Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an ARC of this book. The narration of the audiobook is great.

"Womb City" is Tlotlo Tsamaase's debut novel, and it is my first time reading their work. The basic premise presents a dystopian world that (like every dystopia) presents itself as a utopia, but the oppressive structure that already (and has always) exists is heightened with a new suite of tools for a few to hold power over the many. Tsamaase’s novel pulls from many of the ideas that have been explored before in speculative fiction, but where this novel stands out is in its multidisciplinary approach, weaving together cyberpunk sci-fi with supernatural horrors. Tsamaase’s writing is rich and engaging in a way that just pulled me straight into this world in way that sets it up as a potential all time favorite. Sadly, this is Tsamaase’s first novel, and that shows in some key, if not detrimental, ways.

Set in a future where technology binds as much as it liberates, Tsamaase presents a world that is as wondrous as it is terrifying. Cyborg enhancements and body swapping are commonplace, allowing for prolonged lives and an escape from death. Crime is lower than it ever has been, but the cost is a hierarchical and authoritarian regime, characterized by a militarized state with strict surveillance, regulation of technology, and manipulation of biological processes. Individuals who do not conform become suspect, and this means gender roles are rigidly defined and policed. Altogether, the interplay of technology and society raises important questions about the ethics of scientific advancement and the price of utopia, with Womb City acting as a reflection of some of our highest hopes and the possible costs of seeing them come to fruition.

Naledi is our central character: a closely monitored cyborg who inhabits a body whose first host lost their right to have it when they committed some unknown crime. One of Naledi’s central motivations is to be a mother, but her past (or specifically her body’s past) sets her up with multiple obstacles, including regular minority report-esk check ins to ensure she is not criminally prone. A central thesis in this book is the question of bodily autonomy—an idea brought to new depths this society moves from one body to another. It also raises questions of identity, going so far as to challenge her own identity as a woman in subtle ways throughout the story.

On the surface, the structure of this world seems reasonable. Crime is at an all-time low, but what becomes increasingly clear is how the enforcement of these techniques is only so far as they can hold up and propagate existing inequalities. There are clear connections to over-policing and the prison industrial complex, among other ideas. It does not upend the current structure, one that focuses on punishment rather than ending the reasons people resort to crime (inequalities, poverty, etc., see Angela Davis’s Freedom is a Constant Struggle). It instead amplifies it.
This, coupled with the excellent writing and supernatural sci-fi horrors really makes this book stand out in all the best ways. I can honestly say, I get excited just writing this review for all that this book does and even the things it strives and fails to do. I applaud the ambition and can largely look past its failures because of how engrossed I was in the book.

The ultimate failure of Womb City is in how Tsamaase handles its themes. They are beyond heavy handed. Every idea this book is interested in exploring is explicitly discussed by exposition or in the thoughts of our protagonist. It is at its worst in the set up and conclusion of the novel, where the themes and story are being set up and resolved. In that sense, it isn’t an overarching problem, but it is a major one. Tsamaase simply does not have enough faith in their reader. In some sense, I can sympathize, but by spoon feeding, you fundamentally undercut the effectiveness of the narrative.

Many people found Tsamaase’s handling of the themes detrimental to the overall story, but I do not agree. Tsamaase is an extremely talented author who has constructed a fascinating and compelling narrative that stands out from everything that clearly inspired it. It may be heavy handed, but I think you are doing yourself a disservice if you skip it for that reason. Meanwhile, I will be eagerly waiting for Tsamaase’s next release, and hopefully they will have learned from their mistakes here.

This narrative unfolds in a strikingly unique setting, immersing readers into a dystopian rendition of Botswana where the practice of 'body hopping' reigns supreme—where consciousness seamlessly transfers between bodies across lifetimes. Within this societal framework, individuals implanted with microchips endure heightened scrutiny due to perceived criminal proclivities. The clandestine Murder Trial sector, shrouded in secrecy, aims to curb crime. Enter Nelah, a microchipped individual who perpetrates a crime and is subsequently plagued by haunting repercussions. As she endeavours to quell these spectral disturbances, chilling revelations about the government's Murder Trials come to light. The narrative, replete with unexpected twists and turns, evolves into a gripping horror-thriller, leaving readers on edge until its culmination. While the storytelling brims with creativity, it occasionally meanders with repetitive reflections from the protagonist, particularly during the middle portion, where excessive detail on the mechanics of body hopping and microchip functionality threatens to disengage. Nevertheless, the narrative threads neatly towards a satisfying resolution, defying initial doubts and delivering a cohesive conclusion.
While its originality and suspenseful narrative kept me engaged initially and it does have its merits I don't feel compelled to visit it again or suggest it to others.

