I thought about trying to write this review in 100 words as an homage to Jean’s character and to keep with the limitations placed on her, but to be honest, 100 words just wouldn’t do it justice! I feel I could write an assignment worth of words on the topics covered in this book. I think the book is very current in its thought process, dealing with topics such as corrupt politicians, radical zealots, oppression and human rights. These are all things that at any given time grace the news headlines the world over.

I really enjoy dystopian fiction as I find it gets me thinking and pondering the ‘what if’ scenarios that arise when reading a book of this genre. What if I were only allowed to speak 100 words a day? What if my daughter had to grow up in a world where she could only speak 100 words a day? Would I fight back? Or would I go along with the rest of society and suffer in silence rather than cause a scene?

I have seen this book advertised elsewhere as recommended for readers who enjoyed ‘The Handmaids Tale’ which is what initially piqued my interest. I would agree with this statement and a lot of similarities can be drawn between the two books.

I sincerely hope the future represented in this book never becomes a reality, and I highly doubt that anything on this scale could actually happen, but it did get me thinking. The most important aspect I kept referring back to whilst reading this book is that fundamental right we all have. In America it is held within the First Amendment Right but here in the UK it is enshrined in Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998:

‘Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers’

Lets all never forget this right and lets all go out and read VOX as it really is a great read!

Vox - Christina Dalcher

Did you enjoy Power or The Handmaid's Tale? Do you like your dystopia to be politically edged and scarily true to life? Well, you're going to love this!

Set in an America where half the population has been silenced, VOX is the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter.
On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words daily, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial--this can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her.
This is just the beginning.
Soon women can no longer hold jobs. Girls are no longer taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words a day, but now women only have one hundred to make themselves heard.
But this is not the end. 
For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

Fun Fact, when I was about 10 pages from the end of my arc of this, I mentioned on Twitter that I thought this was my favourite book of the month and Christina Dalcher responded to say thank you. #ClaimToFame.

Anyway, at the point that I'm writing this (18th August) Vox is my favourite thing I've read this month.

While it would be easy to simply say this is a modern Handmaid's Tale, there is a lot more to this book. This is present-day America, a president playing on people's fears has gained power, he is heavily influenced by an extremist using his own interpretation of the Christian bible to instill bizarre rules on the population. All females, we're talking from birth, are treated like objects, they are to be seen, not heard. So much so that they are all fitted with a bracelet that counts how many words they say each day and if they hit 100, they're electrocuted. Just imagine that, children being electrocuted for reading aloud or talking to their parents. Our main character is Jean, who before this revolution, was a neurolinguist and an incredibly successful doctor. Now, she has been stripped of her title, her job, everything. All she can do is say 100 words a day and look after her children. How is that a life?

This is such a complex book. It's so much more than a dystopia, Jean has moments of horror watching her children conform to this new way of life. She feels pangs of hatred for her husband purely because he let this happen to her. She feels fear for her young daughter and her friends. It is a politically driven story that takes a lot from what is happening in America right now.

If you want to read something that will make you think and question, pick this one up!

Utterly terrifying but absolutely gripping...... I think my brain must have gone into over drive reading this.

On more than one occasion, I had to physically look away from this book in utter disgust and horror because of how real the text in front of me could be. Theocracy is working at its finest in this piece of speculative fiction, but it's compulsively readable.
This book shows a world where women are constricted to only speaking 100 words a day. Under the rule of an authoritarian President (not unlike the current one), and an overtly zealous religious nut who thinks women should be sent back to the dark ages and be seen and not heard. However, when one woman, Jean, is required to use her words for an emergency, she finds that her words could just be her greatest weapon.
This is not the kind of book you enjoy, but the kind of book that is entirely necessary. I also think it suffered a bit on its structure, which is what stopped it being a full five stars- for the first two thirds, nothing happens, and then everything happens in the last third. This is definitely an interesting novel and a great addition to the feminist-dystopia canon along the lines of The Handmaid's Tale. Haunting and eerily familiar, it will stay with you long after you finish the final page.

