Book Review: THE VIOLENCE by Delilah S. Dawson

THE VIOLENCE by Delilah S. Dawson (Del Rey Books, February 2022)  Hardcover, 512 pages.  ISBN # 0593156625 / 9780593156629 

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

A mysterious plague that causes random bouts of violence is sweeping the nation. Now three generations of women must navigate their chilling new reality in this moving exploration of identity, cycles of abuse, and hope. 

Chelsea Martin appears to be the perfect housewife: married to her high school sweetheart, the mother of two daughters, keeper of an immaculate home.

But Chelsea's husband has turned their house into a prison; he has been abusing her for years, cutting off her independence, autonomy, and support. She has nowhere to turn, not even to her narcissistic mother, Patricia, who is more concerned with maintaining the appearance of an ideal family than she is with her daughter's actual well-being. And Chelsea is worried that her daughters will be trapped just as she is--then a mysterious illness sweeps the nation.

Known as The Violence, this illness causes the infected to experience sudden, explosive bouts of animalistic rage and attack anyone in their path. But for Chelsea, the chaos and confusion the virus causes is an opportunity--and inspires a plan to liberate herself from her abuser.  

My Five-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .  

     THE VIOLENCE absolutely stunned me with its' candid treatment of parental abuse, spousal abuse, and relationship abuse. Delilah S. Dawson writes from the heart as well as personal experience (mentioned in the preface) and doesn't spare the details. This is violent, shocking, and in some parts disgusting. The novel contains scenes of violent animal death, bloody and fatal rampages, and rape (also wisely included in the author's warning preface). However, these scenes are not included for shock value or exploitation but are essential to the story in order to drive the author's themes forward. 

     The premise of this deft blend of science fiction and horror revolves around a new pandemic in the days following a fictional recovery from Covid-19 that is even more fatal and dangerous. But the root of this engaging novel rests with the transitional journey of the three main characters (alternating chapters told from their individual point of view): Chelsea, a prisoner in her own home of an abusive and controlling husband; her narcissistic and cruel single-mother Patricia who berated and abused her own daughter and blamed her for their low income struggles; and Chelsea's daughter Ella, suffering from angst caused by an abusive and controlling boyfriend. 

     While I've never experienced the type of hardships inflicted upon these characters, Dawson's portrayal of them is so revealing that I couldn't help empathizing with all of them (although it took longer to warm up to one of these characters). I wanted to stand up and cheer at the end of the novel. 

     In spite of the dreadful pandemic (The Violence) this is an uplifting novel that may not seem that way as you read it. The Violence provides a solution to the problem of Chelsea's husband, and is cleverly utilized by her. The outbreak of the disease propels all three characters into a journey of self-discovery and new resourcefulness that results in some dramatic and positive changes in their path forward. Following the darkness, there is light. 

     There are numerous mentions of Covid-19 within the novel that may discourage some readers weary of these references and preferring to escape from that (it still hasn't gone away). However, it seemed necessary  as having experienced the changes on society caused by Covid-19 actually gave these characters a point of reference and a signpost for coping with The Violence. 

     While it's early in the year, I believe THE VIOLENCE may end up on my Top Ten List for 2022. Thinking about this novel, I've decided to create a new bookshelf on my Goodreads page - - My Five-Star Ratings.