Mandate Thirteen

by Joseph J. Dowling

In a world with dwindling birth rates, all young women must submit to compulsory fertility checks at the age of thirteen. For those able to conceive, a docile existence inside the Birthing Schools beckons— or far worse if they fall into the wrong hands.

When the clandestine Baby Farmers, and their brutal leader Miko, arrive to snatch his daughter, Michael must make a split-second choice: risk his own freedom to protect hers… or lose her forever.

Mandate Thirteen is a gritty dystopian thriller for fans of Children of Men, A Handmaid’s Tale, and The Running Man.

“An action-packed, cross-country adventure between father and daughter as they dodge authorities, reconnect with old acquaintances, and meet new people (good, bad, and crazy), forging connections at every stop. I loved every aspect of their journey and how they learned so much about themselves on the way. This is dystopian in every way that matters. A worthy addition to any library.” Preye, Literary Darlings

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2023

About the author

Joseph always knew he would write seriously one day. That moment arrived in 2020, when his thriving hospitality business was temporarily shuttered. With time on his hands, he quickly fell into an obsession and became a keen student of the craft.

Since finding the passion, Joseph can't imagine life without stories rattling around his head. Eager to make up for lost time, he's been fairly prolific, and his short stories have appeared in several anthologies and literary magazines. Even better, his rejections are getting nicer by the week.

Joseph lives in London with his wife and their Scotty dog. Mandate: THIRTEEN is his first published novel.

Reviews

[Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandate Thirteen is a outstanding dystopian novel.

It's starts off in London, England of which has become completely Orwellian. There's been a severe drop in birth rates and when a girl becomes thirteen, it's become mandatory to get a fertility check and if a girl is fertile the parents get £100,000.

A girl called Hope turns thirteen and her mother takes her to the clinic, the following morning the 'Baby Farmers' come to take Hope away; her own mother sold her out for the £100,000.

Her father, Michael manages to escape with her and they drive to Wales to find an old friend and sanctuary.

Ultimately they head to Scotland where there is no tyranny, I was so invested in this story and when I heard they were heading to Glasgow I got excited because that's where I'm from.

All the while they're being pursued by the 'Baby Farmers'

I'm not saying anything else, if you're into novels like 1984 & Brave New World, you definitely need to read this excellent book!

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with this ARC.

[Theresa (mysteries.and.mayhem) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the premise of this book, the first thing that came to mind was The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I almost didn't pick it to read because I thought I've read this story before. But then I read some reviews and changed my mind. I'm so glad I did! Let me tell you about this great book!

Similar to The Handmaid's Tale, the story is set in the near future and the environment is a hot mess (literally). Because of this, birth rates are way down and the government sets up institutions to "farm" babies from fertile young girls. This act isn't helping as much as they'd hoped, so they enact a mandate that all girls as young as 13 must be checked for fertility.

Enter Hope and her father, Michael. Hope is turning thirteen. Michael is doing everything in his power not to give up his daughter. This is where the action starts! And it is nonstop throughout!

We meet some characters along the way - some helpful, some pure evil. Nearly all of these characters are very well developed. I either loved or loathed most of the characters in the book!

The scenes were very well developed as well. I could feel myself in the environments they traveled. One small issue I had was I always imagined it was the middle of the night, no matter what time the scene was occuring. I was always shocked when I realized that something was happening during the day. That may have been my own issue though. Most of what took place were things I'd only feel safe trying to accomplish in the middle of the night!

Dowling has had several short stories published, but this is his first published novel. I'm impressed with the quality of this book for being a first novel! Notice how many exclamation marks I'm using? That means you really should go read this book as soon as it's available! I'm giving this book an exuberant four stars out of five. The only reason it isn't five stars is because I got a little confused and bogged down with the "baby farmers" chasing Michael and Hope. There are so many of them to keep straight, and they all don't work for the same people. But I felt it was just a tiny chink in the armor of this suspenseful story.

Many thanks to BookSirens and Manta Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sophie]

Review to be posted closer to the pub date.

[Sherie Miklas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written novel in the same vein as Handmaid’s Tale. It takes place in the near future and addresses climate change, misinformation, and dwindling birth rates. It moves quickly through most of the story, but even when there is a lull in the action, you know it can change in a moment.

