The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley

The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley
UK Publication: 21^st June 2023
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★★]

This ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster UK (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Read this one with the lights on and the news switched off.

Synopsis from Goodreads: In Oceania, whoever you are, Big Brother is always watching you and trust is a luxury that no one has. Julia is the seemingly perfect example of what women in Oceania should be: dutiful, useful, subservient, meek. But Julia hides a secret. A secret that would lead to her death if it is discovered. For Julia is part of the underground movement called The Sisterhood, whose main goal is to find members of The Brotherhood, the anti-Party vigilante group, and help them to overthrow Big Brother. Only then can everyone be truly free.

When Julia thinks she’s found a potential member of The Brotherhood, it seems like their goal might finally be in their grasp. But as she gets closer to Winston Smith, Julia’s past starts to catch up with her and we soon realise that she has many more secrets than we’d first imagined – and that overthrowing Big Brother might cost her everything – but if you have nothing left to lose then you don’t mind playing the game . . .

This is a story about love, about family, about being a woman, a mother, a sister, a friend and ultimately about what you would sacrifice for the greater good.

My Thoughts: A feminist retelling of 1984 hell yeah sign me up for that.

This book did not disappoint from the brilliant cover design the Handmaid’s Red combined with Big Brother’s eye in what could be a Hunger Games Mockingjay colour me impressed.

I have seen reviews complain that this book borrows too much from 1984 but for me that was a plus, having read and been scared by 1984 I was totally on-board for a retelling from a new viewpoint. The beauty of Orwell’s work is that he doesn’t do much world building or explaining and that is where Bradley takes over, while following our old friend Winston, Bradley gives us insights into how Oceania came into being, how thought control has developed and how in a genius twist 1984 is still the nightmare reality we are sleep walking towards.

The book is taut, atmospheric and scary because the future is not guaranteed for any of the characters and Big Brother is a truly malign presence in Oceania.

Who would like this? I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates dystopian fiction, who likes strong female characters and those who are awake enough to see the direction we are currently travelling.

We want to hear from you! Have you read this book? What did you think?