Fuchsia War:Time-Travel Adventure Where Women Fight to Reclaim Erased History

by Gaia Kai

A thrilling, time-bending adventure of high-stakes women’s justice, unbreakable friendships, and unforgettable women—set in a dystopian future where men exploit Mother Earth and erase its true history. Ava-Sky longs to expose centuries of reality twisted by the patriarchal powers and join the fight to reclaim the planet and truth.

In the wake of a failed rebellion, when women tried to save Earth from men's destruction, being a woman has become a death sentence. Unchecked consumption unleashed the Day of Fire, bringing toxic sandstorms. Eighteen-year-old Ava-Sky bears the painful scars that took place during the Day of Fire.
Now, in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by ecological ruin, Earth is mostly a wasteland, and women live in isolated sanctuaries while the rest of the world crumbles. Ava-Sky lives with her mom in Tierra, one of the last female-led havens, where she’s been raised on the true history—how men erased women’s history and poisoned the planet.
Driven by a longing for justice and determined to set the record straight, Ava-Sky dreams of joining the History Documenting Unit in the city of Nia, where women travel back in time to recover lost women’s history and erased truths—hoping to un-brainwash women living in male-occupied territories and spark a revolution to save what’s left of Mother Earth.
When a tragic storm strikes in Tierra, Ava-Sky is forced to leave the only home she’s ever known and travel to Nia without her loved ones.
Will Ava make it to Nia and realize her dream of joining the History Documenting Unit—or will the scars from the Day of Fire hold her back?

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Dystopia

301 pages, Kindle Edition

About the author

Gaia Kai is an adjunct professor of humanities and art history and a practicing artist. Her academic and creative work centers on elevating and educating women, with a focus on women’s art history and matrilineal societies. Her debut reflects the core of her career-long focus on women’s history and creativity, combined with her love of science fiction and adventure.

Reviews

[Jack Bottomley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

This book fits very nicely in the YA dystopian collection, with a fresh and unique premise. Women working to try and bring about a matriarchal society after endless horrific treatment by men is, while somewhat dystopian, also not something unfamiliar to our real world.

The book moves fast, with the main characters being fleshed out and easy to form connections with. As some other reviews mention, I could easily take a bit more engagement with the side characters.

The main draw of this book is the historical time travel, to document male wrongdoings in order to broadcast them in the present. This was by far the most interesting concept, and I could happily read a whole book of short stories on the trips back to document these.

My biggest gripe comes from the main character's inner monologue, where they regularly question what they should do, despite being given clear instructions mere moments before. This is something I've not enjoyed in other books though and I can see how those thoughts add tension and engagement, it's possibly just not for me.

[Abbie Furniss · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with this arc of the novel.

my luck with ARCs is so bad. this popped up on my recommended on netgalley, seeming like a great, quick read. the premise sounded SO interesting; a little feminist dystopian sci-fi with some young-adult vibes. sounds fun!
and it did start off good, i can't lie. the beginning of this novel seemed so interesting. we're set in a futuristic world living in ruins after men overthrew the government and destroyed the planet. crazy storms called "drifts" wreck their world because of the pollution and the air is no longer breathable. the two last women-ruled states cower in fear as another storm rolls in.
and then the drift hits.. and it all goes to shit!

first off, this book just didn't make sense. not in terms of the plot (which was incredibly lacklustre in itself), but just in general. there seemed to be unexplained gaps within the book where we randomly teleported somewhere for no reason.
for example, the parking lot ava-sky is stuck in after the drift traps them (some random, insignificant women) there. we have a random time jump, suddenly it's A FULL MONTH LATER, and they do this weird running thing (i think to get supplies) but hear someone in danger and suddenly teleport back to the lot? it sounds stupid and disjointed to write out, which is exactly what it felt like to read. i was sitting there re-reading the page trying to figure out what on earth happened, because it's like there's just a part this passage missing.
this was just so common in the book and it drove me INSANE. it's like an editor came through and cut out a part they didn't like, but rather than rewriting it or removing the scene, it just sat there incomplete. another example which remained an issue throughout the whole book. - ivy. WHO ACTUALLY WAS SHE? IT WAS NEVER EXPLAINED. maybe i missed it, but the rough idea i got was "oh super cool woman who invented time travel (i think??) lowkey rich somehow we all know and love her"