A similar theme through most books of this genre is how everything changed so gradually that before anyone knew what was happening, they were living under an authoritarian regime. It’s a good reminder to pay attention and vote. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Preye · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new entrant to the Game of Thrones fandom, I become positively feral whenever I spot and understand a reference, so imagine my shock when there was a mention of the direwolves from GOT. Fun fact: GOT was one of our protagonist's favorite shows when he was young – this is dystopian in every way that matters.

Mandate: THIRTEEN lives up to its primary comp title – The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood – as it takes place in a futuristic world riddled with declining fertility rates, an authoritarian and highly-centralized government, poverty, a heavily-regulated economic sector, and unemployment.

The twist, though, is that Michael, the male protagonist, takes matters into his hands – after the government decides to reduce the age of the compulsory fertility checks to 13 (spy the title) – and spirits his fertile thirteen-year-old daughter, Hope, away from London before she could have been forced into the government birthing schools or taken into the baby farms after her horrid mother sells her for a lump sum. 

What followed was an action-packed, cross-country adventure between the father and daughter duo, as they dodged the authorities, reconnected with old acquaintances, and met new people (good, bad, and crazy), forging connections at every stop on their way to a place without such arbitrary restrictions.

I loved every aspect of their journey and how they learned so much about themselves on the way. I especially appreciated how it was much more than just evading the government, and their personalities and hidden secrets unraveled bit by bit, and I love how they came to a new understanding of each other. They laid roots and built foundations, and learned a lesson every step of the way, which I ultimately saw as the development of their characters. 

I did find it a little hard to understand how Hope, a somewhat sheltered thirteen-year-old, had so many strong opinions about everything from climate change to relationships, but this didn't make the book any less interesting. Also, I felt that the many sections that focused on Miko(the baby farmer) and the other adjunct characters were quite distracting and that real-estate could very well have been dedicated to developing Michael and Hope's characters, but, again, that didn't affect the quality of the book. 

I believe every reader would enjoy the smooth prose, fluid dialogue, and compelling storyline. Nothing beats a book that leans on the familial bonds between characters, and Mandate: THIRTEEN has this feature on lock. This was an easy read through and through, and it will be a worthy addition to any library.
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[Steve Stred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since Tim McWhorter launched Manta Press, I’ve loved seeing the variety of phenomenal books that have been released. Spanning a wide scope of genres, Manta Press has quickly established themselves as a ‘must-read’ small press and one that you’re guaranteed to experience solid storytelling with lots of heart.

Case in point – Mandate: Thirteen. This one, while set in the very near future, has alarmingly real themes throughout and that alone pushed this into a truly uncomfortable reading experience.

I wasn’t totally sure what to expect going in, but this one packs a wallop.

What I liked: The story is set in a world where most women are now infertile and those who can have children are taken from their families and imprisoned in birthing facilities. Almost all of the ethnicities have been forced out of England and as the climate crisis worsens, prices rise, jobs become scarce and supplies limited.

Dowling does a solid job of teasing out these issues while also introducing us to the Randall family. The story really explodes when the fertility mandate changes to include girls aged thirteen. From here we follow father and daughter as they evade capture and attempt to make their way to the Scottish border and find a way to cross, hoping to get asylum.

The story is filled with emotions. We get a lot of secondary characters who are hard to trust, especially in such uncertain times and, as one would suspect, when trustworthy people are found, it’s only for a momentary reprieve, as those chasing quickly catch up.

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, plenty of ‘hold-your-breath’ moments where you’re not sure what’s going to happen, and the ultimate climactic moment works really well to see how it relates back to decisions from the past.

What I didn’t like: Ultimately, for me, there were two things I wasn’t super keen on. The first was some of the dialogue was off. There were times where I read some of it and thought ‘nobody talks to each other like that.’ It might’ve been just me and for others it flows well, but specifically between dad and daughter, there were moments that I was pulled out of it by how the dialogue read between each other.

The second thing, which I can’t expand on too much as it would fall into major spoiler territory, was that I found there was simply too much extra stuff after the ‘ending.’ I do enjoy when we find out what happened after the finale and the final events have ended, but this kept going for a bit and was a bit much for me.

Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of dystopian, all-too-real-feeling action based reads, look no further. This had shades of Nevill’s ‘Lost Girl’ throughout and was a thoroughly solid, great read that had me captivated the entire time.

Definitely one to bump up your TBR!

[Svani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book – vital dystopian elements are cleverly woven into a thrilling plot, the descriptions are sharp and vivid, and the chase sequences truly gripping. The story starts off slightly slowly, in my personal opinion, but quickly picks up and, once the menace sets in, it becomes unrelentingly chilling (in the best way!). Joseph deftly takes on important dystopian and current themes in a fresh, gritty, yet somehow emotional journey, with high stakes and eerie tension throughout. I especially loved the characters – the relationship between the father and daughter builds beautifully, and the odd cast of secondary characters always kept me guessing. I did feel it lagged a bit in spots, but that's always subjective. Definitely a thrilling, creepy, intelligent book, perfect for fans of action and nuanced dystopian stories.

[Gregory Kontaxis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dystopian story was fast paced and political. The story is about a father who tries to prevent his daughter from being part of the government's(UK) scheme. This scheme is about removing daughters from their families and place them into a breeding program. The story starts in London (England) and then moves around other areas of the United Kingdom.
I liked the characters and the concept of this book. I think its an outstanding novel and I would recommend it.

[Daniel Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very gripping and exciting read.

The author did a good job of immersing me in a futuristic society and the hard challenges that the characters in the plot faced as a result.

[LindaS · Rating 3 out of 5]

A terrifyingly dark portrayal of what the future could hold. Climate change, mass immigration, unemployment and the crux of this novel, infertility. A little bit Handmaid’s Tale meets every action movie ever made. I liked the beginning and the end of the story, seeing the family dynamic and the characters comes to grips with their actions and living with the consequences. The details of this dystopian future were excellent and well fleshed out. I felt there was too much focus on the brutal henchman and his back story. I’m sure action fans will love it, but I found myself cringing at the brutality of the scenes and the gratuitous swearing rather than feeling terrified. I think this author has great potential but I felt in this book he sacrificed character development for action. There is so many great characters who could have their own stories that I hope to see this become a series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Recommend with a warning about the graphic violence and language

[Clarissa Dozier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an excellent dystopian novel. I loved the relationship and character development between the father and daughter. I didn’t love the parts through Miko’s point of view, but other people may like that more. I was just so invested in Michael and Hope that I found myself eager for it to go back to their POV every time. Highly recommend this if you like dystopian novels.

[Bethany Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I agreed to review Mandate Thirteen, I didn't quite realise how close to our own future this dystopian novel would be. It's set in the near future and is scarily plausible. The novel presents a really interesting concept: in the future, England and Wales are suffering from declining fertility rates and a steadily dropping birth rate, and, under the leadership of a authoritarian religious party, implement forced birthing schools for fertile females. As the situation becomes dire, the age for mandatory fertility checks drops lower and lower, until the government officially set it at thirteen, which is where the novel begins. We follow Michael and his thirteen-year-old daughter Hope as they try to escape the government's clutches.

I loved how the stakes were constantly raised. Michael and Hope's journey wasn't particularly long, but it was brilliantly paced and it flowed so easily that I just kept reading and reading. I liked Hope's character development: she went from scared child following in her father's footsteps to an independent adult ready to defend herself. However, I did feel like her character from scene to scene was a little inconsistent in places, and at times the things she said and did made me forget she was only thirteen.

My background is in immunology and, having studied immunology for a good few years, the science presented in the novel was a little... off. The whole premise revolved around testing young girls for fertility, but testing hormones wouldn't show someone as fertile until after they had gone through puberty, which didn't seem to be taken into consideration. Girls were tested once and declared fertile or not, but everyone goes through puberty at different ages and it's entirely possible that some of those girls would have been fertile if they were tested later, after they had gone through puberty. However, this may just be me being picky.

The ending to me felt a little loose. It would be ideal if there was a sequel in the works, but I don't know if this is the case. As a standalone, there are a few too many unanswered questions left at the end of the story. It doesn't feel fully finished yet, especially with regards to where Michael ended up.