Oh man this book packed a punch. Set in a futuristic "Big Brother-esque" cyberpunk Botswana. There were very few themes this author didn't try to cover. That in the end is why it ended up just being a 3 star read for me. There was just too much happening, and I feel like it caused the story to suffer. With so many things being thrown at you: husband controlled microchips, consciousness swapping, robotic wombs, female rights, inheritance, body autonomy, class systems, justice systems, etc. It all just started to blend together after a while, with nothing getting its fair time in the sun.

I look forward to what Tsamaase will put out after they get a few more books under their belts, but for now I will say I appreciated that our main character was complex. I get sick of female leads being special, uniquely beautiful, and or naïve. This one wasn't likeable, but she felt more real, even with a bionic arm!

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

An impressive and engaging debut book for Tlotlo Tsamaase that earned one of few 5 star reviews from me this year. Definitely a book that has me looking forward to any future releases. This is one of those books that I'd love to see turned into a movie. I do wish the beginning of the book was a bit faster paced because the world building seemed to drag on. About half way through the book though we get into a beautiful area where there's consistent action and a lot of engagement between the characters. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would love to have my memory wiped so I could enjoy it for the first time all over again!

Really interesting plot idea with meh follow through - really wanted to enjoy this, but the writing and actual listen was not captivating to get into, which is a huge bummer. Overall not for me, but hopefully will be for someone else!

Womb City sounded like an interesting story in a unique worlds with the blended genres of horror and science fiction but it fell flat. The things that made it interesting wasn’t enough to keep me invested.

I enjoyed the narrator which made it a more enjoyable experience for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publish for the ALC.

First, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Erewhon Books for allowing me to listen to this audio ARC. I had heard of a mutual friend on Booktok mention this book and I raced to Netgalley to request it.

I loved the premise of this book. The science fiction elements and some magical realism thrown in. It was a book that in theory, I should have loved. In Womb City we're following Nelah. She and her husband are expecting a daughter. She seems to have it all, a successful career, a loving family, a supportive husband, but that unravels fairly quickly. Nelah is the 2nd or 3rd consciousness to live in the body she inhabits.... yes, you read that correctly. Consciousnesses can switch bodies up to three times in a lifetime, which seems to be around 200 years. Women tend to be demonized and tracked with microchips if their bodies (present and past) ever commit a "crime." Nelah is one of those women and has a microchip in her neck. She has a lover, Jam, and they are planning a life together. On a night drive together they hit a woman with their car and what they do next changes their lives forever.

This book was fast paced and beautifully written. There was so much detail and I loved how the author used language in this book. That being said, there were a lot of details. At times, it was hard to follow what was going on, especially in the last third of the book. I feel like some of my confusion came from the audiobook and missing an entire chapter (Chapter 39) didn't work on the Netgalley audio. I tried several times and couldn't ever get it.

If you love sci-fi, magical realism, and an apocalyptic type world, I would give this one a try! If not, it may not be for you.

I had such high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it was a DNF for me at 70%.

Womb City is based on futuristic dystopian Botswana in a society where people can transfer their consciousness to other bodies, increasing their lifespan by hundreds of years. Bodies that have committed crimes in the past are microchipped and have all aspects of their lives under surveillance.

Nelah, has one of these bodies, but has it all; a great career, a husband, and a baby on the way via artificial womb. However, she is in a failing marriage, is being constantly watched by her misogynistic husband, and is having an affair. After a night of drug fueled celebration, Nelah and her side-piece get into a horrific hit and run accident. Afterwards, her life starts spiraling out of control as she fights for her survival and the life of her baby.

Sounds pretty cool, right?

Let’s start out with the positives. This book had so much potential to be great. The writing was beautiful, I loved the narrator for the audiobook, and it had so many unique and interesting concepts for a fantastic novel. I also loved the cover.

