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Ration
Cynthia and Imeld have always lived in the Apartments. A world where every calorie is rationed and the girls who live there are forced to weigh their own hunger against the lives of the others living in the building. It’s a world where the threat of the Wet Room and Ms. Lion always lingers, and punishments are doled out heavily both by the Women who oversee them and the other girls.
When Cynthia is wrongly accused of eating an “A” ration which leads to the death of another girl, her peers punish her harshly. In seeking revenge, she is forced from the only home she has ever known, out into the broader world with one of the Women—Ms. Glennoc—who has tormented her for years. Hunger mixes with politics, intrigue, and social status, and Cynthia needs to figure it out quickly if she’s going to survive and make it back to the Apartments to save Imeld.
With her friend and Ms. Glennoc gone, Imeld is lost. Ms. Tuttle forces her to step into Ms. Glennoc’s shoes, taking on the role of a Woman in charge of all the girls, the punishments, and the Wet Room. The new role feels wrong, especially as Ms. Tuttle’s behavior becomes more and more erratic. Imeld can’t turn her back on the other girls in the Apartments, but how can she save them when she isn’t sure how to save herself? If they rebel against Ms. Tuttle and the other Women, will they starve?
Set in the far future, Ration is an unflinching take on the ways society can both thrive and go wrong as the pressure to survive builds.
When Cynthia is wrongly accused of eating an “A” ration which leads to the death of another girl, her peers punish her harshly. In seeking revenge, she is forced from the only home she has ever known, out into the broader world with one of the Women—Ms. Glennoc—who has tormented her for years. Hunger mixes with politics, intrigue, and social status, and Cynthia needs to figure it out quickly if she’s going to survive and make it back to the Apartments to save Imeld.
With her friend and Ms. Glennoc gone, Imeld is lost. Ms. Tuttle forces her to step into Ms. Glennoc’s shoes, taking on the role of a Woman in charge of all the girls, the punishments, and the Wet Room. The new role feels wrong, especially as Ms. Tuttle’s behavior becomes more and more erratic. Imeld can’t turn her back on the other girls in the Apartments, but how can she save them when she isn’t sure how to save herself? If they rebel against Ms. Tuttle and the other Women, will they starve?
Set in the far future, Ration is an unflinching take on the ways society can both thrive and go wrong as the pressure to survive builds.
232 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2019
2 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Cody T. Luff
7 books80 followersCody’s stories have appeared in Pilgrimage, Cirque, KYSO Flash, Menda City Review, Swamp Biscuits & Tea, and others. He is fiction winner of the 2016 Montana Book Festival Regional Emerging Writers Contest.
Cody teaches at Portland Community College and works as a story editor. He completed an intensive MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Cody grew up listening to stories in his grandfather’s barber shop as he shined shoes, stories told to him at bedsides and on front porches, deep in his father’s favorite woods, and in the cabs of pickup trucks on lonely dirt roads. Cody’s work explores those things both small and wondrous that move the soul, whether they be deeply real or strikingly surreal.
Cody teaches at Portland Community College and works as a story editor. He completed an intensive MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Cody grew up listening to stories in his grandfather’s barber shop as he shined shoes, stories told to him at bedsides and on front porches, deep in his father’s favorite woods, and in the cabs of pickup trucks on lonely dirt roads. Cody’s work explores those things both small and wondrous that move the soul, whether they be deeply real or strikingly surreal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 22, 2020
Set in a bleak dystopian world populated only by women, we follow a small group of characters living in a place known as The Apartments.
As the story unfolds, you learn more about this stark environment, where every calorie is counted and what one chooses to eat may cost another their life.
Following multiple perspectives, this twisted tale is hella dark.
If you're looking for light and fluffy, you need to turn tail and run, baby, cause this ain't it.
It's unclear to me how to even begin to describe this plot. It's like Little Orphan Annie stumbled into the landscape of 1984.
Bizarre enough for you?
What I can say is that this story is all kinds of dark, dirty and cringe-worthy. Almost every scene left me shaking my head and slightly nauseated.
The writing is so good, it sucks you in. Horror lovers will enjoy this. I can't imagine them not.
I was truly impressed with the creativity and how the story never let up. Luff is taking his readers on a ride and once you are in, you're in.
While not scary in a ghostie, other-worldly way, there is a definite ominous atmosphere. It seems that information you want to know always lies just beyond your grasp.
The characters are not likable. The world is not likable. There are no saving graces here.
There is a lot of great, graphic, bloody and toe-curling content however, so if that is your jam, you definitely need to be tracking down a copy.
Initially, I was thinking I would give this a 3.5-star rating but ultimately, I was just so impressed with Luff's outstanding creativity and writing style that I bumped it to a 4. For the type of story this was, I really enjoyed it.
My one minor issue was that I personally would have enjoyed more world-building.
He did a great job with his setting which was incredibly detailed. You could feel the dark, the dank, the dirt, the dried blood, but I wanted to know more about where this place sat in position with the rest of the world.
Why were the characters at this point? How did the world get here? What was outside of their zone of accessibility?
More context would have been helpful to me. However, I completely understand that this is a personal taste issue and I know a lot of readers will love this just the way it is!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Apex Book Company, for sending me a copy of this to read and review.
I appreciate the opportunity and would definitely pick up more books from this author!!!
As the story unfolds, you learn more about this stark environment, where every calorie is counted and what one chooses to eat may cost another their life.
Following multiple perspectives, this twisted tale is hella dark.
If you're looking for light and fluffy, you need to turn tail and run, baby, cause this ain't it.
It's unclear to me how to even begin to describe this plot. It's like Little Orphan Annie stumbled into the landscape of 1984.
Bizarre enough for you?
What I can say is that this story is all kinds of dark, dirty and cringe-worthy. Almost every scene left me shaking my head and slightly nauseated.
The writing is so good, it sucks you in. Horror lovers will enjoy this. I can't imagine them not.
I was truly impressed with the creativity and how the story never let up. Luff is taking his readers on a ride and once you are in, you're in.
While not scary in a ghostie, other-worldly way, there is a definite ominous atmosphere. It seems that information you want to know always lies just beyond your grasp.
The characters are not likable. The world is not likable. There are no saving graces here.
There is a lot of great, graphic, bloody and toe-curling content however, so if that is your jam, you definitely need to be tracking down a copy.
Initially, I was thinking I would give this a 3.5-star rating but ultimately, I was just so impressed with Luff's outstanding creativity and writing style that I bumped it to a 4. For the type of story this was, I really enjoyed it.
My one minor issue was that I personally would have enjoyed more world-building.
He did a great job with his setting which was incredibly detailed. You could feel the dark, the dank, the dirt, the dried blood, but I wanted to know more about where this place sat in position with the rest of the world.
Why were the characters at this point? How did the world get here? What was outside of their zone of accessibility?
More context would have been helpful to me. However, I completely understand that this is a personal taste issue and I know a lot of readers will love this just the way it is!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Apex Book Company, for sending me a copy of this to read and review.
I appreciate the opportunity and would definitely pick up more books from this author!!!
Read
September 6, 2019DNF @ 28%
Interesting idea for sure but the execution is severely lacking for me. As a reader you're just dropped into the most bizarre and cruel world imaginable with no explanation as to what's going on. I can't even make sense of what the characters are talking about. I'm completely baffled. Maybe I'm too dense for this one.
If raising girls on a farm only to eat them later is your thing then this may be one for you! 😉😨🤮
Thank you to NetGalley and Apex Book Company for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting idea for sure but the execution is severely lacking for me. As a reader you're just dropped into the most bizarre and cruel world imaginable with no explanation as to what's going on. I can't even make sense of what the characters are talking about. I'm completely baffled. Maybe I'm too dense for this one.
If raising girls on a farm only to eat them later is your thing then this may be one for you! 😉😨🤮
Thank you to NetGalley and Apex Book Company for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 21, 2019
Read this book with an empty stomach.
The world didn't die. It sounds like we are still trying to kill it.
Atwood meets Orwell in this ruthless dystopian treasure. The year is unknown but humanity has reached a point where men have become extinct, advanced technology has ceased to exist, starvation reigns and the current currency is calories. Cynthia grows up in a Farm, a place where young girls are categorized according to their intelligence and nutritious value. A place where one can feed on rations A, B, and the forbidden C...
But the Farms are not the worst place a girl can be, as Cynthia is soon to find out...
Raw, fast, graphic, and unbelievably original, Ration is everything I seek in a good post-apocalyptic thriller. One of the best books I read this year, without a doubt.
As always, a million thanks to NetGalley for this amazing ARC.
The world didn't die. It sounds like we are still trying to kill it.
Atwood meets Orwell in this ruthless dystopian treasure. The year is unknown but humanity has reached a point where men have become extinct, advanced technology has ceased to exist, starvation reigns and the current currency is calories. Cynthia grows up in a Farm, a place where young girls are categorized according to their intelligence and nutritious value. A place where one can feed on rations A, B, and the forbidden C...
But the Farms are not the worst place a girl can be, as Cynthia is soon to find out...
Raw, fast, graphic, and unbelievably original, Ration is everything I seek in a good post-apocalyptic thriller. One of the best books I read this year, without a doubt.
As always, a million thanks to NetGalley for this amazing ARC.
August 29, 2019
As someone who's been reading horror and dystopian fiction for a long time, I think I'm pretty hard to surprise, but I have to say that Ration takes things to a level that even I didn't always expect. If you're looking for a sci-fi-heavy dystopian tale, pass on this, but if you're looking for some end-of-world bleakness and absolute tragedy, this is the story for you.
While a lot of what happens is left to your interpretation, as Luff's writing tends to be vague and metaphorical, it's still clear enough to paint a rather haunting visual of the future. I think I'm pretty hard to disgust and unsettle, so I can't say I felt like I was in danger of losing my supper or anything like that (though I believe many readers will be), but what was most frightening to me was the absolute lack of humanity in the characters of Ration. Nobody in this book is enjoyable at the end of the day, because this is a world and society so saturated in selfishness and cruelty that nobody can afford to be likable.