Mandate Thirteen is an intriguing novel, ideal if you want something scarily close to our potential future. However, I would recommend this book solely on the basis that it presents Scotland as a healthy, functioning, independent country (not that I'm biased at all).

I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.

[Julie Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers: The second Dystopian Science Fiction novel that I am reading this month is a different style than What Branches Grow.

Instead of focusing on the somber dark world in which the characters live, instead it focuses on the relationship between a father and daughter who try to escape it.


In the near future London is practically run by religious fanatics who force a strict rule over the population. Among the laws are that when a girl turns 13, she is to be tested for her fertility. If she is able to give birth, then she will be sent to a birthing center where she will remain until she delivers the allotted amount of children.

Michael and his wife, Allison are at a crossroads in their relationship. Their daughter, Hope, has reached that fateful age and is shown to be fertile. Allison, being the "good and loyal citizen" that she is, betrays her husband and daughter and turns Hope in. Rather than acquiesce to the law, Michael runs away with Hope to Wales to stay with an old friend of Michael's.


Mandate: Thirteen presents a terrifying possibility that could be believable. It doesn't help that similar to What Branches Grow it is shown to be a few years into the future. Michael's nostalgic popular culture memories suggest that he was a Millennial, even a Zoomer.

This futuristic world is one which religious fanatics have taken power and control every aspect in society. Do I need to explain any further about the likelihood of that scenario? The only thing that is surprising is that the setting is Great Britain and not the United States. Of course, that may be because I am more familiar with the controversies concerning the American Evangelical movement, the scare tactics that they pull, threats against people who aren't like them, their political overreach with endorsing certain causes and candidates, and their violations of separation of church and state (and the ways that they try to sidestep that amendment clause).


I sort of wish that we could peer inside the inner workings of this futuristic London. We see the laws and how they affect most people through Michael and his family, but we don't see it on a wider scale. It would be interesting for example to look into one of the Birthing Center and what goes on in there. If Dowling ever writes a sequel, it would be an interesting approach to get a more inside look at this dystopian society. Perhaps he could tell it from the point of view of a woman who escaped the Birthing Center.


What does hold up is the father-daughter relationship between Michael and Hope. The moment that Michael processes that his daughter is going to be taken away, he does not hesitate. He takes her away to be safe. He is clearly a loving and selfless parent who would put his life on the line for his daughter.

It's normal to read a mother to take that role as nurturer caregiver while the father is the status quo conformist. But the fact that the roles are intentionally reversed in this case shows that regardless of gender, there are some who will join the system and reject their humanity and those who retain their humanity by fighting the system. A father caring for a child in a science fiction landscape is becoming more prevalent in works like this, The Last of Us, and The Mandalorian showing that love and true devotion between a parent and child knows no gender or setting.


Michael and Hope have some warm moments demonstrating their close loving bond. Despite running for their lives, they share some humorous jibes about Michael's age or Hope's interests.

There are times where they defend each other using violence if necessary.

So, there is a real sense of affection and devotion that are found in these characters that is illustrated on this journey of survival, courage, and striving for freedom.


Michael and Hope have plenty of typical moments where they hide out with rural families that live just outside of the dystopian society's rules and regulations but present problems of their own. There are the false safe spots where their end goals are not met. There are also the government types who follow them and want to catch them dead or alive. Then there is the secret about why these particular fugitives are important. Some of it is typical for the genre but there are enough twists that keep them from being too cliche.


Mandate: Thirteen is a strong father-daughter story that just so happens to be set in a dystopian future.

[Lakshmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandate: THIRTEEN

By

Joseph J. Dowling

Rating:5/5

Description:

In a world with dwindling birth-rates, all young women must submit to compulsory fertility checks at thirteen. For those able to conceive, a docile existence inside the Birthing Schools beckons—or far worse if they fall into the wrong hands.
When the clandestine Baby Farmers, and their brutal leader Miko, arrive to snatch his daughter, Michael must make a split-second choice: risk his own freedom to protect hers… or lose her forever. Mandate Thirteen is a gritty dystopian thriller for fans of Children of Men, A Handmaid’s Tale, and The Running Man.

