BLOG TOUR: Silent Y - Katherine Benfante

In 2142, women control human reproduction—and they're about to weaponize it.

Dart Maylord is a brilliant but isolated endocrinology researcher working for the Department of Reproduction in the female-ruled half of a divided America. She’s never met a man, never questioned the wall that splits Washington, D.C., or the lies told about what stretches beyond it.

Until one day, a male researcher crosses that wall.

Alex Smern isn’t the violent Neanderthal Dart was led to expect—he’s sharp, disarmingly funny, and curious about the world she’s never dared to question. Their collaboration begins with science but quickly becomes something more dangerous: connection. Trust. Desire.

Then Dart stumbles on a classified document she shouldn’t see. The reproductive system isn't just being managed—it's being manipulated. And men are being systematically erased.

Worse still, Dart’s own family may be orchestrating the scheme.

As she digs deeper, Dart must choose between protecting the people she loves and exposing a truth that could unravel the fragile balance of power. With Alex by her side and everything she thought she knew crumbling around her, Dart has to decide: is losing family worth rebellion?

Because if she doesn’t act soon, there may be nothing left to save.

 

What did I think?

Wow, just wow!  I'm putting my head above the parapet and stating that Silent Y is THE feminist, dystopian novel of our time.  It is simply breathtaking!

This is a disturbing future that sees men and women so strictly segregated that reproduction is controlled via IVF with boy babies sent through the wall to the men and girl babies remaining with their mothers.  The women controlling reproduction want to go a step further and completely remove men from existence.  This gives me chills just thinking about it now.

Dart Maylord has been brought up on the female side of the wall and her life is about to change when she is asked to collaborate with a scientist from the other side.  The chemistry between Dart and Alex is clear to see and, even though society demands that they are kept  apart, they find a way to be together...and they're not the only ones.  I'm singing 'Stand Up For Your Love Rights' in my head now!

Katherine Benfante's writing is as stunning as her imagination and she certainly 'puts the science in science fiction' in an way that is easy to understand.  I was completely drawn into the story and couldn't read it fast enough.  I will definitely be reading it again - it's THAT good!

Compelling, thought-provoking and highly original, Silent Y is a powerful and essential novel that absolutely blew me away.  You will never say you 'don't read science fiction' after reading this unforgettable and unmissable book!  An easy five stars and very highly recommended.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Katherine Benfante writes science fiction, and she likes to “put the science in science fiction.” Of all the dream careers she’s been fortunate to have so far, including as mechanical engineer and French teacher, being an author is the most satisfying and enjoyable. Katherine lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters, across the street from a lake overrun by swans and Canadian geese. Voracious readers all, her family can be found reading together, playing games, hiking Jersey’s remaining wilderness, and visiting family. Her short story "Convergence” appeared in The Accidental Time Traveler's Collective Volume 3. She's currently working on a standalone science fiction novel and drafting a sequel to Scattered.

Social media links:

Website: https://katherinebenfante.com/

Instagram: @KatherineBenfante

Facebook: KatherineBenfanteAuthor

X: @KDBenfante

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At First Light - Vanessa Lafaye

1993, Key West, Florida. When a Ku Klux Klan official is shot in broad daylight, all eyes turn to the person holding the gun: a 96-year-old Cuban woman who will say nothing except to admit her guilt.

1919. Mixed-race Alicia Cortez arrives in Key West exiled in disgrace from her family in Havana. At the same time, damaged war hero John Morales returns home on the last US troop ship from Europe. As love draws them closer in this time of racial segregation, people are watching, including Dwayne Campbell, poised on the brink of manhood and struggling to do what's right. And then the Ku Klux Klan comes to town...

Inspired by real events, At First Light weaves together a decades-old grievance and the consequences of a promise made as the sun rose on a dark day in American history.

What did I think?

I have fond memories of Vanessa Lafaye's debut, Summertime, that I reviewed quite some time ago, so I positively jumped at the chance to read an early copy of her new novel, At First Light.  As with Summertime, this is another novel based on real events that has you screaming in anger, clapping in delight and sobbing with devastation.  Vanessa Lafaye is such a wonderfully talented author who creates such depth in her writing that ensures the characters bore into your very soul and remain there until the end of your days.

Alicia arrives in Key West on the boat from Cuba, somewhat under a cloud, although we need to invest a bit of time in the story before we learn the reason for her exile.  She has come to live with her cousin, Beatriz, and work in her tea rooms but Alicia is shocked to find that her cousin answers to the name of Pearl and isn't known for serving tea in her establishment.

Also arriving in Key West is John Morales, returning from war in Europe.  He finds much has changed in Key West as he returns to his rightful place behind the bar of The Last Resort, the establishment he owns right next door to Pearl's Tea Rooms.  With such a close proximity to Alicia it isn't long before the pair fall in love and their story is as tragic as it is poignant because Alicia is brown and John is white.  In an era when the Ku Klux Klan were sweeping America there are many who will strive to tear John and Alicia apart, using any means necessary, but theirs is a love that is destined never to die.

At First Light is another masterpiece from the pen of Vanessa Lafaye.  It is shocking and heartbreaking to learn that this is based on a true story which makes it all the more poignant.  I had goosebumps reading certain passages and applaud Vanessa Lafaye for bringing this period of history to light.  In the current day and age of so much uncertainty and innumerable prejudices, it's a story that will resonate with so many people.  An absolutely breathtaking masterpiece that will be going on my read again pile.  Very highly recommended - I want to give it more than 5 stars!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon