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Anna

Sammy H.K. Smith (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 79 ratings · 65 reviews

A chilling feminist novel set in a near-future dystopia, Anna explores the conflicts between selfhood and expectations, safety and control, and the sacrifices we make for the sake of protection.

Beaten. Branded. Defiant.

Anna is a possession. She is owned by the man named Will, shielded from the world of struggles by his care. He loves her, protects her, and then breaks her. ...more

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Hardcover, 300 pages

Expected publication: May 25th 2021 by Solaris

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· 79 ratings · 65 reviews

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Mar 10, 2021 Talia Soloman rated it it was amazing

CW: rape, sexual assault, violence, slavery (?)
SPOILERS BELOW

This is going to be long. I’m sorry. I have so much to write.

First off, I’d heard mixed things about this novel on some reading sites. It was either something readers were loving or they couldn’t connect and didn’t understand why it was written and felt it was boring.

I understand.

As a survivor of abuse myself this book really hit home with me and I researched the author and understand how she writes this subject matter with such pe ...more

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Mar 08, 2021 Susan's Reviews rated it it was ok

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I'm going to state right now that if you don't like spoilers and frank speaking, don't read any further.

The first half of this novel was a tough, tense read. We knew what was coming. We foolishly hoped Anna would find a way to escape, but the blurb for this novel already intimated that Anna's fate was sealed.

Sammy H.K Smith did a very good job of maintaining a constant state of dread durin ...more

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Mar 09, 2021 Tixie Dean rated it it was amazing

I've waited a few days before writing this review as the book stayed with me for the longest time. I think what the author has done here is write something so focused on the main character and her road to recovery that it can appear other parts have been neglected and so initially I was going to rate 3 stars, but let me explain to y'all why I don't think that's the case here.

It's only when I found myself replaying the story in my mind and her comments and actions that I realised this is all abou I've waited a few days before writing this review as the book stayed with me for the longest time. I think what the author has done here is write something so focused on the main character and her road to recovery that it can appear other parts have been neglected and so initially I was going to rate 3 stars, but let me explain to y'all why I don't think that's the case here.

It's only when I found myself replaying the story in my mind and her comments and actions that I realised this is all about the MC Anna/Kate and how she deals with the violence and abuse in part 1. At times her thoughts are chaotic and move from desperate and monotone, to crazed and sure with confidence and purpose and this is really evident in part 3. One minute she is driven, the next being sick. This is a victim who is facing her demons. Her character is passive and doesn't react aggressively to confrontation and so I wasn't expecting a grandiose ending. What I got was strength and a sense of unbeatable satisfaction.

I spoke about neglected aspects. The reader isn't told much about the world or the 'rules' of such, but that's ok. We know enough to get a feel for the atmosphere and it allows us to focus on who matters - Anna. The plotline with her husband doesn't appear to be a plotline other than *spoilers* she told the reader that they had marital issues and eventually admits she had an affair. It gave us another sense of who she was as the guilt she carries about this starts to lift by part 3 and whatever punishment she thought she deserved she realises she doesn't. It was a nice addition that further rounded the character off.

I particularly liked a few characters in part 2. The small boy was an complete delight and the author captured a broken child who has seen horrific and numbing things and cannot process these, and the abusive Councilman and his husband show that abuse is still prevalent even in a supposed idyllic community.

I loved the changes in pace and tone for the three parts of the book. Part 1 is close, brutal, and dark. We feel everything Anna feels and it's shocking. Y'all, I put the book down more times than I can recall and cried at the scene in the bedroom. It was so impactive and visceral. It was written too well in places and I commend the author for this.
Part 2 is quieter and gave me time to get my bearings and understand what's going on. We are reading this through Anna's eyes and she is dealing with a trauma and the consequences of what happened in part 1 and building new relationships and learning to socialise and trust. She thinks she's found somewhere safe but we soon realise, through meetings and conservations, that this paradise is just as dark and aggressive as the world outside the gates and peace and decent humanity isn't something we can force. A nice snippet of social commentary.
Part 3 and back to the unlands. The cycle was fantastic and y'all there's a scene in the rain that is shocking and beautiful and haunting and so literary that i'm not sure this can be classed as a dystopian novel. This is literary fiction with symbolism through and through.

Don't read this expecting it be a fast-paced book with action on every page. Or for the main character to progress and grow at a predictable rate. There isn't action everywhere. She doesn't grow with clockwork authority. She's a victim healing from abuse and like any of us she'll have good days and bad.

This book is a triumphant piece of literary fiction exploring the journey of a victim and how they recapture life after their trauma. ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Shalini Boland rated it it was amazing

Oh wow!! Gripping and haunting, Anna is an intense and powerful page-turner. Set against a dystopian backdrop where women are treated as property, the plot deals with abuse, power, identity and feminism. The story dives straight into the action when Anna, who has been surviving on her own for a couple of years, is captured by a stranger.

