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Mae finds herself pregnant in a world where the global population has hit twenty billion, and governments decree that no child may be born without a life being sacrificed in return.
With growing unrest and violence towards pregnant women, Mae must navigate a hostile world to secure a future for her unborn child — no matter the cost. When the stakes are so high, how far would you go to protect your family?
With growing unrest and violence towards pregnant women, Mae must navigate a hostile world to secure a future for her unborn child — no matter the cost. When the stakes are so high, how far would you go to protect your family?
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2023
1436 people are currently reading
2291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
July 20, 2024
I don't often write reviews but this book really annoyed me.
Firstly, it's OAR!!! You don't operate a boat with ore!!
Secondly, from beginning to the end, there was no proper story. 90% of the book was the monologue of the female lead who was boring as hell, dislikable and the repetitive "hints" dropped throughout were just ridiculous. A 5 year old could solve that one. Also, the few things mentioned that the reader would like more clarity on, are not answered! So don't bother pushing to the end like I did.
One more observation was the time. It was so badly written you didn't know if the story was in the same minute, hour, week or year. At one point, mid paragraph the lead was worried about how long I had been, when he partner only parted her on the previous sentence?!
Urgh, anyway, I had high hopes for this, it sounded good and there was a lot of potential but this didn't just fail to meet, it bored the hell out of me. I want that time back!!!
Firstly, it's OAR!!! You don't operate a boat with ore!!
Secondly, from beginning to the end, there was no proper story. 90% of the book was the monologue of the female lead who was boring as hell, dislikable and the repetitive "hints" dropped throughout were just ridiculous. A 5 year old could solve that one. Also, the few things mentioned that the reader would like more clarity on, are not answered! So don't bother pushing to the end like I did.
One more observation was the time. It was so badly written you didn't know if the story was in the same minute, hour, week or year. At one point, mid paragraph the lead was worried about how long I had been, when he partner only parted her on the previous sentence?!
Urgh, anyway, I had high hopes for this, it sounded good and there was a lot of potential but this didn't just fail to meet, it bored the hell out of me. I want that time back!!!
November 6, 2023
First off there are some things that you just have to accept in this world:
1. EVERY country somehow managed to agree to a plan to reduce the world's population. I honestly find it kind of hard to believe that they all actually agreed and something came of this.
2. Britain (now The Society), announces their plan, which is to require new babies born to have someone die and sacrifice their life. They make this announcement at 6:30pm and people have until midnight to register their fetus. Yes, most of those further along probably should have already done so, but there are of course going to be a bunch that haven't, or just recently learned of their pregnancy. So, of course the website will crash.
2a. They've been talking to all the other countries for WEEKS now, and you want me to believe that this didn't leak before, that no one knew this was coming?!
Now to the review. Mae and Pasha are both crappy and I never once felt like I should support them in their endeavor. Mae doesn't speak up and Pasha just talks right over her, never really listening to her concerns. Mae is already questioning if she wants this baby but Pasha is immediately all on board, not a care at all about Mae's worries. Pasha also .
Mae also has this big secret about her family and her past that she won't share with Pasha. We do learn what it is and the end, but how it was delivered I had to reread those pages 5 times just to figure out what actual secret it was. She never says it, Pasha just knows once he figures it out. Which was poorly done in my opinion.
We spend almost the entire book in Mae's head. We learn about how she had a bad childhood with neglectful parents. We hear about this no less than 100 times. This author is all about the tell don't show, but I really wish we would have been SHOWN more.
I wanted to stop reading it about 1/3 through, but pushed through, then again at 60% because so little actually happens! They're going from county to county, Mae is worried, Pasha says it's all be fine. Wash, rinse, repeat. They also hate on Nan, Pasha's grandma, who did more for the two of them then anyone else. They don't believe her about her past, and are generally dismissive the whole time.
2.5 stars rounded down.
Thanks to BookSierns for the ARC.
1. EVERY country somehow managed to agree to a plan to reduce the world's population. I honestly find it kind of hard to believe that they all actually agreed and something came of this.
2. Britain (now The Society), announces their plan, which is to require new babies born to have someone die and sacrifice their life. They make this announcement at 6:30pm and people have until midnight to register their fetus. Yes, most of those further along probably should have already done so, but there are of course going to be a bunch that haven't, or just recently learned of their pregnancy. So, of course the website will crash.
2a. They've been talking to all the other countries for WEEKS now, and you want me to believe that this didn't leak before, that no one knew this was coming?!
Now to the review. Mae and Pasha are both crappy and I never once felt like I should support them in their endeavor. Mae doesn't speak up and Pasha just talks right over her, never really listening to her concerns. Mae is already questioning if she wants this baby but Pasha is immediately all on board, not a care at all about Mae's worries. Pasha also .
Mae also has this big secret about her family and her past that she won't share with Pasha. We do learn what it is and the end, but how it was delivered I had to reread those pages 5 times just to figure out what actual secret it was. She never says it, Pasha just knows once he figures it out. Which was poorly done in my opinion.
We spend almost the entire book in Mae's head. We learn about how she had a bad childhood with neglectful parents. We hear about this no less than 100 times. This author is all about the tell don't show, but I really wish we would have been SHOWN more.
