Virtue Chasm

by Ashley Crookham, Phillip Mayo (Illustrator), Brandon Warren (Photographer)

Withdrawing Men rend the nation in two, so Women are free to govern with the epitome of feminine qualities. Years later, Freida grows up in the idyllic commune called PureFem. She maintains males should be treated as second-class citizens to atone for their past of abuses to females, but sometimes wavers for her brother Cecil. Is this love and fairness? PureFem is a scary place when Men attack from Marside. The Women can only use Fight Knights to defend themselves. Is this how Men show honesty and strength? After Cecil’s Choosing Ceremony, Freida’s loyalty is tested. On her trek through the divided nation- full of questionable rules, lies, and technology she doesn’t understand- she foresees the alarming future if neither flawed side is able to save itself. Nothing about her upbringing prepared her to be betrayed, deceived, exiled, or used. Yet only she asks, “Do Women and Men need to be enemies?” In VIRTUE CHASM author Ashley Crookham shares her unique insights on feminism and misogyny by exploring these two dysfunctional systems. If you are brave enough to inquire how popular attitudes on these subjects may be misleading us, this is a story worthy of you.

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2020

About the author

Some of Ashley’s favorite experiences in life have been reading books. Others were inspired by reading books.

As a wordsmith and novelist, she creates experiences for her readers.

Ashley grew up in Southern Maryland, studied in Baltimore, and had a stint in the Western part of the state. She spent half a year in New Zealand chasing hobbits. Foxes led her to Rita Mae Brown in rural Virginia. She owned too many acres in Pennsylvania then put them to use with her own hunger games. She pretended to be a Hoosier in Indiana, but was found out. So, she gathered her Vonnegut memorabilia and landed in North Carolina where she avoids alligators. Her life is currently like the backstory of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Her collection of library cards is precious to her.

Reviews

[Thomas F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely an original point of view. An aptly titled and thought-provoking novel imagining the world after the ultimate divorce - the separation of men and women in nearly the entire population. In the extremes of the rubble left in the wake of contempt felt between the sexes, the devolving female society of PureFem and the equally devolving male society of Marside ultimately illustrate the need each side has for the other, and how long the road would be to reach reconciliation. A third society exists in the middle: Venuside, which is a social segment still in the throes of the divorce, ruled by corruption and hazy moral code. This world is not pretty and the chasm is deep. I think Ashley is telling us to be careful, and it is good advice. - Tom Renner, Author, Magnificent Marginal Men.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if society were run by women? What if men were made to "pay" for their actions? Wouldn't things be "better"? These and other questions are explored in this dystopian novel. Initially it took some time for me to get into the novel and understand where the plot was going, but once I was invested in the characters, I found myself reading quickly to get to the end. The word choice and writing style are superb. You can tell the author is an avid reader herself and it is really reflected in the work as a whole. This novel really made me think at the end and examine some of my perspectives on feminism. I'm excited to watch more come from this author.

[Leslie Hillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It made me think. Good book!