This book pulls no punches. It’s uncomfortable at times. There is no soft lens for the reader to squint behind. We’re shown the terrifying workings of a psychopa ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 T.O. Munro rated it it was amazing

I've just finished this ARC and will write (and link) a full review for the fantasy-hive in due course. ...more

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Feb 11, 2021 Kris Richards rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC of this and wow, it didn't disappoint.
I've read Smith's work before, but this is the next level

*TRIGGER WARNING* - this is not an easy read and nor is this a love story. This is a story that deals with abuse, identity, and a craving for normality when everything is falling apart. Our main character is alone and dealing with the fallout of a world war while fighting for survival in a harsh world where laws and society have crumbled. Unfortunately she is captured and becomes the I received an ARC of this and wow, it didn't disappoint.
I've read Smith's work before, but this is the next level

*TRIGGER WARNING* - this is not an easy read and nor is this a love story. This is a story that deals with abuse, identity, and a craving for normality when everything is falling apart. Our main character is alone and dealing with the fallout of a world war while fighting for survival in a harsh world where laws and society have crumbled. Unfortunately she is captured and becomes the property of a man who calls himself Will/Daniel who convinces himself he loves her and that she loves him. He is abusive, controlling, gas lighting and narcissistic. I think it would be fair to call him a psychopath.

Anna is the opposite. She hides her true self to remain compliant and has to repeatedly remind herself not to fight back, not to make him angry, not to do anything that might anger him – else she could die.

This is a story about survival in the rawest forms. What we do to survive, how we survive and how it affects us.
The first person narration is uncomfortable at times. We see our main character fall apart in front of us and slowly rebuild into someone new. Their scars and pain clear to all who they might meet.

I liked the way this was broken down into three parts and in each part we see a different side to Anna and the world she lives in. The ‘accompanying cast’ of characters are cleverly layered and rich with their own backstories and pain.

The first person narration is uncomfortable at times. We see our main character fall apart in front of us and slowly rebuild into someone new. Their scars and pain clear to all who they might meet.

The dystopia was an added bonus. It allowed the novel an indulgent quality without distracting from the story. The world has been at war and in part 2 we learn a little as to why and what happened through the stories of townspeople. It’s subtle, but well thought out.

I can't really discuss the plot without spoilers, but part 3 had me on the edge of my seat and I spent hours turning each page, willing for the resolution Anna deserved.

The language is beautiful, almost poetic in some scenes, and this is absolutely a novel for those who enjoy strong female characters who don’t immediately show their strength.

I was thinking about this long after I finished it. ...more

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Mar 05, 2021 Anneke rated it did not like it

Shelves: netgalley-read

Book Review: Anna
Author: Sammy HK Smith
Publisher: Rebellious/Solaris
Publication Date: May 25, 2021
Review Date: March 5, 2021

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the blurb:
“A chilling feminist novel set in a near-future dystopia, Anna explores the conflicts between selfhood and expectations, safety and control, and the sacrifices we make for the sake of protection.

Beaten. Branded. Defiant.

Anna is a possession. She is owned by the man named Will ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 30, 2021 Simone rated it it was amazing

A thrilling dystopian tale of feminine strength in the face of violence.
We follow Anna's tale so closely that we experience all the emotion and hopelessness with her. It's far too visceral and real in places and as a woman I empathised so powerfully with Anna.

The writing is smooth and the pace pleasing. Part two offers a different shift - we move from the story of abuse to one of healing and yet we see an idyllic town of dreams and supposed utopia is actually as dark and deadly as the world bef ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 G.R. Matthews rated it it was amazing

Review on Fantasy-Faction

The Government has fallen, society is broken, and to survive in the land you need to be intelligent, cunning, and tough. Above that though, you need to be watchful.

The towns and cities are walled communities which protect those within and distrust those without. Each maintains a small armed force, and there are those who traverse the wilderness between them; bringing news, trading, and forming a tenuous network.

Anna was watchful. She was careful. It wasn’t enough.

Which i ...more

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Mar 09, 2021 Meicha Miller rated it it was amazing

A strong dystopian novel concentrating on abuse and strength.

There's a sense of disquietude in this novel that I find really unsettling and on reflection it makes me more uncomfortable. This is set in a near future but I feel it could happen right now to someone I know, which makes it harder to read.
We go from starting in the forest, to horrific violence and darkness, to utopia then darkness, to the forest again. I loved that cycle.

Pacing was unusual. Close and steady at the start as her abuser ...more

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Mar 04, 2021 S. Naomi Scott rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, arcs, small-press-and-indie, women-authors

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review. My thanks to Rebellion Publishing for giving me this opportunity.

This review may contain spoilers.

