What do you think?
Rate this book
The Female Saga #1
The Female Breeders
A world ruled by women. A system where men fight to breed.
For generations, women have held absolute power, and men exist only to serve. Neen Salvek never questioned the system’s perfection—until she steps inside the Arena Dome and sees the brutal truth with her own eyes.
The lies. The control. The violence.
Then she meets Tem—a fighter who refuses to kneel. His defiance awakens something within her. A hunger for freedom. For something more. More than obedience. More than order. More than the life she was trained to lead.
As their bond deepens, Neen uncovers a secret that could bring down the Sisterhood’s reign. But rebellion has a price—and love might cost her everything.
One choice could shatter a regime. One voice could start a revolution.
For fans of The Handmaid's Tale and The Power, The Female Breeders is a dystopian thriller that will leave you breathless. This is the first book in The Female Saga, a completed duet.
"This book is incredibly well-written and truly will keep you on the edge of your seat." - Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"READ IT! If I tell you I devoured this book, it would be an understatement." -Amazon reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"...this is one of those books that's hard to put down.” - Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
For generations, women have held absolute power, and men exist only to serve. Neen Salvek never questioned the system’s perfection—until she steps inside the Arena Dome and sees the brutal truth with her own eyes.
The lies. The control. The violence.
Then she meets Tem—a fighter who refuses to kneel. His defiance awakens something within her. A hunger for freedom. For something more. More than obedience. More than order. More than the life she was trained to lead.
As their bond deepens, Neen uncovers a secret that could bring down the Sisterhood’s reign. But rebellion has a price—and love might cost her everything.
One choice could shatter a regime. One voice could start a revolution.
For fans of The Handmaid's Tale and The Power, The Female Breeders is a dystopian thriller that will leave you breathless. This is the first book in The Female Saga, a completed duet.
"This book is incredibly well-written and truly will keep you on the edge of your seat." - Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"READ IT! If I tell you I devoured this book, it would be an understatement." -Amazon reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"...this is one of those books that's hard to put down.” - Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
268 pages, ebook
First published July 15, 2023
1204 people are currently reading
2978 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Bokstad Horev
22 books107 followersBeware!
I read AND write everything dystopian and post-apocalyptic.
If you are still here.
I am a molecular biologist with a Ph.D. who likes to write down the stories that form in my head. The stories are mainly in the realm of dystopia and science fiction. On a personal level, I love all things space, coffee, travel, and sports.
My family is everything to me.
I'll be thrilled if you would subscribe to my bi-monthly newsletter:
https://www.melaniebokstadhorev.com/s...
Link to pre-order my newest book:
https://www.amazon.com/Female-Breeder...
I read AND write everything dystopian and post-apocalyptic.
If you are still here.
I am a molecular biologist with a Ph.D. who likes to write down the stories that form in my head. The stories are mainly in the realm of dystopia and science fiction. On a personal level, I love all things space, coffee, travel, and sports.
My family is everything to me.
I'll be thrilled if you would subscribe to my bi-monthly newsletter:
https://www.melaniebokstadhorev.com/s...
Link to pre-order my newest book:
https://www.amazon.com/Female-Breeder...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
June 29, 2023
It took me a while to read this book because I was very busy with work, but I finally finished reading it today.
Most women have thought at least once about what great changes could happen if the world was run by women. This book has cultivated this idea and the author has described a world in which women have taken over the management of the world.
Reading this book was an interesting experience for me as an audience from the Middle East. I would love to sit and talk for hours with its dear author about today's patriarchal world and prevailing gender inequality.... Right now as I am writing about this book, women in my country (and many men supporting them) are fighting for freedom and social equality between men and women, and this is what made this book find a special place for me.
I enjoyed reading every chapter of this book. The wording is lively without being overly flowery, and it's skilfully edited and proofread. I was engrossed throughout the plot.
I would like to thank the dear author and the Book taster team for providing me with a copy of the book.
Most women have thought at least once about what great changes could happen if the world was run by women. This book has cultivated this idea and the author has described a world in which women have taken over the management of the world.
Reading this book was an interesting experience for me as an audience from the Middle East. I would love to sit and talk for hours with its dear author about today's patriarchal world and prevailing gender inequality.... Right now as I am writing about this book, women in my country (and many men supporting them) are fighting for freedom and social equality between men and women, and this is what made this book find a special place for me.
I enjoyed reading every chapter of this book. The wording is lively without being overly flowery, and it's skilfully edited and proofread. I was engrossed throughout the plot.
I would like to thank the dear author and the Book taster team for providing me with a copy of the book.
January 19, 2023
Every page had me on the edge of my chair. When Benglions were in trying to pass their trials. This story is intriguing and Nekka wasn’t as into her role as EVE leader as she should have. Tem was a character I found hard to care about, he didn’t know if he could trust Neen. I received a copy from the author and voluntarily decided to leave a review.
February 1, 2023
The Female Breeders is a futuristic dystopia/thriller with a complex plot following an array of characters, each with his or her own agenda, as they fight for or against the ruling regime.
The premise is that women—fed up with serial killers, rapists, wifebeaters, war, and other behavior linked to the tendency of men, in general, to be more aggressive than women—take over society and isolate and subjugate the men. The author has created a whole society based on this premise with a history, and a complex set of rules, values, internal stresses, and change agents. She also created a parallel society for the men which resembles the training schools for gladiators. Ironies abound, of course. By taking over, the woman have become the aggressors, and the conditions the women impose on the men are designed to actively promote the aggression in them that the women disdain.
Predictably, a woman develops sympathy for a man and becomes disaffected with the female society. However, the rest of the plot is not predictable. It's very complex and gives the reader multiple characters to root for and worry about.
The writing is vivid without being ornate and beautifully proofed and edited. I did find the start a bit slow, but only a bit. By the third chapter, I was into the story and reading avidly.
The premise is that women—fed up with serial killers, rapists, wifebeaters, war, and other behavior linked to the tendency of men, in general, to be more aggressive than women—take over society and isolate and subjugate the men. The author has created a whole society based on this premise with a history, and a complex set of rules, values, internal stresses, and change agents. She also created a parallel society for the men which resembles the training schools for gladiators. Ironies abound, of course. By taking over, the woman have become the aggressors, and the conditions the women impose on the men are designed to actively promote the aggression in them that the women disdain.
Predictably, a woman develops sympathy for a man and becomes disaffected with the female society. However, the rest of the plot is not predictable. It's very complex and gives the reader multiple characters to root for and worry about.
The writing is vivid without being ornate and beautifully proofed and edited. I did find the start a bit slow, but only a bit. By the third chapter, I was into the story and reading avidly.
February 1, 2023
I found the book to be thrilling in some ways. Absolute power brings about absolute corruption in cases like this. When one party is allowed to rule with no restriction, there are bound to be hiccups. The fact that something like this being feasible is what makes it fearful and intriguing. A few errors here and there but nothing that stops the pace of the book overall.
January 11, 2023
This was a great read! Thanks to netgalley for giving this ARC. I loved this dystopian world in which women are superior (lol, I’m not a feminist, but it just seems different in a nice way to finally read a book like this).
February 23, 2023
This was a very good read. In the near figure world where women rule the world. And they have to protect the female breeders. Then what do men have to do?
This racy thriller kept me on the edge of seat.
Very good read.
This racy thriller kept me on the edge of seat.
Very good read.
June 14, 2023
"It wasn't rotten because it was run by males...It was rotten because it was run by rotten people. Male or female, it doesn't matter. There's no monopoly on wickedness."
Just from the synopsis of the book, it is already an intriguing read. As a woman in this society, there's still much need to be done for women to be accepted as genuine equals to men. The synopsis already seemed to be such an ideal society. But throughout the book, it is a recurring message that whatever sex is dominant, it leads to the downfall of society. It gives a clear message of what Feminism actually is: women being equal to men. Not women returning the same oppression to men and treating them as any less than human. Sadly, some people still misunderstand the meaning of Feminism. This book is a great way to show that women do not desire men's downfall but to have equality as them. This book also shows how desiring only one sex to remain superior is inhumane.
But what glories were they really? In their fight for freedom, they had enslaved another group. In their stance against oppression, they had become the oppressors.
As for the content of the story, the worldbuilding was so easy to understand even if the genre is Sci-fi. It's an easy read that is definitely great to recommend to beginner readers or those who have English as not their 1st language (like me). For the characters, there is a handful that I truly like and adore. I think perhaps Nekka was my favorite. And I think Li as well. Although, one critique I do have is that there are still some characters that are not fully fleshed out or reached their fullest potential. But since there's still a second book, there's more chance to evolve the other characters.
OVERALL...
The book was an enjoyable read. It's not perfect but it's definitely good enough to keep you at the edge of your seat. It shows a lot of issues and shows the parallels between what women experienced in the real world and are still experiencing with the males in the story. It has some disturbing themes, but perhaps that was what the author intended. To show the cruelty and violence against women today by putting men in such positions. And to expose that the system and the people who conform to the problematic system lead to the failure of humanity.
Just from the synopsis of the book, it is already an intriguing read. As a woman in this society, there's still much need to be done for women to be accepted as genuine equals to men. The synopsis already seemed to be such an ideal society. But throughout the book, it is a recurring message that whatever sex is dominant, it leads to the downfall of society. It gives a clear message of what Feminism actually is: women being equal to men. Not women returning the same oppression to men and treating them as any less than human. Sadly, some people still misunderstand the meaning of Feminism. This book is a great way to show that women do not desire men's downfall but to have equality as them. This book also shows how desiring only one sex to remain superior is inhumane.
But what glories were they really? In their fight for freedom, they had enslaved another group. In their stance against oppression, they had become the oppressors.
As for the content of the story, the worldbuilding was so easy to understand even if the genre is Sci-fi. It's an easy read that is definitely great to recommend to beginner readers or those who have English as not their 1st language (like me). For the characters, there is a handful that I truly like and adore. I think perhaps Nekka was my favorite. And I think Li as well. Although, one critique I do have is that there are still some characters that are not fully fleshed out or reached their fullest potential. But since there's still a second book, there's more chance to evolve the other characters.
OVERALL...
The book was an enjoyable read. It's not perfect but it's definitely good enough to keep you at the edge of your seat. It shows a lot of issues and shows the parallels between what women experienced in the real world and are still experiencing with the males in the story. It has some disturbing themes, but perhaps that was what the author intended. To show the cruelty and violence against women today by putting men in such positions. And to expose that the system and the people who conform to the problematic system lead to the failure of humanity.
July 6, 2023
4.5! Dystopian world where females literally rule the world and are superior? Love it. Which I feel like so many women say, if a woman was in charge then.. and this is it. But power can corrupt! Excited for the next!
May 7, 2023
I was given an opportunity to read this and felt like it wasn’t originally my cup of tea. I was was wrong. Please give it a chance You won’t be disappointed.
December 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one had an interesting premise. I admit I sometimes entertained this kind of thought of two sexes being separated, females dominating in the society and etc, so I was eager to read this book.
It was mostly good, I liked the general approach and explored themes in the story. The disdain and prejudice of one group of people towards others, the ugliness of having too much power over people, manipulations, and lies were well described.
The characters were pretty interesting, however, I wish we had more male characters given a proper role in the story. Other than Tem, we didn't have any depth to male characters.
I think the scientific background for physiological and mental enhancements was well-thought and explored.
I also wished there was more historical background given since I didn't understand how the subjugation of men happened at all. It felt a bit far-fetched.
All in all, I liked the pace of the book and it was quite good to keep my short attention span together. I recommend it to dystopian science-fiction fans.
This one had an interesting premise. I admit I sometimes entertained this kind of thought of two sexes being separated, females dominating in the society and etc, so I was eager to read this book.
It was mostly good, I liked the general approach and explored themes in the story. The disdain and prejudice of one group of people towards others, the ugliness of having too much power over people, manipulations, and lies were well described.
The characters were pretty interesting, however, I wish we had more male characters given a proper role in the story. Other than Tem, we didn't have any depth to male characters.
I think the scientific background for physiological and mental enhancements was well-thought and explored.
I also wished there was more historical background given since I didn't understand how the subjugation of men happened at all. It felt a bit far-fetched.
All in all, I liked the pace of the book and it was quite good to keep my short attention span together. I recommend it to dystopian science-fiction fans.
March 4, 2023
This is an intelligent and well thought out novel which seems to be a hybrid of dystopian and science fiction
with a side of feminism. Neen Salvek of clan Triverser is a standout female protagonist alongside a strong male lead, however the other men are a little wearisome and I did wonder if the author's own views of men in general was creeping in a tad too much.
Neen's job is to screen males to assess their suitability to breed and this leads her down a path where she learns about brutal mutilation and slavery which is essentially in relation to the poor treatment of men who dont make the cut.
I enjoyed the exploration of Tem's childhood trauma and how this has impacted him throughout his life. Neem helps Tem face his demons and then uncovers a sinister conspiracy that makes her question everything in life. Will integrity be enough to get her through? Neen has to make a life changing choice, and this is the strength of the book. Overall a great read.
with a side of feminism. Neen Salvek of clan Triverser is a standout female protagonist alongside a strong male lead, however the other men are a little wearisome and I did wonder if the author's own views of men in general was creeping in a tad too much.
Neen's job is to screen males to assess their suitability to breed and this leads her down a path where she learns about brutal mutilation and slavery which is essentially in relation to the poor treatment of men who dont make the cut.
I enjoyed the exploration of Tem's childhood trauma and how this has impacted him throughout his life. Neem helps Tem face his demons and then uncovers a sinister conspiracy that makes her question everything in life. Will integrity be enough to get her through? Neen has to make a life changing choice, and this is the strength of the book. Overall a great read.
February 5, 2023
A very interesting dystopia. You have women who were just fed up with men and decided to take over and run the world. They hold the men hostage, breed them and train them for other various events and then return them to where their held.
It was rather easy for me to guess what the plot would be but there were lots of twists and turns that kept me engaged. The writing style was great and edits were superb. Its refreshing to read a book in it's final form and not having to guess what the author meant by it.
Thank you NetGalley and Melanie. This review is of my own honest opinion.
It was rather easy for me to guess what the plot would be but there were lots of twists and turns that kept me engaged. The writing style was great and edits were superb. Its refreshing to read a book in it's final form and not having to guess what the author meant by it.
Thank you NetGalley and Melanie. This review is of my own honest opinion.
February 8, 2023
One of my more exciting reads!
The women rule, while the men are imprisoned or controlled. The shift from a patriarchal society to a matriarchal one is intriguing to read, especially since the traditionally common leading power are males. It started as a seemingly perfect world but as the story progressed, the oppression part reveals itself.
It's really an enjoyable and well-written story, and considering this is book one, I'm looking forward to the next installment.
The women rule, while the men are imprisoned or controlled. The shift from a patriarchal society to a matriarchal one is intriguing to read, especially since the traditionally common leading power are males. It started as a seemingly perfect world but as the story progressed, the oppression part reveals itself.
It's really an enjoyable and well-written story, and considering this is book one, I'm looking forward to the next installment.
February 24, 2023
“The Female Breeders: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Novel,” is the first book in The Female Saga series. This book is incredibly well-written and truly will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the female “power” in this book. It is something different that keeps you fully engaged and really is a bit different than other sci-fi books I’ve read in the past.
June 11, 2024
A great dystopia story about a world where women rule and men are under their thumbs. I could absolutely see this as a TV series. Very entertaining and the ending had me in tears. Excited to read book 2.
January 1, 2023
I really enjoyed the concept and plot of this book, it’s a very interesting look at how power corrupts in an enjoyable book. Their are a few mistakes in this book, but you can understand what it’s supposed to be so it won’t hinder your reading. I didn’t feel like this book completed neen and tems story but maybe that’s because this is only the beginning hopefully, I’d be disappointed if this is where it ended. Really recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2023
Propaganda can be a tool for evil
Improving male/female relations is no simple task - I can totally see “all ten sides” in this book.
There’s something to be said about females having a set of criteria in selecting males for breeding purposes; it’s part of the natural world. The males’ role is to protect his females – and proving himself in battle or a competition is a way for females to decide who she wants to protect her.
There’s also something to be said for eradicating discrimination and abuse against females, but that’s a topic for another day.
I can appreciate the first Councilwoman’s approach to the pre-breeding screening program. But as with any quest for a solution, the problem must first be defined then addressed. Otherwise, wounds just continue to fester until the entire entity is septic.
And who’s to say that the men are the only problem? Who’s keeping the men in ‘a system of brutal mutilation and slavery’? Other men? No… Women are. EVE has a policy of systemic abuse against males. Why is that extreme any better than that of males over females?
If you’re ashamed to admit something, don’t do it in the first place.
So, what are YOU going to do about the social injustices near your life?
'The Female Uprising' releases 15 August!
Improving male/female relations is no simple task - I can totally see “all ten sides” in this book.
There’s something to be said about females having a set of criteria in selecting males for breeding purposes; it’s part of the natural world. The males’ role is to protect his females – and proving himself in battle or a competition is a way for females to decide who she wants to protect her.
There’s also something to be said for eradicating discrimination and abuse against females, but that’s a topic for another day.
I can appreciate the first Councilwoman’s approach to the pre-breeding screening program. But as with any quest for a solution, the problem must first be defined then addressed. Otherwise, wounds just continue to fester until the entire entity is septic.
And who’s to say that the men are the only problem? Who’s keeping the men in ‘a system of brutal mutilation and slavery’? Other men? No… Women are. EVE has a policy of systemic abuse against males. Why is that extreme any better than that of males over females?
If you’re ashamed to admit something, don’t do it in the first place.
So, what are YOU going to do about the social injustices near your life?
'The Female Uprising' releases 15 August!
February 27, 2023
"The Female Breeders" takes an old storyline and gives it a new twist. This is book 1 in a sage focused on females ruling the planet, where they use males for procreation, controlling them from birth. Men are considered dangerous by nature, so it's the women's job to restrict their freedoms and use them to increase the population as needed. This is done through advanced genetic technology, and it's eerily scary how realistic the storyline becomes when you realize much of this technology is already in the making. Even scarier is the fact that only certain women are in the class of those allowed to reproduce. You can't just have your own child, and if you do, and it's a boy, you don't get to raise him. The story expands from there. It's an interesting topic and our hero, Neen, uncovers evil behind what she's always been told is factual. A few errors in mechanics and editing and gaps in the story keep it from a 5-star rating, but I'd be interested in seeing what the author comes up with next.
Read
January 31, 2023Honestly a great read from start to finish. Really enjoyed the book. Will be keeping a keen eye out for book two.
The book I based on the future where women rule the world and men are locked up to keep women safe. Women are free to do what they want no crime and everyone is safe. For men they are treated horribly locked up and made to fight each other for the chance to breed with women.
The main character sees no wrong with this at the beginning until she is given the assignment to interview the males. Where she learns more about their living conditions she begins to change her mind.
And so starts her work of trying to make the world a better place.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book I based on the future where women rule the world and men are locked up to keep women safe. Women are free to do what they want no crime and everyone is safe. For men they are treated horribly locked up and made to fight each other for the chance to breed with women.
The main character sees no wrong with this at the beginning until she is given the assignment to interview the males. Where she learns more about their living conditions she begins to change her mind.
And so starts her work of trying to make the world a better place.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
I found the book a thrilling ride! We are thrown right into the ring. The world presented through the eyes of Neen was interesting! Watching the society of EVE and all it's intruigues was frightening and enjoayble all at the same time. I was hooked from the first page and I hope the sequel is not to far away, as I am rooting for Neen and Tem on their journey. Ps. I loved Dron and hope to see more of him! I would highly recommend this book! I read it in one sitting!
December 22, 2022
I've read an advanced reader copy of this novel and was thoroughly impressed by the world-building and the ideas in the book.
The premises are utterly frightening and not so far-fetched, which makes the story current.
Neen and her struggle with rising in the society of EVE and simultaneously questioning authority and everything she grew up believing, is something we can all relate to as chess pieces of our own society no matter where in the world we reside. All in all a highly enjoyable book, and a GoodRead (pun intended). I would recommend this book to dystopian fans.
The premises are utterly frightening and not so far-fetched, which makes the story current.
Neen and her struggle with rising in the society of EVE and simultaneously questioning authority and everything she grew up believing, is something we can all relate to as chess pieces of our own society no matter where in the world we reside. All in all a highly enjoyable book, and a GoodRead (pun intended). I would recommend this book to dystopian fans.
Read
May 1, 2025I received an advance copy of Female Breeders from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.
A world where men are imprisoned and women control their every move. Welcome to EVE, a futuristic society in the future where women rule all, include who gets to procreate and when.
Our protagonist, Neem, is assigned to a radical new project where she gets to meet with males one on one and help determine their mental states to figure out which males are fit to breed. Through her interviews, she begins to have revelations that she didn't see coming, and when another revolution threatens, Neem finds herself on the front lines.
I have to admit, I was a bit put off by the title of the book, but the plot really intrigued me. Horev's strength in this book was building a fascinating world that I want to know more about (a prequel about the revolution, please!).
I was so interested in how this female-only society functions, and the roles of all the characters we met. The power dynamic being flipped from male to female is also a great plot device as we explore what happens when women have the upper hand in society.
Some of the plot was predictable, but you're thrown right into the action by the start of the book, which I liked--it really hooked me right away.
If you liked The Power, you'll enjoy this one as well.
Overall, it's a quick, riviting read andI would recommend this book. I hope there is a sequel!
A world where men are imprisoned and women control their every move. Welcome to EVE, a futuristic society in the future where women rule all, include who gets to procreate and when.
Our protagonist, Neem, is assigned to a radical new project where she gets to meet with males one on one and help determine their mental states to figure out which males are fit to breed. Through her interviews, she begins to have revelations that she didn't see coming, and when another revolution threatens, Neem finds herself on the front lines.
I have to admit, I was a bit put off by the title of the book, but the plot really intrigued me. Horev's strength in this book was building a fascinating world that I want to know more about (a prequel about the revolution, please!).
I was so interested in how this female-only society functions, and the roles of all the characters we met. The power dynamic being flipped from male to female is also a great plot device as we explore what happens when women have the upper hand in society.
Some of the plot was predictable, but you're thrown right into the action by the start of the book, which I liked--it really hooked me right away.
If you liked The Power, you'll enjoy this one as well.
Overall, it's a quick, riviting read andI would recommend this book. I hope there is a sequel!
March 3, 2023
What a timely piece of dystopian literature. In a world run by women who subjugate men, there is no war or hunger. But at what expense? This novel nicely depicts a world after women’s revolution, only for women for treat men as non-citizens without human rights. Book explores world in which we stop seeing half the population as human. It further explores differences, as the clans into which people are divided have distinct strengths. Though safe from the likes of men, women live in world where their characteristics/skills dictate their careers. I appreciated the relationships and emotional exploration in this book. We have strong friendships, first feelings of attraction towards another, jealousy, resentment. We see how exposure to those we fear can influence how we view others, and the risks we face to help stop unnecessary suffering. I look forward to next installment of this Female Saga series. Were the risks taken effective in leading to lasting change, even for a few if not many? Doesn’t look very promising at the end of this novel. Thank you to Librarything for offering this ARC for an honest review.
July 5, 2025
This was a fresh interesting take on a dystopian world and a hypothetical conspiracy theory come to pass and the fight for both the women and the men to fight the status quo and the problems with interacting because of it. It’s not a romance novel. The men are enslaved prisoners and used as breeders while being enslaved and badly treated while the women rule with an iron hand and the leading council members with fear.
The world and character building are all there. It kept me guessing and the plot moved fast enough without leaving anything pertinent unexplained. It had me thinking and empathizing. Really enjoyed this one.
The world and character building are all there. It kept me guessing and the plot moved fast enough without leaving anything pertinent unexplained. It had me thinking and empathizing. Really enjoyed this one.
January 31, 2023
Loved it from start to finish, couldn't put it down!
February 7, 2023
In a dystopian future, gender roles are reversed and men are kept alive only as slaves for breeding in this entertaining sci-fi drama with romantic elements. The totalitarian society of EVE is divided into clans ruled entirely by women. Each clan serves a separate function. Neen, the brightest young scientist of Clan Triverser, is tasked with interviewing the male slaves to decide their suitability for the breeding program. She’s quickly drawn to one man in particular, Nem of Clan Benglion, who doesn’t seem to fit the mould of what the propaganda insists all men are: mindless brutes. But if the government is lying about something so fundamental, what else is it covering up?
