"Silenced" is a powerful modern fairy tale that intertwines elements of fantasy and reality to address pressing contemporary issues. The narrative follows four women—Jo, Abony, Ranjani, and Maia—who have each been cursed by their workplace's CEO after he abused his power to prey on them. These curses serve to silence them, preventing them from speaking out about the abuse they endured. Drawing from deep-rooted folkloric traditions, the novel explores themes of voice, identity, and the transformative power of solidarity among women. Reviews Kirkus Reviews describes the novel as a "bleak yet darkly funny story that dissects with compassion and wit the reality of 'reality TV' and the fantasy of escaping eco-catastrophe by moving to another planet." I've Read This praises Willis's storytelling, noting that the characters are "so compelling to read about, and they find themselves in the wackiest situation it was just screaming out for a longer treatment." Waterstones highlights the novel's originality, with Ann Hood stating, "Girlfriend on Mars blew my mind! This is one of the most original novels I've read in a long time."
Book Title: Silenced - Ann ClaycombBook Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Feminism, Magic, Retellings, Contemporary, Fairy TalesISBN: 9781803360584Number of Pages: 352Publishing Date: April 25, 2023Cover Type: Paperback