Okay, first things first: the content warnings. This book covers some pretty violent topics, including sexual violence, rape, enslavement, and torture, and a lot of that happens in the first third of the story. Suffice to say, this book may not be for every My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review. My thanks to Rebellion Publishing for giving me this opportunity.

This review may contain spoilers.

Okay, first things first: the content warnings. This book covers some pretty violent topics, including sexual violence, rape, enslavement, and torture, and a lot of that happens in the first third of the story. Suffice to say, this book may not be for everyone.

I have to admit, this was not an easy book to get to grips with, mainly because of those elements mentioned above. That said, there’s something about the way the story is presented that makes it compelling; we want to know how the titular character copes with the hardships she’s forced to endure at the start of the story, or if she can get away from the man who’s making her life a misery. Along the way, we’re given glimpses into a world where the normal rules of civilised behaviour seem to have been well and truly abandoned, and left with a sense that this is how the world is now. If you need a good example of a dystopian future, you could do worse than the first twelve chapters of this book.

Set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia, the story starts with Anna’s capture, and explores the way she is broken down by her captor through violence, humiliation, and emotional abuse. We’re told the entire story from Anna’s point of view, and have to watch helplessly from the sidelines as her will to fight is gradually eroded by the brutal treatment of a man who claims he just wants to love and care for her.

Through Anna’s eyes, we get to see the lives of other people, and witness how they’ve adapted to the collapse of society around them, how they’ve learned to do whatever is necessary to survive in a world seemingly without rules. And we find ourselves being worn down just as much as Anna by the apparent lack of a way out of this hellish parody of civilisation. The final nail in the coffin for Anna is the moment she realises she’s pregnant with her abuser’s child.

Fortunately, by the end of the first part of the narrative things take a turn for the batter. Escaping her captivity, Anna becomes Kate and finds her way to a more humane settlement. This is a town where people work together, where the houses have power, and heat, and in some cases running water. Welcomed into the town by the inhabitants, a heavily pregnant Kate slowly overcomes her fear and distrust and gradually becomes a productive member of society once again, taking charge of the town’s library, and helping with the implementation of a school for the local kids. And just as she’s beginning to take the safety and comfort for granted, the dark-eyed abuser from the first part of the novel comes back into her life.

As I’ve already mentioned, despite the dark tone and gut-wrenchingly brutal narrative, there’s something seriously compelling about this book. The way we’re so intimately inside Anna/Kate’s head throughout the story makes it our story as well. We suffer as she suffers, and view everyone she meets with the same trepidation and paranoia. But we also get to watch as she rebuilds her confidence, and can’t help but cheer her on as she digs deep inside herself for the strength she needs to overcome the forces ranged against her. We want Anna/Kate to succeed, because if she fails, then we’ve failed as well. And that’s where this book works so well.

It’s one hell of a ride, but it’s a ride worth taking. A solid four and a half stars for this one, and a strong hope that there’s a sequel so I can find out if Simon gets what’s coming to him, and if Rich ever gets his picnic. ...more

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Feb 14, 2021 John Dodd rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Content warning for Sexual and Physical violence

I got a free advance copy of Sammy HK Smith’s Anna, and while I finished it on the day that I started reading it, Sammy wanted me to hold back the review till nearer the time for release.

I held…

Wasn’t easy…

Anna begins with an assault, and then an imprisonment, and what can only be described as torture. This is not torture in the pulling fingernails out sort of way, this instead is the steady erosion of confidence and the lack of control where you’r ...more

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Apr 06, 2021 Tasha rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley-kindle-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Netgalley preview copy in exchange for an honest review.

So this is a post-apocalyptic world where communities have fallen apart after a world war and coup has taken place. We meet our main character and narrator Anna. She is living in the Unlands alone (not inside a community) and avoids the towns/cities where the communities have set up because bad things happen there. Unfortunately she is caught by an Enforcer who enslaves and brands her as his. The first volume of the book is about her relati Netgalley preview copy in exchange for an honest review.

So this is a post-apocalyptic world where communities have fallen apart after a world war and coup has taken place. We meet our main character and narrator Anna. She is living in the Unlands alone (not inside a community) and avoids the towns/cities where the communities have set up because bad things happen there. Unfortunately she is caught by an Enforcer who enslaves and brands her as his. The first volume of the book is about her relationship with her abuser and it is bleak. Props to Smith for not writing in graphic detail the rape scenes (male writers take note) but the emotion and fall out of this abuse is so well written it is hard to read. It is so realistic I almost put the book down and DNF as I don't really need to read about domestic and sexual abuse with the consequences in fiction.