Ration has a lot going for it, and most of all, is an incredibly unique tale that offered up a storyline that felt brand new to me. Unfortunately, despite how much I loved the idea of this story, it wasn't a success for me. I found the pacing odd, and due to being so unable to enjoy any of the characters, it was impossible for me to find anyone to root for (which is a personal problem of mine with books, and might not bother other readers in the slightest!). Most of all, Luff's writing style — while unique, intriguing, and clearly talented — never quite meshed with me. This is entirely an "it's not you, it's me" scenario, and because of that, I still highly recommend Ration to anyone who enjoys genuinely dark, morbid dystopian tales. As it does border on the horror side of things, I'd also recommend this to any fans of post-apocalyptic or dystopian horror.
Content warnings for murder, gratuitous violence, physical abuse, verbal abuse, and cannibalism.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
While a lot of what happens is left to your interpretation, as Luff's writing tends to be vague and metaphorical, it's still clear enough to paint a rather haunting visual of the future. I think I'm pretty hard to disgust and unsettle, so I can't say I felt like I was in danger of losing my supper or anything like that (though I believe many readers will be), but what was most frightening to me was the absolute lack of humanity in the characters of Ration. Nobody in this book is enjoyable at the end of the day, because this is a world and society so saturated in selfishness and cruelty that nobody can afford to be likable.
Ration has a lot going for it, and most of all, is an incredibly unique tale that offered up a storyline that felt brand new to me. Unfortunately, despite how much I loved the idea of this story, it wasn't a success for me. I found the pacing odd, and due to being so unable to enjoy any of the characters, it was impossible for me to find anyone to root for (which is a personal problem of mine with books, and might not bother other readers in the slightest!). Most of all, Luff's writing style — while unique, intriguing, and clearly talented — never quite meshed with me. This is entirely an "it's not you, it's me" scenario, and because of that, I still highly recommend Ration to anyone who enjoys genuinely dark, morbid dystopian tales. As it does border on the horror side of things, I'd also recommend this to any fans of post-apocalyptic or dystopian horror.
Content warnings for murder, gratuitous violence, physical abuse, verbal abuse, and cannibalism.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 13, 2019
The Review
This book was incredibly well written. From the novel’s first pages, readers get a sense of being in the opening scene of Stephen King’s Carrie, if Carrie took place in the world of author Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale. A world ravaged by an unknown virus that has taken the lives of all men in the world, and the women left created a brutal system of survival like no other.
The two main perspectives shown throughout the novel are stark contrasts with one another, as we see the innocent protagonist Cynthia thrust into a cruel reality and fighting not just to survive, but to find a way to punish those who made her and her fellow “girls” suffer. Then there is Ms. Tuttle, the strict leader of the Apartments, who follows the rules to a T but finds herself caught between a secret of her own and the harshness of her mother and the political world they come from.
A truly gripping tale, the novel does an excellent job of delving into the despair of a dystopian novel while inciting horror and terror into the actions and ways in which the survivors of this world have adapted, where flesh and lower class “girls” are a commodity for the higher class “women” to use as they please, and even amongst advocates for change, no one can truly be completely trusted.
The Verdict
This is a breathtaking thriller and horror adventure like no other. While the book has it’s gruesome moments when delving into the specific “payments” made by the girls, it is the pacing of the author’s writing that sells the horror aspect of this novel. Combine this with the despairing the reader feels in the dystopian setting, and readers can expect a truly engaging read that is sure to become a cult classic in the genre. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of “Ration” by Cody T. Luff today!
This book was incredibly well written. From the novel’s first pages, readers get a sense of being in the opening scene of Stephen King’s Carrie, if Carrie took place in the world of author Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale. A world ravaged by an unknown virus that has taken the lives of all men in the world, and the women left created a brutal system of survival like no other.
The two main perspectives shown throughout the novel are stark contrasts with one another, as we see the innocent protagonist Cynthia thrust into a cruel reality and fighting not just to survive, but to find a way to punish those who made her and her fellow “girls” suffer. Then there is Ms. Tuttle, the strict leader of the Apartments, who follows the rules to a T but finds herself caught between a secret of her own and the harshness of her mother and the political world they come from.
A truly gripping tale, the novel does an excellent job of delving into the despair of a dystopian novel while inciting horror and terror into the actions and ways in which the survivors of this world have adapted, where flesh and lower class “girls” are a commodity for the higher class “women” to use as they please, and even amongst advocates for change, no one can truly be completely trusted.
The Verdict
This is a breathtaking thriller and horror adventure like no other. While the book has it’s gruesome moments when delving into the specific “payments” made by the girls, it is the pacing of the author’s writing that sells the horror aspect of this novel. Combine this with the despairing the reader feels in the dystopian setting, and readers can expect a truly engaging read that is sure to become a cult classic in the genre. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of “Ration” by Cody T. Luff today!
September 23, 2019
3.5 rounded up to 4
Ok, I am a huge fan of Dystopian fiction, so when Cody approached me to read and review his book I was instantly intrigued.
Ration has no frills, it is a gritty and brutal tale of survival and not for the faint hearted. Expect torture, violence and cannibalism from this one!
The story starts off in ‘The Apartments’ men, animals and plants have died out and the girls and woman are left struggling against starvation.
The girls can request 3 types of food ration A B and C, C rations being barely nutritious and A’s being the most, however ordering an A ration means another girl will be murdered and ‘processed’.
We then follow two of the girls, friends Imeld and Cynthia as they are separated and thrust into very different but equally horrifying scenarios.
Will they ever find their way back to each other?!
Luff’s imagery was excellent throughout, although the story is set far into an unfamiliar future, the harsh and unforgiving backdrop was palpable.
One thing that I noted early on in the book is that there was no narrative about what had happened leading up to where we started the story, why had the men and animals died out? This was by no means a vital element to the plot, we knew what had happened and that the story was now about the women and girls survival, but for me I would have liked a little backstory.
I spent a good portion of the book trying to understand how this new world worked and found Luff’s explanation of what was happening a little vague. Having said that I was invested in the story and was very intrigued to read what would happen next.
I really liked the characterisation in this one, no one was inherently good or bad just people doing bad and good things (mostly bad) trying to survive in a very bleak society, it really highlights the lengths that people will go to to survive.
I would highly recommend Ration for if you are Dystopian/Sci-fi fan, I’m excited to read more from Cody in the future!
Ok, I am a huge fan of Dystopian fiction, so when Cody approached me to read and review his book I was instantly intrigued.
Ration has no frills, it is a gritty and brutal tale of survival and not for the faint hearted. Expect torture, violence and cannibalism from this one!
The story starts off in ‘The Apartments’ men, animals and plants have died out and the girls and woman are left struggling against starvation.
The girls can request 3 types of food ration A B and C, C rations being barely nutritious and A’s being the most, however ordering an A ration means another girl will be murdered and ‘processed’.
We then follow two of the girls, friends Imeld and Cynthia as they are separated and thrust into very different but equally horrifying scenarios.
Will they ever find their way back to each other?!
Luff’s imagery was excellent throughout, although the story is set far into an unfamiliar future, the harsh and unforgiving backdrop was palpable.
One thing that I noted early on in the book is that there was no narrative about what had happened leading up to where we started the story, why had the men and animals died out? This was by no means a vital element to the plot, we knew what had happened and that the story was now about the women and girls survival, but for me I would have liked a little backstory.
I spent a good portion of the book trying to understand how this new world worked and found Luff’s explanation of what was happening a little vague. Having said that I was invested in the story and was very intrigued to read what would happen next.
I really liked the characterisation in this one, no one was inherently good or bad just people doing bad and good things (mostly bad) trying to survive in a very bleak society, it really highlights the lengths that people will go to to survive.
I would highly recommend Ration for if you are Dystopian/Sci-fi fan, I’m excited to read more from Cody in the future!
September 30, 2019
4.2-4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/09/20/ra...
This book took me by surprise I have to admit. I’ve become a little bit of a softie in recent times and don’t really have the stomach for anything too dark and so whilst I liked the sound of Ration with it’s far future setting and dystopian feel the hard hitting nature of the story made me feel a little bit daunted.
So. Okay, I’m not gonna lie, this book doesn’t pull any punches but it’s positively addictive. I couldn’t stop reading and even though there are a few scenes that are a little bit stomach churning – that’s probably too strong a phrase really, lets say instead uncomfortable – I couldn’t tear myself away from this book. I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it and when I put it down I wanted to pick it back up as soon as possible, in fact I went to bed one evening and tossed and turned so much that I simply decided to get up and read to the end. Yes, that compelling.
Ration is set in the future – something very bad has gone amiss. An event known as the ‘clearing’ has eliminated all the men and some sort of apocalypse has scorched the earth and darkened the sky. Plants no longer grow, animals have long since died or been eaten and the survivors are slowly starving to death (for the most part). The whys and wherefores are not discussed but to be honest there’s no reason why they should be, particularly as we start the story in the Apartments where a number of girls live, surviving on rations that are strictly monitored and the penalties for eating more are severe. Of course there’s no talk of ‘what came before’. This is a bunch of girls being kept in impossible conditions, brutalised – by each other on occasion – and so hungry that they can hardly function, they’re barely educated and there lives are dull and full of fear. Now, let me just point out – and this is something that won’t become apparent until later in the story – but at the moment, these girls are living the easy life comparatively speaking. That’s all I’ll say on that score
In the Apartments there is a person in control, Miss Tuttle in this particular situation, and also a supervisor of sorts, Ms Glennoc. The girls are allotted daily duties and during the course of the week may request food rations from A to C. The difference between the rations is that C is the lowest calorific value and therefore the least satisfying and A is the most nutritional and dare I say tasty. Unfortunately, requesting an A ration comes with severe penalties that involve a randomly chosen girl being taken to the dreaded ‘Wet Room’. There is so much that I can’t talk about here without giving away massive spoilers. The girls themselves, as mentioned above, are sometimes responsible for a strict policing system of their own if they discover who requested an A Ration and their punishments are severe and horrific.
In terms of characters. Two of the girls in the Apartment have developed a strong bond, Cynthia and Imeld and this friendship serves as the catalyst and driver for a good deal of the story. We don’t get to read too much of Imeld but Cynthia is a very good character to read, not afraid to stand up for herself when push comes to shove and very determined. Ms Tuttle is not the nicest people in many respects but is also a product of her own upbringing and a great example of somebody declining into addiction and madness. Glennoc is an out and out bully, a former member of a different ‘Apartment’ herself, she’s learnt the hard way how to stand up for herself and has no qualms about doling out punishments and causing fear.
I can’t really tell you too much more. This is a story about survival and the lengths that people will go to when push comes to shove. An absolutely brutal world of dog eat dog where politics play a surprising part and the gap between the haves and have nots has burgeoned to ridiculous new heights. Everything is for sale in this world and the measure of a girl or woman’s worth is little more than her calorific value.
This probably sounds incredibly bleak and to an extent it is. Think The Road, think Max Max, add in a dash of the Unwinding but then come to the realisation that as bleak as this is, as base as these women have become, there is still a small thread of hope in this story. You have to dig around for it but it’s there like a tiny ray trying to break through the clouds, a seedling pushing up through all the despair and that’s what lifts this book slightly. The will to survive and the tiny glimmer of hope, be it ever so humble, that tries to shine a light in all the dark.
I have to say this is an impressive debut. The writing is just excellent and the author absolutely succeeds in creating a tense and powerful story and in holding you captive until he’s finished telling his tale.
I have no criticisms as such. This is a dark story but it’s also totally absorbing.
I would rate this between a 4. and 4.5 out of 5 star read. But, to be absolutely clear, this is not a light or airy read. There is some dark material going on right here – totally absorbing though.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.
The above is my own opinion.
https://lynns-books.com/2019/09/20/ra...
This book took me by surprise I have to admit. I’ve become a little bit of a softie in recent times and don’t really have the stomach for anything too dark and so whilst I liked the sound of Ration with it’s far future setting and dystopian feel the hard hitting nature of the story made me feel a little bit daunted.
So. Okay, I’m not gonna lie, this book doesn’t pull any punches but it’s positively addictive. I couldn’t stop reading and even though there are a few scenes that are a little bit stomach churning – that’s probably too strong a phrase really, lets say instead uncomfortable – I couldn’t tear myself away from this book. I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it and when I put it down I wanted to pick it back up as soon as possible, in fact I went to bed one evening and tossed and turned so much that I simply decided to get up and read to the end. Yes, that compelling.
Ration is set in the future – something very bad has gone amiss. An event known as the ‘clearing’ has eliminated all the men and some sort of apocalypse has scorched the earth and darkened the sky. Plants no longer grow, animals have long since died or been eaten and the survivors are slowly starving to death (for the most part). The whys and wherefores are not discussed but to be honest there’s no reason why they should be, particularly as we start the story in the Apartments where a number of girls live, surviving on rations that are strictly monitored and the penalties for eating more are severe. Of course there’s no talk of ‘what came before’. This is a bunch of girls being kept in impossible conditions, brutalised – by each other on occasion – and so hungry that they can hardly function, they’re barely educated and there lives are dull and full of fear. Now, let me just point out – and this is something that won’t become apparent until later in the story – but at the moment, these girls are living the easy life comparatively speaking. That’s all I’ll say on that score
In the Apartments there is a person in control, Miss Tuttle in this particular situation, and also a supervisor of sorts, Ms Glennoc. The girls are allotted daily duties and during the course of the week may request food rations from A to C. The difference between the rations is that C is the lowest calorific value and therefore the least satisfying and A is the most nutritional and dare I say tasty. Unfortunately, requesting an A ration comes with severe penalties that involve a randomly chosen girl being taken to the dreaded ‘Wet Room’. There is so much that I can’t talk about here without giving away massive spoilers. The girls themselves, as mentioned above, are sometimes responsible for a strict policing system of their own if they discover who requested an A Ration and their punishments are severe and horrific.
In terms of characters. Two of the girls in the Apartment have developed a strong bond, Cynthia and Imeld and this friendship serves as the catalyst and driver for a good deal of the story. We don’t get to read too much of Imeld but Cynthia is a very good character to read, not afraid to stand up for herself when push comes to shove and very determined. Ms Tuttle is not the nicest people in many respects but is also a product of her own upbringing and a great example of somebody declining into addiction and madness. Glennoc is an out and out bully, a former member of a different ‘Apartment’ herself, she’s learnt the hard way how to stand up for herself and has no qualms about doling out punishments and causing fear.
I can’t really tell you too much more. This is a story about survival and the lengths that people will go to when push comes to shove. An absolutely brutal world of dog eat dog where politics play a surprising part and the gap between the haves and have nots has burgeoned to ridiculous new heights. Everything is for sale in this world and the measure of a girl or woman’s worth is little more than her calorific value.
This probably sounds incredibly bleak and to an extent it is. Think The Road, think Max Max, add in a dash of the Unwinding but then come to the realisation that as bleak as this is, as base as these women have become, there is still a small thread of hope in this story. You have to dig around for it but it’s there like a tiny ray trying to break through the clouds, a seedling pushing up through all the despair and that’s what lifts this book slightly. The will to survive and the tiny glimmer of hope, be it ever so humble, that tries to shine a light in all the dark.
I have to say this is an impressive debut. The writing is just excellent and the author absolutely succeeds in creating a tense and powerful story and in holding you captive until he’s finished telling his tale.
I have no criticisms as such. This is a dark story but it’s also totally absorbing.
I would rate this between a 4. and 4.5 out of 5 star read. But, to be absolutely clear, this is not a light or airy read. There is some dark material going on right here – totally absorbing though.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.
The above is my own opinion.
September 20, 2019
I’ve read dystopian stories in the past, and they’re all pretty desolate places to immerse yourself in (duh!). But I don’t think I’ve ever read one so downright depressing as Ration. This isn’t a complaint, though.
Set (I assume) in the future, this novel follows two girls who ‘live’ in a place called The Apartments, which in turn, is a Farm.
Now this isn’t the kind of farm you’re thinking of. No, in this particular building it’s the girls themselves who are farmed. Murdered and turned into food, or ‘rations’ that the others subsequently feed on, these girls have nothing to live for. Their life experiences are all but thwarted, and their ‘education’ is one of perverted truths and downright lies.
The Apartments are run by two sadistic women, Ms Glennoc and Ms Tuttle, with the former being quite the bitch. To begin with, anyway.
Cynthia and Imeld are the girls we’re rooting for, although there doesn’t seem much point to be honest. What hope do they have of a ‘normal’ life? Or does simply escaping their current existence constitute success?
As mentioned, this book is so bleak and without hope, but this is credit to the writing. Your supposed to feel terrible for these girls, if not the whole premise of the story would fail. Luff’s descriptions paint the world in dour greys splattered with murderous reds. The Wet Room – where the girls are taken to meet their doom – is especially creepy.
The rations that these girls will eventually become are so vividly described that you can almost taste the rotting meat between your teeth, and feel the grime under your fingernails.
These rations and those that order them through archaic vending machines, are strictly monitored in the Farm. When a large dose of the premium ‘A’s are taken, all hell breaks loose inside.
Cynthia is taken away with Ms Glennoc to the slums of the city, where girls try to survive this hostile and unforgiving world. Is Glennoc really a mega-bitch, or is all her horrible behaviour simply ‘character building’?
It’s only when Ms Glennoc leaves that Ms Tuttle becomes even more tyrannical in her treatment of the girls. And you thought Glennoc was bad?? Ms Tuttle is slowly losing her mind and grip on reality, and her descent into madness is captured brilliantly.
Despite Cynthia’s cruel treatment by Ms Glennoc, there is still a hope inside her that things can change, and that is what drives the novel. You never give up on her, willing her to turn kick-ass on these bastards!
Have you noticed how all the characters mentioned thus far are women? Well that’s because there are no men in this story. Nope, none at all. Something happened in the past that caused the men to disappear or die, but we’re never specifically told what. On one hand I found this a little frustrating as I wanted to know more about this desolate, dystopian world. But on the other, the lack of knowledge really puts you in Cynthia’s shoes (although not literally – she doesn’t have any) as she too is discovering exactly what this place is.
You’ll read this yearning to read or watch something funny afterwards. But I found the writing to be so encapsulating that even though the subject was something so dark and terrible, it had me hooked throughout.
Set (I assume) in the future, this novel follows two girls who ‘live’ in a place called The Apartments, which in turn, is a Farm.
Now this isn’t the kind of farm you’re thinking of. No, in this particular building it’s the girls themselves who are farmed. Murdered and turned into food, or ‘rations’ that the others subsequently feed on, these girls have nothing to live for. Their life experiences are all but thwarted, and their ‘education’ is one of perverted truths and downright lies.
The Apartments are run by two sadistic women, Ms Glennoc and Ms Tuttle, with the former being quite the bitch. To begin with, anyway.
Cynthia and Imeld are the girls we’re rooting for, although there doesn’t seem much point to be honest. What hope do they have of a ‘normal’ life? Or does simply escaping their current existence constitute success?
As mentioned, this book is so bleak and without hope, but this is credit to the writing. Your supposed to feel terrible for these girls, if not the whole premise of the story would fail. Luff’s descriptions paint the world in dour greys splattered with murderous reds. The Wet Room – where the girls are taken to meet their doom – is especially creepy.
The rations that these girls will eventually become are so vividly described that you can almost taste the rotting meat between your teeth, and feel the grime under your fingernails.
These rations and those that order them through archaic vending machines, are strictly monitored in the Farm. When a large dose of the premium ‘A’s are taken, all hell breaks loose inside.