another thing i disliked was how YA it was. obviously, i went into it knowing it was a young-adult so don't come at me, HOWEVER, there is a fine line between writing a good YA and just dumbing everything down in the hopes it appeals to a younger audience. the language was so juvenile - not just the word choices, but the dialogue and names for everything too. "historyflashes" "truthflashes" EVEN HER NAME "ava-sky, READY FOR TIME TRAVEL" ew. i was so icked out. i think the biggest word she used this book was FUCHSIA, WHICH IS IN THE DAMN TITlE. and yet it's so clearly some random synonym for pink she found in her thesaurus and decided to attribute a deeper meaning to and make it the title.

and the whole time-travel thing was also such a let down. a seemingly super interesting plot point about going back in time to document history turned bland as ava-sky (writing that out just gives me the ick all over again) relived these sad moments of history. all so they could show other women these clips of women being mistreated, and it was SOMEHOW the tipping point in the war?? WHAT?? how is showing women IN ALREADY OPPRESSIVE SOCIETIES other women struggling and being oppressed in the past going to do anything?? it's not like it's something they don't already know?? are we just assuming women are so silly they don't realise they're being treated the exact same way and are somehow complicit with all of this until they see a random video from the past?? such a wasted opportunity.

on the dystopian plot side of things, it started off really interesting. there were little moments of glory, where brain-dead ava-sky over here would actually have a real thought about hey, maybe all men arent so bad? why do we have to kill them all? isnt that kinda the same thing? AND THEN IT NEVER WENT ANYWHERE. the plot just followed such a boring, predictable narrative the whole time. she wants to go to nia? she gets to nia! she wants to document history? she gets to document history! she wants to meet ivy? she gets to meet ivy! she wants the women to win? the women win! nothing in this book actually challenged our characters, the world, anything. she was never truly forced to develop or rethink her world views like in other dystopians, BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENED.

overall, i was just disappointed by this book. after an interesting premise, somehow everything fell off.

[Cheyanne Glazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Everyone wishes women ruled the world. If they did, our planet wouldn’t be on the brink of destruction”

Thank you to Gaia Kai, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC!

Fuchsia War hooked me early with its vivid worldbuilding, gorgeous atmosphere, and strong sense of identity. From the beginning, the world felt immersive and visually rich, and I immediately found myself intrigued by the societies, aesthetics, and overall vision behind the story. I also really enjoyed the friendship dynamic between Izza and Ava early on, which added a lot of warmth and emotional grounding to the opening sections.

The worldbuilding remained the standout aspect of the book for me throughout. I loved the use of color and description woven into the writing, and the different societal structures felt creative and thoughtfully developed. There’s a very clear artistic vision behind this book, and I genuinely admired how distinct the setting felt from start to finish.

That said, I think I struggled most with the overall plot progression and emotional weight of the story. While the inciting incident was interesting and worked well structurally, I didn’t fully feel the lasting impact of it throughout the rest of the book in the way I wanted to. I found myself wishing those early events had been woven more deeply into the main character’s emotional arc and motivations as the story continued.

I did enjoy the main character overall and found her perspective compelling, but there were certain emotional reactions and dialogue transitions that didn’t always fully click for me. Some conversations felt incredibly strong and impactful, while others felt slightly disconnected or underdeveloped. I also felt some of the side characters could have used a bit more depth, as I wanted to become more emotionally attached to them than I ultimately did. I do also feel as though the messaging was very heavy handed.

Around the halfway point, the pacing began to slow down quite a bit for me, and I started struggling to understand the larger direction or overarching goal of the story. By the final quarter, I kept waiting for the stakes to escalate in a more meaningful way, but the ending ended up feeling a little abrupt and emotionally unsatisfying for me personally.

Overall, though, I still think Fuchsia War is a very ambitious book with strong atmosphere, compelling worldbuilding, and a unique visual identity. Even though the plot progression and emotional payoff didn’t fully work for me, I really appreciated the creativity behind the world and characters.

3/5 stars.

