“Teaching women how to defend themselves against male rapists is not the same as working to change society so that men will not rape.” 🔥🔥🔥

So much is unpacked in this book. No matter who we are, we are living in a racist patriarchal society and it’s hurting us. Hooks lays out the history of feminist and antiracist movements in the US and makes it clear that intersectionality is key. Ignoring the unique position of Black women and other minorities in this dynamic does not a progressive feminist movement make. Even though this was first published in 1981, it is harrowing how many of hooks’ points are still relevant today. We need to do better.

This was a wild ride and I’m just now realizing this is a new release so who knows when we get the final installment 😅 Still enjoying the relationship dynamics of this series a lot. IMO Robinson stands out in the genre for not only supporting women’s wrongs (definitely not saying Vassa and the others are not justified in their choices but damn these women do not hold back 🔥) but also building believable and supportive female friendships around the MC. Also also the romance with the MMC does not hold Vassa back. He isn’t afraid of her Machiavellian schemes, violent tendencies, or her general power and (minor spoiler) it gets him off. It’s refreshing to read characters who don’t shy from themselves or their darkness, and I’ll be eager to see how the series ends.

The dynamic between Vaasa and Reid is so well done and I really enjoyed that aspect. The world building was interesting although sometimes hard to follow, and the ending was RUDE (major cliffhanger) so maybe have the second book handy if you wanna read this 😂 but yeah I’m invested let’s go