Cynthia is taken away with Ms Glennoc to the slums of the city, where girls try to survive this hostile and unforgiving world. Is Glennoc really a mega-bitch, or is all her horrible behaviour simply ‘character building’?
It’s only when Ms Glennoc leaves that Ms Tuttle becomes even more tyrannical in her treatment of the girls. And you thought Glennoc was bad?? Ms Tuttle is slowly losing her mind and grip on reality, and her descent into madness is captured brilliantly.
Despite Cynthia’s cruel treatment by Ms Glennoc, there is still a hope inside her that things can change, and that is what drives the novel. You never give up on her, willing her to turn kick-ass on these bastards!
Have you noticed how all the characters mentioned thus far are women? Well that’s because there are no men in this story. Nope, none at all. Something happened in the past that caused the men to disappear or die, but we’re never specifically told what. On one hand I found this a little frustrating as I wanted to know more about this desolate, dystopian world. But on the other, the lack of knowledge really puts you in Cynthia’s shoes (although not literally – she doesn’t have any) as she too is discovering exactly what this place is.
You’ll read this yearning to read or watch something funny afterwards. But I found the writing to be so encapsulating that even though the subject was something so dark and terrible, it had me hooked throughout.
July 21, 2019
Ration is a very strange book. Good, but strange. The dystopia angle was the initial attraction for me, having never heard of the author. And this one draws you in, too, right from the start. Unknown or not, this guy can write. And he also knows a thing or two about pacing. The creepiness of this story is measured and delivered in small batches, just the right amounts to maintain the intrigue and terror of the story. So how does Ration stand out in the busy busy sea of modern female driven dystopia? Well, it does so by taking the feminist aspect of it in new and terrifying directions. The world has been remade, male free, but also dramatically low on essential resources. So much so that drastic measures have been institutionalized. There’s also been some dabbling in genetic engineering. The side effects of which are…well, I don’t want to give away too much, but it’s crucial plot developer. So the story stats off by taking the readers into Apartments, a nightmarish housing of young girls, who are barely subsisting on rations, some of which have a higher cost than others. We are then introduced to two of the tenants, Cynthia and Imeld. These two become are guides to the hungry new world of the author’s imagination. A place of singular ugliness and privation. There are other characters of varied echelons of power and powerlessness, but the main picture is bleak. Starving world where all things are measured in calories. So not a happy read, but certainly an original and interesting one. The main theme seems to be choices, difficult to impossible choices predetermined by difficult to impossible circumstances. But then again, it’s difficult to be moral and ethical or even just good when you’re famished. So yeah, that’s the book, a very dark and disturbing read, good thing it goes by quickly, because it isn’t really a world you’d want to linger in. If I were to describe this one using other more well known works as seems to be the trend with publishers…I’d say it’s Atwood by the way of Soylent Green. Very promising debut and an absolutely professional edition cover to context. In fact the official plot summary doesn’t do it justice. It’s so much more than that, really. It does leave you wanting ever so slightly, maybe you were expecting to learn more of this world and circumstances behind its terrible fate, but it works well as is. Recommended for dystopia fans. Thanks Netgalley.
November 5, 2019
I kind of want to make this review just a giant jaw-dropped emoji, because a few days after finishing that's still how I feel. But that wouldn't do this book justice, because wow, there is so much to process here.
I won my copy of Ration in a giveaway from one of my favorite podcasts, and I'm really glad I did. At first glance I was a little apprehensive - many reviews had mentioned reading on an empty stomach, and I'm not the biggest fan of gross out horror, but that's part of why I wanted to write this review. Yes, there are definitely some parts that will turn your stomach, but it's so incredibly worth it. Luff starts out with a terrifying, dystopian premise, and builds the horror at the situation these girls find themselves in immediately. But it doesn't stop there - this book has so many layers and levels to it, though I don't want to spoil anything. So instead I'll note some of what I absolutely loved.
Characters with arcs that surprised me, and pulled me into their struggles. A fully imagined, bleak future with enough brushstroke details to be intriguing as to what happened in this world. Emotions, raw and dark and real, conveyed beautifully. And the concept of calories turned on its head. In a world where the entire population is hungry, girls track their calories and expenditure closely, to ensure their survival. Instead of tracking and beating themselves up for consumption, there's a scene in which two girls discuss running for the joy of it, despite the precious calories it costs them. There's so much here that made me stop and really take it in - the way the girls and Women treat themselves, and each other. The interactions and politics and culture of using and consuming one another. It feels like a deeply ingrained allegory, and yet the symbolism is subtle.
I loved this book, and I'm a new fan of Cody Luff. Well done, and I can't wait to read more.
I won my copy of Ration in a giveaway from one of my favorite podcasts, and I'm really glad I did. At first glance I was a little apprehensive - many reviews had mentioned reading on an empty stomach, and I'm not the biggest fan of gross out horror, but that's part of why I wanted to write this review. Yes, there are definitely some parts that will turn your stomach, but it's so incredibly worth it. Luff starts out with a terrifying, dystopian premise, and builds the horror at the situation these girls find themselves in immediately. But it doesn't stop there - this book has so many layers and levels to it, though I don't want to spoil anything. So instead I'll note some of what I absolutely loved.
Characters with arcs that surprised me, and pulled me into their struggles. A fully imagined, bleak future with enough brushstroke details to be intriguing as to what happened in this world. Emotions, raw and dark and real, conveyed beautifully. And the concept of calories turned on its head. In a world where the entire population is hungry, girls track their calories and expenditure closely, to ensure their survival. Instead of tracking and beating themselves up for consumption, there's a scene in which two girls discuss running for the joy of it, despite the precious calories it costs them. There's so much here that made me stop and really take it in - the way the girls and Women treat themselves, and each other. The interactions and politics and culture of using and consuming one another. It feels like a deeply ingrained allegory, and yet the symbolism is subtle.
I loved this book, and I'm a new fan of Cody Luff. Well done, and I can't wait to read more.
May 5, 2022
There is something oddly ironic and satisfying about eating a book where calorie counting is now a currency while basically eating my entire day's caloric needs.
@codytluff has made my new favourite post-apocalyptic dystopian future. Of course a world with no men would still have women desperately clinging to the idea of calories, and appearances. I get that this sentence may seem sarcastic, but I was definitely amused. Everything is LITERALLY falling apart, men don't exist, and yet women are still being indoctrinated. Now that is a terrifying reality.
There are elements of Handmaid's Tale, as well as Meat and other crowd favourites; however what sets this one apart is the absolute lack of empathy -- there is such little compassion in this novel that when it does appear, it feels misplaced. You're waiting for the other shoe to drop, and when it does, it lands right on your toe.
An amazing read. Go get it. ASAP.
@codytluff has made my new favourite post-apocalyptic dystopian future. Of course a world with no men would still have women desperately clinging to the idea of calories, and appearances. I get that this sentence may seem sarcastic, but I was definitely amused. Everything is LITERALLY falling apart, men don't exist, and yet women are still being indoctrinated. Now that is a terrifying reality.
There are elements of Handmaid's Tale, as well as Meat and other crowd favourites; however what sets this one apart is the absolute lack of empathy -- there is such little compassion in this novel that when it does appear, it feels misplaced. You're waiting for the other shoe to drop, and when it does, it lands right on your toe.
An amazing read. Go get it. ASAP.
December 7, 2019
This story is insanely good.
August 12, 2019
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A harsh, dystopian future where a girl’s life is measured in calories,
Ration
is not for the faint of heart, but don’t let that stop you from reading this book.
Ration is Cody T. Luff’s first novel, and frankly I’m surprised. I can’t remember the last time I read such a beautifully written debut novel, although I have to warn you that this is also a bleak and extremely brutal dystopian, so that is probably the last time I will use the word “beautiful” in this review. Still, despite the depressing subject matter (which I’ll get to, don’t worry!), I loved Luff’s writing and the way it contrasts with the horrors in this world. Ration is a tough read and won’t be for everyone, but horror aficionados will love it.
The story is set in the future after an event called the Clear, where every male has died, along with all the plants and animals. Now only girls and women are alive, trying to survive in a world with very little food and barely any hope. Young girls are relegated to “Farms” where they live in dormitory-like housing, ruled over by the Women of the Farm, who assign daily tasks and keep a close watch on the Rations, the only available food, packets of the paste-like substance that everyone in this future must eat to survive. Rations come in A, B or C types, C being the worst and having the least calories, and A being the most sought after, but ultimately the forbidden one. Girls request rations through a machine on each floor, but every time someone requests an A Ration, a bell sounds and an unlucky girl is taken to a place called the Wet Room to be “processed,” never to be seen again.
Cynthia is a young girl in one such Farm, just trying to survive from one Ration to the next. When she’s framed for taking an unauthorized A Ration one day, one of the Women, a nasty girl named Glennoc, takes her to the Wet Room, where Cynthia knows she will die. But when Glennoc does the unexpected, both she and Cynthia are forced to leave. Now they must navigate a world even more savage than the Farm, where every calorie means the difference between life and death.
If you haven’t already figured it out, there is a correlation between the Rations and the processing of the girls, a horrible thought that honestly made me sick to my stomach. This novel is dark with a capital D, and Luff’s future is one I hope we never see. Bottom line, everyone is starving in this story, even those who are fortunate enough to have gained status. There’s simply no food left. The economy of this future, such that it is, is based on calories. Everything is measured in calories, debts are paid with them, and every part of a girl’s body has a caloric value attached to it. When Glennoc is kicked out of the Apartment, she’s told that she is now in debt for Cynthia’s worth, which is 100,000 calories. She must figure out ways to “pay back” that debt by not eating or selling her skin to the Skin Brokers. Likewise, Glennoc uses Cynthia to recap some of that debt by selling her to various unsavory characters.
