Compelling, frightening and all too true - Louise Fein's Book of Forbidden Words sent shivers up my spine again and again. History repeats itself - especially when narcissists and fascists seek to eliminate views opposing their own. In this dual timeline story, women living 400 years apart facing oh-so-similiar violent reactions to them exploring opposing viewpoints. Free speech is completely shut down in both timelines: 1550s Europe during the Protestant-Catholic religious wars and 1950s New York during the McCarthy Red-scare. The unnerving part is how this scenario reverberates in today's political climate.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, publisher William Morrow and the author for providing me an ARC copy to read and review. Highly recommend.

A timely and compelling read following the dual timeline of a post WW2 housewife in the McCarthy years and then of a 16th century printer and former nun who are risking everything to imagine a world where dissenting voices (especially those of women) arent silenced. Plucky and prophetic. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.