I wanted to stop reading it about 1/3 through, but pushed through, then again at 60% because so little actually happens! They're going from county to county, Mae is worried, Pasha says it's all be fine. Wash, rinse, repeat. They also hate on Nan, Pasha's grandma, who did more for the two of them then anyone else. They don't believe her about her past, and are generally dismissive the whole time.
2.5 stars rounded down.
Thanks to BookSierns for the ARC.
October 28, 2023
Difficult subject but was enjoyable and very thought-provoking.
Due to my personal life, I am going to have to come back with a full review in a couple of days. 🖤 but I definitely recommend this book! Apologies to the author for not getting a full review up on release day.
Updated review:
Trigger warning:
This is a dark novel. Readers should know it contains references to abortion, miscarriage, and self-harm. Donate is written in British English
"Pregnancy registration will continue, but will be closely monitored. All must be registered immediately. Anyone found to be deliberately not registering a pregnancy will be punished with imprisonment for up to eighteen years."
"Every pregnancy registered after midnight tonight may only be brought to term by sacrifice.
This means that for every child born, an elder citizen must volunteer to be euthanized in their place. If a volunteer is not found by the eighth month, the pregnancy will be terminated, or else the would-be parents will be prosecuted."
Donate is a heavy book. This isn't something that you can read, close the book, and never think about again. This is a book that is brilliantly written, thought-provoking, and will shake you to your core.
Donate takes place in a dystopian world that is wrecked by overpopulation and is seeking resolution by some seriously barbaric practices. It's a world where getting old is an issue, but so is being born. Hatred and distrust are raging on all sides, some people are dying to bring new life while others are killing to preserve their own. At its very core, it's a tale of people fighting for survival under an extremely oppressive government, and it is nothing if not pure chaos.
Amidst the insanity we follow the journey of one couple in particular as they seek refuge in order to save the life of their unborn child. Pasha and Mae are forced to maneuver through hurdles after hurdle in a literal rush against the clock. Pregnancy is hard enough under regular circumstances, I couldn't help but sympathize with this couple. Although, there were times when I found myself questioning some of Mae's choices and thought processes overall. However, by the books End, Ellis had things wrapped up nicely, and I was able to further understand Mae's character and actions.
In many ways, Donate is also a love story. It is a story of love amongst people, between parent and child, couples, families, and society as a whole. This is definitely a book with characters that you will find yourself connecting with, you will go through all the motions, there will be moments of happiness, moments of shock and horror and moments of loss and pain. Buckle up because you are in for one hell of a journey
This was a phenomenal debut, and I will definitely be following this series. DONATE is perfect for fans of1984 and the handmaid tale.
"No left, no right. We look forward. To the future. To the Society’s future. Manifesto pledge of the Eyes Forward."
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Due to my personal life, I am going to have to come back with a full review in a couple of days. 🖤 but I definitely recommend this book! Apologies to the author for not getting a full review up on release day.
Updated review:
Trigger warning:
This is a dark novel. Readers should know it contains references to abortion, miscarriage, and self-harm. Donate is written in British English
"Pregnancy registration will continue, but will be closely monitored. All must be registered immediately. Anyone found to be deliberately not registering a pregnancy will be punished with imprisonment for up to eighteen years."
"Every pregnancy registered after midnight tonight may only be brought to term by sacrifice.
This means that for every child born, an elder citizen must volunteer to be euthanized in their place. If a volunteer is not found by the eighth month, the pregnancy will be terminated, or else the would-be parents will be prosecuted."
Donate is a heavy book. This isn't something that you can read, close the book, and never think about again. This is a book that is brilliantly written, thought-provoking, and will shake you to your core.
Donate takes place in a dystopian world that is wrecked by overpopulation and is seeking resolution by some seriously barbaric practices. It's a world where getting old is an issue, but so is being born. Hatred and distrust are raging on all sides, some people are dying to bring new life while others are killing to preserve their own. At its very core, it's a tale of people fighting for survival under an extremely oppressive government, and it is nothing if not pure chaos.
Amidst the insanity we follow the journey of one couple in particular as they seek refuge in order to save the life of their unborn child. Pasha and Mae are forced to maneuver through hurdles after hurdle in a literal rush against the clock. Pregnancy is hard enough under regular circumstances, I couldn't help but sympathize with this couple. Although, there were times when I found myself questioning some of Mae's choices and thought processes overall. However, by the books End, Ellis had things wrapped up nicely, and I was able to further understand Mae's character and actions.
In many ways, Donate is also a love story. It is a story of love amongst people, between parent and child, couples, families, and society as a whole. This is definitely a book with characters that you will find yourself connecting with, you will go through all the motions, there will be moments of happiness, moments of shock and horror and moments of loss and pain. Buckle up because you are in for one hell of a journey
This was a phenomenal debut, and I will definitely be following this series. DONATE is perfect for fans of1984 and the handmaid tale.
"No left, no right. We look forward. To the future. To the Society’s future. Manifesto pledge of the Eyes Forward."
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2024
2020 52 Book Challenge - 22) A Character That Frustrates You
DNF at 22%.
I cannot cope with this book anymore. The two main characters are driving me insane. The main female character is very whiny and doesn't stop complaining and the main male character just plods along going "it's going to be fine" even when he makes massively stupid decisions without telling anybody including his wife.