A Wee Summary of Vox

Vox is set in a dystopian US where, post-election, a new President and his associates take control of the lives of US women – no working, no reading, no writing, no birth control and a limit of 100 spoken words a day. Every female is fitted with a counter around their wrist – exceed the 100 word limit in a 24 hour period and the counter shocks them. The further the 100 words is exceeded, the more intense the shock.

In line with the “Pure Movement”, the government are restricting the lives of women, effectively reverting the US to a previous time where the role of the female was to make the home, care for the family and be dominated and controlled by the men in their lives.

With schools introducing a new curriculum, boys studying such subjects as AP Religious Studies, and the girls focussed on home economics and crafts, the purpose of the Government and Pure Movement is clear – a patriarchal society.

Jean holds a doctorate. Before ‘it’ happened, she was working in neurolinguistics on an anti-aphasia serum, verging on a breakthrough that would make a high difference to many lives. Now, she and her 6-year-old daughter are restricted to 100 words a day, constantly under monitoring, while the males in the house are free. Her sole purpose is now to look after her family and home, all the while silently witnessing her oldest son’s conversion to the Pure Movement.

That is until there comes a time when the President needs her expertise, and she’s temporarily given back her voice, if not her freedom.

My Thoughts

I have tried many times to get my thoughts on Vox down in some kind of coherent manner. The majority of which ended up in a rant about the world today, so I’m going to try to rein that in!

To be honest, this book is pretty terrifying. It made me so angry, the thought of a world where our voices and freedom are stolen – but what’s more terrifying is that it has a very real feel to it! A few years ago a book like this would have seemed total science fiction to me; now though, it feels scarily possible.

I actually couldn’t put this book down – it’s the fastest I’ve read a book in a while. This is Christina Dalcher’s debut novel and what a debut it is! Dalcher herself is a doctor of theoretical linguistics, so her exploration of the consequences of removing language in Vox is all the more fascinating. Through Jean’s 6-year-old daughter, we see the impact of the 100 words on younger children and the potential damage to future generations.

This novel is cleverly written and incredibly memorable. The writing is engaging, and Jean’s character is an interesting one through which we explore the changing face of the US, the wider impact on the country, but also the effects on individual families. It’s a story that as well as providing food for thought, also has twists and turns, with moments where I actually held my breath while reading.

I will say though that I felt the ending of the book was a bit rushed. I could tell that I didn’t have many pages left for the conclusion to pan out, and personally, I would have liked a few more pages in that ending.

For me, I found the thought of losing my voice so deeply uncomfortable, and the way that the Pure Movement suddenly took control pretty terrifying. For me, this is a fascinating exploration of language, as well as an unsettling dystopian novel. It’s a book that is bound to generate a lot of discussion, and attract very different opinions.

Please read it so we can discuss it! I need someone to talk to about this book!

This was a two star read for me, not because the writing was bad (it wasn't) or the characters unlikable (they were mostly fine), but because I found the plot twists SO frustrating. I can get behind an unlikely scenario as a premise, and I'm fine to follow that through to its conclusion, but as a work of alleged feminist literature, the main character did almost nothing; the man came up with the solution, and that ending! It felt as though test audiences had disapproved so a happy one had been tacked on. Disappointed.

I love (perhaps 'love' is the wrong word for something like this, but I'm very interested in) the concept of this book: women are limited to speaking 100 words a day, monitored by a bracelet which serves up electric shocks, increasingly more painful, the more words the women go over their limit by. It's a bleak world for the female population, and Vox lays it all out - and, worryingly, a lot of it feels like a time that could be here not long after 'today'. We're not a million miles away from that kind of society right now, and the book points this out, with characters highlighting a need to 'act now', which many ignored until it was too late. It's got plenty of interesting concepts, and so I was excited to see how it would all be executed. Though I did find it thought-provoking and entertaining, it was just missing something to elevate it from OK to good or great.

