u/Volupia_Rogue

I just finished the first book of the Deliver series, also called {Deliver by Pam Godwin} 😍 and Oh. My. God. 👀 (Pun intended, since Josh believes in God, hah!)

I went absolutely berserk and head over heels for Josh/Joshua. He's religious and initially comes across as a super hot yet very religious guy, but eventually gives in to his urges in a very dark, unhinged, and high stake story (meaning he falls in love with the FMC) and fully takes his place beside the FMC.

The way he shows his love is perfect for me. Gives her space, yet takes the space when necessary, for her protection etc.

Sort of possessive but in a healthy way and definitely not in this toxic way I see so much in dark romance (also, there was another character in this book who already played the role of the toxic overly possessive character).

So I'm here both to rave about how much I LOVED that book and that f****ng pure and beautiful MMC 😍❤️, and also to ask:

- if anyone who has read it (or who hasn't and understands what I'm looking for) would be able to recommend similar storylines with a dark vibe/world, AND with a "pure" and strong/hot and healthy (in his head) MMC the way Josh was portrayed in this book? 🙏🙏🙏

Weyward convinced me we need to rebuild the kind of sorority women once had (before capitalism and enclosure fed women's isolation and witch trials) until the medieval ages. We've forgotten how to do that, but we can do something about it now.

Each character's voice is distinct, which helps knowing who we are reading about: the contemporary storyline is told in first-person present tense, while others use close 3rd POV in past tense, with language fitting their time period.

Each of the three women is tied to the theme of womanhood, closely linked to motherhood, whether that role is chosen or imposed. This shapes women's lives all over the world since the beginnings of time and to this very day, whether they want children or not (and have to think of how not to have one accidentally).

Reading this as a mother added another layer for me. It made me think how little access we often have to share female experience in Western society until we live it ourselves.

Before, I was somehow told to focus on myself and be individualistic, but this also tears us apart from the community and from other women.

Weyward subtly pushes against modern individualism, suggesting that something is lost when women are separated from each other.

It is an ode to wanting to be part of something bigger than yourself.

Verdict: 4.5. Occasionally disorienting in structure, but thoughtful, atmospheric, and has a brilliant payoff!

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Quote by Adrienne Rich at the end of the book:

"The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet."

Deliver by Pam Godwin - I want more MMC like him 😍

Weyward by Emilia Hart