There is also a great deal of heartbreak in this story. Aside from the obvious, that these girls have almost nothing to eat, it’s Luff’s small details that make the story even sadder. For example, only Women wear shoes. Cynthia has never worn shoes in her life, until she goes out into the world. She’s also never seen a plant or an animal, and when she sees the ocean for the first time, I nearly cried, because the ocean in this future is not our ocean at all (but I suppose it could be someday).
As for the characters, it’s hard to like any of them, except for Cynthia. This may be a world without men, but these women are just as hard and cruel as many of the male characters I’ve run across in other dystopians. Glennoc does unspeakable things to the girls, drunk on the idea that she’s better than them. We find out that once you have been promoted to a Woman, you suddenly have rights, but rights are only given to a handful of lucky people. Then there is Miss Tuttle, the Woman in charge of the Apartment where Cynthia lives. She’s also a horrible person, but she’s weaker than Glennoc in many ways. I loved the way her story line ends, and I thought her final scene was beautifully written. (Shoot, there I go using that word again!) But Cynthia was everything this story needed. In a world full of despair and hopelessness, Cynthia was a beam of light. Tortured, abused and starved, she still finds a way out of her situation, even if it’s not the way you expect.
If you’re one of those readers who need concise answers, then you might have trouble with Ration . Luff does a great job of painting a picture of this bleak world, but he doesn’t spell everything out for the reader. You’ll have to connect some of the dots yourself, and I was OK not knowing everything by the end of the book. For example, we don’t get any details at all about the Clear and why all the men have died off. There’s a brief paragraph about it near the end of the story, but it didn’t exactly satisfy my curiosity. Still, part of the storytelling experience is applying your own emotions and expectations to the story, and sometimes not knowing everything and being able to draw your own conclusions is even better than having all the facts shoved down your throat.
Readers may be reminded of other dystopian stories, like The Handmaid’s Tale . I personally felt some Waterworld and Mad Max vibes in some parts of the book. And strangely enough, Ration sort of reminded me of a weird, twisted version of Annie . It takes place in an orphanage of sorts, Cynthia is the abused Annie and Glennoc is the horrific Miss Hannigan! Ultimately, though, Ration is its own unique story. Unpleasant at times, bitterly sad, but with small pockets of joy and hope scattered here and there, I’m grateful to have experienced it and thrilled to have found a new writer to follow. Cody T. Luff is the real deal, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
“You’ll find that the world is just a machine. And you are fuel.”
Ration is Cody T. Luff’s first novel, and frankly I’m surprised. I can’t remember the last time I read such a beautifully written debut novel, although I have to warn you that this is also a bleak and extremely brutal dystopian, so that is probably the last time I will use the word “beautiful” in this review. Still, despite the depressing subject matter (which I’ll get to, don’t worry!), I loved Luff’s writing and the way it contrasts with the horrors in this world. Ration is a tough read and won’t be for everyone, but horror aficionados will love it.
The story is set in the future after an event called the Clear, where every male has died, along with all the plants and animals. Now only girls and women are alive, trying to survive in a world with very little food and barely any hope. Young girls are relegated to “Farms” where they live in dormitory-like housing, ruled over by the Women of the Farm, who assign daily tasks and keep a close watch on the Rations, the only available food, packets of the paste-like substance that everyone in this future must eat to survive. Rations come in A, B or C types, C being the worst and having the least calories, and A being the most sought after, but ultimately the forbidden one. Girls request rations through a machine on each floor, but every time someone requests an A Ration, a bell sounds and an unlucky girl is taken to a place called the Wet Room to be “processed,” never to be seen again.
Cynthia is a young girl in one such Farm, just trying to survive from one Ration to the next. When she’s framed for taking an unauthorized A Ration one day, one of the Women, a nasty girl named Glennoc, takes her to the Wet Room, where Cynthia knows she will die. But when Glennoc does the unexpected, both she and Cynthia are forced to leave. Now they must navigate a world even more savage than the Farm, where every calorie means the difference between life and death.
If you haven’t already figured it out, there is a correlation between the Rations and the processing of the girls, a horrible thought that honestly made me sick to my stomach. This novel is dark with a capital D, and Luff’s future is one I hope we never see. Bottom line, everyone is starving in this story, even those who are fortunate enough to have gained status. There’s simply no food left. The economy of this future, such that it is, is based on calories. Everything is measured in calories, debts are paid with them, and every part of a girl’s body has a caloric value attached to it. When Glennoc is kicked out of the Apartment, she’s told that she is now in debt for Cynthia’s worth, which is 100,000 calories. She must figure out ways to “pay back” that debt by not eating or selling her skin to the Skin Brokers. Likewise, Glennoc uses Cynthia to recap some of that debt by selling her to various unsavory characters.
There is also a great deal of heartbreak in this story. Aside from the obvious, that these girls have almost nothing to eat, it’s Luff’s small details that make the story even sadder. For example, only Women wear shoes. Cynthia has never worn shoes in her life, until she goes out into the world. She’s also never seen a plant or an animal, and when she sees the ocean for the first time, I nearly cried, because the ocean in this future is not our ocean at all (but I suppose it could be someday).
As for the characters, it’s hard to like any of them, except for Cynthia. This may be a world without men, but these women are just as hard and cruel as many of the male characters I’ve run across in other dystopians. Glennoc does unspeakable things to the girls, drunk on the idea that she’s better than them. We find out that once you have been promoted to a Woman, you suddenly have rights, but rights are only given to a handful of lucky people. Then there is Miss Tuttle, the Woman in charge of the Apartment where Cynthia lives. She’s also a horrible person, but she’s weaker than Glennoc in many ways. I loved the way her story line ends, and I thought her final scene was beautifully written. (Shoot, there I go using that word again!) But Cynthia was everything this story needed. In a world full of despair and hopelessness, Cynthia was a beam of light. Tortured, abused and starved, she still finds a way out of her situation, even if it’s not the way you expect.
If you’re one of those readers who need concise answers, then you might have trouble with Ration . Luff does a great job of painting a picture of this bleak world, but he doesn’t spell everything out for the reader. You’ll have to connect some of the dots yourself, and I was OK not knowing everything by the end of the book. For example, we don’t get any details at all about the Clear and why all the men have died off. There’s a brief paragraph about it near the end of the story, but it didn’t exactly satisfy my curiosity. Still, part of the storytelling experience is applying your own emotions and expectations to the story, and sometimes not knowing everything and being able to draw your own conclusions is even better than having all the facts shoved down your throat.
Readers may be reminded of other dystopian stories, like The Handmaid’s Tale . I personally felt some Waterworld and Mad Max vibes in some parts of the book. And strangely enough, Ration sort of reminded me of a weird, twisted version of Annie . It takes place in an orphanage of sorts, Cynthia is the abused Annie and Glennoc is the horrific Miss Hannigan! Ultimately, though, Ration is its own unique story. Unpleasant at times, bitterly sad, but with small pockets of joy and hope scattered here and there, I’m grateful to have experienced it and thrilled to have found a new writer to follow. Cody T. Luff is the real deal, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
August 4, 2019
Ration is a book I found on Netgalley from one of those Read It Now Emails. The premise of the story jumped out at me straight away and I knew it was something I just had to get my hands on.
Now this story isn't exactly unique. My first thought upon starting it was wow this reminds me a bit of Snow Piercer. If you haven't seen it I highly check out the film AFTER reading this story. It's good. In fact I could not stop imagining Ms. Tuttle as Minister Mason. Tilda Swinton's character just fit the image of Ms. Tuttle being portrayed in my head and I couldn't shake it once it was set. Now does this detract from the story? No. I was still able to enjoy Ration as its own entity. I just borrowed the visuals from something else to help me set the scenes.
One thing I really enjoyed about this story were the Ration packs. On the farm it seems girls are either fed A,B or C rations. Choose a B or C and you're good to live another day but choose an A and well, let's just say unpleasant things happen. After being mistakenly accused of taking an A ration the main character Cynthia sets in motion the chain of events that happen throughout the rest of the story.
As for the story. In the beginning it was pretty clear cut. Live on the farm, die on the farm. How quickly that happens is entirely your choice because chances of you living long enough to see the outside is very, very, slim. However, that would make for a pretty short story so off farm we must go. I was excited to see life "outside" but quickly became confused as it seemed there was more to the world but we were only being shown the poorest part of it. It would of been so cool if Cynthia was able to see that the farm was just a dog and pony show for a much brighter, glitzier, world outside but it still seemed pretty miserable and thus I felt it wasn't enough to make Cynthia do what she does in the rest of the story. Maybe I just expected more and maybe that was my problem. I'm so used to the smoke and mirrors dystopian setting that one just being built upon a world that was just actually that of a true Dystopian well, it took me by surprise.
Now I will say that I did enjoy the slight twist at the end when Cynthia learns the "truth" about the farms. Obviously these places have been problematic for a few years now but of course the girls at the farm aren't told that. I did expected the conclusion to be a bit more explosive than it was. If I was one of those girls I'd have banded together and force fed Ms. Tuttle and Ms. Glennoc parts of each other so they could truly witness the horrors they had inflicted on them through the years before dying inevitably of blood loss and or shock. That may seem gruesome but it would of been a fitting ending for those characters and I could rest my head knowing they weren't around to do that to others in the future.
I also really enjoyed the character Imeld. In the beginning you expect her to just be a one off character to get the ball rolling but she actually plays a pretty important role. Without her I don't think Cynthia would of taken the actions she did. Imeld was her hope and knowing she was alive and stuck under the tutelage of Ms. Tuttle spurred her to act in ways she probably wouldn't have based on her very sheltered upbringing at the farm.
Overall, Ration was a book I enjoyed and sped through really quickly. Therefore I feel my rating is justified despite the problems I experienced with the pacing and narrative in the back half.
With that being said, I'll be rating Ration by Cody T. Luff ★★★★.
Originally reviewed @ https://www.bloodsweatandbooks.com/20...