[Debbie Hightower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuchsia War by Gaia Kai is a thought-provoking novel in which women and girls fight to reclaim erased history.
Ava-Sky, who lives in an environmentally-ravaged world, dreams of becoming a time traveling history documenter. The women who rule environmentally-ravaged Tierra dream of a female-ruled world. “If they did, our planet wouldn’t be on the brink of destruction.”
Fuchsia War seems to be a diatribe on environmental abuses combined with man’s attempt to erase female achievements. A resident of woman-ruled Tierra, Ava-Sky is one of the few individuals genetically-suited to travel through time, which enables her to record and share women’s historical achievements that includes Mileva Maric-Einstein. While she takes part in the Matriarchy War, she recalls her own father who taught her how to use weapons. The flip side of the coin is the portrayal of the Man-Lands that border Tierra, where all men are portrayed as misogynists who abuse and enslave women. Perhaps predictably, a war erupts between the two diverse cultures. The men who rule Mans-Lands are portrayed as women-hating and stupid.
This futuristic world is immersive with sci-fi technology including anti-gravity skimmer, palm scanners, and the Wrist Beam.
The Mother-Earthers seek to not only control men, but eventually wipe all of them out. Is a future devoid of men a future worth fighting for?
The story was an action-packed page turner that keeps the reader involved. The feminist struggle is real, but as a reader I felt it was taken too far. Also, I feel that the manuscript would have benefitted from one more polish. The character development of Ava-Sky was solid, meaning that young adult readers who are science fiction fans will probably enjoy this futuristic action-adventure novel.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received a copy as part of a Booktrovert Giveaway.

2, maybe 2.5 stars. There's obviously thought put into the concept and the world building, but that's about as far as it goes. Ava-Sky should have been named Mary-Sue. She manages to save herself (and only herself) from the deadly storm that kills her mother and ruins Tierra. No one else can get from Tierra to Nia without being intercepted by the evil men, but she's able to do it without any problem. She's taken to time traveling like a duck to water. She has the perfect bio-makeup (and platinum locks) to go back farther than any other time documenter. She nailed the initiation ritual and was the only one ever to come out unscathed. Ivy, the leader, has taken a personal interest in her and her development. Everyone seems to think she's awesome. It's annoying after a while.

Then there's the politics. I'm a feminist, but I'm not a radical or militant one. This book is both of those things. I don't believe that killing, shackling, enslaving, or degrading men will ever help the feminist cause, and yet all of those elements are present here. It takes every humiliation ever done to women by men and flips them, justifying it because it's now women who doing it and are in charge in this new matriarchal society. At some point, it's not going to work out any better for them. All people of all creeds and colors have to be on an equal accepting footing for society to become better. Otherwise it's more of the same, just wrapped up this time in a fuschia cape.

[Sivan Kish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuchsia War is a thrilling and imaginative story set in a dystopian future where history has been rewritten and women’s voices have been erased. As Ava-Sky is forced to leave her sanctuary and journey alone toward a hidden city, she is driven by one goal—to uncover the truth and help restore what was taken from the past.
The idea of a History Documenting Unit that travels through time adds a fascinating layer, blending action, mystery, and purpose. Ava-Sky stands out as a strong and compelling protagonist, guided by courage, resilience, and a deep sense of justice.
The world-building is vivid and immersive, filled with danger, lost knowledge, and high-stakes tension. At its heart, the story carries a meaningful message about resistance, friendship, and reclaiming history.

An engaging and thought-provoking adventure that keeps you invested from beginning to end.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read! I did really enjoy it. A scary dystopian world that has been ruined by "men" & this story is based on the female survivors that try to take back control of their world. A great storyline, some angst I found, but not too much, lots of action & high tension moments. A good mix of post apocalyptic, dystopian with a nice twist of sci fi to add even more flair! I do recommend!

[Keira]

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, despite the topic of this book seeming interesting to me, I was unable to get very far into the book. This was primarily due to the writing style.

I will be extremely clear and say there is nothing significantly wrong with the editing of this book in terms of grammar, spelling etc. and (aside from the fact that this was an ARC copy and thus may have changed by the final release) I don't think you need to avoid this work because of concerns over grammar, spelling and other such issues. (With the exception of some run-on sentences.)

That being said, the writing style of this book very much did not work for me. The fact that it is written in the present tense did admittedly immediately put me a bit on edge - I usually prefer past-tense books - and I do think the unusualness of this choice meant I was more hyperaware of other issues in the writing where things struck me as awkward or clumsy than I might otherwise have been were I not already hyper-alert to the writing style choices being made. Perhaps because of this, I ended up reading the beginning of the story with a critical eye to the writing style and it pulled me out of the story massively.