At 20% of the way through, there should be a discernable plot, but literally all this book seems to be is the main characters internal monologue oh how much she hates life, Britain (or whatever the name is now) and every person that exists.
I also want to say that with how slow government works, there is absolutely no way that nobody would have any idea of the monumental plan they put in place at the beginning of the book prior to the announcement, and then they'd leave everybody with a deadline of 5 hours to register.
DNF at 22%.
I cannot cope with this book anymore. The two main characters are driving me insane. The main female character is very whiny and doesn't stop complaining and the main male character just plods along going "it's going to be fine" even when he makes massively stupid decisions without telling anybody including his wife.
At 20% of the way through, there should be a discernable plot, but literally all this book seems to be is the main characters internal monologue oh how much she hates life, Britain (or whatever the name is now) and every person that exists.
I also want to say that with how slow government works, there is absolutely no way that nobody would have any idea of the monumental plan they put in place at the beginning of the book prior to the announcement, and then they'd leave everybody with a deadline of 5 hours to register.
October 27, 2023
This is a dystopian story set in the UK - it is Black Mirror meets Handmaid's Tale but with a distinct flavour all of its own.
This kind of dystopia is horrifying. It is so near to a possible future for ourselves that it runs your blood cold.
In this overpopulated world, old people are surplus (no more medicine for them) and babies can only be born if there is a donor willing to sacrifice themselves. An old or sick one.
Women, wombs, are dangerous. They're to be watched.
The Society gets Life Points that open up advantages for them - the more you have, the easier it gets. And you get so many points for Society Policing.
I have a book hangover. This definitely hits my top 5 this year.
This kind of dystopia is horrifying. It is so near to a possible future for ourselves that it runs your blood cold.
In this overpopulated world, old people are surplus (no more medicine for them) and babies can only be born if there is a donor willing to sacrifice themselves. An old or sick one.
Women, wombs, are dangerous. They're to be watched.
The Society gets Life Points that open up advantages for them - the more you have, the easier it gets. And you get so many points for Society Policing.
I have a book hangover. This definitely hits my top 5 this year.
December 31, 2023
This was excellent! I really enjoyed it! A good length story, so something to get completed distracted by. Super scary idea, left me chilled! Very well written, I really liked pretty much all of it. The main character does have moments of high angst but this does fit with the situation she finds herself in & the terrifying future dystopian world. Possibly a good reflection of the direction the US seems to be heading. Gives you something to think about! I do strongly recommend!
December 21, 2024
2.5: There was just something missing and something not quite right about this book.
It brings up excellent talking points and really puts things into a different perspective and the whole concept felt very real, very close, as if it could happen any day now (especially with the mention of the inheritance tax law change in the book which coincided with inheritance tax changes made earlier this year).
I didn’t like this at first but I suppose that means it was written well as it was totally on theme but Mae struggles to accept the fact she is pregnant and debates whether she’ll be a good mother. She seems very unsure at first about having this kid from the get-go yet her feelings about this pregnancy don’t seem to matter much - it’s only about what Pasha wants. Even in a world where it is probably best not to have a baby - not only because of overcrowding but because of terrorist groups who now target pregnant women and women young enough to bear children - she is almost still pressured into having it. I suppose it is a reflection of some realities and a parallel to childbirth itself - a dangerous process that many women risk.
A lot of the situations and scenes were akin to those of the Jim Crow era and I found many parallels, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but many of these scenes were quite obvious mirrors and lacked creativity and uniqueness to the environment the story is set in.
The writing style was easy to read but extremely repetitive at best (I don’t know how many times I read them exclaim “Shit, Mae!” and “Shit, Pasha!” to each other anytime they came across something horrific) and un-engaging at worst. The dialogue was boring, lacked flow and sometimes sounded really robotic. The pacing and build up to suspenseful moments felt rushed.
Many of the characters lacked depth, especially Pasha, Mae’s partner - he is only ever presented as the cheery, happy-go-lucky, optimistic and supportive partner. He never gets angry, never truly gets sad - he is so very one-dimensional I even started to suspect he might’ve been trying to deceive Mae in some way. It would’ve been really great to see both Mae and Pasha express more emotions and I think, unfortunately, this lack of emotion only added to the stiffness of the entire novel.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense saw the plot twist from 1000 miles away and it really failed to add anything to the story - especially as Pasha is such a predictable and flat character, I already knew how he would react.
I really liked the scene at the end at the beach (in the cave) and thought it was actually written quite beautifully, almost poetically, and I wish the whole book was written this way.
Overall, I didn’t hate it but it certainly wasn’t great. Not sure I’m going to read the rest in the series but I am curious to find out how this Society progresses.
It brings up excellent talking points and really puts things into a different perspective and the whole concept felt very real, very close, as if it could happen any day now (especially with the mention of the inheritance tax law change in the book which coincided with inheritance tax changes made earlier this year).
I didn’t like this at first but I suppose that means it was written well as it was totally on theme but Mae struggles to accept the fact she is pregnant and debates whether she’ll be a good mother. She seems very unsure at first about having this kid from the get-go yet her feelings about this pregnancy don’t seem to matter much - it’s only about what Pasha wants. Even in a world where it is probably best not to have a baby - not only because of overcrowding but because of terrorist groups who now target pregnant women and women young enough to bear children - she is almost still pressured into having it. I suppose it is a reflection of some realities and a parallel to childbirth itself - a dangerous process that many women risk.
A lot of the situations and scenes were akin to those of the Jim Crow era and I found many parallels, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but many of these scenes were quite obvious mirrors and lacked creativity and uniqueness to the environment the story is set in.
The writing style was easy to read but extremely repetitive at best (I don’t know how many times I read them exclaim “Shit, Mae!” and “Shit, Pasha!” to each other anytime they came across something horrific) and un-engaging at worst. The dialogue was boring, lacked flow and sometimes sounded really robotic. The pacing and build up to suspenseful moments felt rushed.
Many of the characters lacked depth, especially Pasha, Mae’s partner - he is only ever presented as the cheery, happy-go-lucky, optimistic and supportive partner. He never gets angry, never truly gets sad - he is so very one-dimensional I even started to suspect he might’ve been trying to deceive Mae in some way. It would’ve been really great to see both Mae and Pasha express more emotions and I think, unfortunately, this lack of emotion only added to the stiffness of the entire novel.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense saw the plot twist from 1000 miles away and it really failed to add anything to the story - especially as Pasha is such a predictable and flat character, I already knew how he would react.
I really liked the scene at the end at the beach (in the cave) and thought it was actually written quite beautifully, almost poetically, and I wish the whole book was written this way.
Overall, I didn’t hate it but it certainly wasn’t great. Not sure I’m going to read the rest in the series but I am curious to find out how this Society progresses.
February 12, 2024
Wow. This book was wow in so many ways. Lets start from finish to beginning- I figured her parents had something to do with the preserve drug, I do believe the book said as such, but I guess I didn't think she was actually preserved. When she kept going on about her secret I thought, who cares about your parents. Now it makes sense. The world itself- This was definitely quite dystopian but also so realistic at the same time. The craziest thing to me was the borders and counties and how they had such different things like hair and clothes. That was weird to me. The baby control, the killing of elders and such, that was definitely a product of dystopian reads and I expected those things. I do think the book was a little too long and could have had her having the baby mid way and seeing how they dealt with that part of things. Overall, not a bad book and I'll certainly read the rest.
April 5, 2024
Great novel for those who love dystopian genre.
Really thought provoking.
Characters were really good, Main protagonist (MAE) a little annoying but I guess that means she has been written well enough to feel emotion towards her.
Only negative I would say is the twist as the end wasn't clear enough, I had to come on Goodreads to find out what actually happened and then go back and read. Think the author missed a trick here as it was a good unexpected twist.
Defo worth a read
Really thought provoking.
Characters were really good, Main protagonist (MAE) a little annoying but I guess that means she has been written well enough to feel emotion towards her.
Only negative I would say is the twist as the end wasn't clear enough, I had to come on Goodreads to find out what actually happened and then go back and read. Think the author missed a trick here as it was a good unexpected twist.
Defo worth a read
February 15, 2025
I am a fan of dystopian novels, especially those that you can all but imagine happening. Donate is just that sort of book, but it gets very dark as consequences, opinions, and political alliances all think they are right—no different from the society we live in today!
Mae's society reminds me very much of 1984 or countries with a regime where people were encouraged to report any infringement to the law. The world is overpopulated and by some miraculous event, all the countries have decided that the only way to reduce the population is by limiting births. For those already pregnant there is a very small window to register the pregnancy. If you fail to register in time there is a clause that allows you to progress with your pregnancy. An older person must be willing to sacrifice their life for that of the baby. Another rule is that anyone over the age of 90 will not have access to any medication.
The announcement of these new rules is brought in just as Mae and her partner discover she is pregnant. The website crashes, and there is panic about what will happen, maybe they can get an exemption, but what happens if they can't? There are a couple of elderly relatives, but that is not something they can sanction, so the alternative is what. Stay where they are and have their baby terminated or do something else!
The realisation hits Mae as she and her partner try to work out what to do for the best, what will give them all the best outcome where they all survive. The author takes the story down some very dark roads and for some, this may be very upsetting. I think this is part of the story however and as horrible as some of the atrocities become, it is unfortunately very believable. As a race, humans have committed atrocities that are unimaginable in the past, and some continue to this day. So is so far-fetched to think that the things the author brings into her book will not happen?
As the author takes her characters in a direction they never would have considered, it gives her the chance to add more variables and opinions from others. Bringing in new laws will always divide people and there will be groups that are more active, vocal and in some cases violent. The groups the author forms are, in some cases, taken to the extreme and some of the acts are horrible. But, as I mentioned earlier, it is all part of the story and is within context.
I do like a dystopian novel that really tests me as a reader, this one did that. It is imaginative but also very dark. Showing extremes people will, may and have gone to as a wa7y to protect themselves and their way of life. Status, society norms, politics, perspectives, views and opinions are all tested in this book and I thought it was a very addictive read. I started this book around 10pm and finished it at some daft hour in the early hours of the morning, that says just how addictive I found it. My next book to read is the second one in this series and I am looking forward to another brilliant story.
This is one for those who like a more darker style dystopian novel that takes the reader down some very thought-provoking and alarming events. Fabulous story and one I would definitely recommend.