Now this story isn't exactly unique. My first thought upon starting it was wow this reminds me a bit of Snow Piercer. If you haven't seen it I highly check out the film AFTER reading this story. It's good. In fact I could not stop imagining Ms. Tuttle as Minister Mason. Tilda Swinton's character just fit the image of Ms. Tuttle being portrayed in my head and I couldn't shake it once it was set. Now does this detract from the story? No. I was still able to enjoy Ration as its own entity. I just borrowed the visuals from something else to help me set the scenes.
One thing I really enjoyed about this story were the Ration packs. On the farm it seems girls are either fed A,B or C rations. Choose a B or C and you're good to live another day but choose an A and well, let's just say unpleasant things happen. After being mistakenly accused of taking an A ration the main character Cynthia sets in motion the chain of events that happen throughout the rest of the story.
As for the story. In the beginning it was pretty clear cut. Live on the farm, die on the farm. How quickly that happens is entirely your choice because chances of you living long enough to see the outside is very, very, slim. However, that would make for a pretty short story so off farm we must go. I was excited to see life "outside" but quickly became confused as it seemed there was more to the world but we were only being shown the poorest part of it. It would of been so cool if Cynthia was able to see that the farm was just a dog and pony show for a much brighter, glitzier, world outside but it still seemed pretty miserable and thus I felt it wasn't enough to make Cynthia do what she does in the rest of the story. Maybe I just expected more and maybe that was my problem. I'm so used to the smoke and mirrors dystopian setting that one just being built upon a world that was just actually that of a true Dystopian well, it took me by surprise.
Now I will say that I did enjoy the slight twist at the end when Cynthia learns the "truth" about the farms. Obviously these places have been problematic for a few years now but of course the girls at the farm aren't told that. I did expected the conclusion to be a bit more explosive than it was. If I was one of those girls I'd have banded together and force fed Ms. Tuttle and Ms. Glennoc parts of each other so they could truly witness the horrors they had inflicted on them through the years before dying inevitably of blood loss and or shock. That may seem gruesome but it would of been a fitting ending for those characters and I could rest my head knowing they weren't around to do that to others in the future.
I also really enjoyed the character Imeld. In the beginning you expect her to just be a one off character to get the ball rolling but she actually plays a pretty important role. Without her I don't think Cynthia would of taken the actions she did. Imeld was her hope and knowing she was alive and stuck under the tutelage of Ms. Tuttle spurred her to act in ways she probably wouldn't have based on her very sheltered upbringing at the farm.
Overall, Ration was a book I enjoyed and sped through really quickly. Therefore I feel my rating is justified despite the problems I experienced with the pacing and narrative in the back half.
With that being said, I'll be rating Ration by Cody T. Luff ★★★★.
Originally reviewed @ https://www.bloodsweatandbooks.com/20...
January 1, 2021
In "Ration," Luff fully realizes what he set out to achieve, even if what he set out to achieve isn't for anyone. It's worth stating up front that if you stumble across this novel looking for some light, entertaining horror, you're in for a bad trip. But we shouldn't read this book against a set of expectations that Luff isn't working to fulfill. If you want an unflinching glimpse into the darker side of humanity in the midst of civilizational dissolution, this book is what you're looking for.
"Ration" is a book about the end of the world, or rather the horror of a world that has nearly ended yet stubbornly lingers on. It’s a dark pool of a book, as pessimistic as it is unique.
Nearly all edible organisms have perished along with all males within the human species. Society has collapsed into organized barbarism. Reproduction takes place in a laboratory setting. Society is split between Women and Girls. Women have rights, education and freedom of passage. Girls are effectively property and are raised in apartment buildings called farms: a twisted convergence of boarding school, orphanage and slaughterhouse.
Human bodies are converted into ration packs for consumption. Each girl has a caloric budget and if she should exceed it, she is brought to the “wet room” for processing. The Council runs the world outside the school, though daily life on the streets is effectively lawless. Most resort to exchanging their bodies—either sexually or literally selling hunks of flesh—for calories to survive.
Luff crosses genres in some charmingly sinister ways. The early chapters recall schoolyard fiction, with the banding together of fellow students and their pranks against the brass. In Ms. Tuttle’s constant reference to etiquette, the novel perversely resembles a comedy of manners, like a post-apocalyptic Jane Austen.
Rather than rise and fall, Ration’s action proceeds from slow boil to simmer. There is something suffocating about this book. These characters inhabit a world of unremitting existential pressure. They move swiftly from one threat to the next. Indeed, threats are so relentless these characters hardly have enough relief to ponder who they are and what they want.
A lot of readers will find the characters and their flatness off putting. But they're not undeveloped: they're stifled. Their whole existence is somehow both empty and smothering. This book hits like a punch in the gut and a lot of readers won't be ready, but if you're a fan of the technique of left hooks, read this book.
"Ration" is a book about the end of the world, or rather the horror of a world that has nearly ended yet stubbornly lingers on. It’s a dark pool of a book, as pessimistic as it is unique.
Nearly all edible organisms have perished along with all males within the human species. Society has collapsed into organized barbarism. Reproduction takes place in a laboratory setting. Society is split between Women and Girls. Women have rights, education and freedom of passage. Girls are effectively property and are raised in apartment buildings called farms: a twisted convergence of boarding school, orphanage and slaughterhouse.
Human bodies are converted into ration packs for consumption. Each girl has a caloric budget and if she should exceed it, she is brought to the “wet room” for processing. The Council runs the world outside the school, though daily life on the streets is effectively lawless. Most resort to exchanging their bodies—either sexually or literally selling hunks of flesh—for calories to survive.
Luff crosses genres in some charmingly sinister ways. The early chapters recall schoolyard fiction, with the banding together of fellow students and their pranks against the brass. In Ms. Tuttle’s constant reference to etiquette, the novel perversely resembles a comedy of manners, like a post-apocalyptic Jane Austen.
Rather than rise and fall, Ration’s action proceeds from slow boil to simmer. There is something suffocating about this book. These characters inhabit a world of unremitting existential pressure. They move swiftly from one threat to the next. Indeed, threats are so relentless these characters hardly have enough relief to ponder who they are and what they want.
A lot of readers will find the characters and their flatness off putting. But they're not undeveloped: they're stifled. Their whole existence is somehow both empty and smothering. This book hits like a punch in the gut and a lot of readers won't be ready, but if you're a fan of the technique of left hooks, read this book.
July 29, 2019
*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All subsequent opinions are my own.
Ration by by Cody T. Luff is dark dystopian tale and biting (pun intended) social commentary on our society's consumption of food and the role women play in a food obsessed world.
In a distant future, all men have died and a select few have established a world that runs on calories. Imeld and Cynthia are two sixteen year old girls that live in a building called "The Apartments". It is a place where food is rationed and consequence come quick, both from The Women who run the instituition and the cohorts of girls who dwell in the rooms.
Then one night, Cynthia is accused of eating an "A ration" which ultimately leaves to the death of another girl. Her actions land her in the street along with one of The Women: Ms. Glennoc. In the meantime, Imeld is forced to fill Ms. Glennoc's shoes, the punished now becoming the punisher.
What follows is a character driven story full of hunger, revenge, politics, and the harsh reality of what it means to be human while doing whatever it takes to survive.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys body horror with a dystopian twist or social commentaries.
Similar to: The Troop by Nick Cutter (body horror, never ending hunger), Inspection by Josh Malerman (chileren in a sort of school that is more than it appears), and Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer (body horror, morally gray protagonist, social commentary)
TW: violence towards women and young girls, talk of sexual assault, body horror, graphic depictions of starvation and references to eating disorders, mental health issues, drug addiction, suicide and suicidal ideation
Ration by by Cody T. Luff is dark dystopian tale and biting (pun intended) social commentary on our society's consumption of food and the role women play in a food obsessed world.
In a distant future, all men have died and a select few have established a world that runs on calories. Imeld and Cynthia are two sixteen year old girls that live in a building called "The Apartments". It is a place where food is rationed and consequence come quick, both from The Women who run the instituition and the cohorts of girls who dwell in the rooms.
Then one night, Cynthia is accused of eating an "A ration" which ultimately leaves to the death of another girl. Her actions land her in the street along with one of The Women: Ms. Glennoc. In the meantime, Imeld is forced to fill Ms. Glennoc's shoes, the punished now becoming the punisher.
What follows is a character driven story full of hunger, revenge, politics, and the harsh reality of what it means to be human while doing whatever it takes to survive.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys body horror with a dystopian twist or social commentaries.
Similar to: The Troop by Nick Cutter (body horror, never ending hunger), Inspection by Josh Malerman (chileren in a sort of school that is more than it appears), and Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer (body horror, morally gray protagonist, social commentary)
TW: violence towards women and young girls, talk of sexual assault, body horror, graphic depictions of starvation and references to eating disorders, mental health issues, drug addiction, suicide and suicidal ideation
August 24, 2019
This is a world of Women and Girls. Cynthia and Imeld are two girls that live in the Apartments. Their world is ruled by calories and the girls constantly starve. They can request A, B, and C rations to eat. But the A rations get more girls sent to the Wet Room. Cynthia is falsely accused of eating an A ration and punished by the girls on the third floor.
This leads to Cynthia getting bloody revenge and punishment from Ms. Tuttle, the woman that runs the Apartments. Thing go from bad to worse when Ms. Tuttle is punished by the counsel and Cynthia and Ms. Glennoc, Ms. Tuttle’s assistant, are sent away to the Commons to live or die.
This is a new and brutal world. All men, animals, and plant life have dies many years earlier leaving only women left. There are not many options for food or any form of health care. The Girls were a solution to the problem but as the years have gone on other problems have arose from them.
This is an amazing and dark read. I had a hard time putting this book down and constantly thought about what I read and couldn’t wait to get back to the story. I felt for Cynthia the more I learned about this world and yet I wanted to bash her head in with her insistence to get back to Imeld. Ms. Tuttle and Me. Glennoc are pure evil but are born from this world.
