Pax in the Land of Women

Pax in the Land of Women by Monica La Porta

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

In a word: Awesome! The series of Ginecea is one of the best that I have read in a long time. If it wasn't for minor things like work, or eating and sleeping, I would have devoured this book in one sitting.


La Porta has created a world where men are slaves and women are in power. The religion has women believing that men aren't necessary for conception and that women should only marry women. They have facilitated this myth with strategically placed fertility clinics around Ginecea that keep only good male specimes for sperm donors. Pure bred women have two mothers and the lower class of fathered women are kept around for maids and such. The author has done a wonderful job of bringing this world to life along with its characters. Pax, the granddaughter of Rosie from the first novel The Priest, who has been rich and spoiled, has her eyes opened to the real world when she is sent to a work farm for the summer. Here she realizes the truth about how workers are treated and falls in love with Prince. After escaping to the desert and the City of Men she learns the truth about her existence.

The series of Ginecea covers so many burning topics that our own society deals with. And seeing them from an opposite perspective brings so much to light. The world could definitely do with more love regardless of the sexual preferences of those that are in love. Who are we to say what is right for someone else. Not to mention how easy it is for those in power to be corrupt in order to not only remain in power but to force their views on others.

Slavery of any race or gender for any reason is brutal and degrading. Even if those being enslaved are provided for it is still demeaning. But it is so hard to fight against a system that insists on keeping the public ignorant of the truth.

Overall, I loved this book as well as the first one in this series. This book had so much to offer: love, fear, hate, and friendship just to begin. I cried in several places and I rarely find a book good enough to make me cry. The love between Rosie and Mauricio was just heartbreaking. There was also the relationship between Pax and her mothers. It was so complicated and you could tell they were all torn about what was best for each other. The relationships between the characters was such an important part of this story and you could definitely understand how they felt. I would recommend it to anyone with an open mind that loves a good alternate universe/dystopia. Awesome!



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