I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MANDATE THIRTEEN by Joseph J. Dowling Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: MANDATE THIRTEEN

Author: Joseph J. Dowling

Pub. Date: January 10, 2023

Publisher: Manta Press, Ltd.

Formats:  Paperback, eBook

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/MANDATE-THIRTEEN

In a world with dwindling birth rates, all young women must submit to compulsory fertility checks at the age of thirteen. For those able to conceive, a docile existence inside the Birthing Schools beckons—far worse if they fall into the wrong hands.

“An action-packed, cross-country adventure between father and daughter as they dodge authorities, reconnect with old acquaintances, and meet new people (good, bad, and crazy), forging connections at every stop. I loved every aspect of their journey and how they learned so much about themselves on the way. This is dystopian in every way that matters. A worthy addition to any library.” Preye, Literary Darlings

 

MY REVIEW
Mandate Thirteen is a dystopian novel set in the UK. Extreme Christians have taken over the government and have set forth some very strict rules every citizen must follow. 
The story follows a down-on-their-luck family as they go about their normal lives. Well, normal for them. Dad Michael is unemployed and seemingly having no luck finding a job. His wife is barely making enough to scrape by. And his daughter seems indifferent to everything that's going on. But that all changes when Mandate Thirteen is passed. Any female aged thirteen (and up) must be checked for fertility. Seeing as most of the female population is infertile, anyone who can have children is highly sought after by the Baby Famers and Birthing Schools. And when Michael's daughter is sold out by her mother after she tests positive for fertility, Michael goes on the run with her to do whatever it takes to keep his little girl out of the government's clutches. But Miko, a Baby Farmer, will stop at nothing to track them down. It soon becomes a race against time to the Scottish border, where Michael and his daughter will be safe. Will they make it before Miko catches up to them?
This was a very intense dystopian thriller. The world is very bleak and depressing, even more so if you're female. The story has some serious Handmaid's Tale vibes, but also feels similar to the Eve trilogy by Anna Carey. I found myself flying through this book because I couldn't put it down. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of it, and I was tentatively optimistic that things wouldn't end on a hopeless note. While I was a little bit annoyed by the ending (it wasn't bad, but I wished it had ended differently), the overall story is a riveting journey through a joyless, desolate world, where what seemingly little hope the characters may have seems to be dashed at every opportunity thanks to the unrelenting determination of the Baby Farmers. 
Mandate Thirteen is a tense, taut thriller that will leave you angry while also feeling relieved that our world hasn't fallen so far off the mark just yet. With characters you can root for (or against), a quick pace, a real world you can picture yourself in, and a plot that will hold you hostage until the very end, this is one book you need to read this year.
4.5 stars!

 

About Joseph J. Dowling:

Joseph always knew he would write seriously one day. That moment arrived in 2020, when his thriving hospitality business was temporarily shuttered. With time on his hands, he quickly fell into an obsession and became a keen student of the craft. 

Since finding the passion, Joseph can't imagine life without stories rattling around his head. Eager to make up for lost time, he's been fairly prolific, and his short stories have appeared in several anthologies and literary magazines. Even better, his rejections are getting nicer by the week.

Joseph lives in London with his wife and their Scotty dog. Mandate: THIRTEEN will be his first published novel. Scroll to the bottom of the page on his website to sign up for his newsletter!

 

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $30 Manta Press Gift Card, International.

1 winner will receive a book poster (pictured below), International.

5 winners will receive a bookmark from this etsy store (pictured below), International.

Ends February 14th, midnight EST.