by John Marrs
Published : 19th January 2023
Publisher : PanMacmillan
Format : Kindle, Audio, Paperback, Hardback
Genre : Dystopian
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Synopsis
What if marriage was the law?
Dare you disobey?
Britain. The near future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to societyās ills ā the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.
But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is supervising every aspect of our personal lives, monitoring every word, every minor disagreement . . . and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honour and obey.
BLACK MIRROR meets thriller with a dash of Naomi Aldermanās THE POWER.
My Review
'Once you've chosen your one true love, we want to support you with the happy ever after.'
Thank you so much Orenda Books and Random Things Tours for this blog spot and enthrallingly disturbing read.
This was my first book by this talented author and it shall certainly not be my last!
The Marriage Act gives you everything you need from a disturbing and unsettling alternative reality setting.
Told from the perspective of multiple characters which brilliantly gives us a different viewpoint from people at different stages of an act that is meant to do amazing things for its country yet fails to meet its standards in the most horrifying of ways.
Such characters were;
Arthur, a lovely older gentleman who signed up to the marriage act with his wife many years before, both content until they are not. then things turn very sour and the act that was meant to improve their life starts to make Arthurs life very difficult.
I found this to be my favourite character, he was heartbreakingly easy to love and the more I read his story the more unjust I felt for him, getting more angry as the story went along. I must admit I shed a tear for Arthur.
Roxi, A stay at home mum who assumed she was happy until she found an online presence, desperate to make something of herself and her life she begins to sell her soul to the marriage act reform in order too bump up her follower status, whilst actively supporting the act she fails to see how she is neglecting her family and like Arthur the audite picks up on tension and back fires placing them under observation. I didn't warm to this character very much but at the same time I could see she was desperately searching for love and approval everywhere but where she already had it, at home.
All of the characters backgrounds and stories are brilliantly written, well paced and slowly build in a way which keeps you page turning, unable to stop as you are so shocked by the laws and rules of an act that was sold to everyone to improve their lives.
On the flip side to these characters there are also some that do not sign up and actively try to change the act itself. Again, fantastically written and extremely compelling.
Donāt do as youāre told when you know something is morally wrong. Have the strength to stand up for what you believe in. Donāt be afraid to confront your enemy or they will continue to rise in the most unexpected ways.
This story was unsettling, enthralling, nail bitingly disturbing and equally as captivating.
The author has packaged the perfect story, the right amount of unease and a whole load of emotion and tension, sprinkled with very complex and gritty characters, one of which was just down right deranged, he was the most unnerving, playing the wolf in sheep's clothing part!
I was kept guessing many times, just when I thought something had happened it caught me pages down the line, especially with Anthony.
This is a must read five star dystopian that will guarantee to leave you on the edge of your seat, desperate to discover what going to happen but hugely disappointed when it's all over.
Thank you so much @PanMacmillan for this blog spot and review copy x
Rating
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