The characters, for me, could have been a bit more engaging, and a lot of the story felt too detailed in the wrong places: there was some parts which I felt could have focused more on the way the characters felt rather than the experiments and procedures. I know there's plenty of people who feel completely different, but I found myself a little less engrossed by the story as it went on and I think I just wasn't as enamoured by this as other people have been.

Saying that, I am a big fan of the plot and ideas that Christina Dalcher has come up with for this dystopian-style tale (which definitely feels like a cautionary tale too, in today's political climate in the US and elsewhere), and it's certainly a clever and debate-provoking read. Therefore I'd recommend giving it a go, it just didn't wow me as much as it has done for others.

The concept of this book is one which immediately caught my attention - the US government has reduced all women to speaking only 100 words per day. They are not allowed to work, read or write, or vote. They are to remain at home, looking after the family as they once did.

Even before publication, there has been much controversy surrounding this title, particularly because of the anti-Christian prejudice it could be argued is contained therein. I personally was not offended because I'm not religious and I think I understand what the author was thinking about, but I understand why it has caused offence. It's difficult not to offend somebody when you are bold, and this book is certainly that.

Feminism aside, my first thought on reading enough of the book to know the concept was to think about why people might go along with the idea, or vote in a government who would essentially put society back hundreds of years. The answer I think, as in most cases, is a combination of fear and ignorance. I don't think religion has much to do with it, but again as in many cases, I think some people view religion as being an easy excuse to do things which cannot rationally be explained and which otherwise would not be tolerated. Religious texts and beliefs, sadly, can be too easily contorted to fit a warped idea of what an individual would like them to mean.

So anyway, back to why an entire western country might go along with the idea of silencing and restricting women to such an extreme degree. Looking at the idea purely on a surface level I think it comes down to male ego. In this theoretical situation, men feel threatened by strong women who can do the same jobs as them, live independently, and have their own powerful ideas. In the real world, it's clear that this is happening more and more, and women are finally truly gaining their own identity and equality. So, from a threatened man's point of view, they might do extreme (and sometimes stupid) things as a result of this - violence, for example. Or even terrorism, or become lazy as a result of their feelings of inadequacy and lack of a need to support their families. And this is where the idea comes in. Take away all of the women's rights, and men are left with all the responsibility and importance. They step up to the plate; unemployment goes down; violent crime is abolished by strict rules and the obvious fact that families would be left to fend for themselves if the father or husband was in jail or dead. So when viewed from such a perspective, it solves everyone's problems.

I found this a very interesting book. At times I didn't enjoy it, but overall I found it to be very well written and the plot was excellent. It was gripping, thought-provoking and original. I have already told various people about the book and I won't forget it in a hurry.

As an end note, I'd like to apologise if I have offended anyone with this review. It's absolutely not intended. All I'm doing above is throwing around ideas which were brought to mind as I was reading this book. I'm not religious or political, and in the end I do believe that this is a fictional, extreme, 'what if' scenario and should be treated as such.

I would definitely recommend this book it is a story that you will remember for a long time. The author states at the end of the book that she hopes it makes the reader angry. It certainly made me angry and slightly scared that there is a possibility that it might/could come true somewhere in the future. A country taken over by religious idealists who believe that women should be seen and not heard. That they are second class citizens who have no rights. Is it only me or does this ring alarm bells about some societies today? A very interesting read, well done Christina Datchet.

This thought-provoking debut is very much in the style of, “A Handmaid’s Tale.” It is set in America, where Christian fundamentalists have led to a government promoting pure, chaste, old-fashioned values. Women are no longer permitted to work, have passports or financial independence. They are expected to be home-makers; staying chaste and either marrying or living with male relatives.