Mae's society reminds me very much of 1984 or countries with a regime where people were encouraged to report any infringement to the law. The world is overpopulated and by some miraculous event, all the countries have decided that the only way to reduce the population is by limiting births. For those already pregnant there is a very small window to register the pregnancy. If you fail to register in time there is a clause that allows you to progress with your pregnancy. An older person must be willing to sacrifice their life for that of the baby. Another rule is that anyone over the age of 90 will not have access to any medication.
The announcement of these new rules is brought in just as Mae and her partner discover she is pregnant. The website crashes, and there is panic about what will happen, maybe they can get an exemption, but what happens if they can't? There are a couple of elderly relatives, but that is not something they can sanction, so the alternative is what. Stay where they are and have their baby terminated or do something else!
The realisation hits Mae as she and her partner try to work out what to do for the best, what will give them all the best outcome where they all survive. The author takes the story down some very dark roads and for some, this may be very upsetting. I think this is part of the story however and as horrible as some of the atrocities become, it is unfortunately very believable. As a race, humans have committed atrocities that are unimaginable in the past, and some continue to this day. So is so far-fetched to think that the things the author brings into her book will not happen?
As the author takes her characters in a direction they never would have considered, it gives her the chance to add more variables and opinions from others. Bringing in new laws will always divide people and there will be groups that are more active, vocal and in some cases violent. The groups the author forms are, in some cases, taken to the extreme and some of the acts are horrible. But, as I mentioned earlier, it is all part of the story and is within context.
I do like a dystopian novel that really tests me as a reader, this one did that. It is imaginative but also very dark. Showing extremes people will, may and have gone to as a wa7y to protect themselves and their way of life. Status, society norms, politics, perspectives, views and opinions are all tested in this book and I thought it was a very addictive read. I started this book around 10pm and finished it at some daft hour in the early hours of the morning, that says just how addictive I found it. My next book to read is the second one in this series and I am looking forward to another brilliant story.
This is one for those who like a more darker style dystopian novel that takes the reader down some very thought-provoking and alarming events. Fabulous story and one I would definitely recommend.
January 25, 2025
At first I was a little concerned about the story and the progression. It didn’t seem to have much action or plot. The way I thought it would end up was NOT the way it did. It was worth getting to the end - which may me gasp (almost twice) and be on the verge of tears.
It also reminds me of what could potentially take place if our population gets out of control.
Definitely looking forward to the next book!
It also reminds me of what could potentially take place if our population gets out of control.
Definitely looking forward to the next book!
August 5, 2024
I had to sample this book. The advertising has been great and the little blurbs on my targeted social media ads is what made me propel this series to the top of my list.
Well, I tried. I love a good dystopian series, but this one just wasn’t for me. I kept picking it up and putting it down and finally I gave up on it around the 40% mark.
DNF
Well, I tried. I love a good dystopian series, but this one just wasn’t for me. I kept picking it up and putting it down and finally I gave up on it around the 40% mark.
DNF
September 7, 2025
Great from start to finish. Gripping, excited to read the next book :)
February 22, 2024
The country has become a society, overpopulated, limited police and based on life scores. A bit too realistic in places but an interesting read. Will have to read the next book now!
January 7, 2025
This is a great dystopian tale. I couldn't put it down and am excited to read the other two books of the series!
Global population has hit twenty billion, and the government has sever newer laws in place for everyone and everything, including having a child.
With so much violence and unrest, especially against pregnant women, we follow Mae and Pasha on a tense, high-stakes journey. There isn't a dull moment!
Global population has hit twenty billion, and the government has sever newer laws in place for everyone and everything, including having a child.
With so much violence and unrest, especially against pregnant women, we follow Mae and Pasha on a tense, high-stakes journey. There isn't a dull moment!
October 5, 2023
Mae is a well-developed, complex, yet relatable MC. She and her partner, Pasha, will make you want to root for them. We follow them through an unexpected pregnancy in an overpopulated world growing ever more dystopian as the weeks pass and Mae gets closer to her due date - the birth of an ‘illegal’ baby.
We follow them on some nail-biting adventures and learn how ‘the Society’ Britain has become is devolving into chaos, activist groups escalating to murderous mobs, and laws making it ever harder for Mae and Pasha to be safe.
Along the way we see them wrestle their moral dilemmas as the world has slipped into more than questionable justifications and previously unthinkable rationalizations for managing the population crisis. While it was sometimes hard for me to fathom the plausibility of some of the events and actions, I suppose that’s the point of the chaotic ‘dystopian’ setting.
Overall, the two lead characters make this an enjoyable read.
Note: I received the book as a free ARC and happily volunteer my honest review.
We follow them on some nail-biting adventures and learn how ‘the Society’ Britain has become is devolving into chaos, activist groups escalating to murderous mobs, and laws making it ever harder for Mae and Pasha to be safe.
Along the way we see them wrestle their moral dilemmas as the world has slipped into more than questionable justifications and previously unthinkable rationalizations for managing the population crisis. While it was sometimes hard for me to fathom the plausibility of some of the events and actions, I suppose that’s the point of the chaotic ‘dystopian’ setting.
Overall, the two lead characters make this an enjoyable read.
Note: I received the book as a free ARC and happily volunteer my honest review.
