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| Coming to Amazon in March 2019
About a month ago, I read Tribe of Daughters by Kate L. Mary and was totally blown away by the concept, theme, characters and plot based on a future world where women, not men, rule. I was keen to read more by this talented, award-winning author and didn’t hesitate one second to snatch up The Book of David. Just like that previous book, I couldn’t put this one down.
Reading well into the night until I finished the book 48 hours later, I was mesmerized by Willow Sands, a beautiful young woman born into a cult where men are everything and women’s only purpose in life is to serve men’s needs; where women must wait till the men have been fed and their dishes washed before women can eat; and where girls are betrothed when they turn 15, and on the night of the betrothal, the fiancee, with the cult-leader’s blessing is allowed to have his way with the 15-year-old. From that night onwards, she belongs to him but they will not mate again until they marry when she turns 18. The punishment for social interaction with any other males keeps women submissive, wary and afraid. Mothers and daughters alike are abused and don’t dare step out of line.
Willow’s betrothal night horrifies her but she can’t even talk to her mother about it. An attempt to escape the compound brings death to those who try to help her and subjects her to inhumane punishment once she is recaptured. 3 years later, working in compound hospital, she meets Jared. What follows is a touching story of stolen moments and dreams of escape against all odds. Do they succeed? If you’ve been sexually abused or suffered under male domination, as I have, you won’t be able to stop reading until you find out if good can win in a world that bad.
Kate L. Mary is one of those writers who is able to keep readers glued to the story despite much narration and reflection. She writes in the present tense, giving the book immediacy, handling it perfectly and leaving readers hungry for more. In the current “me too” climate, The Book of David is timely and will be understood and appreciated by female victims of sexual, physical and mental abuse. But don’t be surprised if you come away angry, that despite all the advances society is making toward gender equality, there are still far too many societies, religions and cultures who live according to principles similar to those found in The Book of David. Changes can’t happen soon enough!
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Book Reviews: THE BOOK OF DAVID by Kate L. Mary
Book Review: TRIBE OF DAUGHTERS by Kate L. Mary
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| Tribe of Daughters by Kate L. Mary |
Never have I read a book like Tribe of Daughters by Kate L. Mary. Everything about this science fiction novel…the possibilities, the plot, the characters, the physical, mental, sexual and cultural concepts and the writing style fired my imagination and compelled me to keep reading page after page until the book was finished. An electrifying read…and that’s saying something for a person who isn’t all that into dystopian science fiction.
We’re all familiar with the adage “It’s a man’s world”. But what happens when it’s a woman’s world? That’s the world Jameson and several other men find themselves captured and dragged into by a group of Amazonian women warriors, members of a 70-year-old mountain village ruled, if necessary, by deadly female force. Men, like male worker bees are useful only for cleaning out animal pens and having sex on demand with females ready to bear children. Male offspring from such couplings, called “yieldlings” are dismissed, when barely weaned, to the male section of the village to grow up not knowing their parents. Female children are prized, taught survival skills and become the village’s hunters, guardians and rulers.
Naturally, Jameson’s thoughts are on escape from word go, but when he witnesses what happens to those who attempt to do so, he decides to bide his time. What follows once Jameson is selected to wed and bed Wilderness, daughter of the tribe’s female leader, messes up his plans which didn’t include falling in love with Wilderness. Over time, both Wilderness and Jameson find themselves questioning what they’ve believed for years as they learn what love really is from each other and to Wilderness’ surprise, from her parents. Forget about Tribe of Daughters being science fiction: above all else, it’s a beautiful love story between a man and a woman, and between human beings and nature.
There is so much more I could say about Tribe of Daughters but doing so would spoil readers’ enjoyment of this marvellous story. I want those who read this review to experience the book for themselves. It surprised me no end to read Kate L. Mary’s comments at the back of the book where she said her agent had been unable to secure her a publishing deal. Tribe of Daughters is unique! Mary’s writing style is straightforward, uses plenty of dialogue, and has superb, but not overly long descriptions to capture the almost etherial atmosphere of the settings. Characters are well-developed and believable. Best of all, the story is so emotionally moving as well as intellectually stimulating, it’s just begging for not only a publishing deal but perhaps even a movie contract. Tribe of Daughters would be mesmerizing on the big screen. Perhaps what Kate L. Mary needs is a female publisher in our otherwise male-dominated corporate world! I hope she finds one. She deserves it. And I’m a “forever fan” of her writing!
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