Of course, there is a twist in this tale. In order to keep the female population controlled, the government has taken away their voices – literally. Each woman, and girl, wears a wristband, which allows the wearer one hundred words per day. Anymore and it emits an electric shock, which increases in intensity the more the wearer goes over their allotted limit. Girls are educated separately from boys and taught basic numeracy, cooking, sewing and other home related skills to prepare them for their new roles.

Dr Jean McClennan was a scientist, before the world turned upside down. In her early forties, she lives with husband, Patrick, her three sons and young daughter. Jean used to specialise in linguistics. She used to chat to friends, go for lunch, read, use the internet, have a daughter… Now she is silenced.

Naturally, Jean is resentful of the way her life has been limited, along with her words. No longer can she even read a bedtime story to her daughter, or have a proper conversation with her. What is worse, her eldest son is being brainwashed into believing the new government rules are correct. Meanwhile, Patrick, who has a job which brings him into contact with the government hierarchy, is – Jean feels – too accepting of the situation. The government keep saying the new rules are a short term strategy, but there are rumours that things will get worse.

Then, the President’s brother is in an accident, and Jean’s help is needed. She is, suddenly, back in work, with her old team, and her old lover. With the hated wristband removed, she has her voice back – but for how long?

This is a truly frightening scenario. The author does a good job of highlighting the loss of female voices and how measures are implemented so suddenly. There is also the interesting side story, if somewhat predictable, of how her son is brainwashed by the new movement. Overall, an interesting choice for book groups, which much to discuss. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

I really enjoyed this book. Only being able to speak 100 words in a day would be so hard. This book made me think about that and what it would be like to lose your freedom. There are a lot of issues talked about in this story. It is a thought provoking read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Incredibly powerful.

Vox is a terrifyingly real dystopian take on gender politics, similar to The Handmaid’s Tale. Women are restricted to 100 words per day, and the insidious erosion of rights: painfully fought for; desperately clutched; stripped away as easily as tissue paper, took my breath away.

I empathised with Jean; her internal and external struggles and the guilt she carried for not being more active before the horse left the stable (although the latter point was slightly over-emphasised).

The ending was a bit rushed and confusing; not as chillingly crafted as the preceding build-up. Still I’d definitely recommend this book.

[100 word limit reached]

Phew! THAT was way harder than I thought it was going to be. At the risk of electrocution, on I go…

Seriously, the world of VOX is one I simply cannot conceive myself surviving. Not only are the girls and women stripped of words, they are stripped of gestures, autonomy, passports, money, work (outside of child-rearing and house-keeping) and any forms of reading or writing materials. The state-sanctioned mental, emotional and physical abuse resultant actually made me feel physically sick as I read.

Yet it is not all doom and gloom, as Christina Dalcher balances her horrors with an exploration of the indomitable, stubborn resistance of human nature; the kindness that can be found in some surprising places; and the reassurance that whilst Jean’s country followed this horrific agenda, other countries stayed well away from the bandwagon. Although they didn’t come rushing to help either, or even seem to take the situation particularly seriously… Yes, there is a lot of food for thought here, applicable to the past, present and (please, no!) future!

I was slightly disappointed as the pace changed towards the end, becoming more action-based and frenetic. The preceding narrative had been so thoughtful and well-balanced that I felt thrown off-balance and therefore did not really appreciate the climax and conclusion as much as I had hoped. In my opinion there was room for the book to have lasted about half as long again; making the finale as powerful and intense as the rest.

As I said in the truncated version, I would definitely recommend this book, especially for book groups (loads to discuss!) and for fans of sci-fi based around gender politics.

And now I’m off to read my daughter, and son, a whole load of stories…!



This is how things are now: We have allotments of one hundred words a day. My books, even the old copies of Julia Child and – here’s irony – the tattered red-and-white-checked Better Homes and Gardens a friend decided would be a cute joke for a wedding gift, are locked in cupboards so Sonia can’t get at them. Which means I can’t get at them either. Patrick carries he keys around like a weight, and sometimes I think it’s the heaviness of this burden that makes him look older.