I should have stopped earlier. The world building got out of control and messy. It was repeatedly explained in long, laborious detail at awkward times by the characters, which was weird. Once I thought I maybe started to understand what was going on, more information would be dumped on me, leaving me very confused and dissatisfied. It felt like all of the ideas for a world were thrown together and never stuck or were fully explored.

Overall, I was very disappointed in this one. I was looking forward to it because the premise sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

2.5 stars

Whilst this book has an interesting premise and wants to tackle some important topics, I felt it was very messy. It's a bit of an unusual read, which is always nice, but this makes it a bit hard to discuss it without spoiling it (don't worry, no spoilers ahead).

First of all, it was a bit too long and it didn't help that almost nothing happens in the first half of the book and then everything happens in the second part. The plot is all over the place and after all this, the ending reads like a completely different book.

I wish we got more world-building earlier on to balance things out a bit.

I enjoyed all ideas in this book and the use of Sci-Fi elements to address certain topics. However this, and the very complex context in which it takes place would have had a much greater impact if it had been a bit more consistent.

I appreciated the tension throughout the book. The main character's emotions were portrayed very well and this fueled the overall atmosphere. But apart from this, I can't really say the writing was outstanding.

There were attempts at fleshing out the characters more, but somewhere along the way, those were completely forgotten.

One last thing I have to say is that, in my opinion, this book could've benefited from a bit more subtlety and trust the readers more. We were told again and again why things were wrong and that some things shouldn't be done, or aren't acceptable etc. and it got tiring.

Best book of the year so far! I was a little apprehensive to write a review on this book simply because I'm not own voices as I am not black and my gender is more a void than female but that being said I couldn't not. I found this book to be so amazing I want it to get as much recognition as it rightfully deserves! I will say look for own voices reviews first though.
Alright so like I said this is definitely my favorite book so far this year. I know its early (February) but I'm betting this book will be top 5 it was that good. Now this isn't the kind of book you necessarily enjoy as it deals with some extremely dark subjects but they are dealt with in such a unique way. The characters in this are deeply deeply flawed people who have done some terrible things but they also deep and real and sometimes even lovable.
Honestly the characters are what make this book what it is. That being said the world this takes place in is amazing. The future Tsamaase conjures in terrifying in how real it feels. It definitely seems like something that could happen one day. She crafts a future that makes the handmaid's tale feel palatable in the way it used and abuses the human body.
This work also deals very heavily with racial themes and the use of black and brown bodies but I am not going to talk about that as a white review it is not my place.
Overall this is an amazing book and one I will be recommending for a long time. I will say check the triggers and remember to read with care. Its okay if you can't handle this book right now. Self care first.

As someone who studies criminology at a university level, this story was absolutely phenomenal on the ways it draws from very real understandings of the world, on surveillance, crime, intersectionality, race and drug use. What truly makes a crime? Is it the act or is it the oppression?

There were so many facets to this story and to be truthful, I found it difficult to follow through on audio. I needed to download the kindle version to finish it so that I could better wrap my mind around the world and the deeper themes and meanings behind this story.

The surveillance of women and criminals, especially of the FMC was enraging. I genuinely became angry for her - about the control elicited from her husband and her lover.

It was horrific, thought provoking and will stay with me for a long time.

In an Afrofuturist Botswana, Nelah has it all, a husband, wealth, fame, and expecting a baby. However, there’s no love in her marriage, and her husband controls her via the microchip inside her head. Every action is recorded and reviewed to ensure that she isn’t breaking the law (or won’t be likely to). This is Nelah’s third body, and after this, she won’t get another chance. When a drug-fueled night out with her lover turns deadly with a hit and run, Nelah will have to go to extreme measures to save herself, and more importantly, her unborn child.

This book was wild! I say that in a good way, but I did have a little trouble keeping up with it at times, just because of its intricate worldbuilding and the parameters/details of this dystopian society. That’s not even a complaint, like, it’s impressive. This is cyberpunk, Afrofuturism at its best, and it gets at the heart of society, secrets, and autonomy all against a horror backdrop. Def recommend.

A mind-bending, heart-pounding adventure. Beginning starts out a bit cyberpunk-ish with microchip memory monitoring of the population by quickly escalates when the main character and her lover are faced with a horrifying choice. Part feminist reflection, part socio-political commentary; this debut novel blew me away. Great for fans of psychological thriller and horror. Think Matrix meets SAW. Don't get too attached to any one character, as they may not hang around for long. Masterfully narrated, with realistic dialogue and a gripping, dramatic story; this book is easily one of my top 10 reads of the year. I can't wait to read more from Tlotlo Tsamaase.

