In a world where women are limited to 100 words per day, any words spoken after the limit has been reached results in a painful electric shock.... how can you fight back? This book was horrifying, yet equally compulsively readable. I read this book during any spare moment I had. Whilst it has understandably attracted comparisons to The Handmaid’s Tale, I feel it can stand on its own merits. I predict big things for this one, and I am desperate to see it adapted for TV/film.

A thought-provoking and highly tense dystopian novel that asks us to question the society that we live in - in the era of Trump and the Me Too movement. Though very similar in style and subject matter to other books within its genre, such as The Power and The Handmaid's Tale, it is almost self-aware of this and cleverly makes reference to these books throughout. Admittedly I did find the ending a little rushed, however overall it is a great for fans of the genre.

I love nothing more than a dystopian book. In fact I've always been oddly drawn to them, so when I heard about this I was excited. I have to say I was also a little nervous as it appeared this was coming out not long after the latest serialisation of Handmaid's Tale but I was excited nonetheless.

Unfortunately, I just could not get on with it and didn't make it past the 20% mark. I know this has many great reviews and I am sure I am in the minority but I just could not bring myself to care about the characters as I felt that I'd been here before. Perhaps I need to take a break for grim dystopias for a while but this one just left me feeling disengaged and disinterested.

I really loved the premise of this book, and thought it was extremely thought provoking. However I did find it dipped slightly in the middle a little. I wanted to like it more but struggled with the more feminism parts, and sometimes I got lost in the characters. I loved the sci-fi aspect too.

Everything you’ve heard about this book is true. There’s a very good reason why everyone was talking about VOXand it’s simply because it is fantastic. Highly recommend.

This was right up my street: Atwood-esque dystopia? Sign me up! It was chilling and eerie, especially when daughters are being rewarded for using the least amount of words. My only concern was that events seemed to resolve themselves too easily. Would’ve liked a touch more danger.

Vox is a frightening and cautionary tale of the dangers of far-right politics and religious mania. In the near future, America has reverted to the dark ages. Women are now expected to be subservient and silent homemakers. They are allowed just 100 words a day. Exceeding their allowance results in a painful punishment. Jean was a respected doctor before the changes, changes that she was warned were approaching. But she was sure it couldn't happen in America. Now she struggles to comply and fearfully watches the effects of the restrictions on her young daughter. She wants to rebel but doesn't know how. But she is determined to reclaim her freedom and voice.


I really wanted to love this. The concept has shades of The Handmaids Tale but seemed to be also an interesting and original concept. Which it is but sadly it gets bogged down in the details of Jean's work when really the more interesting part is how this effects her family. There were moments when I was truly affected by the horror of what they are dealing with and fear and love for her daughter, but then they would go back to the lab and id' lose interest again. Plus the whole Lorenzo thing? It didn't fit for me. On the whole, I found this interesting in places but a little disappointing.

I’ve been so eager to read this novel, it’s such a fascinating concept. Pretty much over night women are rendered powerless – their bank accounts are frozen, their passports have been taken away and they all wear a bracelet which counts each of the 100 words they’re allowed to use per day. If they go over that, they are shocked with high volts of electricity. Jean is the main character in this novel. She’s struggling to discipline her sons when she can’t speak in a normal way; one son is beginning to see himself as more powerful and she doesn’t know what she can do. She’s also finding it really hard to help her young daughter to understand that she can’t speak even when she’s having a nightmare and frightened. For me, the first two thirds of this book were really good, I didn’t want to put it down and was keen to see how things were going to end up. Unfortunately the last third took away from the first part as even when women were sensing a chance to re-gain power, the men were still involved. I also struggled throughout the book with strange phrasing and metaphors that made no sense. All in all this was an interesting read and I wouldn’t discourage people from reading it but it didn’t live up to my expectations.

I love dystopian reads, especially this new genre of female dystopia. In Vox women are allowed to use a certain amount of words a day (this includes expressions and touch).
The story was fast paced and action packed, taking me on a winding journey to relative freedom. The characters were well written and realistic, however personally, there were few I genuinely liked.
Vox was essentially a mother protecting her daughter in a man crazy world where she was young enough to remember what freedom felt like and old enough to not stand for it.

A great quick and thought provoking read.

A new government is in power and life has changed drastically, but only if you’re a woman. They’re no longer allowed to work, to own a passport, or even to have their own bank account. But most significantly, young girls are no longer taught to read or write, and all women are permitted to speak only 100 words a day. In this terrifying dystopian future, scientist Jean is determined to reclaim her voice. For herself, for her daughter and for all women.

I loved the concept of this book. It’s along the same vein as books like The Handmaid’s Tale, but from a different angle: language. It is a truly horrifying possibility, and the slow oppression of women in this book is disturbingly believable.

I did have two main issues that hindered my full enjoyment of this book. Firstly, the main character: Jean. She was just so unlikable. She was annoying and quite aggressively opinionated, but incapable of making much of a stand, which leads on to my second issue. The author obviously finds language fascinating and has extensive knowledge on the subject, but at times this came through too heavily via the main character, making her seem like a know-it-all. I don’t begrudge her interest in language or her knowledge (I also studied English Language at university and find it fascinating), but I didn’t enjoy the preachy way it came out in her writing.

It’s difficult not to find flaws in dystopian books of this nature, and even more difficult to pick out the aspects I did enjoy. However, I got though this book in quite a short space of time because it was certainly very readable and puts forward a disturbing and thought-provoking idea.

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

5 Words: Silence, control, family, rebellion, power.

I'm going to try something a little different: a review of Vox in 100 words.