November 9, 2023
Gripping, dark and all too possible
Donate is a harrowing potential near-future dystopian picture of a desperate society dealing with extreme overpopulation. Mae, a young professional living with her doting partner, Pasha gets pregnant at just about the worst time possible — right when the government requires an elder life as sacrifice for any new babies. As horrifying as that is, this Society has become xenophobic to the extent of not trusting people outside their own county. Add in the Preserved, wealthy people privileged enough to get a life-extending drug that sends them back into their 20’s and you have the perfect storm for a dystopian tale.
Ms. Ellis has deftly woven characters with plot and action in this first of three. Bonus? The second is coming out soon with the third not long thereafter. Start this soon-to-be-complete series from an author to watch!
Trigger warnings as per usual for the dystopian genre: killer drones, riots with off-screen violence, death talked about, a man held prisoner by his murderous wife, gun violence.
Donate is a harrowing potential near-future dystopian picture of a desperate society dealing with extreme overpopulation. Mae, a young professional living with her doting partner, Pasha gets pregnant at just about the worst time possible — right when the government requires an elder life as sacrifice for any new babies. As horrifying as that is, this Society has become xenophobic to the extent of not trusting people outside their own county. Add in the Preserved, wealthy people privileged enough to get a life-extending drug that sends them back into their 20’s and you have the perfect storm for a dystopian tale.
Ms. Ellis has deftly woven characters with plot and action in this first of three. Bonus? The second is coming out soon with the third not long thereafter. Start this soon-to-be-complete series from an author to watch!
Trigger warnings as per usual for the dystopian genre: killer drones, riots with off-screen violence, death talked about, a man held prisoner by his murderous wife, gun violence.
September 15, 2024
Terrible. All they did the entire time was run about England avoiding two factions that either wanted to kill babies, or the elderly. The two main characters were so unlikeable and flat.
We spend the majority of the time in Mae’s head, and frankly she’s insufferable. All they were doing was checking in and out of b&bs and getting into altercations with various other random characters, which tbh were completely unrelated and added nothing to the plot. Aside from these random altercations, nothing really happened in this book.
The final 10% of the book has them living in a commune, which is summarised in about 5 pages, then of course the “twist” which you could see a mile away was that the nan donated herself (as mentioned about 5% in) for the baby. Shock horror.
It’s revealed in the last page that Mae is a preserved, whatever that means - because it was never really elaborated on. How this is discovered is also a mystery to me. Pasha just seems to know all of a sudden, and if he knows now how did he not find out previously? I’m not even touching on the other massive plot holes like the scheme being rumoured for weeks, there being a 5.5 hour window to register, Pasha taking all of their savings without her (an accountant) not noticing etc.
Wish I didn’t waste my time on this, but it’s a shame as the premise is good, but this is terribly written and terribly executed. If you want to know what happens in a chapter, just read the first and last paragraphs of each, it’s just the same thing rinse and repeat.
We spend the majority of the time in Mae’s head, and frankly she’s insufferable. All they were doing was checking in and out of b&bs and getting into altercations with various other random characters, which tbh were completely unrelated and added nothing to the plot. Aside from these random altercations, nothing really happened in this book.
The final 10% of the book has them living in a commune, which is summarised in about 5 pages, then of course the “twist” which you could see a mile away was that the nan donated herself (as mentioned about 5% in) for the baby. Shock horror.
It’s revealed in the last page that Mae is a preserved, whatever that means - because it was never really elaborated on. How this is discovered is also a mystery to me. Pasha just seems to know all of a sudden, and if he knows now how did he not find out previously? I’m not even touching on the other massive plot holes like the scheme being rumoured for weeks, there being a 5.5 hour window to register, Pasha taking all of their savings without her (an accountant) not noticing etc.
Wish I didn’t waste my time on this, but it’s a shame as the premise is good, but this is terribly written and terribly executed. If you want to know what happens in a chapter, just read the first and last paragraphs of each, it’s just the same thing rinse and repeat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
I was so excited for this book. It came up on my Facebook page advertised as “Black Mirror meets Handmaid’s Tale” which are my two favorite shows. I decided to read it on my 8hr flight back home and it was the only book I downloaded on my kindle and I was so disappointed but I had no choice but to push through.
It was so BORING. OMG the main character hated everyone and no one in this book was interesting. It had so much potential but miss the mark entirely. I didn’t even care what happened to the main characters. I never got the feeling that the main character even liked her boyfriend and just kept waiting for him to die so the real love interest would should up. *Spoiler Alert* it doesn’t happen. Safe to say I will not be continuing this series
It was so BORING. OMG the main character hated everyone and no one in this book was interesting. It had so much potential but miss the mark entirely. I didn’t even care what happened to the main characters. I never got the feeling that the main character even liked her boyfriend and just kept waiting for him to die so the real love interest would should up. *Spoiler Alert* it doesn’t happen. Safe to say I will not be continuing this series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2024
Premise was promising. Execution was pretty terrible. Clunky writing. FMC was so unlikable, I rolled my eyes when I knew I had to read one of her inner monologues. Each one was about how she wasn’t worth anything, how she wished no one noticed her. I honestly disliked the MMC for even putting up with her. She didn’t grow or mature emotionally the entire book. Good riddance.
February 5, 2024
Dark and delightful
I enjoyed this. Donate owned a great and original storyline, the characters were well fleshed out and felt like friends in the end. Love that.