– Christina Dalcher, VOX

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Jeanie lives in a near future version of America in a world where women are forced into their “traditional” role of mother and housewife. They’re limited to speak only 100 words per day by a delightful little wrist counter that gives an electric shock to anyone who goes over their daily allowance. Through an unlikely event, Jeanie is given permission to remove her counter, return to the workplace and continue her medical research into the creation of a drug that can repair the speech of someone who has had a stroke. However, as Jeanie finds out more about her role within a much wider team and the sinister ramifications of her research she is forced to decide – should she shut up and play along or make her voice heard?

I’ll be honest – Vox was a bit of a letdown for me. Despite being a very similar premise to The Handmaid’s Tale it was initially fairly well executed (with a few niggles – I’ll come to those in a moment). However, by the time I got to around 70% of the way in, shit got weird. Like crazy coincidence, why would that happen, why is she there, I don’t understand this ending weird.

Urgh.

But first things first – the good bits. I did initially enjoy the premise and I loved how pacey the writing was. At first, I was completely drawn into the story and I loved hearing Jeanie’s internal monologue knowing that she couldn’t vocalise her disagreement with the comments of her male children or husband and the sense of frustration and tension that built. There were some very touching scenes with Jeanie and her daughter, like when they couldn’t say goodbye to each other or when her daughter wins an award at school and Jeanie comes to the horrifying realisation that it’s because she’s not spoken at all throughout the day. Her eldest son is very much a product of the misogynistic regime and as much as I wanted to punch him in the face I loved the edge that this gave to their relationship and how it highlighted Jeanie’s powerlessness to parent without words. However, Jeanie has four children and I felt like her twin boys weren’t really fleshed out enough to be of any consequence – so why were they there?

Unfortunately there was also a number of other things that didn’t sit quite right with me. Throughout the book Jeanie is having an affair and although I could accept the possibility of that happening, it was the reckless way that she went about it that got on my nerves. You’re living in a totalitarian regime where your every word is recorded and your every movement tracked by CCTV and yet you still manage to go to a semi secluded house for regular extra-marital, contraceptive free sex? When the probable punishment is execution? Really?

As the book progressed I became less engaged with the storyline. There was a greater emphasis on the scientific nature of Jeanie’s work that, frankly, became quite boring and I began to feel that as the ending drew nearer things became a little rushed. There were far too many situations where Jeanie seemed to take ridiculous risks and the storyline all seemed a little too convenient (“I know exactly how to find that out – my husband just happens to work with the President! I’m sure he’ll have files that explain everything somewhere in our house! Oh look – there’s my uni friend who I haven’t seen in twenty years! Let’s just turn on an MRI machine for no reason to drown out our conversation – I’m sure that won’t look suspicious on the closely guarded CCTV!” etc. etc.)

Then there was the actual ending itself. Perhaps I’d just got bored, perhaps I’d been a bit bamboozled by the science but I just. Didn’t. Get. It. Then *spoiler alert* there was the super trite “oh, my husband’s out of the picture so now me and my four-kids-who-definitely-won’t-be-scarred-by-all-of-this can be with you, handsome affair guy, and we can all live happily ever after!” Urgh, pleeeeeze .

So, all in all, Vox could have been a great book – it was certainly an interesting premise, had a fantastic start and was initially well written – but it went downhill fast. It felt like a response to an exam question where the student realises half way through that they’re running out of time, so they’d better start tying up loose ends in the fastest, most obvious way possible. Or like the author was, hmmmm, limited on words??? Was it a clever metaphor?

Nah, probably not.

Christina Dalcher's VOX is an eerily timely vision of a world in which the reaction to so-called "political correctness" has swung the hammer of social progress back in time to the 1950s era. Jean McLelland, a doctor of medical science, narrates our story through a time in which women have been stripped of almost all their rights - even down to their ability to speak. In this nightmarish version of the United States of America, women - even from birth - are limited to speaking just 100 words a day with immediate consequences for any infractions. They are stripped of their careers, their right to travel, and young girls are schooled in the arts of homemaking while boys are taught the ultra-religious perspectives of the far right. It is a world in which men exclusively - and unabashedly - run the show.

