Review: The Women Could Fly

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ah, my friends! This book is so good for the soul!

Such a moving, thought-provoking novel that drew me into a unique, fascinating world.

The story introduces us to 28-year-old Jo, whose mother disappeared fourteen years ago. Unfortunately, this combined with her black skin makes her a prime suspect for being a witch, leading to discrimination and the constant hounding from her father to ensure she's married (and therefore under the careful watch of a man) before she turns 30 (it's a long story).

That's a very brief, unworthy description and there is a lot more to unpack that drags you deep into this world of injustice. Yet it's never too much; the words are eloquent and precise so there's nothing superfluous - every sentence has meaning.

I really loved how much this got me thinking without trying too hard. The story presents the themes and deals with them realistically, and we're left to make our own assumptions and feel our own feelings. GOD I FELT FEELINGS.

There is a large focus on witchcraft, obviously, but the main focus is freedom. I loved how this novel delved into the meaning of freedom, and explored the limitations of freedom that comes with conditions.

I honestly don't know how to properly convey the affect this story had on me. It was whimsical and fun, sad, honest, diverse, thought-provoking, and uplifting.

This is a witchy tale of feminism and freedom and easily one of the most moving novels I've read this year. Highly recommend.

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