Review by Alu on Goodreads — July 14, 2026
I am not going to rate this book because it is raw, dark, and suffocating. This is one of the few books I found myself unable to either like or dislike completely, which is why I can’t give it a rating.
What is this book about?
This book follows a woman equipped with ancestral magic in a world where the powerful feed on the powerless. It deals with themes of male dominance, toxic relationships, rape, subjugation, the treatment of women as property, helplessness, misogyny, and mental health.
I don’t think this book will be for everyone because of how dark and hopeless it becomes, but the reality it portrays is not very far removed from our own. I recommend checking the content warnings before picking it up.
Like many readers, I read books to escape reality, but I came across a world very like ours, and much worse. At times, I was compelled to stop reading because of how bleak it felt and because of the sexual scenes. But I stayed; I felt rage, and by the end I wanted to see the Ginger actually suffer and feel the pain for everything he had done. The Author’s Note should not be missed. It is an important part of the book. I read it after finishing the novel, and I was very much moved by it because of the truth it contained.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Source: Goodreads review by Alu, posted July 14, 2026.