“An action-packed, cross-country adventure between father and daughter as they dodge authorities, reconnect with old acquaintances, and meet new people (good, bad, and crazy), forging connections at every stop. I loved every aspect of their journey and how they learned so much about themselves on the way. This is dystopian in every way that matters. A worthy addition to any library.” Preye, Literary Darlings

Review:

👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.

👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.The novel has been written for a great cause. Set in a dystopian world where the government intrusion brought quarrels and quandaries between husband and wife and set the families apart. Where there is love, there is sacrifice and no matter what, one must not destroy family ethic values. The birth rates were diminishing and the government left no choice to citizens, either to sacrifice themselves or their daughters. Michael had no choice but to save his daughter from the government’s hidden plan and his wife’s betrayal yet But now he is in dilemma either he can choose the freedom for his daughter or himself? Will he sacrifice himself to protect his daughter?

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wow! what a book! i am in love with the book.

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[Trevor Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen charts the progress of a father and daughter on the cusp of teenhood, following an explosive familial rift caused by a shift in government policy that means young females have less autonomy over their bodies than ever before. Is this a familiar trope of dystopian fiction or an accurate reflection of the world that many women are currently forced to inhabit? Either way, this is undoubtedly a novel in which the political has profoundly personal consequences for its young protagonist, the aptly/ironically named Hope. Some parallels can be drawn between the poignant parent/child dynamic in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and the ever-fluctuating relationship between Hope and Michael, her flawed but ultimately well-meaning father. The fundamental difference being that in Thirteen, the father/daughter road trip is conducted under the ever-present threat of pursuit, with spaces for introspective reflection being few and far between. It is a breath-taking, pedal to the metal journey, and the tension is relentless. It also offers a tantalising glimpse of what a post-independence Scotland might look like. At times, this tale could benefit from more detail about the workings of this alternative present/near future, but it is nevertheless a timely and insightful novel.

[Mrs LIR Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling vision of the future when fecundity of humans in the British Isles is almost extinct. The supposedly religious totalitarian government of what was England has set up 'Birthing Schools' and all teenage girls must go through a fertility test. The age is suddenly lowered to 13. (Hence the title: Mandate 13). Hope has just turned 13 and with her mother goes for the obligatory test……………… she is fertile and can breed………….. her mother SELLS her to a high bidding 'Baby Farmer' group who come to collect her at their home that evening. Her father Michael who has been wallowing for a few years in self-pity is incensed and flees with his daughter with the aim of crossing the border into a Scotland that is not so dogmatic.

This is their story of crossing England and Wales and how they are pursued by the brutal 'Baby Farmer Enforcer: Miko'.

The book depicts different types of people - those that subjugate themselves to the totalitarian regime, those that hide, the kind, the insane and those that help the fleeing father and daughter.

A good read set in a future that I hope does not come to be.

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

[Jamie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is kind of fun to think of this as like a side piece to the Handmaid's tale. We have a world where fertility has dramatically dropped, people are dealing with climate crisis, and they have survived a pandemic. This is relevant to right now and the book takes place in the near future.

Girls are being tested for fertility at 13 and then sold off to be placed in fertility schools. Most parents are choosing the state run places, which pay the parents a little, and then you have the private facilities which are supposed to pay a lot, but can also be scams.

Homie is a loser. He just is. He doesn't work. He won't sell his vintage car. He just sits at home being a loser. His wife is overworked and fed up. She can't support the family with her income alone. The daughter is 13 and guess what - she is fertile, that is so rare!

But Homie isn't about to let his daughter be sold so he takes off with her across the country in his badass car. There is a ton of violence, the male solution, and no cunning whatsoever. He is just out there being rouge. In the end the girl survives a crisis thanks to a big ass dog (love that part).

I wanted to hate this because our guy is just so dumb but I loved it. It was great. It was also relatable.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandate Thirteen is set in the future where birth rate is low. When a girl turns thirteen they are sent for testing. If the girl is able to have children then they are sent to the Birthing Schools.

Hope’s mother takes her in for testing and then lies about her results saying that the testing equipment was not working and they would call them later with the results of the test.

Later the Baby Farmers show up at their home to take Hope away to the Birthing Schools. They learn that Hope’s mother has turned her in for money. Hope’s dad takes her on the run. He will do whatever is necessary to save his baby daughter. They go on the run with the Baby Farmers hot on their tail the whole way.

When I read the summary for Mandate Thirteen I knew right then and there that I had to read it. Mandate Thirteen was everything it promised to be and more. It reminded me of The Handmaid’s Tale. I love the world that was created for Mandate Thirteen. I would sorely love to read more stories from this world.

I highly recommend Mandate Thirteen to all fans of The Handmaid’s Tale! Grab your copy of Mandate Thirteen today!

[Bas De Vuyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandate: Thirteen is a wonderful book. It’s easy to read, with an enjoyable and heartwarming storyline. Dowling does a great job capturing the relationship between our two main characters, a daddy-daughter duo (Michael and Hope Randall), especially in their conversations.

Overall, the plot is good. The story does emphasize how far the human race has deteriorated over the years (assuming this is 10-15 years in the future from now): heavily dependent on technology, and lackluster human engagement. Off the bat, Downing does capture your attention when “setting the
stage,” illustrating a far-fetched, yet enticing world.

Furthermore, the story illustrates a father and his daughter traversing though the English and Welsch countryside in an effort to avoid the fertility schools established by a theocratic English government, ruled by the Conservative Christian Council, who is looking to reinvigorate fertility rates for the country. Along the way, Michael and Hope encounter quite a few characters, good and bad, as they avoid trouble, while growing their relationship.

This is a quick read, and will leave you with some warm and fuzzy feelings at the end!

[Leigh's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dystopian story of a father's mission to prevent his 13 year old daughter from being part of the government's scheme of removing daughters from their families into "breeding" programme due to the decrease in the population.

This story was fast paced, political and tense. Families were poor and if they had a daughter they were either taken by the government into breeding schemes and then the family would be taken care of, or they sold their daughter for a large sum of money.

I know it happens in other parts of the world, so the idea of a family having to sell their children for money isn't so far fetched, but I can't fathom it.

Mike is furious when he finds out that his wife has sold out their daughter for 100k and when an organisation turns up he takes her and runs.

This story is their journey as they travel to Scotland to seek asylum. Along the way they make friends and enemies and traverse the countryside with a target on their backs.

As a mother I couldn't believe that Allison turned in her daughter and I absolutely would have done the same as Mike.

[Cameron (readsandwritesbyc) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was so impressed with this dystopian fiction story! i enjoy the 1984 but with “Handmaid’s Tale” world that Dowling creates in this survival thriller. the main character Michael sets out to keep his daughter, Hope, alive and out of the hands of “baby farmers,” the twisted people who seek to use any girls over the age of 13 for reproductive purposes. Michael and Hope travel the land, run into new and old acquaintances, and attempt to evade the baby farmers and keep Hope safe.

i felt myself swiping through pages as i ate up this story! it’s intense, it’s frightening, and it’s so action-packed. i really liked Michael and Hope as the protagonists, and seeing their interactions with the different people they met along the way. my only complaint was i felt that i could not keep some of the antagonists’ names straight. besides this little hiccup, i thoroughly enjoyed this story, and the amazing writing style that Dowling has to offer! i would definitely read more by him!

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

▪️Family values
▪️Tragedy
▪️Sacrifice
▪️Government intrusion
▪️Dwindling birthrates
▪️Dystopian
▪️Thriller

The novel has been written for a great cause. Set in a dystopian world where the government intrusion brought quarrels and quandaries between husband and wife and set the families apart. Where there is love, there is sacrifice and no matter what, one must not destroy family ethic values. The birth rates were diminishing and the government left no choice to citizens, either to sacrifice themselves or their daughters. Michael had no choice but to save his daughter from the government’s hidden plan and his wife’s betrayal yet But now he is in dilemma either he can choose the freedom for his daughter or himself? Will he sacrifice himself to protect his daughter?

[Jenny McClinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This Dystopian thriller is set in the United Kingdom and follows Michael and his daughter. A new mandate has just been introduced where compulsory fertility checks are required from the age of thirteen to try and resolve the low fertility issue the country are experiencing.

When Michael’s wife makes a devastating decision, the baby farmers are soon after his daughter.

Michael goes on the run with his daughter to escape the new life that could be imposed, as she has just turned thirteen.

Will they escape the baby farmers? Who will help them along their way?

This storyline was frightening as you could see it happen, the same way as in many dystopian thrillers. The idea of a thirteen-year-old being used for reproduction purposes when they are a kid themselves still is shocking.

There were some lovely interactions along their journey which showed in this different world there were still some people with compassion. Although there are others which are only out for themselves.

Dystopia is a genre I only started reading recently but one I will continue to read as they are usually shocking & this one especially is a great read.

Overall, a frightening dystopian thriller where a father and daughter are on the run.

[Joselyn Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

First impressions

This one I received it for an honest review, and it did surprise me that it was so entralling.
The world building was amazingly good, since you only need to put on the tone, since it was placed in a post apocalityc london, it did put me to think what future await us if we continue in a path of self destruction and we don't begin to do something soon to at least decrease the impact later on.

the harsh reality they're living was hard to go through but the more you read the more hope you harbor for humanity, not all of us are that bad, some we just want to help in any little way we can.

Characters

We had complex characters driven by a lot of things and our protagonist Hope was clearly tryin to navigate the cut hort time of her adolescence in this matter that presented itself to her and her family, in that regard parents in this book did have it rough with their daugthers, being a girl myself I don't what I would have reacted in a situation like that.

We had a lot of motives and motivation for the lot of characters we encounter througout the book and even at times I could understand where the bad ones standed too.

Themes

We did have the obvious theme of the world nearly ending, then we have the sexuality one with how thhe population was being almost breed like dogs to try and survive, the violence in it was palpable too.

But a good note was the hope that some humans still had for the future even if it seemed impossible.

Final Thoughts

As an overall it was an edgy read to kept you intrigued trough the end and even after I will recommended for people that love a good tale of suspense and that like the harsh side of life and the possibilities for the future.

[Jason Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Engaging characters and a plausible plot.

This is surely only the begining for Joseph Dowling's writing career. A supert debut with a fast paced and worryingly believable novel. Michael and his daughter Hope are on the run from the Baby Farmers. This story follows them as they risk everything to escape Miko and his henchmen. Will they make it to freedom? Can Michael's past ever be forgiven? Strap in for a great adventure.

I'm sure you'll be ready for more when you finish the book. I thoroughly enjoyed Mandate 13 and am looking forward to Mr Dowling's next offering.

[m.e.d.u.s.a_r.e.a.d.s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cringeworthy with a dystopian feel. I say “cringeworthy,” not because of gore, but because somewhere in my twisted brain I could see this book becoming a reality simply based on the world we live in. I say “dystopian feel,” because, while it certainly fits the societal injustice and suffering, there is just something (maybe the fact a key theme in here is used and has been used for centuries) that doesn’t come distinctively dystopian to me. But, perhaps, that’s what makes it a kind perfect dystopia; the plausibility.

[Andrew Shortall · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an interesting plot, good writing and nice pacing, I quite enjoyed this book. What impressed me was the fact that the world created in this book could actually come to pass one of these days. And that is a sinister thought. To imagine that the birth rates had fallen hugely to the point where the ultra conservative leadership decide to test children as young as 13 for fertility, and then to basically turn them into "factories". It's chilling and it struck me as unique.

I enjoyed the characters and their dialogue and interactions seemed realistic. Overall, a nicely written book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Felicia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little unsure as to whether I would enjoy this book because it’s outside of my normal. However, once I started reading, I found it hard to put the book down.

The story starts in London where the birth rates have drastically decreased and the new government has formed birthing schools. A mandate goes out requiring a female be tested for fertility at age 13. Enter Hope, who is 13 and is found to be fertile. Her mother sells her out for money.

The story follows Hope’s and her father’s journey to escape the government and the Baby Farmers. It is told from multiple perspectives.

[Jon Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. The action scenes are brilliantly written and the story is genuinely thought-provoking. Add in a great villain and some really effective dystopian settings and you’ve got a thoroughly entertaining read like one of those brilliant 80s Arnie sci-fi movies crossed with Children of Men. Recommended.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good! I really enjoyed this English dystopian story! Scary ideas, but not too far fetched perhaps.. I liked everything about this! The style, characters & storyline! A great fun read! I will look for more by this writer! For sure! & do recommend!