Volume two of the book Anna has escaped her captive and made it to walled in community. She is unsurprisingly pregnant from her abuser. We follow her making a life for herself there and trying to hide her massive brand on her back. As a survivor she doesn't want anyone to know her history or judge her so doesn't divulge her past. Again, scarily accurate of some survivor stories and Anna's torment is well described by Smith here. However, it is building up to her abuser coming to the community after hunting her down through his enforcer contacts. Even then she doesn't mention to her community who he is and everyone loves him; again scarily accurate to real life where the victim isn't believed as the abuser is nice to everyone else.

The last part of the book is Anna deciding to leave her newborn baby and run away, luring her abuser after her, to murder him. The plan works, she kills him, it's all very tense. Then the book ends. Anna mentions that it will be difficult for her to return to the community when her abuser's friends work in the town and that it will be hard to reclaim her baby. However we don't get to see that redemption. All this world building of a woman dealing with abuse and then she gets no closure was a let down in my opinion.

Overall a good read but nothing spectacular in the genre. I will say it is refreshing to have a female writer delve into the psychological aspect of domestic and sexual abuse within this setting, Smith is a policewoman so maybe has resources to pull from. The novel hints at religion and patriarchy in the downfall of society and the impacts on the community afterwards. There are a couple of gay characters, maybe for representation, both are in abusive relationships which is disappointing to see.

The devolvement of society to it's basest instincts and the impact on women is beginning to wear a little thin in the post-apocalyptic genre for me. I don't want to keep reading about how unsafe I would be in that world when it's already a reality today. ...more

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Apr 05, 2021 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, netgalley, dystopia, 2021-free-reads, uk

'Anna is a survivor. After society has broken down, her husband has been conscripted, she's fallen out with her parents, the bombs fell and everything went horribly wrong, she hid out in the wilds for two years, living on her wits and what she could find. Then suddenly she's lost her freedom, caught, shackled and branded by Will who is determined to make her love him. It could be worse. Other captives are used for sex, as a reward to those who help their captors or as an incentive for good behav 'Anna is a survivor. After society has broken down, her husband has been conscripted, she's fallen out with her parents, the bombs fell and everything went horribly wrong, she hid out in the wilds for two years, living on her wits and what she could find. Then suddenly she's lost her freedom, caught, shackled and branded by Will who is determined to make her love him. It could be worse. Other captives are used for sex, as a reward to those who help their captors or as an incentive for good behaviour. Will is violent, controlling and abusive and when she gets her chance, she runs to set herself up in a seemingly quite civilised community.

As a post societal breakdown dystopia, Anna's world is sketched very lightly. We don't really get an insight into what happened or why - or at least, not a clear one. Many things work more or less as before; many others don't. Exploitation of women in times of conflict or short supply is not unusual; we see it all the time in our not yet dystopian world today. I felt often that I'd missed out on quite a bit chunk of society's backstory.

I also found only the one clue that this particular world is the UK. This was when the protagonist puts a 50p piece into a telescope. I'd have liked a few more references to where she was supposed to be.

The pace is good. We don't spend too long in any of Anna's worlds but we get the sense of menace that she can run but she can't hide. Her self-preservation tendencies reminded me of a Katniss Everdean character and I understood her reluctance to get too involved in her community. I'm not sure I understood her pursuer's ability to pass himself off as a half-decent human being whilst doing his utmost to win her back.

On the whole, it's a pretty good book although the ending felt a bit rushed and one feature of the ending - let's just call it the 'grave' so as not to give too much away - seemed to defy the science of decay and left me a bit confused.

As a small point of observation, Anna spends far more time sniffing everything and commenting to herself on smells than any creature who isn't a labrador could be expected to do. I'm often bugged by authors knocking on about people's eyes but in this case the over-obsession with smells got a bit irritating.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy. ...more

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Feb 26, 2021 Sorcha O'Dowd rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sociology-psychological-abuse, adult, standalones, book-case-read, books-i-own, future-dystopian, paperback, read-2021, dark, proof-copies

I JUST HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS, OK?! 😭😭

Full Review.

Content Warnings: Please read the content warnings before reading this book. It is an emotionally tough book, and deals with triggering subjects in explicit detail. TW: Rape, physical, domestic, emotional and mental abuse.

‘Anna’ is a sucker-punch of a novel that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s taken a few days for me to put my thoughts to paper, as this book really takes you through the ringer. With all the hard-h I JUST HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS, OK?! 😭😭

Full Review.

Content Warnings: Please read the content warnings before reading this book. It is an emotionally tough book, and deals with triggering subjects in explicit detail. TW: Rape, physical, domestic, emotional and mental abuse.