But one day, representatives of the US President come to Jean's home, seeking assistance in a matter where Jean's career expertise means that she holds the cards. Offered a deal in exchange for her help, Jean sees a way to try to effect change, to save her daughter from a life of oppression and potentially her sons from increasing levels of dominant brainwashing. But is the President's request for Jean's assistance - and the offer she receives in return - all it seems to be?

I cracked through this book at a pace not seen for quite some times. Make no mistake: the world we see portrayed in VOX - one that in many unsettling ways seems not all that far removed from certain parts of how we live now - is truly nauseating. At many stages I felt physically anxious as I read. The need to know how Jean - how her family, friends and neighbours - get through these events was so urgent that even though my skin was crawling I had to keep going. I can't say I've had such a physically visceral reaction to a book since I exclusively read horror as a teen.

There were a couple of minor things that jarred me a little - the first was the use of the word "kiddo", which sometimes appeared several times in one conversation. The second was that the final chapter seems a little fast as it tied up all the loose ends. That's certainly a satisfying place to be (I can't personally bear vague endings), but perhaps I was just reading too fast in my rush to get to the end. I'd certainly read more from Christina Dalcher!

What if you could only speak 100 words a day ?!?

In the US a new president has silenced all the women in the country, including young girls. Women can’t go out to work and at school girls are only being taught basic maths, cooking and sewing. Can this really happen ?

Dr Jean McClellan was a leading scientist until she was silenced and forced to stay at home and look after the family. Her five year old little girl is winning prizes at school for saying the least words in her class. How did this happen and what can she do to change this ?

The story is about how far one woman will go to try and save herself and those she loves. Can she regain her voice in time ?

This is a great book which shows how things can change so quickly and what people can really do to save themselves. A great concept and a brilliant page turner.

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Vox is the most intensely disturbing book I have read in a long time, in fact I haven't read a book this uncomfortable since The Handmaid's Tale.

The writing style is incredible, I loved the way it flows as we follow Jean, the main character, her frustration and fear leak off the page. Vox is so well written that it is impossible not to feel a connection with Jean, and also to feel something towards each of the other characters in the book, be it hate, love or anger.

The fact that, over the course of the book, we learn how easily this horrific situation came about and how quickly it could become even worse. I found it so easy to start hating Patrick and Steven, not because they were the worse characters in the book, but because they were close. Because it was easy to feel hatred because of their lack of action or because they were 'sheep'.

As a mother I found it so hard to read in places and the scene in which the protagonist's daughter is rewarded with an ice cream for having spoken the least words that day - 0 - was so heartbreaking. The world that Dalcher has created is scary because it overlaps so much with our own.

The short timescale and the frequent flashbacks really helped keep the pace of the novel quick, and I read Vox in two days. I just could not put it down, and since finishing it I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

The author at the beginning of the book writes that Vox should be seen as a cautionary tale, and I definitely read it as such. I found it so disconcerting to read, as a women and as a mother.

I really liked the way that each of the characters was flawed in their own way, some more than others, from the passive Patrick, the easily influence Stephen and even the protagonist Jean who realises too late that she needs to use her voice and that living in a bubble is not a good way to live.

“My fault started two decades ago, the first time I didn't vote, the umpteen times I told Jackie I was too busy to go on one of her marches or make posters or call my congressmen.”

I would definitely recommend Vox for those who are fans of Dystopian fiction. It's an excellent and thought-provoking read made all the more intense because of the uncomfortable subject matter.

VOX is a chilling dystopian novel in which the religious belt of America has taken over the country and elected into office a president and party who believes that the country will be better off by reverting back to 1950’s values (and then some) where women should only be allowed to look after House and home and become second class citizens to all men. In doing so all females have been fitted with devices that will send an electric shock through them if they speck for than 100 words in a day.