In particular, I found sentence patterns repeated over-frequently and a lack of variation in sentence length, as well as an over-reliance on sentence fragments and short sentences. There was also a lot of "As I do A, I do B" structures, even when it didn't make sense or add anything to write like this. This all gave the impression of the author walking us through every thought and action of the main character in the scene rather than crafting a story out of the key points. There was also a lot of "tell not show" issues - for example "my brow furrowed with concern and curiosity"; "...her gaze study, her face focused and serious now" etc., where the emotions of the characters were explicitly stated as well as being shown. In this regard, the writing felt either amateurish or aimed at a lower reading level (such as middle grade), whereas this is said to be an adult book).

Apart from that, I found the worldbuilding a little tongue-in-cheek with names like "Man-Land" and "The Drift" (capital T, capital D), which made the world feel more constructed than lived in. This could feel intentional to other people, though, and I don't necessarily think it is an immediate point agains the story - it just happened to combine with the writing style to feel overall clunkily constructed.

I do think it would be possible to enjoy this book for the storyline if you were to push past the first few chapters and allow the writing style to fade into the background. However, this is not what I am looking to do when reading a published adult novel, and for me personally, the writing style means it was not worth it to continue with the story. For readers who are very much plot first and who don't care so much about writing style beyond not having glaring editing issues, this story might work for them still. (In fact, it reminded me of the writing of a lot of popular Wattpad stories back in the day - so there is definitely a market.)

I did not get far enough in this book to give it a rating based on the plot (and I don't rate DNF's outside of Netgalley at all), so the below rating is based purely on my enjoyment of the first few chapters and the writing style.

[Leah Willemsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is unlike anything I have read before. A devastated world where women reclaim history by going back to witness it for themselves is already interesting on its own, but adding real historical elements into that ties it directly to actual people and events, not just something created for the plot. That connection feeds directly into the message, which drives the entire book. Women have been dealing with the same oppressive patterns over and over for generations, and the story doesn’t try to be subtle about it. It repeats that point again and again, circling back to things that exist outside of the book.

As the story moves forward though, the writing started to pull me out of it. The sentences stay very short and direct, and after a while, everything starts to land the same way. It reads more like someone telling the story out loud than something you get pulled into, almost like a story being told around a campfire. Bigger moments don’t have much time to settle before the next thing happens, so everything ends up carrying the same weight. The ideas are big, but the delivery keeps them at one level.

The last part of the book portrays men as largely incapable, deceptive, and openly misogynistic, using manipulation and lies to maintain control. The issue wasn’t whether that kind of world could exist, it was trying to understand why Ava accepted it so completely. She spends so much time talking about her dad like he was a genuinely good man. She remembers him with warmth. He teaches her things. He matters to her. With that kind of experience in her life, her full agreement with “all men are the same” starts to feel off. It turns her father into this one exception in a world where every other man is described almost identically. There is a brief moment where she questions that and seems to recognize it might not be that simple, then it slips away and she goes right back to the same mindset.

The world itself also feels a little uneven because of that. The “Man Lands” stay distant and mostly described from the outside. Spending more time there, or seeing more of how that side actually functions, might have added some weight to everything the story is trying to say.

I stayed curious the whole way through, which says a lot about the concept. There’s something interesting here, especially with how it connects to real history and pushes you to think about it a little differently. It just never quite comes together in a way that makes everything hit as hard as it could.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gaia Kai for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up on NetGalley. It was certainly a thought-provoking read.

To give a brief synopsis - our protagonist is Ava-Sky, a young woman navigating a post-apocalyptic world. Humanity depleted Mother Earth of its natural resources, turning the world into a dystopian nightmare. Worse, there is a divide between men and women on a global scale. Women have lost their human rights, and their history. There are only a few safe refuges, in areas where women have overthrown the patriarchy. We follow Ava as she pursues her dream of being a time-traveler, rediscovering women whose legacies were buried in the past.

I really like the premise to be honest, the book draws from reality in a way that makes this dystopian future scarily believable. I found it so educational in this way - because it prompted me to research the people and events it mentioned.

The specifics of the dystopian society were really captivating too. Ava visits a number of places throughout this novel, allowing us to see a broad range of interesting environments. I love all the terms the author came up with for News, and reading about what aspects of society and language had mutated in this dystopian future. The general vibe of this world is an interesting one.

