The Glass Arrow

The Glass Arrow, Kristen Simmons, 334 pages

Aiyana was raised in the wilderness, free from the oppressive culture of the cities, where women are bought and sold like cattle. When a group of trackers finally finds her, they kill her mother and take her captive, although she manages to lure them away from her younger siblings. Now, she is kept at the Garden, waiting for auction – and if she doesn’t sell, she’ll be packed off to the brothels. Only a wolf pup she’s tamed and a mute Driver boy, who cares for the horses stabled next door, offer any sort of companionship. Will Aiyana ever see the stars again, or will she live out her days trapped in a rich man’s home?

This was a pretty decent read – nothing exceptional, but pretty good. Aiyana is a compelling narrator; her anger and frustration give way to despair once or twice, but never wallow, and she has a wryly dark sense of humor which keeps the tone from being too bleak. The worldbuilding is unfortunately underdeveloped, and the pacing drags a bit, especially in the middle – there are a few narrative threads that never pay off and seem just to add filler. The conclusion was quite satisfying, though. If you are looking for a dystopian commentary on misogyny and reproductive rights, you will probably enjoy The Glass Arrow. Trigger warnings for suicide and sexual assault.