‘Anna’ is a sucker-punch of a novel that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s taken a few days for me to put my thoughts to paper, as this book really takes you through the ringer. With all the hard-hitting emotions (and there are a lot of them) that this book induces in you, it is nothing short of brilliant.
A haunting novel set in a near-future dystopia where women are property and men hold the power, our protagonist, Anna has survived alone for two years in the wilderness called the ‘unlands’ before being captured by Will, and becomes his possession.
‘Anna’ is an emotionally wrenching read as Anna is abused physically, emotionally and mentally, and being inside her head can make this a tough read at times. Sammy H.K. Smith pitches Anna perfectly and the gradual disassociation we witness in Anna’s inner monologue as she turns inward on herself to avoid the external during her trauma, was heartbreaking and chilling to read. I kept reading late into the night, desperate to see the glimmers of strength she had forgotten she had, but becomes reacquainted with as she journeys her road to recovery throughout the novel. To me this is above all a tale of inner strength and discovery of oneself when you realise this strength.
I was so emotionally invested in Anna’s journey, and was desperate to see her continue to fight in order to keep and gain her own identity. Even when I could see how exhausted it made her, I just wanted her to find what was best for her, and become beholden to no-one but herself.
The psychological elements were, to me, pitched to perfection. Whilst at times an uncomfortable read, due to the severity of abuse that Anna is put through, the realistic depiction of trauma grief and recovery was spot on, and also highlighted how different this journey can be for everyone.
A completely unpredictable story that will horrify, strengthen, break your heart, patch it up and shatter it all over again. Dark, gut-wrenching, emotional, and hopeful, Anna is a triumph in feminist fiction.

...more

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Apr 05, 2021 Merrit Townsend rated it liked it

I received an eARC from Rebellion Publishing/Solaris Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation other than the ebook.

******* TRIGGER WARNING******** There is a lot of violence within this book including rape and abuse. If these aspects bother you, I would seriously consider not reading this book.

This book follows Anna who is trying to live and survive within this war torn world. Women are considered property if they are captured and marked with so ...more

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Feb 15, 2021 Steven Guscott rated it it was amazing

Sammy HK Smiths first book, In Search of Gods and Heroes was a delectable treat of multiple plot lines and numerous intriguing characters. Anna’s style is very much the opposite, and is homage to Smith’s diverse writing skills.

Smith keeps the plot very focused and tight, and the character pool small compared to her previous work. Yet, the journey is as rewarding with its in-depth look into a few characters. It’s a story that follows Anna through a savage world where society has broken down, and ...more

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Feb 17, 2021 Nicky Browne rated it it was amazing

A suspenseful read that explores the implications of abuse against the background of a broken and brutalised society. In the Unlands women are enslaved, traded and subject to exactly the kind of exploitation and violence that you might expect. The first person narrator adopts the pseudonym 'Anna' as she is captured and 'broken' by a man who brands and impregnates her and strips her of the sense of self she does not recover until she escapes to a more civilised community.
Violence is never far b ...more

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Feb 11, 2021 Brittany Sauls rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

CW: sexual and domestic violence

Anna is a near future dystopia about a woman trying to survive alone in a world where society has completely fallen apart and people live in small, often brutal communities. It starts with Anna being taken captive by an unknown man, what she suffers at his hands and mostly centers on her escape and struggle to recover and reclaim her life and identity for herself. It is dark, thrilling, ultimately triumphant and kept me on the edge of my seat reading, and has sat ...more

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Feb 03, 2021 Emma Nelson rated it it was amazing

If there was ever a book that should be made into an edge of your seat, nail gripping thriller movie- its Anna!
I demolished this book in one night - turning the pages into the early morning.

Anna is set in a post-apocalyptic world where women are 'owned' by men. We first meet Anna in the woods, where she is captured by Daniel/Will who claims to love her and will protect her from other men. Anna is not her real name and neither do we know Daniel/Will's real name as he changes it based upon the peo ...more

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Apr 18, 2021 Amy Burt rated it really liked it

Anna isn’t an easy read, but from the synopsis and even the tag line on the cover: Beaten. Branded. Defiant, that is rather obvious and because of that, you can’t say you enjoyed it, in the sense that the emotional, physical and sexual abuse of both men and women in the book will outrage you. But it is a very good book, well written, compelling, tense and with a brilliant protagonist and worth sticking with.

Anna essentially is broken into 3 acts: when she is caught, when she has escaped, and whe Anna isn’t an easy read, but from the synopsis and even the tag line on the cover: Beaten. Branded. Defiant, that is rather obvious and because of that, you can’t say you enjoyed it, in the sense that the emotional, physical and sexual abuse of both men and women in the book will outrage you. But it is a very good book, well written, compelling, tense and with a brilliant protagonist and worth sticking with.

Anna essentially is broken into 3 acts: when she is caught, when she has escaped, and when he finds her again and what happens. In the first act, you mean ‘Anna’, a wanderer after the world has broken down, where society, economy and order has crashed and survival and basic want/needs prevails. Anna lost her husband 2 years earlier when he was conscripted and died in war, she is estranged from her family she feels betrayed by and living and hiding in the wilderness, not knowing she is his prey until he captures her. This first act is brutal, Anna is humiliated, beaten, raped by a man who goes by many names but I’ll settle with Will here. This book will be hugely triggering for many and I hope when the book is published this is explicitly clear. Will isn’t just physically abusive, he is is emotionally manipulative, he deprives Anna of food/water to punish her while also saying he is there to protect her, he sexually assaults her but is tender when it comes to her period, he turns his abuse around and blames her for making him do it. It’s a story that many women (and men) will identify with sadly and Anna isn’t the only victim to this abuse in this story.Anna remains defiant, clinging to herself while he tries to snatch it from her, vowing to escape and when she finds out she is pregnant, she seizes the opportunity to escape his grasp.
In the 2nd act, Anna becomes ‘Kate’, found and accepted into a community and carrying Will’s baby. Kate is trying to rebuild her life with the trauma of her past, not just Will but of her family and marriage. The pacing slows down here, cold shower slow to be honest, there will be a lot of community meetings, council talks, it’s a little disorienting until finally, act 3, Will resurfaces and the life Kate has tried to build starts to tumble around her and she has to protect herself and her baby.

It initially frustrates me how much was left unsaid by the end of the book. We don’t know Anna’s real name or what she wanted to name her baby or what happens to the community she found solace in. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. ‘Anna’ has everything taken from her but ultimately her name was only hers, Will never got to claim that and to the end, this part of Anna remains untouched, as does the identity of her son. When so much is taken from ‘Anna’, she has this final control. And then it made sense.

Will is a brutal character and you will hate him and yet I appreciated the humanity teased into his character. There is so much we don’t know about him but we are shown that he isn’t a 2D villain but a man who was once good and loved and lost it all, leaving a man who now simply takes. It was just enough without trying to add excuses or sympathy into his character but it still had a powerful effect.
Anna, or whoever she really is, is a wonderful creation and you constantly root for her, this woman determined to survive, strong yet hurting, a true hero.

This is a brutal, tense read and I’m glad I read it. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. ...more

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Apr 08, 2021 Christy rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, reviewed, post-apocalyptic

Anna is a near post-apocalpytic book, when the government has fallen and each town rules itself, with the unlands in between, where there are no rules. In many of these towns, women have become objects, bartered as currency, treated however their owners wish to treat them. Anna has survived for years in the unlands, but is captured at the beginning of the book.

Part one details her captivity, in all its brutality, by a man who claims to be saving her, protecting her and loving her, all whilst bea Anna is a near post-apocalpytic book, when the government has fallen and each town rules itself, with the unlands in between, where there are no rules. In many of these towns, women have become objects, bartered as currency, treated however their owners wish to treat them. Anna has survived for years in the unlands, but is captured at the beginning of the book.

Part one details her captivity, in all its brutality, by a man who claims to be saving her, protecting her and loving her, all whilst beating her, branding her and raping her. It's not just Anna, we see the plight of other secondary characters as well, with blips of odd normality, like her playing Monopoly with a teenager named Ben - another slave - or being taken to the doctor for a medical exam - a woman who gets to be free because she has a position of power, but has no empathy for Anna whatsoever. These things are so close to the world we live in now, yet set amongst the brutality of a world I don't want to imagine. This is a future I could envisage, there's a gritty realism to it. The knowledge that my world and this world are just a stones throw from each other, and indeed, in some places, already overlap, made it all the more bleak. Some might find part one gratuitous, but the brutality of the first part of the book is there to emphasize the road to recovery that we're walking down. We need to live through what Anna has lived through, see the horror through her eyes, to appreciate and understand her fight against it.

In part two we meet Anna again, as Kate. Kate, heavily pregnant, has escaped captivity and found herself in a community where women are respected, where there are rules against violence, where everyone seems to want to work together. The rest of the story is not really about the world. It's about how Anna/Kate finds her personal sense of justice and peace, how she deals with being a survivor, with her trauma, how she makes friends, how she treats people, and how she reacts to certain situations. There's also a theme of motherhood, and the things that give us strength, the things we will fight for. At first I found part two a little strange, it almost felt like whiplash, going from brutal rape to cheery town, but even when it all seems normal, there's an undercurrent of dread. It feels normal, and yet, it's not. There are undercurrents of things being wrong. There are hints, there is foreboding. And we, the reader, know it's not going to be all sweetness and roses, because this isn't the world for that.

There were some weaker elements, for example Anna's backstory is a little inconsistent. I didn't quite buy the explanations of her relationship with her husband/parents. Some things didn't add up, and that let the story down a little. The pacing of the book feels off; but victims of abuse don't heal by clockwork. Sometimes it feels a little jarring.

When I initially finished this book, my gut feeling was that it was expertly written and well crafted - but I hadn't enjoyed it. The more I've thought about it since finishing, the more I can see how subtle some of it was, and I've come to appreciate it more. I still can't say it was an enjoyable read, but it challenged me to think deep. If I had to pick three words for Anna, they would be - intense, gripping, and uncomfortable.

Four out of five stars. ...more

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Apr 13, 2021 Jo McKenna-Aspell rated it it was amazing

This is a spoiler-free review so at times it will seem vague!

The book is set in the not too distant future, in our world following a global breakdown of society. Many people are nomadic, some live in small travelling groups and there are a few settled communities. As you'd expect, life has changed dramatically and for the worse. Women are owned by men, frequently branded and imprisoned.

Smith creates a three part structure, in which we see the protagonist in different settings and learn differen This is a spoiler-free review so at times it will seem vague!

The book is set in the not too distant future, in our world following a global breakdown of society. Many people are nomadic, some live in small travelling groups and there are a few settled communities. As you'd expect, life has changed dramatically and for the worse. Women are owned by men, frequently branded and imprisoned.

Smith creates a three part structure, in which we see the protagonist in different settings and learn different things about her. We first meet The Woman (I won't name her as it could be a spoiler), who was nomadic for two years, just as she is trapped by The Man in the wild (unnamed for similar spoiler concerns). This first of three parts covers The Woman's imprisonment and abuse at the hands of The Man. It's viscerally grim and hard to stomach. The first person narrative means the reader is able to watch the impact of such abuse from a front row seat. Smith doesn't hold back: it's harrowing and authentic.

The second section covers The Woman's escape and resettlement in a static community. There is hope here but Smith also deals with the impact of acute trauma. Unable to relax or let her guard down, The Woman remains cautious and careful. The other community members are brilliantly depicted by Smith - they're complicated, multi-faceted and never entirely innocent. Whilst reading, I couldn't help but reflect on my own morality. In a dystopian world, what parts of myself would I be willing to sacrifice to survive?

The final section is taut. And that's pretty much all I can say without revealing narrative points which would spoil the book for the next reader. I was worried I'd be disappointed with how Smith wrapped up the tale but I was absolutely sated by it.

Finishing the book, I was relieved and exhausted. My neck and jaw ached where I'd clearly been tensing as I read. I can't say I enjoyed it - it's not an enjoyable book - but I was utterly gripped by it. I read it across two days and the night in between was riddled with dreams of The Woman. If a book worms its way into your subconscious, the author is doing a lot of things right.

There are difficult topics covered in the book but they would be obvious spoilers. So my warning is that it's not for the faint hearted and I'll also give you some genre clues: dystopian, crime, drama, psychological thriller. ...more

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Apr 07, 2021 Michelle Hunter-Gray rated it liked it

⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 stars
Release date 27th May, 2021

Set in a dystopian near future, this is not a book for the fainthearted. The relentlessly dark part one almost defeated me and I considered DNF'ing it. However, I'm glad I decided to continue. In this world the weak are enslaved and branded by the strong. Anna had survived on the margins by herself, until a stranger captures her and takes her to a town as his property.

Anna does not give in immediately. Fighting back and resisting her captor. He beats her a ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 stars
Release date 27th May, 2021

Set in a dystopian near future, this is not a book for the fainthearted. The relentlessly dark part one almost defeated me and I considered DNF'ing it. However, I'm glad I decided to continue. In this world the weak are enslaved and branded by the strong. Anna had survived on the margins by herself, until a stranger captures her and takes her to a town as his property.

Anna does not give in immediately. Fighting back and resisting her captor. He beats her and repeatedly rapes her until she submits. Will is a psychopath, alternating between cruelty and gentleness. He says he loves Anna and yet he brands her with his mark and keeps her prisoner. Tough as it is to read, this is a well crafted description of the way an abuse victims identity and fight can be stripped away.

Names play an important part in this story. Anna is subservient, giving in so she can survive. It feels like a small victory that she has given her abuser a false name. Keeping her true identity safe and hidden. Her abuser also has secrets. Is his name Will or Daniel? Or is it Peter? Names seem to signify separate identities.

When Anna finally managed to escape she finds herself in a quiet seaside town. Here she is Kate to her friends, Catherine to everyone else. Pregnant with her captors baby she tries to make a new life for them both in this seemingly safe haven. She soon discovers that spousal abuse and misogyny exist beneath the apparent calm. The author does a good job of describing Anna/Kate's response to both her pregnancy and the overtures of friendship from the town's inhabitants. Her fear of being touched, is just one manifestation of what I imagine is PTSD.

The final part is a roller coaster of emotions. It kept me turning pages to the very last one. Tense and even scary, I had my heart in my mouth as I rooted for Anna/Kate. Who is Will/Daniel and can she ever escape him?