I think this book sets itself up well to be a thought experiment. One of the primary goals of the matriarchy in this novel is to eradicate all men. The political landscape is as extreme in its feminism as it can get. Which brings me to my issue with this novel. Our characters have come to the conclusion that the only way to save women and the Earth is to kill every man on it, and live in a society of only women. Of course, such a gross generalisation and condemnation is something I don't agree with.

Ava despises men, she and everyone she knows believes that all men are violent, bloodthirsty, bigoted, and willing to kill the planet. We meet some male characters along the way which don't fit into this mold, and I had hoped this would be a turning point for Ava to realise her views were too extreme and one-dimensional. Yet, while Ava has her doubts, that key introspection never happens. There are some other ideas presented in this book - such as assigning people jobs and lives based on their genetic makeup - that I kept waiting for some deeper commentary on. None of this happened, and I'm left wondering what the intentions of the author were. It's possible I may have misconstrued the ending, but it's something I would love to hear the author talk about in more detail.

[Pagesofscarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Worthy Addition to the Dystopian Shelf
I received an ARC of this book, thank you netgalley.

In a genre often saturated with well-trod paths, Gaia Kai's Fuchsia War stands out by offering a refreshingly specific and high-stakes vision of the future. The premise alone—of a post-apocalyptic world where women’s history is literally a lost art and time-traveling historians are the only hope for revolution—is a stroke of brilliance. It’s an imaginative and compelling hook that drew me in from the very first pages. The novel's strength lies in these high-concept moments, particularly the History Documenting Unit’s time-bending missions. These sequences are both poignant and thrilling, showcasing the devastating toll of ecological collapse and the deliberate erasure of truth. To me, these trips into the past were the book's heart and soul, and the reason it’s worth picking up.

That said, while the big ideas land, the execution sometimes struggles to keep pace. The primary narrative, following Ava-Sky’s journey, often feels a bit rushed, particularly in the later chapters. Some of the secondary characters, despite their potential, never quite grow beyond their initial introductions, leaving me hungry for more depth and connection. This rapid pace also contributes to a sense of disorientation at times; certain narrative leaps feel unearned, and the overall timeline can be a bit confusing even outside of the time-travel element.

And then there's the ending. I appreciate a good cliffhanger as much as the next reader, but the one here felt less like an exciting lead-in to a sequel and more like a deliberate stumble. A pivotal event near the climax is introduced without clear motivation or explanation, leaving a key character's actions a complete mystery. It’s an abrupt and slightly frustrating note to end on, undermining the powerful themes that came before it.

Despite these issues, Fuchsia War is a book with a lot of ambition and a big heart. It’s a compelling read for fans of dystopian fiction and unique time-travel mechanics. The exploration of truth, memory, and unbreakable female bonds is genuinely moving. While it may not stick with you in every detail, its most innovative moments will. It’s a strong debut with a truly inspired core, and I’m hopeful the next installment will build on its considerable strengths.

[Tales with Atticus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuchsia War is a unique and ambitious entry into the YA dystopian genre. What immediately struck me was the originality of the worldbuilding. Gaia Kai imagines a post-apocalyptic society where women not only fight to preserve what’s left of Earth but also reclaim the history that has been erased from them. The History Documenting Unit, with its time-bending missions to recover women’s stories, is such a fascinating and powerful concept that I could have happily read an entire book just exploring those moments.

The novel doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable themes. In this world, women’s hatred of men is absolute and unflinching. The way it’s written feels deliberately harsh because it mirrors the way women are treated in our own society, but turned back on its head. That inversion is effective, but I do think many readers might miss the parallel without additional context. For me, this created a push-pull experience: it was powerful in how it made me think and sit with the discomfort, but at the same time, I felt there were missed opportunities to connect those fictional extremes more clearly to present-day realities.

Where the book shines is in its boldness of ideas and its immersive dystopian setting. The ecological ruin, the sanctuaries, and the altered language of the future are vivid and compelling. Where it sometimes falters is in the finessing of its message.. certain moments that could have been deeply resonant didn’t quite land as strongly as I hoped.

