Queen of the Unwanted

October 14, 2019
The door-stopper second installment of Glass’s feminist dystopian trilogy (after The Women’s War) offers an incisive, if sometimes slogging, exploration of the aftermath of abrupt social change. When the Abbess of Aaltah’s spell swept through all of Seven Wells, women gained the power to control their fertility and avenge rapes by rendering men impotent. Three powerful women rulers navigate this new world order: Princess Alysoon of Women’s Well, the egalitarian rebel community that springs up around the new well of magic; Queen Ellinsoltah of Rhozinolm, whose authority is challenged by patriarchy at home and abroad; and the notorious and ambitious Mother Mairahsol, newly appointed Abbess of Khalpar, whose ascent is tethered to her promise that she will reverse the “Curse” and restore men to power. Glass’s universe is impeccably detailed, but the focus on trade, politics, and marriage may dull the interest of readers hungry for action. This feels more like a stepping stone to the final book than a satisfying story in its own right. Agent: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary.