The Mune

by Sue Dawes

A group of Victorian women, shipwrecked on an island in a parallel universe, fight for change.

Thirty "surplus" mothers from asylums, workhouses, and the streets of Victorian England are shipwrecked on an island in an alternate universe. To survive, they must create a new society amid the lethal black sands and mysterious beasts. How will they shake off the patriarchal chains that bound them and raise their children to be free? How will Betty, who longs to be back under the guidance of her master, survive, as the community evolves? And who is watching them?

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I know the author personally, and pinky promise this is an honest and objective review.

In The Mune, by Sue Dawes, a group of “fallen” women from Victorian Britain are stranded on a strange island with their babies when the ship that’s transporting them to a new life in Australia is wrecked by a storm.

Once they’re past the initial shock, they set to work as a collective – the eponymous “Mune” – to co-ordinate shelter, food, childcare, and protection from the sealion-like creatures that pose a danger to them. Life is far from easy, but – with the exception of one island-dweller, Betty – all are happy to be free of the patriarchal prescriptions that caused them so much suffering before.

However, the island isn’t quite what it seems. On top of unlikely sources of illumination, time being on a higher speed setting, and some of the islanders displaying uncanny abilities, the old world is still out there – and there’s a way of getting back, and to other places besides, without setting foot on another boat…

A book that can be summarised as ‘a parallel universe/portal novel where a diverse group of shipwrecked Victorian women create a communist utopia and do away with the gender binary’ was always going to pique my interest, and I was already aware of Dr Dawes’ impressive ability to produce wonderfully weird and surprising stories, but even so: wow, what a read!

From the moment the characters landed there, the island captured my imagination, from the dangerous sinking sands of its shores, to its suspicious conduciveness to life (and indication that people had lived there previously) – jars that produce light when you shake them, a source of potable water, trees whose bark can be fashioned into passable clothing – to its not-quite-right-ness in terms of the passing of time.

At the same time, though, the women, and later their offspring too, have to work hard together to survive. The thrilling conflict essential to any story is provided by Betty, a former servant whose baby – fathered by her erstwhile employer – was stillborn at sea. Unlike the others, Betty refuses to make the best of things or pull her weight, and clings to the “old ways” of women’s subordination to men and Anglican expectations of gender presentation and behaviour.

Ironically, it’s Betty who first goes through the portal (inadvertently – the form the portal takes is really inventive, and means people don’t just happen across and go through it every day!) to the interstitial No Place, which is also absolutely fascinating, and the most overtly sci-fi of the novel’s three settings (the third being the Victorian world).

Other elements that particularly point up the book’s genre, sometimes ahead of it being all that clear, are the occasional short “scientific stories” that pepper the text. I’m a complete sucker for stories-within-stories anyway, but these interludes, modelled on Victorian weird fiction, delighted me, and I loved it when elements from them re-emerged in the main story further down the line.

This being Dr Dawes’ PhD novel, I naturally enjoyed drawing mental connections with other stories that share themes and styles. Along with the scientific stories, an obvious comparison for me was William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, which raised the question: was it the women’s – most of whom came from poor backgrounds – existing socialisation as responsible, nurturing helpmeets that ensured the success of the Mune, as they had a sense of resourcefulness, care, and consideration for the collective that the privileged, feckless boarding-school boys lacked?

While there are many parallel universe/portal novels out there (to which this one contributes original settings and mechanics), I was especially put in mind of Alix E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January – which is a good thing, as I had enjoyed it and was wanting to read more in the same vein! I made this link partly because I read The Ten Thousand Doors quite recently, so it’s still fresh in my mind, but also due to the Victorian setting, stories-within-stories element, and the differing reactions (on the whole) of contemporary men and women to the discovery of portals and unfamiliar worlds.

My only complaint is that I was left desperately wanting more. There are so many possibilities for further stories within the same universe: exploration of No Place’s origins and development; backstories of the people in No Place and/or those who lived on the island before the Mune; spin-offs about at least one of the characters who grew up in the Mune… but I also know how it feels to have completed your PhD and not want to look at or think about it ever again, so I empathise if Dr Dawes decides to keep this novel as a standalone!

The Mune is fantastically imaginative and wonderfully weird.

[Melanie Nipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic speculative fiction. I would give it 4.5/5 stars, however, because of the reformist tendencies.

[Kate Caplinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

devoured this book in a weekend. I agree with what others have said regarding the ending and feeling that it was rushed (specifically Betty's arc), but the rest of the story was so so intriguing. wish this was a series so we could learn more about the universe!

[Rachel Nipper · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

This book took an unexpected turn! I really loved the first part and just was not expecting the second part at all. I felt like Betty’s storyline felt a little rushed at the end and it just felt like she suddenly switched outlooks out of nowhere. Probably one of the most original storylines I’ve read in a while!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book club pick.