That said, Fuchsia War is a creative, thought-provoking debut. It asks big questions about justice, truth, and who gets to shape history, and it doesn’t flinch away from showing the consequences of power when it swings to extremes. Readers who enjoy dystopian worlds with unique premises and high-stakes concepts will find a lot here to think about and discuss.

[Eki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ava-Sky dreams of becoming a part of a time traveling unit who help document the real past that men have rewritten to be in favor of them. The earth is toxic and lacks any life outside of humans, due to men's obsession to destroy everything and shortsighted gains. Discovering and broadcasting the real past might help women in men ruled territories rise up and fight against them, and hopefully save the earth from complete destruction. However a devastating storm that destroyed nearly everything has sped up Ava's plans and now she is forced to travel into the unknown and hope she can get into the time traveling unit.


What I liked
‣ although the book is very 'women are the best', I feel like it also appreciates men a little
‣ the documentation trips were very interesting and heartbreaking, just that alone I think is worth reading
‣ interesting time travel mechanics


What I disliked
‣ sometimes confusing timelines (not because of the time travel element)
‣ confusing ending (and cliffhanger)


Review

I received an ARC of this book.

A fun read, but I feel like pretty forgettable. The side characters could've used a little more character development and at times the book felt rushed.

I don't want to spoil too much, but I'll say that there was an unnecessary part to the ending and I'm honestly confused why that happened because it really isn't explained either.

3.5/5 stars

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Thanks to Gaia Kai and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fuchsia War was definitely a surprise, never expected from the first couple of chapters to love the story as much as I did when I finished.

This sci fi dystopia has so much potential. The core of the story it’s definitely the erasure of women in history, I learned so much that I completely ignored.

I really liked Ava, Tula, Sia, Zion, the world an how was described.

I do believe that the first chapters need some reconstruction, there’s aspects of the pacing that pulls you out of the story and gets you uninterested. Also the dialogues at certain times feel too juvenile even for the young characters. The world building needs a bit of work as well, especially the time travel, when Ava asks valid questions about the hows and whys Marka just says “roll with it”, “you don’t need to know” it feels like everything happens magically and Ava has the knowledge out of nowhere it’s just confusing and annoying to be honest.

That being said I do believe the author created a good, original plot and was able to intrigue me and made me curious/expectant for a sequel.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subjects in this book felt like they were hitting a bit close to home right now! The world is an exaggerated apocalyptical version of our own, and it was sad to see where things had gone. The support and empowerment of the woman we got to see were great, and I enjoyed the characters. Would have loved more of our side characters! The world building was interesting, but felt possibly a little inconsistent in their technology. Some was SO advanced and other things felt like they were too underdeveloped based on their abilities.

The small stories we got from the time-traveling portion were great! It was a creative way to look at the past and turn around some "what we know" moments of history.

The twist in the book was cool and I thought it was really going to change the trajectory of the story and of FMC. It mostly felt like it stayed the same though, and I was really hoping for some additional character development. I'm thinking this might happen in the following book - so I'm curious to see where the story is taken.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[S Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of women traveling back in time to recover erased history and expose how the patriarchy rewrote everything grabbed me immediately. Ava-Sky wanting to join the History Documenting Unit to un-brainwash people and spark revolution created solid motivation that drove the story forward. The post-apocalyptic setting with toxic sandstorms and lost technology after the Day of Fire painted a grim picture of what unchecked exploitation leads to. The female-led sanctuaries versus male-occupied territories set up clear stakes, and watching Ava-Sky forced to leave her home after tragedy added urgency to her journey.

The message about environmental destruction and erased women's history sometimes felt heavy-handed when it could have been more subtle. However, the bold premise of flipping the power dynamic and showing what happens when one gender completely dominates made me think about parallels to our own world. The friendships and determination throughout kept me invested even when the themes got intense. Recommend for anyone who loves dystopian stories with time travel elements and strong environmental messages about protecting the planet before it's too late.

[Christopher Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read a book like this before, it’s filled with creativity, imagination, and emotion. The story follows Ava-Sky and her struggle to recover a lost history, one hidden by those who fear the truth. At its heart, it’s a story about reclaiming identity and fighting against silence, a symbolic battle for truth itself.

As a male reader, I’ll admit the perspective felt unfamiliar at first. The narrative clearly speaks from and for a feminine and feminist viewpoint, which made me reflect on experiences and emotions different from my own. But that’s exactly what makes it powerful. It challenged my perspective and invited me to see the world through Ava-Sky’s eyes, her pain, strength, and determination.