I wouldn't say I enjoyed this novel. I am glad I read it. I think I have learned something about victims of abuse. Why people sometimes stay in such relationships and why it is so difficult to ask for help. The question of identity was interesting and left me wondering, what's in a name?

TW: rape, branding, sexual assault, physical violence.

Thank you to Netgalley for my e-ARC in return for a fair and unbiased review. ...more

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Apr 05, 2021 Kaffeeklatsch and Books rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021, ebooks, reedsy

I read Anna in two sittings and the readers will get sucked into this dreadful and violent world after our world as we know it has fallen apart.

The world building is a bit too thin for my liking. We get a few mentions of what happened, cyber attacks to take out government institutions, data leaking and countries going to war with each other, but nobody knows who really started it and in the end civil war and anarchy rules the world. The time frame that has been given for big events range between I read Anna in two sittings and the readers will get sucked into this dreadful and violent world after our world as we know it has fallen apart.

The world building is a bit too thin for my liking. We get a few mentions of what happened, cyber attacks to take out government institutions, data leaking and countries going to war with each other, but nobody knows who really started it and in the end civil war and anarchy rules the world. The time frame that has been given for big events range between a decade and six years, but Anna has been on the run for over 900 days by herself in the Unlands (outside of towns run by various groups).
There is no internet but some people managed to get some radios working.

Will is basically a psychopath-murderer with a caveman complex. Me protect Anna, me want my one piece of woman!
I guess the war brought out the worst of this man and the author wanted to portrait this in her novel.

Anna herself wants to survive and take care of herself, she also doesn't seem to like community and the old standard family values, hence the feminist attribute to this story.

The writing was enjoyable, but I found certain words and phrases overused. Especially Wills "I want to protect you", "You are mine" and the word "weak" got on my nerves pretty fast.

The content is not for the faint of heart. Warnings for torture, abuse, rape, violence and murder. I just read Dark Horse by Susan Mihalic before I picked up Anna, which dealt with the same content warnings and now I'm ready for something nice and fluffy.

The content would be great for buddy reads as there's heaps to discuss and I love the big "What if...?" questions. I hope that we never have to explore who we are as humanity in this kind of scenario. For me personally, the ending wasn't satisfying, I won't spoil it, but let's just say it's a very open ending (not a fan).

I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy exploring humanity in a new dystopian setting and how justice and values could change for the better of worse.

3 stars for being a quick read with lots of things to think about, but prepare another uplifting book after this bleak new world.

Thank you Reedsy for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Apr 16, 2021 Paul Cochrun rated it it was amazing

In this review I think the most important thing I can tell you is how this dystopian novel differs from the many others that are so popular these days. Here’s a short, but significant list:

Riveting and taut pacing: I had to force myself to take a breath at times (see above). While the action does slow down, something is always going on in Anna’s head. Speculating danger. Plotting her next move to protect herself. It’s a relatively short book, and Smith uses this space so well to build that tensi ...more

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Mar 30, 2021 Jessica Gilmore rated it it was ok

Billed as a feminist dystopia this book veered for me between torture porn and dull which is an unsettling mix. The dystopian worldbuilding was sketchy, the characters ciphers and although I could see what the author was trying to do (I think) the plot repelled me.
Anna (not her real name) has been surviving on her own in the aftermath of a global war and crash of society when she is captured by a man who brands, beats, imprisons and rapes her, all under the gaze of his town where women are eith ...more

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Apr 12, 2021 Farrah rated it liked it

𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡. 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙, 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙣.

Part one of this book started out STRONG.
Very heavy subjects were dealt with in an unflinching and raw way. I was afraid of what would come with each turn of the page and completely sucked into the story.

Unfortunately the rest of the book wasn't as good.
The first part ends with a pregnant Anna escaping her 'owner'. (Not a spoiler ...more

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Apr 13, 2021 Nora rated it liked it

Shelves: arc

I am very conflicted about how I feel about this book. The beginning was very hard for me to get through due to the graphic and really depressing nature of the story. The middle section of the book was probably my favorite and I really enjoyed all of the characters we met in the town. In fact, the side characters throughout the story were probably my favorite part (from Alan, to Glen, and Ben, etc.). The ending felt a bit sudden and some of Anna's thoughts during this part really frustrated me. ...more

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Apr 20, 2021 Penelope rated it really liked it

Shelves: sf-and-fantasy, dystopian-post-apocalyptic

An uncomfortable but compelling read. Set in a near future world where things have gone badly wrong and small groups of humanity are left cobbling together lives amongst the destruction of a world war. This is a book very much about survival, about the ends we will go to survive and about how this affects us. It is also a book about female power, how it can be snatched away but how we can get it back. There is an uncomfortable feeling throughout this novel, a genuine sense of menace and on edge- ...more

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