I would have liked to learn more about the Clear but I also understood why we don’t know more. This book is an amazing read that brought the movie Soylent Green to my mind. I would love to read more about this world and what happens to Cynthia and Imeld. I can’t wait to read what Cody Luff comes up with next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
This leads to Cynthia getting bloody revenge and punishment from Ms. Tuttle, the woman that runs the Apartments. Thing go from bad to worse when Ms. Tuttle is punished by the counsel and Cynthia and Ms. Glennoc, Ms. Tuttle’s assistant, are sent away to the Commons to live or die.
This is a new and brutal world. All men, animals, and plant life have dies many years earlier leaving only women left. There are not many options for food or any form of health care. The Girls were a solution to the problem but as the years have gone on other problems have arose from them.
This is an amazing and dark read. I had a hard time putting this book down and constantly thought about what I read and couldn’t wait to get back to the story. I felt for Cynthia the more I learned about this world and yet I wanted to bash her head in with her insistence to get back to Imeld. Ms. Tuttle and Me. Glennoc are pure evil but are born from this world.
I would have liked to learn more about the Clear but I also understood why we don’t know more. This book is an amazing read that brought the movie Soylent Green to my mind. I would love to read more about this world and what happens to Cynthia and Imeld. I can’t wait to read what Cody Luff comes up with next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
August 31, 2019
Ration is set in the far, far future with only girls and women remaining in a dark world. A virus swept through the world many years ago clearing out men, animals and plant life. The way of life or survival is now measured in calories. Calories are used as a way of payment in a dark and desolate world.
When I read the summary for Ration I was hooked and couldn’t wait to start reading it but once I did I was like this book is so weird I wasn’t sure if I could read it but I trudged on as I am one of those readers that can’t stand starting a book and not finishing it. So I trudged onward and the more I read and the deeper into the story I got I think I finally started to get it to understand it more or at least understand the characters.
In the first part of the book our protagonist Cynthia lives in an apartment building known as the farm with lots of other girls. The girls are assigned chores and they must complete each task to earn their rations. There are three types of rations, A, B and C. The girls are only allowed to have B or C rations, A rations are for the women. A rations are the best of course.
If one of the girls ask for an A ration then they are punished which means they are sent to the wet room. What goes on in the wet room the girls don’t really know but I assume they have their own thoughts about it. All animal and plant life are gone they have to eat something, right? Imagination needed here. These girls have never been outside the apartments and probably never will see the outside.
At first I didn’t like our protagonist because of what she did after she was accused of eating an A ration. But as I said the more I read the more I understood and I began to see Cynthia in a different light.
Ration tells the story of what different people would do and how far they would go to survive. Some people want to be on top and be the best and to be in control of others and be the boss. Have people be afraid of them.
Some people can’t make decisions on their own and leave that to others so they stay inside this box and are happy to let others lead them tell them what to do. They never think about being free or what their life would be like if they controlled it. It is just easier for them to live like that. In ways they are like the ones who are in control they don’t care about anyone but themselves.
Then you have people like Cynthia who wants to be free and go outside the box. Who is not afraid to step up and say no more I am taking over my own destiny. I am no longer going to be your slave or my own. Cynthia looked deep into her own heart and broke free from herself and then she stepped out of the box and stood up for her freedom and others. She was no longer going to be afraid nor was she going to let others make her afraid.
Ration is a very dark and desolate book that is hard to read but if you go deeper than the words themselves then you may learn something of the world and how different people react to different situations. Ration is tied up with so many emotions that are so very intense that leaves a lot to the imagination. I will give warning you need a strong stomach and a very good imagination to read Ration but the message I read between the pages makes it worth the read.
I would recommend Ration to anyone who loves a good story set in a very dark and desolate world.
When I read the summary for Ration I was hooked and couldn’t wait to start reading it but once I did I was like this book is so weird I wasn’t sure if I could read it but I trudged on as I am one of those readers that can’t stand starting a book and not finishing it. So I trudged onward and the more I read and the deeper into the story I got I think I finally started to get it to understand it more or at least understand the characters.
In the first part of the book our protagonist Cynthia lives in an apartment building known as the farm with lots of other girls. The girls are assigned chores and they must complete each task to earn their rations. There are three types of rations, A, B and C. The girls are only allowed to have B or C rations, A rations are for the women. A rations are the best of course.
If one of the girls ask for an A ration then they are punished which means they are sent to the wet room. What goes on in the wet room the girls don’t really know but I assume they have their own thoughts about it. All animal and plant life are gone they have to eat something, right? Imagination needed here. These girls have never been outside the apartments and probably never will see the outside.
At first I didn’t like our protagonist because of what she did after she was accused of eating an A ration. But as I said the more I read the more I understood and I began to see Cynthia in a different light.
Ration tells the story of what different people would do and how far they would go to survive. Some people want to be on top and be the best and to be in control of others and be the boss. Have people be afraid of them.
Some people can’t make decisions on their own and leave that to others so they stay inside this box and are happy to let others lead them tell them what to do. They never think about being free or what their life would be like if they controlled it. It is just easier for them to live like that. In ways they are like the ones who are in control they don’t care about anyone but themselves.
Then you have people like Cynthia who wants to be free and go outside the box. Who is not afraid to step up and say no more I am taking over my own destiny. I am no longer going to be your slave or my own. Cynthia looked deep into her own heart and broke free from herself and then she stepped out of the box and stood up for her freedom and others. She was no longer going to be afraid nor was she going to let others make her afraid.
Ration is a very dark and desolate book that is hard to read but if you go deeper than the words themselves then you may learn something of the world and how different people react to different situations. Ration is tied up with so many emotions that are so very intense that leaves a lot to the imagination. I will give warning you need a strong stomach and a very good imagination to read Ration but the message I read between the pages makes it worth the read.
I would recommend Ration to anyone who loves a good story set in a very dark and desolate world.
September 2, 2019
This is probably not a great book to read while eating. It took me a little while to understand the rules of this world, but once I did it was easy to get pulled in to the story. Parts of the book get pretty rough. For the most part everything made sense, though the method of reproduction was a little vague to me. Also, where were the babies at the Farm? Then again, those were minor matters. The world of the book definitely feels like it's nearing its end. If there is such a thing as grimdark dystopian, this is it.
The story follows two characters, both of which were interesting, though neither one seemed all that likeable. Cynthia, a girl at one of the facilities (or Farms) seemed to run more on impulse than thought as she tried to figure out life outside of the place she came from. Ms. Tuttle was more complex. Not a nice person by any means but never boring. My favorite character was Imeld. For awhile I hoped the story was going to explore Imeld's adaptation to changing circumstances.
The ending was fair, but not entirely satisfying. I think that might have been because it didn't really feel like the story was complete. I have a strong feeling there is some idea of making this the start of a series. If that happens, it would be great to see how everything came about in some sort of prequel.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
The story follows two characters, both of which were interesting, though neither one seemed all that likeable. Cynthia, a girl at one of the facilities (or Farms) seemed to run more on impulse than thought as she tried to figure out life outside of the place she came from. Ms. Tuttle was more complex. Not a nice person by any means but never boring. My favorite character was Imeld. For awhile I hoped the story was going to explore Imeld's adaptation to changing circumstances.
The ending was fair, but not entirely satisfying. I think that might have been because it didn't really feel like the story was complete. I have a strong feeling there is some idea of making this the start of a series. If that happens, it would be great to see how everything came about in some sort of prequel.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
October 25, 2019
Ration is a remarkable book. Set in a grim post-apocalyptic world, only the women survive, men having become extinct following the ‘Clear’. There is no colour in this book, only the red of blood, bringing relief to the relentless greyness of it all, a skilfully portrayed bleakness which reminded me very much of that master of social despair, Charles Dickens. The mouldering walls, the neglected and ruined buildings, the ragged inhabitants, it felt like the Victorian slums projected into the future.
Within this wasteland of a world are the Apartments, home to young girls, and part of a Farm. All actions, all aspects of life are reduced to calories. Calories are the economy of this brave new world. But in a world of shortage, where do the calories come from, what is a human being worth? The Farm is where you discover a girl, or a Woman’s value, their calorific price. This is a story of rights versus survival with morality often taking a backseat and quite often disappearing from view altogether. The brutality, the cruelty and continuous sense of hunger pervading these pages might perhaps make you think the reader would turn away but the strength of the central character, Cynthia, and her fight to survive and be something more, roots you firmly in her corner and you continue to turn the pages hoping that at some point, the flame of humanity might flicker into life again.
Within this wasteland of a world are the Apartments, home to young girls, and part of a Farm. All actions, all aspects of life are reduced to calories. Calories are the economy of this brave new world. But in a world of shortage, where do the calories come from, what is a human being worth? The Farm is where you discover a girl, or a Woman’s value, their calorific price. This is a story of rights versus survival with morality often taking a backseat and quite often disappearing from view altogether. The brutality, the cruelty and continuous sense of hunger pervading these pages might perhaps make you think the reader would turn away but the strength of the central character, Cynthia, and her fight to survive and be something more, roots you firmly in her corner and you continue to turn the pages hoping that at some point, the flame of humanity might flicker into life again.
June 12, 2019
If you intend to read Cody T Luff’s stunning Ration, I would advise either eating a huge dinner, stocking up on junk food, or preferably both before opening the first page. Why? This breathtakingly powerful novel is about food, or more precisely, the desperate lack of it. A fitting alternative title might have been ‘Hunger’, as every character in this story suffers from it; nobody escapes. Everything that happens in Ration is connected to food; from the motives of the characters to the horrific consequences of eating a prized ‘A’ ration. This is one of the darkest and most nihilistic books I have read in a long time, but it is also riveting from start to finish and will surely be in the mix for novel of the year when 2019 ends. Ration is only the second book I have awarded the coveted five stars on Horror DNA this year. It is that good.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 12, 2019
I was provided an advance copy of this book by the publisher to review.
Ration is quite a unique book, it's a set in a world where all the men have perished, food is in short supply, girls are forced to live in communes where their food is strictly controlled, and as it turns out, these communes are farms. Yes, farms. The women are farming the girls, for food and body parts.