The writing is rich, evocative, and immersive; the world the author creates feels alive and meaningful. By the end, I wasn’t just following Ava-Sky’s journey, I was empathizing with her and with all the women she represents. Even as a man, I found myself deeply moved and inspired.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I won in a goodreads giveaway and let me tell you this was a very informative story. It tells the story of a dystopian society in which there are those who exploit mother earth and try to erase the true history away. However there is one girl who will rise above the oppression in order to make a difference and save the last bit of goodness from being destroyed. Overall this is adventurous novel that makes you think clearly about the type of world you live in and how our actions impact it.

We are introduced to Ava Sky is lives with her mother in a female haven. Based on current events mentioned above men have erased the accomplishments of women. However, in a twist of fate she is introduced to a history documenting Unit which has the ability to travel back in time. But it is a journey that she will have to endure on her own and if she doesn't accomplish any change things could becoms drastically worse.

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping to love this book, but I struggled in the language used and even with the misandry in the book, I can understand all characters hating and being afraid of all men but the main character Ava sky, she had a father in her home, he teached her how to fight and defend herself, he was different from all the other women experience.

The language used felt a bit strange and I struggled to read all the book, I think the book could be better if it wasnt all over the place, what I mean with that is that sometimes the plot that one used for the book could have been told in smaller novellas, like the relationship that Ava had with her parents, the discrimination that they faced because Ava had a father… the courage her mother had in having Ava father at the house, what made Ava chose what she wanted to become. This for me would be interesting to read.

Thank you Netgalley and Gaia Kai, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Cassandra Wisener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay but LISTEN.

Fuchsia War is dystopian sci-fi that walks in, flips the table, and says “this is the story now.”

We’re talking:
✅ a future shaped by environmental collapse
✅ controlled history
✅ advanced tech
✅ a specialized unit operating above the world
✅ and a narrative that is VERY sure of what it wants to say

This book is not here to tiptoe. It’s concept-forward, message-driven, and moves with serious momentum. Characters exist inside the system rather than outside it, which makes the whole thing feel less like a hero’s journey and more like watching power shift in real time.

The ending? Swift. Symbolic. Decisive.
The kind of ending that makes you stare at the wall for a second and go,
“…wow. Okay.”

If you like dystopian stories that feel like a thought experiment, a warning, and a declaration all at once — add this to your list.

This would be a WILD book club read, by the way.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars. Definitely an interesting premise! This YA sci-fi book was set up very well, with a young woman character interested in collecting and distributing true women's history in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the decisions of men that has erased it. Initial world-building and set-up of the story was done well, and pacing was also quite good.

However, I didn't particularly connect with the character's motivations, as they seemed a bit surface level. Written well but seemed repetitive, with similar pattern of 'learn historical info, pass it on, do that again', though it appears it is the first book of a possible series. Again, very interesting premise and possibility of world building, but main character was a bit too wishy-washy on motivation, and side characters didn't feel very fleshed out. Very thought provoking premise though.

I was able to read this book through NetGalley.

[Rebecca Hedt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed on NetGalley
This was a very thought-provoking YA dystopian novel following the young protagonist Ava-Sky as she joins the war effort to reclaim lost parts of women’s history by time travelling.
The setting was fascinating and vivid, set in a post-environmental collapsed world that mirrors ours, the stark contrast between the ecological ruin and the technology that was invented to create a liveable environment amidst the planet’s chaos was really engrossing. I really liked the real-life tidbits of women’s history that were included. I learned a few things I didn’t know previously and I love when a novel incorporates that well!
The pacing at the beginning of the novel threw me off a little, there were a lot of time jumps in between very vital moments that made the narrative feel a bit more disjointed.
Overall a really engaging premise and setting!

[Dona Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time Travel With a Purpose and a Punch

This book grabbed me fast. The world is brutal and broken, with sandstorms, ruined tech, and a society where men have rewritten the past to erase women’s legacy. Ava-Sky is only eighteen, but she’s fierce, wounded, and determined to expose the truth. I loved that she comes from a rare female-led refuge where real history is protected like contraband.

