A review by beckyyreadss
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I decided to read this book because I read the first book for 100 books to read in your lifetime. The first book was brutal so I knew what I was getting myself into. When I finished The Handmaid’s Tale and I saw that she had wrote a second book about these characters, I was instantly intrigued. This book slightly confused me but I just want to give all these characters a hug and therapy.  

This book is still based around The Republic of Gilead and it is beginning to rot from within. At the crucial moment, two girls with radically different experiences of the regime come face to face with the legendary and ruthless Aunt Lydia. But how far will each go for what she believes? The three points of views are Aunt Lydia who is known for being the scary and strict leader, Agnes who is a young woman who has just joined the Gilead and Daisy, a young woman living in Canada.  

I had high expectations for this book and I felt like it fell a bit flat. I think there was a lot of pressure that she had to do well because of how good The Handmaid’s Tale is. I liked The Handmaid’s Tale because of the singular point of view of Offred. Then tension and the buildup. I usually love multiple POVs but with the jumps of location and what was happening, it was very confusing and chaotic. I was hoping this was from Offred’s point of view especially with how the first book ended. I don’t think this really added anything to the first book. 
 
I enjoyed the mystery of this book and the Baby Nicole side of it. I wished this book had stayed with the point of view of Agnes. I felt like her character was so good and I wanted so much from her. Especially with her journey as a young woman and being forced to marry someone she had no interest in being. It shows another point of view from Offred and how one willing comes to Gilead. I loved seeing Aunt Lydia again and seeing how she became the villain in the first book. I would have loved to have seen more of the Pearl Girls; I think that side of the story was interesting at times. 

Was this book needed? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it a difficult read? Yes.  
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