the four young women through whose eyes we understand life on the island. Janey is feisty, wild haired and rebellious. She is also deeply unhappy and has been systematically starving herself in order to delay the onset of her puberty. She is desperate to know anything she can about life away from their island.

Vanessa is 13 years old and has almost liberal parents, comparatively speaking. Her father is a Wanderer and over time he has brought back a library full of books which Vanessa loves to secretly read and which have given her a strong thirst for knowledge and an insatiable curiosity about the Badlands.

Amanda is 15, married and pregnant. She had to leave home because her father loved her too much to let her go, so marrying was her only escape.

Caitlyn was a baby when her parents brought her to the island, so she remembers nothing of her old life. But her father is a drunk and her mother a woman who couldn’t say boo to a goose.

When Janey leads the others to challenge everything they have been brought up to believe, the results could be catastrophic for more than one of the women.

This book works because Melamed is a strong and descriptive writer whose ability to create a realistic scenario shines through every page. She is able to portray the coming of age in these women and set it against the stark cruelty of which man is capable. Yet in the midst of a haunting and desperately sad story, there are glimpses of light from the human spirit which allows for a possible redemptive future. As a debut novel it certainly stands out.

I think if I hadn’t read the Handmaid’s Tale, I’d have been completely blown away. As it is, I think this is a strong and coherent story, excellently told. Jennie Melamed is an immensely talented writer.

A sinister, heartbreaking and devastating exploration of a patriarchal cult society. Set on an isolated island, connected to the Wastelands by only the sinister Ferryman, the descendants of the Ancestors live by the seasons; with summers ruled by mating rituals, wild children and mosquitos, while the adults remain indoors. The story blooms like a flower, unfolding slowly until the terrible heart is exposed, illustrating a society corrupt, bleak and terrifying. Told from multiple viewpoints of the girls on the island, it's a story that's terrible to read, and know, and promised to remain with the reader long afterwards.