[Maya Ware · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the least enjoyable reading experiences I have ever had. The idea was so unique, interesting, and had so much potential. It fell so unbelievably flat in almost every way. The pacing was completely off, I had no idea when things were happening. I was so disappointed at the lack of development in any of the characters, plot point, and environment. You’re telling me the women were there for years and never learned how to do more but live in tents, get water from a well, and rely on like one person to hunt? It’s like they tried not to learn anything. The writing tense seemed to shift randomly from present to past and the cockney vernacular (at least I think) was so distracting that I could barely understand what was going on. I was unbelievably bored with every character. They were so uninteresting, simple, and seemed to contribute absolutely nothing to the plot. I couldn’t understand how so many women and children could live on this island yet the story only focuses on a few who do the exact same thing and have the exact same thoughts over and over and over. They were all so uncreative, always making the same comparisons and observations. Sometimes the author would tell us that the women all worked together and lived in a cooperative society, but she only ever showed us arguing and keeping each other at an extreme distance. The author struggles between giving the reader so little information that we can’t understand what is going on on the island and so much information that the overarching mystery of the island feels cheap and completely predictable. The unconventional gender roles, commentary on women’s rights and independence, the complex social structures the women develop go almost completely untouched. Unless it’s from the perspective of the conservative Christian woman, then it’s just openly mocked and described in a simple bad faith. Any time a character would say or think something actually interesting, the author would immediately dismiss it. It felt like someone was trying to write another “I Who Have Never Known Men” but couldn’t grasp the basics of what makes a speculative fiction novel interesting. I wish this were a weirder better book but it was just so dumb.

[Isabelle Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5: I loved this! The idea is so interesting and original. In theory the idea of people stranded on an island isn’t that unique but it being Victorian mothers who have been generally wronged by society in some way is so cool. This is an interesting experiment of what women can do with freedom and the kind of society they could create.

The book uses short chapters and many narrators. Many narrators is generally something I have mixed feelings about but it is done so well here. The different out looks of the new world they are creating and their experiences with society. It was just so engaging the whole way through.

I want to note that writing style is a bit difficult sometimes because it uses what I assume is Victorian lower class English. This takes some getting used to but for me didn’t hold me back. I do think it would bother some English because it does tend to feel like the grammar is off,

This isn’t a five star because there are some more sci fi elements that lacked much explanation. They clearly aren’t the point of the book which is more so a gendered commentary but I still wish they were more fleshed out. The ending also felt a little rushed.

Overall, this was incredible. I love dystopian books but particularly ones that play on the categories or oppression filled systems we have. The highlight of this book is the way that gender norms can hold us prisoner whether that is literally or internally.

[Katy Wimhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

When thirty ‘surplus’ mothers and their infants are transported to Australia by boat from Victorian workhouses and asylums, they are shipwrecked. On the tropical island where they wash up, they work together to survive by sharing childcare and gathering food and other necessities. Most women in time find benefits to leading an albeit frugal life on the island, free from the harsh patriarchy; they become resilient and resourceful. The narrative is told from the perspectives of three women, though we eventually switch to the children's perspectives too. However, a sort of sci-fi portal story is mixed with what could have been a ‘Lord of the Flies’-style tale (reimagined with cooperative women rather than tribal warring children at its core). For the island is peculiar, with its perilous black sand, creatures in the shallows, accelerated time, and enigmatic presence beneath the cave's freshwater pool. Deft characterisation and an engaging plot combine to create a captivating and very imaginative read. Highly recommended.

[Erin Brinkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - NOT what I expected! I thought this was going to be Victorian lady Survivor but instead it was intersectional feminist Lost - polar bears, dharma initiative, purgatory, smoke monster, and all. wayyy more sci-fi/ speculative fiction than I realized. but I enjoyed it! the writing style is somewhat distant, resulting in a removed, anthropological, matter-of-fact tone but the plot is engaging. the social commentary was not subtle at all, making the book almost feel like YA. it doesn’t require you to think much, and betty’s character arc and its role in the ending wasn’t believable even for a second, but the rest of it was fun.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get into this book but once I got past some of the difficult to understand dialogue it was a good story. It reminded me a little bit of Lost if it had occurred in 1880 by shipwreck instead of plane. The story has an interesting focus on feminism and what women’s lack of freedom looked like in the late 1800s. By the end of the novel I really liked this focus, and felt like the way gender was and wasn’t specified for some in The Mune actually made the story more complex and interesting

[Cate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea...loved the idea and I let the imaginative stuff be fun but stylistically there was a lot that irked me. More importantly, all of the gender commentary was ruined by being put so plainly and would've been better off speaking for itself. It was entertaining, so success there, but the broader aim of this fell short for me.🤷🏼‍♀️

[Joe Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world of portals, islands, onlookers and a cast from Victorian society, this highly original concept is an inquisitive page turner.

[M]

First half was a little slow, second half had me gripped. The ending felt rushed.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally loved and think sue is gonna write some bangers in her future, would have loved a bit mroe from the ending but i shall forgive and forget