I was thinking about writing this review all the way while I listened to the audiobook, but at the moment it ended, I felt so relieved and free so I kind of let it go.

First of all, the narrator — Lizzie Wofford — is truly divine and gorgeously talented, I do love her narration. It is the main reason I didn't DNF this book.

As to the rest of this book — well... it is solid fanfiction with all elements that traditionally can adorn any fanfiction ("there is only one bed" was overused — three times?.. that's thrice too many, but whatever, I suppose) and it would be an absolute hit for thousands of fanfiction readers. Some things should be left at ao3 or any other website of your choice. Publish it as a book without thoughtful editing by an editor who can salvage it from fanfiction resources? It was a mistake.

For some reason, the author decided to make nearly every single scene a tear-jerking drama with a volcano of exhausting raw emotions, which makes the whole book so unbearably eye-rolling. Certainly, Greek mythology and Iliad and Odyssey are quite gory and cruel, but there is no way all violence in this book was necessary. The perpetual drama of the main character is really exhausting. However, it is almost cute but in the "oh my sweet summer child" way.

All characters are cardboard: like one with a glossy finish on the front and a rough gray backside, so we have a bunch of people who have only one significant feature and do not change for the whole 17 hours. I cannot distinguish handmaidens even if you put a knife to my throat, and they talk like instagram pop-psychologists: what the heck do you mean by repetition of a phrase "just choose to be happy"? That's just ridiculous. Another phrase: "The world is ugly but you are beautiful" — all MCR fans raised their eyebrows — it would be so huge in a fanfic, I'm telling you. Actually, I can easily imagine plenty of this book's quotes in fanart on social media, it's just great for teenage fandom creativity.

But again, characters are one-dimensional as are the ideas and their representation. Okay, all men are dumb cruel monsters, but can you elaborate and show it with more shades and depths? This feminist summer camp heaven is just so lifeless and plain, why not add more sparks in it? Show me they are people and not paper dolls.

I have questions about the plot, too (what the handmaidens do except drinking wine and gossiping? why did they suddenly forget about the prophecy? why is a woman equal to a literal slave?, etc), but I will keep treating it not like plot holes but as ventilation openings.