With the state of politics around the world, it’s no surprise that there is a rise in dystopian fiction. The fact that a classic like The Handmaid’s Tale has been made into a (very popular) television series says a lot. And a novel coming out later this summer is very reminiscent of that story.

Vox, by Christina Dalcher, is set in a possible future where women are permitted to speak only 100 words a day. (Just think about that for a minute – the average person would run out of words within an hour of waking up in the morning!) Going over the limit means a shock from the bracelet tracker all females (yes, even young girls) wear. And alternate means of communication, such as sign language, are not permitted, nor is reading or writing. Obviously, this also means very restrictive education for females and women can no longer hold jobs.

The story follows Dr. Jean McClellan, a brilliant scientist now stuck at home providing for her family while her government executive husband goes out to work every day. That’s until the President’s brother suffers brain trauma and Jean is one of the only people who can help. But she soon discovers there is more to the research than she’s been told. Now she needs to find a way to stop a potential global disaster, while also trying to find a way to put an end to the restrictions enforced on women.

I really enjoyed this book. Yes, the society is bleak and how it gets there is a little too close to reality right now. But the plot is intriguing and it’s really easy to identify with some of the characters. If you enjoy dystopian stories, or even just Handmaid’s Tale, this book will appeal. And it has a satisfying ending, which is not something that you always find with this genre.