
Member Reviews

This was a DNF for me, but I got a pretty good ways in and so will review. The premise felt like an interesting one, if not terribly original. However, the world building was very long and convoluted and the novel felt a bit like a movie whose best scenes you see in the preview. The blurb was better than the book, I guess.

This story was somewhat dark, scientific and really makes you think about societal standards and how they can be taken to the extreme ( in real life and fiction). I enjoyed this book although it did take me some time to get into and it's not something I would've typically picked up. I thank NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. It will be one that sticks with me.

I enjoyed this book but it was definitely a slow burn for me.
It was advertised as a reversal of the Handmaiden's tale and I think since I went in with that mindset it took me a little while to get into the book. The book was in fact of reversal of the Handmaiden's Tale in terms of how the society is run; the author writes of a futuristic society ran by women, where men make up 11% of the world and are never present unless needed, but that's where the similarities end. The book wasn't meant to be some sort of revolutionary tale of fighting against the system described but simply a slice-of-life tale approaching the subject of how our society would like if it was a matriarchal one.
Once I realized this, I was able to get into the book a little more. I enjoyed the multiple POV'S and being able to see different women's perspectives of this "ideal" society, however I couldn't tell if the book was trying to make a positive or negative case for this new dystopian future (maybe that was the point, but that also didn't feel clear to me.)
I think this book would be perfect for a book club read, the premise is intriguing enough with how it approaches gender roles and expectations within society that would be interesting to discuss within in a group setting.
Overall, it took me a while to get into the book, as it was description heavy and sometimes unclear but it was still a solid read! I definitely think this one of those books you might have to read more than once to fully understand.

Snakes, rats, rat snakes, cakes made from menstrual blood, man-ladies with silicone members, a convent of witches including one four feet tall with hair laced with bird droppings and other dirt down to her knees—all have their parts to play in Danish author Maren Uthaug’s “Eleven Percent.”
It’s a dystopian tale that takes place in the Frederiksberg section of Copenhagen (currently home to the Tivoli Gardens) hundreds of years from now. Society has become a matriarchy in which males constitute only 11% of the population, have no civil rights, and can live only in “centers” where women use them for procreation or pleasure.
While Ms. Uthaug’s imagination and world-building skills are impressive, the world she’s built is not one I want to spend any more time in. Her characters strike me as woeful and dour. And even though I’m a third of the way through, I have very little idea of the plot, where the conflicts are, or what’s at stake. So, for me, this is a DNF.
Even though “Eleven Percent” is not for me, I believe others may well feel differently. It is well imagined and written, and the world-building is prodigious. Readers into dark, dystopian tales who are not squeamish about sexual content, squalid conditions, and/or other repellant subject matter may want to give it a whirl--at least read a sample.
My thanks to NetGalley, author Marta Uthaug, and publisher St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my independent opinion.

This was a unique concept and enjoyed the overall feel of the story and how different the world was. I was engaged with the world and how the characters interacted with that world. It was written well and was engaged with everything that happening, I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and was glad I got to know each characters.

I picked up this arc knowing that it was a translation of a book from another language, as the blurb was intriguing and I was curious to see how the plot played out. Unfortunately, I think some of the books meaning was lost in translation, and it was a bit difficult to get through. I think the concept was interesting and I wish I could read it in its original format, as I know that this is a story with the potential to be so great, if the translation wasn't quite so wordy and drawn out. Overall, this is probably a book that should only be read in it's original format and language, as it doesn't hit with the same level in the English translation.

This read was refreshing with it's unique characters and storyline. It was well paced and kept me entertained throughout. Really enjoyed.

Chaotic and thought provoking! Took me a little bit to get into the book but once I did, it sucked me in. Set in “the New Time” where there’s only 11% of the male population left who are kept in “spa’s” and are used mainly for pleasure and procreation. This book has The Handmade Tale vibes but in reverse. Great read and worth adding to your bookshelf!

Dubbed an "inverse Handmaid's Tale," I was immediately intrigued. I'm not sure what exactly I expected, nor can I say definitively that I liked Eleven Percent. But I can say it was engrossing look at a dystopian society where women have taken over the world. As expected, there is a lack of violence and characters speak about how much freedom they have to do as they please in a manner that is safe. But I found the menstrual blood aspect weird. I guess maybe I was expecting a more realistic dystopia and got one that was more fantastical. I feel like I was driven to finish more because I wanted to see where it went (sadly, nowhere very interesting) and not because I had any emotional investment investment in the characters.
I did like the characterization shown--the characters were absolutely realistic and not painted as some basic universal beauty. I thought that the way the women's stories were intertwined was neatly done, though I think it could have been a more shocking plot twist if we'd never gotten anything from Silence as Silence.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Eleven Percent was SUCH a good read. It was speculative & reflective of our current society. I think readers that enjoyed The Power would equally love this book, as the tones are extremely similar. There are many trigger warnings for this book, but if those aren't a concern, I think that it made for just the right amount of uncomfortability. It was perfect. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

A world, post male freedom, is built up from three different perspectives. A woman from each major religion and one "woman" caught in the middle. This book makes you think about how society looks at woman vs. man, even down to the architecture. Round homes vs angled homes and an emphasis on female pleasure. One downfall to this story is that it felt like a world was built for the reader but what was the reader reading for? This book left me thinking about the world surrounding the characters but wondering what the purpose of the book was.

This book had a great premise, while I didn't love the book.. I did like it. I believe there will be a special place for it in our library!

Fabulous speculative fiction!
In Eleven Percent we learn that is all that is left - 11 % of the population is male (scientifically determined to stop inbreeding). It's called the New Time, but has anything really changed? Sure women are in charge but to what degree have they lost their own humanity? Maren Uthaug is a well known Danish writer who explores this polar opposite of the Handmaid's Tale with a great degree of creativity and skill. Fascinating, thought provoking and just a little bit too real.
#stmartinspress #elevenpercent #marenuthaug

Going into Eleven Percent, I was very intrigued by the concept of the book being that it was a roles reversed version of Handmaids Tale, however once beginning the book, I really struggled. After reading about 25% of the book, I did decide to not continue the book and I did DNF. The book has a very slow start to even really start understanding the plot whatsoever and the language of the book was a bit dull. I really had to push myself to continue reading this, even up to the 25% mark. Based on other reviews, this did seem like it was translated and perhaps that could be where the slowness stems from. I really wish the book had a bit more of a fantasy introduction, to really grab your attention. It was almost too much world building that it was slow to jump into. I think the concept is so strong and I think leading with more of the “why” of the world setting would be helpful to the reader and to gain intrigue.

Thought provoking and interesting.
Told from the POV of four women living in a dystopian style future where all but 11 percent of males exist in society, and what little there are, are kept in “spas” where they are trained for female pleasure and procreation. Medea, a snake whisperer and witch from the slums who bakes popular “love cakes” made from menstrual blood and then searches for male blood to use in most of her elixirs. Wicca, a young priestess striving for her mother’s approval, and has just lost her pregnant girlfriend. Eva, a doctor working at a “spa” who’s harboring a deep secret of her own. And Silence, a mute living at an abandoned convent with Medea yet holds an air of mystery all her own. All four women’s lives are connected, and tell a story.
This story is presented and compared to a reverse Handmaide’s Tale, but there’s actually very little showcased on the males. And focused mostly on the women with discussions centered around gender roles, religion, and the patriarchy.

This was definitely an interesting read. The synopsis alone drew me in and had me really wanting to read this title. Looking at other reviews, I see many struggled through the text and sentence structure because it is translated from Danish. I didn’t seem to encounter that issue personally.
I am almost always a big fan of dystopian novels, and 11% was no different. I also liked the different POVs from the different female characters. This is a thought provoking read, but could be triggering to some.
I received this title from NetGalley but opinions are my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

*Eleven Percent* offers a compelling exploration of a society where men have almost vanished, and women now dominate, living in a world that superficially promises peace but teeters on a disturbing undercurrent. The story follows the perspectives of four women navigating this matriarchal dystopia, where the few men left are confined to Centers for reproductive purposes.
The men, though central to the world’s structure, are largely absent from the narrative, and the real focus lies in the intricate dynamics between the women and the society they uphold. The book presents a world that leans into extreme biological determinism, portraying men as inherently dangerous and women as inherently nurturing. However, this binary structure is constantly questioned through the characters’ actions and relationships, making for a thought-provoking and uncomfortable read.
The novel doesn’t shy away from addressing the darker aspects of its world. Trans characters face discrimination and harm, and while the story reflects the rigid societal expectations, it doesn’t condone them. I appreciated how each of the four protagonists was given the space to be complex—none of them fit neatly into hero or villain categories. There’s no clean resolution or moral lesson here, which made the ending feel all the more unsettling and powerful.
Overall, *Eleven Percent* is for readers who enjoy dystopias that challenge societal norms and push boundaries. It's not an easy read, both in terms of content and emotional weight, so it's important to go in prepared for some intense themes. If you’re interested in morally ambiguous characters and narratives that make you think, this book is worth picking up.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley.
This is a thought-provoking book. In a future world where power dynamics have been flipped, women are in charge and men live in captivity when they are allowed to live. Although the writing is beautiful, it describes a horrific alternate reality. The characters are well-developed, and I liked how the four different stories ended up intertwined. But that is all I liked; this book made me very uncomfortable.
There is also a lack of trigger warnings, so please be careful if you cannot handle topics such as sexual violence, forced reproduction, death surrounding pregnancy, child abuse, mutilation, involuntary ingestion of bodily fluids, gender-based violence, and animal violence. I am probably forgetting others.
Overall, I am sure it is a good book; it's just not for me.

The patriarchy is long gone. Welcome to a world run by women.
Just, wow! As always thank you to the publishers as well as NetGalley for the ARC. this was such a unique and compelling premise, and I was immediately hooked. I really loved all all the details and explanations for things changing, such as the architecture and religion.
The characters each brought their own story that somehow twisted with everyone else's in a sometimes unpredictable way. I thought they were all well written and interesting.
I just thoroughly enjoyed this read. I don't think this will be everyone's cup of tea but it was so different from anything I've ever read before and I'm going to be thinking about it for a long while...

Eleven Percent is a weird little dystopian novel that felt like nothing else I’ve ever read. Women rule the world and men are kept in captivity until… needed. Nature is reclaiming patriarchal structures, as women are creating new buildings/cities with curves. We learn about four distinct women whose lives intertwine and who share their secrets with us. Thought-provoking, eerie, bizarre – I couldn’t put it down.