The Testaments – Book Review

Author: Margaret Atwood

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

Publisher: Nan A. Talese

Published: September 10, 2019

Book Description: More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale,the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results.

Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third voice: a woman who wields power through the ruthless accumulation and deployment of secrets.

As Atwood unfolds The Testaments, she opens up the innermost workings of Gilead as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes.

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: I first read The Handmaid’s Tale over 20 years is ago when we studied it in High School and I instantly fell in love with this book. I loved the original movie, the TV show is a fav of mine and when Claire Danes narrated the audiobook I decided to reread this story as an audiobook. When I first heard about The Testament’s I pre-ordered it that very second. I am happy to say I was not disappointed one bit.

This story takes place 15 years after The Handmaid’s Tale ended. The story centers around 3 characters, the elusive Aunt Lydia, Agnes, the daughter of a commander in Gilead and Daisy a young girl living in Canada. These girls/women’s stories are completely separate until the later part of the book when they converge head on.

This is an extremely fast paced story that I could not put down. Atwood’s writing is absolutely brilliant and she deserves every accolade that will come from writing this book. The book will complete the story of Gilead and reader’s should absolutely feel satisfied where Atwood ended this.