What an illustration of just how widespread the subjugation of women is, and how readily so much of society is determined to villainize a woman in situations where, if it had been men acting, they would likely have been lauded. From Brittany in Alabama, to Angoori in India, and Cicek in Syria, the stories of each of these women are unique in their circumstances, but linked at their hearts. And those hearts are still so fierce despite being broken in their ways. Flock's journalism here is razor-edged and unvarnished; in the cases of Brittany and Angoori, she does not shy away from the faults and flaws of the women and their actions. With Cicek, she acknowledges that the work of the YPG/YPJ can teeter on a thin line between activism and terrorism. But all three women are also plainly presented as the victims of their surroundings and the societies in which they live. At times, it was a little bit ponderous despite the engaging premise, and to be honest, I would have liked to have seen a little bit more cohesion among the three sections. Overall, though, an eye-opening, heartbreaking, and - indeed - a fury-inducing read.

A fascinating and well-written account of why women sometimes turn to violence when the systems that are supposed to protect them--police, courts, politicians--fail them. Society so often shies away from violence committed by women, but Flock makes a strong argument that the women she profiles and others are able to take back their agency and instigate societal changes through that very violence. Highly recommend.

Divided into three distinct stories, "The Furies" focuses on women fighting systemic abuse. There's an American woman denied a Stand Your Ground defense after she shoots the man who had just raped her; an Indian woman who creates a gang to fight oppressors of higher castes; a bold Kurdish soldier trying to liberate her hometown and region from ISIS.

There are no weak chapters. Our author does an incredible job of drawing these women out and engaging empathetically with them without excusing their (sometimes significant) flaws. There are no "perfect victims." In the case of Brittany Smith, she is denied justice seemingly because she has struggled with addiction - as though drug users cannot be raped or have a legitimate reason to kill in self-defense. We also get a fascinating look into the female fighters of Rojava, an autonomous region in Syria, who refuse to submit to extremists. Despite terrible loss and severe injury, young Cicek vows to avenge her lost friends and restore her hometown to its peaceful existence before the arrival of ISIS.

This is not an easy read but a worthwhile one.