Lupa

by Jane Dougherty

In Providence, a woman is no more than a vessel, to be filled and emptied. She expects no more, never to feel emotion, never to love or be loved, never to care. This was Lupa's destiny too. But Lupa has two bright stars in her existence—her small daughter Elina and the doctor who made sure she was born.
When Lupa learns that her parents are about to be ended, she finds the courage to break the chains of convention and resolves to bring together all those she cares about—her parents, her daughter, and the young doctor—to defy the cold laws of Providence with a barrage of love.

Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2014

About the author

Jane Dougherty is a product of the Irish diaspora. She was brought up in Yorkshire and educated in Manchester and London before moving to France to work in the wine trade. She spent fourteen years in Paris where she married and had four children, studied Irish for a year and taught herself Italian. Next move was to Laon in Picardy, a medieval gem of a town set in beautiful countryside, where her fifth child was born. She now lives in Bordeaux with her family, a Spanish greyhound and a posse of cats.

Reviews

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading 'Enders', I knew I had to read this short story as well.
Why?
Read 'Enders' for yourself, then you'll know why.
These excellent short stories are a not only great reads in themselves, they provide great background for reading the 'Green Woman' series, starting with 'The Dark Citadel'.

See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lupa-Jane-Dou...

http://www.amazon.com/ss/customer-rev...

http://www.amazon.ca/Lupa-Jane-Doughe...

http://www.amazon.com.au/Lupa-Jane-Do...

[Tricia Drammeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lupa is asking for trouble. In the city of Providence, citizens are supposed to do as they're told. They're supposed to work, raise the children assigned to them, and never ask questions. Above all, they aren't supposed to care. Lupa has the audacity to care about her child. When she goes into premature labor, and begs the doctor to save her baby, she makes a real human connection for the first time in her life. The doctor, Anshar, decides to help her even though it goes against all the rules. The result is Elina, a beautiful, intelligent child who Lupa loves even though it goes against everything she has been taught.

Lupa discovers her parents are about to be ended, which means they've outlived their usefulness in Providence. With Elina in tow, Lupa is determined to save her parents. Will the doctor who saved Elina be willing to help Lupa save her parents? And in a city where individuality is a crime, will he even remember her?

Lupa, the latest short story in The Green Woman series, is a story of humanity and courage. Like all the short stories related to The Green Woman series, it can be read as a standalone or in conjunction with the series. The story is so much more than quick entertainment. It's an emotionally charged read, evoking feelings of helplessness, anger, and ultimately, hope.It's a story about a city on the verge of uprising, and people who have decided that an honorable death is preferable to apathy. If you haven't tried The Green Woman series, now is a great time to get started.

[Nicholas Rossis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lupa is the flip side to Enders; once I had read that, I knew I had to read Lupa as well. Dougherty has built the single most nightmarish world I have ever encountered. A chilling dystopia that reads like a cross of 1984, Brave New World and, well, hell, with demonic creatures roaming just outside Providence. And yet, the last embers of hope linger, just like the last vestiges of humanity. Out of the dreg of Lupa's existence, she manages to recapture this hope and use it to escape her dreary reality, with the unlikely help of a child and a stranger.

Now, on to read The Dark Citadel...