The story begins with the consumption of a 'A ration' the top tier of food ration, with the food in the commune being so tightly controlled, should the quota of these rations be exceeded it means a girl from that floor of the commune is then sent for 'processing'. I'm sure you can work out what that means. The girls from the floor from which a girl is taken then accuse Cynthia, a girl from the floor below of ordering the 'A ration' in question and punish her by stamping on her hands until they're mangled and broken.
This sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to the and Cynthia being released and exploring the surrounding area in which we learn more about the world in which the story is set.
Despite not being a genre I'd typically read I found the story was quite enthralling the way it slowly unraveled a detailed albeit ghastly picture of the dystopian world in which it is set. Whilst there's considerable of violence and some coarse language none of these instances seemed out of place or over the top for the nature of the story being told.
I enjoyed it and I think readers who enjoy a good dystopian tale would too.
Ration is quite a unique book, it's a set in a world where all the men have perished, food is in short supply, girls are forced to live in communes where their food is strictly controlled, and as it turns out, these communes are farms. Yes, farms. The women are farming the girls, for food and body parts.
The story begins with the consumption of a 'A ration' the top tier of food ration, with the food in the commune being so tightly controlled, should the quota of these rations be exceeded it means a girl from that floor of the commune is then sent for 'processing'. I'm sure you can work out what that means. The girls from the floor from which a girl is taken then accuse Cynthia, a girl from the floor below of ordering the 'A ration' in question and punish her by stamping on her hands until they're mangled and broken.
This sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to the and Cynthia being released and exploring the surrounding area in which we learn more about the world in which the story is set.
Despite not being a genre I'd typically read I found the story was quite enthralling the way it slowly unraveled a detailed albeit ghastly picture of the dystopian world in which it is set. Whilst there's considerable of violence and some coarse language none of these instances seemed out of place or over the top for the nature of the story being told.
I enjoyed it and I think readers who enjoy a good dystopian tale would too.
July 13, 2019
4.5 stars
Ration features a world where food is hard to come by and reveals what happens when society is starving and will do anything in a never-ending search for sustenance.
The story centres around a place called the "Apartments". Cynthia and Imeld are two of the "Girls" living there and it is run by "Women" called Ms Glennoc and Ms Tuttle.
I really enjoyed this book. Once I become familiar with the terminology, it was easy to become absorbed by the story and I yearned to find out what exactly the world had come to and what would become of the characters. Cody T Luff is a master at revealing just enough detail as the story progresses, yet still left me desperately wanting to know more with each turn of the page.
One thing I would have liked more of was character development (and this is me being nit-picky), particularly as the story is character driven. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who love a good post apocalyptic story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ration features a world where food is hard to come by and reveals what happens when society is starving and will do anything in a never-ending search for sustenance.
The story centres around a place called the "Apartments". Cynthia and Imeld are two of the "Girls" living there and it is run by "Women" called Ms Glennoc and Ms Tuttle.
I really enjoyed this book. Once I become familiar with the terminology, it was easy to become absorbed by the story and I yearned to find out what exactly the world had come to and what would become of the characters. Cody T Luff is a master at revealing just enough detail as the story progresses, yet still left me desperately wanting to know more with each turn of the page.
One thing I would have liked more of was character development (and this is me being nit-picky), particularly as the story is character driven. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who love a good post apocalyptic story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2019
I read this book because I went to a reading of the author and it was one of the best readings I have ever been to. The author was a great read, storyteller, and also answered the audiences questions with thoughtfulness and poise. I enjoyed the two short sections that he read from his book. And I was intrigued because I like reading dystopian fiction. And the book isn't bad. It's got some interesting plot points and a great idea: The whole world is in deep trouble. Everyone is starving. But some sections (Women) are more in control than others. So they make Farms. And breed people (Girls) for food. So what's wrong with the book? I felt that it just wasn't quite fully formed yet. We don't quite understand the characters. The world doesn't quite come into view. Like the Girls in the book, who don't understand the world they are in, I as the reader didn't quite get it. Even at the end when more things are explained. Still, I think it's a strong attempt at a first book, and I do look forward to other works by this author.
August 1, 2019
**Thank you to the publishers for sending me an e-arc**
Big TW for violence towards women,graphic talk of starvation,mental illnesses,suicide/suicidal ideation, and talk of sexual assault
This book is about a girl named Cynthia. When she is wrongly accused of eating an A Ration another girl is killed for her actions. Now she much move out of the apartments and move in with a woman who has tormented her for years. But she must learn how to survive to save her friend, Imeld back at the apartments
This book is so weird,good but weird. I really liked Cynthia and her friend Imeld and how they approached the things that was going on in the word of Ration.
Once I got past the first few chapters it was so easy to get pulled into this word and I just wanted know what happend next.
This book was a little to gory for me but if you are into gore and all those types of things, this would be perfect for you.
Big TW for violence towards women,graphic talk of starvation,mental illnesses,suicide/suicidal ideation, and talk of sexual assault
This book is about a girl named Cynthia. When she is wrongly accused of eating an A Ration another girl is killed for her actions. Now she much move out of the apartments and move in with a woman who has tormented her for years. But she must learn how to survive to save her friend, Imeld back at the apartments
This book is so weird,good but weird. I really liked Cynthia and her friend Imeld and how they approached the things that was going on in the word of Ration.
Once I got past the first few chapters it was so easy to get pulled into this word and I just wanted know what happend next.
This book was a little to gory for me but if you are into gore and all those types of things, this would be perfect for you.
October 21, 2019
Darker than The Road! This book is way outside my comfort zone. Horror is not a genre I normally read (but dystopia is), and the central concept here is, well, kind of nauseating. I picked it up because I heard Cody Luff speak at the Montana Book Festival and was incredibly moved by what he said so empathetically about his college students struggling with food insufficiency and the awful things that can lead to. I was moved too by the way he explained this book, horrifying as it is, is ultimately about love. That said, Luff writes with a confident voice, but I found the whole book opaque. It didn’t exactly end up where I expected either. And I am not fully sure where it did end up ... everyone in the book is so driven by that sort of animal-like, frontal-lobe need to survive. I suppose the point is that it’s amazing any love exists at all. Anything beyond a transactional nature, however fragmentary. I’d love to hear Luff talk about the book more so I could understand it better.
April 7, 2020
I was given this book as a review copy by the good folks at Apex.
This one hits all the right notes. A bleak future, with a poisoned, exhausted Earth. Unnamed calamities that decimate humanity. A claustrophobic, horrific setting. The sea dead and black. A story of life hanging on by its fingernails. And in all of that, the spark of defiance, lit by the flint and steel of humanity.
In an impressive debut, Cody Luff has brought to life a bleak hellscape into which we are thrown, headfirst, to try to make our way, much as the book's protagonist is forced to do. This is richly imagined, coldly bleak, but in some ways hopeful post-apocalyptic tale that, like all such tales (or at least the ones worth reading), takes some of the darker currents in modern life and turns them up to 11. It asks the question "What if . . .?" and answers it with a shudder. This is a cautionary tale, one that we would be well advised to heed.
This one hits all the right notes. A bleak future, with a poisoned, exhausted Earth. Unnamed calamities that decimate humanity. A claustrophobic, horrific setting. The sea dead and black. A story of life hanging on by its fingernails. And in all of that, the spark of defiance, lit by the flint and steel of humanity.
In an impressive debut, Cody Luff has brought to life a bleak hellscape into which we are thrown, headfirst, to try to make our way, much as the book's protagonist is forced to do. This is richly imagined, coldly bleak, but in some ways hopeful post-apocalyptic tale that, like all such tales (or at least the ones worth reading), takes some of the darker currents in modern life and turns them up to 11. It asks the question "What if . . .?" and answers it with a shudder. This is a cautionary tale, one that we would be well advised to heed.
May 24, 2019
I'm going to be reviewing this for High Fever Books, so look there for my full thoughts. However, what I can say is that this book is brilliant. It is a fresh take on the post apocalyptic story that has a world full of women fighting against an aging society and the concept of sacrificing yourself for the greater good. Cody Luff's ability to doll out information as slow as syrup only pulls you in more and more as you try to determine who the real monster is and what you'd do to survive. Ration is going to be a book that a lot of people talk about.
You can pre order this book now and I highly recommend you do that.
You can pre order this book now and I highly recommend you do that.
January 7, 2020
I won a free arc from LibraryThing.
3.5 stars, rounded down.
Maybe I'm jaded from watching and reading too much horror, but I didn't find this to be as shocking as a lot of other people did. There certainly is plenty of gore, and I can see how some might even consider it gratuitous, but it seemed rather par for the course for me. The story feels a bit like a typical grimdark dystopian, though it stands out for being entirely focused on female characters (in this world, all men are dead). I found the world-building to be frustratingly vague.
Overall this is the kind of book I would enjoy reading in the moment, but not one that will particularly stick with me down the line.
3.5 stars, rounded down.
Maybe I'm jaded from watching and reading too much horror, but I didn't find this to be as shocking as a lot of other people did. There certainly is plenty of gore, and I can see how some might even consider it gratuitous, but it seemed rather par for the course for me. The story feels a bit like a typical grimdark dystopian, though it stands out for being entirely focused on female characters (in this world, all men are dead). I found the world-building to be frustratingly vague.
Overall this is the kind of book I would enjoy reading in the moment, but not one that will particularly stick with me down the line.
August 15, 2019
Wow, this book was incredibly intense, but in the best way possible. I love dystopian novels so that is what initially drew me in, plus it being about an all-female society was also super fascinating to me. In the world of Ration, men are extinct and resources are extremely limited. The book focuses on the story of two teenage girls who live in the super seedy and shady “Apartments,” where they barely get to eat and are frequently abused by the Women in charge. This is a book with extremely high stakes, excellent writing and spot-on pacing. Highly recommend!
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