I enjoyed this. Donate owned a great and original storyline, the characters were well fleshed out and felt like friends in the end. Love that.
October 24, 2023
I was intrigued by the premise of this book: a world that is so overpopulated that childbirth requires a donor who is willing to give up his or her own life. In this world, a depressed woman named Mae finds herself pregnant with a child that she does not want, but that her partner, Pasha, desperately does. As they struggle to protect mother and child without costing anyone else’s life, journeys are taken, prejudices are confronted, and their perceptions of morality itself are challenged.
Despite the intriguing premise, I found it difficult to get invested in this book. The writing style threw me off—the book is full of sentence fragments that are clearly included on purpose as a writing style, but the device was overused. The characters didn’t feel multidimensional. Mae’s backstory was revealed slowly and should have made her character seem complex and nuanced, but instead she felt flat, as if her depression was all there was to her. Pasha also was one-dimensional: he was handsome, personable, unreasonably optimistic, and blindly devoted to Mae, who treated him with contempt as often as with love. Neither showed the complexity or growth I hoped to see, although there were hints toward the end that maybe some of that will happen in the second book of the series.
Overall, I really wanted to like this book, but it fell short of my hopes.
Disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book, with no obligation. The decision to leave an unbiased review was entirely my own.
Despite the intriguing premise, I found it difficult to get invested in this book. The writing style threw me off—the book is full of sentence fragments that are clearly included on purpose as a writing style, but the device was overused. The characters didn’t feel multidimensional. Mae’s backstory was revealed slowly and should have made her character seem complex and nuanced, but instead she felt flat, as if her depression was all there was to her. Pasha also was one-dimensional: he was handsome, personable, unreasonably optimistic, and blindly devoted to Mae, who treated him with contempt as often as with love. Neither showed the complexity or growth I hoped to see, although there were hints toward the end that maybe some of that will happen in the second book of the series.
Overall, I really wanted to like this book, but it fell short of my hopes.
Disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book, with no obligation. The decision to leave an unbiased review was entirely my own.
November 17, 2023
Let me start by saying I haven’t read a dystopian novel since 2015 when The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Divergent were increasingly popular. And I hadn’t really read any because at the time, dystopian stories were starting to sound the same.
This book has changed my mind and given me hope for a new set of dystopia. The story is completely original, detailing political life and social structures if overpopulation had risen too far. The Society was terrifying because in a sense, it felt like it could be real. ‘Donate’ spoke to the truth of humanity and how we seek to better our circumstances and how we constantly live in fear. It theorised what happens when the world is so run by fear, that people turn on each other.
But more than that, the story had real people with inexplicably real experiences. Mae and Pasha were entirely flawed in the most honest way. They complimented each other, and love drew them together even when their views contradicted. And my favourite character, Iris, was an absolute hacking wonder and one of my new favourites of all time. Which is not something I ever thought I’d say about a 90 year old woman in a book.
Overall, this story was completely original, insightful, and kept me captivated. I did struggle a little in the beginning with the tense, but adjusted quickly and did not feel that it detracted anything from the book. I can’t wait to read the second one.
This book has changed my mind and given me hope for a new set of dystopia. The story is completely original, detailing political life and social structures if overpopulation had risen too far. The Society was terrifying because in a sense, it felt like it could be real. ‘Donate’ spoke to the truth of humanity and how we seek to better our circumstances and how we constantly live in fear. It theorised what happens when the world is so run by fear, that people turn on each other.
But more than that, the story had real people with inexplicably real experiences. Mae and Pasha were entirely flawed in the most honest way. They complimented each other, and love drew them together even when their views contradicted. And my favourite character, Iris, was an absolute hacking wonder and one of my new favourites of all time. Which is not something I ever thought I’d say about a 90 year old woman in a book.
Overall, this story was completely original, insightful, and kept me captivated. I did struggle a little in the beginning with the tense, but adjusted quickly and did not feel that it detracted anything from the book. I can’t wait to read the second one.
August 5, 2024
Set in a dystopian world. The world is over-populated so a new law is put in place - for every new baby born, an elderly person must be sacrificed and voluntarily ‘donate’ their life. Mae and Pasha find out they are having a baby, but miss the deadline to register a legitimate pregnancy, leaving them with 3 options - to find a donor, to have an abortion, or go to jail for 18 years. They try and ask for an exemption because they are both orphans, but whilst they are waiting for a response, violent protests break out and pregnant women are being killed in the streets. They decide to go on the run and try to find a ‘hippie camp’ to live in whilst they await a decision, where the camera drones cannot find them - but they need to travel all around the country to find the camp. They live in the camp for a few weeks before the drones find them and they go on the run again. The time comes for Mae to give birth and when the baby girl is born, Pasha’s grandmother Iris turns up and announces that she registered to be their donor and the baby is safe. Pasha has been lying to Mae and not taking his MND medication so he is eligible to be a donor, and Mae has been lying to Pasha - her parents designed the preserve medication for the elderly and the life score system. Mae herself is preserved and was the woman who saved his grandmother when he was a young man, and Iris gives her life in exchange to ‘pay her back’ for giving them decades of happy marriage together.