What really hooked me was the concept of a hidden city where women go back through time to recover what’s been stolen and bring it forward to wake others up. That idea felt bold, fresh, and honestly empowering. When Ava is forced to leave her home after a devastating storm, the story shifts into survival mode and the stakes jump.

It’s part dystopian thriller, part rebellion story, and part love letter to Mother Earth. I finished it wanting the next book immediately.

[Ashley Luhrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Dystopian time traveling post apocalyptic where the female survivors attempt to establish a matriarchy after the men decimate the world (with a little sci-fi thrown in)? Sign me up! I so wanted to love this book. The concept is interesting and fresh. I loved the idea of traveling back in time to take snapshots of lost history to share with women and invigorate them to fight. The author also did a great job throwing in some twists and turns that kept me guessing and the story interesting.

While I enjoyed the story of this book, the writing really needed some polishing. The dialogue and sentence structure tended to be more juvenile as well as the pacing was a bit off.

Thank you to Gaia Kai for providing a copy. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooo I loved Fuchsia War. This is exactly what I imagine a strong female lead story fueled by female rage should look like. Ava-Sky is driven, angry, and purposeful in a way that feels justified and powerful rather than performative. I was fully invested in her journey from Tierra to Nia, especially after the loss that forces her to leave everything she knows behind. The worldbuilding is bold and unapologetic, from the matriarchal sanctuaries to the devastating environmental collapse, and the idea of reclaiming erased women’s history through time travel was both emotional and thought-provoking. The book doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, and by the end, Ava-Sky’s resolve and growth felt earned.

Thank you NetGalley for eARC.

[Andres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because the idea of women traveling through time to recover erased history really caught my attention. The world-building is strong and easy to picture, especially the ruined future and the female-led sanctuaries. Ava-Sky is a likable main character, and her motivation feels clear and emotional. I enjoyed the mix of action, friendship, and bigger ideas about history and the planet. The time-travel concept is creative and keeps the story moving. That said, the message about patriarchy and environmental damage can feel a bit heavy at times, like it’s stated more than shown. Still, the story is engaging and meaningful, and it made me think. Overall, it’s a solid, imaginative read with heart and purpose.

[Galatée · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure if I’ve read an extreme feminism propaganda pamphlet or a dystopian book.
The first half of the book was amazing, great writing, fast-paced, thrilling !
And then the main character is living the perfect life in a perfect bubble with only women mainly supported by Artificial Intelligence (so not women intelligence) … and men are depicted as vile creatures, no exceptions.
Furthermore IA is used as a deus ex machina every time something is hard to explain… which is really poor world-building.
This women haven seemed more like a dictatorship to me as women there have very little freedom and I was waiting for some nuance, something telling that matriarchy can be as bad as patriarchy. But no. It fell flat.
It doesn’t serve the feminist cause at all because it is caricatural.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a strong and memorable mix of dystopian adventure and time travel. The idea of women traveling through time to recover lost history is fresh and meaningful. I liked how the story connects personal courage with a bigger fight for truth and justice.
Ava-Sky is easy to care about. She is brave but still unsure at times, which makes her feel real. The ruined world, toxic storms, and hidden sanctuaries create a tense and believable setting.
Sometimes the message about power and the past is stated very directly, but the story itself stays engaging and emotional. Overall, this is a thoughtful and exciting book for readers who enjoy time-travel stories with strong characters and a deeper message.

[William Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gripping time-travel adventure blends speculative fiction with feminist urgency, pulling readers into a high-stakes battle where women refuse to let their stories be erased. With fast pacing and vivid imagination, the novel moves seamlessly between eras, exposing how power shapes history and who gets written out of it. The characters are fierce, flawed, and deeply human, making the fight to reclaim lost voices feel personal and immediate. Thought-provoking without sacrificing momentum, this book delivers both adrenaline and purpose, leaving readers energized and reflective long after the final page.

[Natalia Furs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feminist sci fi dystopia about memory, erased history and the price of truth, wrapped in a coming of age story and a very cautiously presented time travel. Obsessed with the desire for justice, Ava dreams of joining the secret city and its history documenting unit - women who travel through time to retrieve lost evidence and restore erased womens heritage, where women return to the past to pull out real facts and show how everything truly was. And also it is strangely calming, because despite the harsh world, there is a lot of care in it female solidarity and attention to small things - smells, touches, fatigue the everyday life of the future...