I will not tell anymore as I do not want to give away anymore of the story. But I would highly recommend you read this.
I found it alarming, thought-provoking and alarming. It made me boil with anger when our main character, Jean, “discusses” things with her eldest son. How close are we to something like this happening?
For me it is an interesting and intelligent novel. It touches on the effects of having no voice on a human being, on society and what growing up in that environment can have.
The second part is a fast-paced, brilliant thriller with lots of action; is this character really who you think they are?
I raced through this story and would highly recommend it goes straight to the top of your reading pile.

The pictures were all taken around Cardiff Bay.
Megan (Margaret) Watts Hughes was a Welsh singer/songwriter, scientist and philanthropist. She is recognised by sources as the first to experiment and observe patterns made from the resonation of the human voice. Somewhat appropriate?

Imagine a world where women can’t speak more than 100 words a day, men are in charge of every decision made within a household, adultery results in banishment, homosexuality is considered a lifestyle choice that must be reversed. Welcome to America!

I’m not a huge reader or fan of dystopian and fantasy books but this book intrigued me from the description above. The idea that men take back control and make all women subservient and basically glorified home makers is both horrifying and ridiculous at the same time, however there were parts of the story which could be frighteningly plausible and that made this story even more interesting to me.

Dr Jean McClennan, a renowned and respected doctor has spent the past year silent, unemployed, raising her 3 sons and young daughter in this new Pure world with her husband. Unable to speak more than 100 words, forbidden from even opening the post, Jean is struggling to accept this new life.

Vox is a powerful and utterly thought provoking story which I read in a day and thoroughly recommend.

Oh I LOVED this!!! I wasn't sure about the concept at first, but the premise is so persuasive, so realistic that I was hooked straight away. The story is woven so well into the current political climate, the rise of fundamentalism and the need for men to exert power - just perfect. I enjoyed everything about this story and the dilemma that Jean finds herself in - between a rock and a hard place - is phenomenal, so perfectly balanced. Talk about tense!

I really enjoyed the narrative voice, the whole story is perfectly paced and completely riveting.

Reading the premise of this book left me in awe and intrigued. Which is why I was so thankful that I was approved of a copy! Thank you, HQ and NetGalley.

Told from Dr. Jean McClellan’s point-of-view. Jean is set to be challenged by the changing world of having a 100-word limit daily. Along with her children especially her only daughter Sonia. She wants to fight for her. She worries for her. And with the boys in their home, she discovers that her sons are being brainwashed by the new system.

How can she fight back? When an opportunity presents itself to possibly bring back her old life at a price of working for the people she hates, will she accept it?

In terms of the world-building, right of the bat from the first page. I already was scared. (It’s a good thing.) A new world dawned, where women were silenced and limited to a 100-word per day. And was stripped off rights to a job, education and expressing sufferage. Basically, evolving backward.

The tone and message of the novel were well received. I was angry, it wasn’t a just world hence dystopia lol. How the world now in America had been, the educational system was completely changed. There had been a public humiliation for behavior that defies the rules set by men. It was a hating world, homophobia, anti-women. DARK I SAY.

Everything in this aspect has been described vividly good. The medical procedures, medical jargon to the teeny-tiny bit of details.

The introduction came beautifully strong as I progressed around 50% it turned as a chore to read.

So, here’s where it went wrong for me.

-the whole world-building was great but I feel like the religion here being too antagonized
-speaking of the well-detailed world, it was a wee redundant
-the whole cheating thing, it fetishizes it, not cool, never will be
-the action aligns too perfectly, it was too neat, coincidences were too obvious
- the MC came as unlikeable
-first half was going well the second just went down the hill, things turned really unimaginable

Vox sure made a huge impact on me. It gave me reflections and strong thoughts of “what ifs”. A dark, science fiction dystopia that will provoke you, make you angry and it will make a dent in you to question everything.