While I did enjoy the speculative fiction angle, which is all I thought this book would be, there were too many happening for me to enjoy keeping track of. The book starts with interesting description of a not too distant future in Botswana where people can download their conscience into other bodies, and everybody has the right to live several consecutive lives in different bodies, with a caveat - and in this same incredibly progressive society, whoever has the misfortune to have committed a crime of any kind is forevermore shunned and has to undergo an annual investigation into whether they display other criminal tendencies. Women are regularly brutalised and mistreated, and it gets worse from there. I loved the accents which brilliant I giving just the right touch of colour without impeding understanding. Overall, I'd say I'd look forward to another book by this author l'if it leaned more heavily into the speculative fiction aspect.

This audiobook is a great listen! I used this as a companion to read the physical book as this was an anticipated release in January 2024 for me and it was great. Due to the character's ethnicities in this book, it was great to have the audiobook as reference to ensure I properly pronounced and understood names, slang, etc.

"Womb City" by Tloto Tsamaase delves into a dystopian future where Nelah, trapped in a loveless marriage under constant surveillance, makes a desperate decision after a fateful accident. Burdened with a terrible secret, she faces the wrath of her victim's vengeful ghost, endangering all she holds dear. In a race against time, Nelah must uncover a political conspiracy to protect her loved ones in a society where bodies are controlled by the state. Through evocative prose, Tsamaase explores themes of power, autonomy, and the insidious nature of patriarchy, offering a gripping and timely commentary on societal oppression and the lengths women will go to defy it.

While "Womb City" boasts beautifully written prose and a vividly depicted setting, its ambition may have overshadowed its potential. The narrative, presented through unreliable Nelah whose reality is uncertain, weaves a complex tapestry of plot twists that, while intriguing at their core, often bury the suspense under layers of intricacy. Despite this, the audiobook narrator's skill brings the story to life, and Tsamaase adeptly balances numerous weighty themes, including misogyny, women's autonomy, patriarchy, poverty, racism, and corrupt systems of law enforcement and government. Though the novel may have bitten off more than it could chew in terms of complexity, its exploration of these themes remains compelling and thought-provoking.

This book is one of my favorites of the year. It made my whole week. It was so well done. It was horrifying. It was beautiful.

I really enjoyed this story but this review is mainly for the audio book that is what I will be reviewing. I really did enjoy the narrator. Their voice was extremely smooth and silky. The emotions that they were able to display was amazing. This made the story all the more intriguing. I will definitely check out anything else they narrate.


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

There is a lot to love in this book. I feel like Tsamaase had some inspiration from Butler and even from Jordan Peele. Unfortunately the story was just a little too convoluted at times and the pacing just didn't work.

There have been tons of books, movies, and TV shows about body hopping through the years, but Womb City really got me thinking for a few days about the mind-body duality. That, to me, is a sign of a great book. I turn to sci-fi for new ideas and predictions about the future, and Womb City definitely delivers.

Nelah's inhabited her most recent body for about 10 years, and she still maintains ties with the body's original family. This relationship is fraught, however, as you could probably expect. She shows up on her family's doorstep on the day of the body's funeral. Just imagine burying your daughter, then a few hours later, she shows up alive with the personality and soul of a stranger. And then, you take her in as part of your family.

I texted my mom if she'd want to hang out my body if someone else's soul was in it, and she thought for a minute and replied, "I think I would. I love your smile." Meanwhile, when I asked friends the same question, they said no, and I believe this reveals something Tsamaase was trying to get at in the novel. Mothers tend to have a strong corporeal connection to their child, considering that children literally come from a mother's body. Friends, on the other hand, are drawn to a person's personality and thoughts, generally speaking.

It's a question that's been thrown around society for thousands of years — Plato was talking about it in ancient Greece — but Womb City is adding more nuance to the debate, and it works extremely well.

For a first novel, it's very ambitious, but I was along for the ride

Womb City won't be for everyone, but if you're interested in a novel chock full of ideas and takes on the future in a futuristic Africa and don't mind the thriller-like pace and tons of body horror, you'll enjoy it. I can't wait to see what else Tlotlo Tsamaase brings us next.