***

I listened to the audiobook of Vox and not only did the narrator do an excellent job, but I feel that the format made it all the more shocking. I could hear it, but Jean couldn't say it. It was a weird experience.

I loved how Jean's relationships were explored, especially her growing resentment for her own son and her anger at the world around her. But what happens if you sleep talk? Does it go against you?

Vox is an intensely powerful book, slightly terrifying for how conceivable it actually is. I was always aware that this could happen.

An important book of our time, Vox speaks out and fully grips you from the first page! I couldn't wait to read the story, and have since bought it in hardback. A book every man woman and child should read

100 words. That's all you have per day. You are being watched, your every action and movement monitored and if you step out of line the consequences are unthinkable. This is America, once the land of the free but now the land of the 'Pure'. The unimaginable has happened. For women the freedom of speech has been eradicated.
Amazing, thought provoking and absolutely terrifying, Vox is so relevant it's frightening. It's a stark message to never stop trying to be heard. Never let anyone take away your voice.
Absolutely brilliant, Vox is the novel that everybody will be talking about. (100 words)

A power and claustrophobic novel that feels so uncomfortably possible in the current climate. This was a quick and horrifying read which kept me turning the pages. I couldn't see a way out of their situation and the atmosphere was stifling.

Overall I thought this was an important and timely read, however I felt like the ending fell a little short and was a little anticlimactic. This was a strong debut and definitely an author to watch.

I left my full thoughts on goodreads and also discussed this on my YouTube channel..

This one left me thinking. A lot. About the characters, their society, our society and how all too familiar it felt at times.

Definitely one to get the mind in overdrive.

Really thrilling read, I couldn’t put it down. Perfect for fans of dystopia and feminist thrillers like The Power.

While I don't generally enjoy feminist literature, "Vox" had me gripped form the very first page, weaving a complicated and genuinely horrific story about how women are limited to 100 words per day, with any other communication, including sign language, completely forbidden.

There are obvious parallels with the current political situation in the state, as the so-called War on Women is taken to an extreme that is frighteningly plausible. As such, it's a novel which makes you seriously question what's going on in the world and what we can do to make sure something like this never happens in real life.

My biggest criticism of it is the rushed ending. Having spent so long building up tension and atmosphere, everything is resolved in a few brief pages. It's as though Dalcher got bored so threw it all away, which is such a shame after all that hard work.

Still, it remains one of the most engaging, original books I've read in quite a while.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Vox feels incredibly relevant in today's world. Brimming with suspense and sharp as anything I've read this year, I'll be recommending this book to everyone I meet. It's up there with 'The Power' in terms of books that reflect this moment we're in.

Thoughts on the…..cover
I was instantly drawn to the cover and the synopsis of the book. The bold red letters against the black is so stunning. I had a peek at the US cover and I have to say my preference is the UK cover. It’s dramatic and memorable.

Thoughts on the….. plot
The plot is genius, it blew my mind when I first read about it. VOX is set in a near future America and times have changed. A group of male fundamentalists who want to reintroduce traditional family roles. Women are limited to a word count of 100 per day.Whilst wearing a fitbit style wrist band which will electrocute them if they go over the count. With the current #metoo movement and the success of the hit show The Handmaid’s Tale. It paves way as a perfect time for a novel such as VOX.

Thoughts on the…..characters
Jean McClellan – Mother – Wife – Dr

She is a strong no nonsense women. The world around her has changed into such a farcical existence that it begs believe. I found Jean to be very relateable and true to life. I really liked her and I was rooting for her. She refuses to believe that she is a victim of any sort. When in the books reality she is.

I loved that Dalcher didn’t make all the male characters evil and unreachable.

My thoughts on VOX
I really enjoyed the idea of the book after reading about it and I swiftly went onto the net to talk about it with my friends.

The concept is truly genius and I think it will be a superb movie or TV show. It played as one in my head as I read. As Dalcher set the scene for her dystopian novel I was hooked. It gave me goosebumps and I would stop reading and talk about it with my fellow book lovers and then dive back into the disturbing world of Jean McClellan.

The book for me was in two parts. The building of the world for the reader and the getting to know the characters. Part two of the book is the fight to change the new rules.

In all honesty, I loved the first half of the book, getting to know Jean’s world and daily life with all these old-fashioned and cruel rules in place it was fascinating. I wanted to know and learn more about that. But of course, the book has to move on and give the reader a resolution of sorts. But halfway through I felt my attention wandering, the book suddenly felt heavy and bogged down by unnecessary details and a far-fetched twist that just felt a bit blah.

There are lots of readers who will shout about the book because of the theme as opposed to the writing and the storyline. Which in a way is a great promotion and it will mean a movie or a tv series. Which would be awesome and I think on the screen there would be even more that they could do with the storyline visually.

Overall a good read and a great conversational novel which would be perfect for book clubs. It will make you question your own choices and realise the freedom we have with our words.

VOX is a debut with such a thought provoking plot. I feel there is so much more to come from Dalcher.

Reading this book whilst keeping up to date with current events in America, resulted in a truly terrifying reading experience. In this dystopian novel, women are meant to be seen and not heard, and certainly not to have any meaningful role on society, other than keeping house or being recruited to a brothel.The way that the president and his supporters have cherry picked religious doctrine to create the Pure movement sent chills down my spine.

When Jean looks at her dynamic and trailblazing colleague and wonders

"How the hell could people...want to take this woman and throw her away?"

I felt full of anger, because by this stage in the novel it had become clear that (and I'm paraphrasing here)

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

This is book similar to 'The Handmaid's Tale' in that it is a cautionary message; people need to stand up for their rights and stay true to their moral and ethical compass, and to take action before it's too late.

My thanks go to Net Galley and the publishers for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.