Reviews

Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

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I was really excited for this book because it sounded so unique and I will say that the themes of living under the oppression of patriarchy, bodily autonomy, ambiguity about motherhood, greed of capitalism and more were very interesting to contemplate - but don’t make a coherent story make. There is a lot of infodumping throughout the book, which took me out of the story. And the execution of the plot is also pretty confusing and while I understood some of what was happening, I can’t say the same for the rest. I also didn’t see the whole mashing up of cyberpunk dystopia with folklore coming, but it made for a very interesting conclusion.

Overall, I think this book was much more ambitious than what ultimately ended up on paper, which is why it just couldn’t keep my interest all through. The audiobook was narrated well but I didn’t listen to it completely because I just rushed through the second half of the book to get it over with.

jwelchreads's review

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

Felt very slow & was a tad too descriptive for my liking which kinda made it confusing to me. The last 100 pages really carried the book for me.

Content Warnings

thesarah's review

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

hrrreads's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense

4.0

ryanthegirl's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

4.0

emeraldimp's review

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Library loan ended and I don't think I'll come back to it

eskimonika's review

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ayeitsdaye's review

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"Womb City" by Tlotlo Tsamaase is an emotionally charged and anxiety-inducing journey that proves to be a rewarding read. The prose may hinder the narrative early on, but the overall impact of the story makes this a worthwhile read and a strong debut. Bravo!

Connecting with the main character, famed architect Nelah who lives in a criminal body, took longer than expected, even with shared experiences to pull on. The anticipated depth of emotional turmoil seems overshadowed by Nelah's inclination toward risk-taking as a coping mechanism while being so closely monitored. This recklessness, while propelling the plot forward toward the inevitable, spent too long on floundering one wouldn't expect from a resilient, incredibly intelligent character like Nelah. However, I truly enjoyed her latter development, and most importantly, her rage as she struggles against a system stacked against Black women.

Nelah's stream of consciousness serves as the primary narrative vehicle, demanding effort from the reader. The prose can be a bit of a challenge to navigate, requiring persistence to fully engage with the story.

The afro-dystopian concept presented is executed with thoughtfulness and care, adding a layer of depth to the narrative that is immersive without overwhelming. Tsamaase paints an evocative exploration of the culture and systems at play without overwhelming with description. A more vivid presentation could have enhanced the reader's experience, but would've detracted from the grittiness of the plot.

The final quarter of the book stands out for its balanced pacing and graceful resolution, bringing the narrative together cohesively. Despite its initial challenges, "Womb City" culminates in a satisfying manner that leaves me eager to see Tsamaase's future work.