October 24, 2023
Emma Ellis' "Donate" offers a chilling glimpse into a world grappling with overpopulation. She explores themes of sacrifice and survival in a thought-provoking dystopalian world not far from our own.
"Donate" unfolds in a world strained by overpopulation, where governments mandate a life sacrificed for every new birth. These high-stakes set the stage for our main character, Mae's perilous journey. The tension steadily escalates as Mae grapples with the weight of her pregnancy amidst a hostile society. Mae is the linchpin of the story, and Ellis unveils her character with depth and authenticity. Mae's determination to protect her unborn child pulls at the heart. Her emotional journey is portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.
While at times I found the characters naive and frustrating, they also felt realistic, considering they grew up in a world without freedom. This one will definitely make you think about classism, ethics, and where our planet might be headed.
"Donate" unfolds in a world strained by overpopulation, where governments mandate a life sacrificed for every new birth. These high-stakes set the stage for our main character, Mae's perilous journey. The tension steadily escalates as Mae grapples with the weight of her pregnancy amidst a hostile society. Mae is the linchpin of the story, and Ellis unveils her character with depth and authenticity. Mae's determination to protect her unborn child pulls at the heart. Her emotional journey is portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.
While at times I found the characters naive and frustrating, they also felt realistic, considering they grew up in a world without freedom. This one will definitely make you think about classism, ethics, and where our planet might be headed.
October 26, 2023
This book blew me away from the get go. Mae was such a complex, but relatable heroine. There were times I loved her, and times I wanted to shake her, and don’t you love when a book has you screaming at the pages? The world she lives in was so scarily real, feeling like it could be our not so distant future, and wrapping you even more tightly into the story.
Pasha. Ah sweet, clueless, brave, AMAZING Pasha. His character development was something amazing to watch unfold. Without giving away spoilers, honestly it was artful. I started the book wondering what Mae saw in him, and ended it wondering how she survived before him.
Donate is a white knuckle ride from beginning to end, making you honestly wonder what you would do if the world turned upside down, and you had to decide, do you follow the governments rule, societies rule, everything they’re saying is right, and moral and just…if that meant those you loved and cherished might die? Is it better if it’s someone else’s loved ones dying? How strong is your moral compass? How strong will it be when it’s tested?
Pasha. Ah sweet, clueless, brave, AMAZING Pasha. His character development was something amazing to watch unfold. Without giving away spoilers, honestly it was artful. I started the book wondering what Mae saw in him, and ended it wondering how she survived before him.
Donate is a white knuckle ride from beginning to end, making you honestly wonder what you would do if the world turned upside down, and you had to decide, do you follow the governments rule, societies rule, everything they’re saying is right, and moral and just…if that meant those you loved and cherished might die? Is it better if it’s someone else’s loved ones dying? How strong is your moral compass? How strong will it be when it’s tested?
August 21, 2025
I struggled to settle into this book at first as the glaring similarities between this story and ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’ felt too jarring. The main characters named after months who even shared the same nickname from their partner: June-bug/Mae-bug and a friend called Moira set in a dystopian world focused on women’s fertility. I felt that the author had absorbed the story then forgotten about it and partly recreated it.
The situation is reversed, with this book focused on over-population rather than dwindling fertility. It was an interesting premise.
The main character is very blatantly autistic coded to the point that she sometimes reads like a list of diagnostic criteria. I did relate to her, as an autistic woman myself but over all felt the characters were a bit two dimensional with not enough nuance. Some of them, such a Moira, I just found completely unbelievable due to how caricatured she was.
I found the world and ideas interesting and was happy to keep reading but I don’t think I’d rush to read the next one.
The situation is reversed, with this book focused on over-population rather than dwindling fertility. It was an interesting premise.
The main character is very blatantly autistic coded to the point that she sometimes reads like a list of diagnostic criteria. I did relate to her, as an autistic woman myself but over all felt the characters were a bit two dimensional with not enough nuance. Some of them, such a Moira, I just found completely unbelievable due to how caricatured she was.
I found the world and ideas interesting and was happy to keep reading but I don’t think I’d rush to read the next one.
October 19, 2023
What a thrilling and scary read. This may be a dystopian book, but it can easily fit into the thriller category. The scary part about this book is that you can totally envision this happening in the future.
This Handmaid’s Tale on steroids novel had me gripping the edge of my seat in a couple of chapters. While the majority of the story is not fast paced, there are some chapters where my heart was literally racing as the action unfolded, they were quite the exciting chapters.
This is a story about love and survival. A man’s quest to save his baby, and the woman he loves. The woman’s quest to find the love that she doesn’t feel for her baby, and their fight to survive when the whole world has turned against them.
I heartily recommend this book if you’re a dystopian fan, or a fan of the Handmaid’s Tale. Solid 5 star read for me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This Handmaid’s Tale on steroids novel had me gripping the edge of my seat in a couple of chapters. While the majority of the story is not fast paced, there are some chapters where my heart was literally racing as the action unfolded, they were quite the exciting chapters.
This is a story about love and survival. A man’s quest to save his baby, and the woman he loves. The woman’s quest to find the love that she doesn’t feel for her baby, and their fight to survive when the whole world has turned against them.
I heartily recommend this book if you’re a dystopian fan, or a fan of the Handmaid’s Tale. Solid 5 star read for me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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