Meanwhile, Neen’s best friend, Ems, discovers she has remarkable abilities. At the same time, a plot to further demonize the already despised males has unforeseen consequences. Not all the women of EVE approve of the cruel mistreatment of men. But what alternative is there in a society that was created specifically to subjugate males?
The Female Breeders starts off like a traditional science fiction romance, with the attraction between the heroine and hero established during their first meeting. But author Melanie Bokstad Horev wisely opens up the story beyond their growing infatuation to explore the politics, science and morality of this dystopian world. Several other characters feature prominently, and their subplots coalesce around an action-packed development in the second half, which takes the story in an exciting direction.
I was hoping the feminist angle wouldn’t be too heavy-handed, and I’m pleased to say the author handled it extremely well. Quite how women managed to enslave men in the first place isn’t gone into in any great detail, but the premise works because we’re given the justifications for this extreme measure as well as the inhuman realities of it. There are flawed people on both sides. And, of course, forbidden love is the catalyst that can topple empires.
It's an easy-to-read novel with likeable characters and mounting intrigue. Its themes, while thought-provoking, are not as divisive or overtly political as some dystopian books. It sets up a series, which I’d be interested to carry on reading. Sci-fi romance readers will certainly enjoy it, but I’d also recommend it to those with a more general interest in dystopian fiction. It’s a well-crafted tale.
Meanwhile, Neen’s best friend, Ems, discovers she has remarkable abilities. At the same time, a plot to further demonize the already despised males has unforeseen consequences. Not all the women of EVE approve of the cruel mistreatment of men. But what alternative is there in a society that was created specifically to subjugate males?
The Female Breeders starts off like a traditional science fiction romance, with the attraction between the heroine and hero established during their first meeting. But author Melanie Bokstad Horev wisely opens up the story beyond their growing infatuation to explore the politics, science and morality of this dystopian world. Several other characters feature prominently, and their subplots coalesce around an action-packed development in the second half, which takes the story in an exciting direction.
I was hoping the feminist angle wouldn’t be too heavy-handed, and I’m pleased to say the author handled it extremely well. Quite how women managed to enslave men in the first place isn’t gone into in any great detail, but the premise works because we’re given the justifications for this extreme measure as well as the inhuman realities of it. There are flawed people on both sides. And, of course, forbidden love is the catalyst that can topple empires.
It's an easy-to-read novel with likeable characters and mounting intrigue. Its themes, while thought-provoking, are not as divisive or overtly political as some dystopian books. It sets up a series, which I’d be interested to carry on reading. Sci-fi romance readers will certainly enjoy it, but I’d also recommend it to those with a more general interest in dystopian fiction. It’s a well-crafted tale.
November 15, 2025
Soooooo this maybe could have been good, but it wasn’t. Unfortunately for myself and everyone involved, the author wasn’t nearly as clever as they thought they were and most of the concepts— both scientifically and socially speaking— did not work because they were in no way, shape, or form grounded in any kind of fact or realism. Even if you give grace to creative licensing, the things that the author blatantly made up were not consistent with each other. Pair that with the fact the names of characters in the book were so random
Neen
Tem
Dron
Ems (that’s right, folks. Like Emergency Medical Services)
etc.
It just felt like a lot of nonsense thrown together that was trying entirely too hard.
Not to mention, this is a dystopian society where the women took over the world, but where the hell are all the animals? Not one animal is ever mentioned. Not once. Then they break out into the “wild” at the end and talk about foraging for plants to eat and how there are remnants of society like collapsing buildings and such, suggesting a wasteland— BUT why the hell would women taking over the world cause this kind of catastrophic collapse in society?! Did they not know how to fix things when they started breaking without the help of the guys they had now enslaved?! 🤣
“Guess we’re screwed, ladies. We’ll just have to close all this off and start over from scratch with the limited knowledge of what we know how to do.” 🤣🤣🤣
I mean, I’m joking, but at least I’m offering a more logical explanation than the author did. All signs just point to them not thinking out their own story clearly because there is no logical reason as to why it would be that way. There was no global event like a zombie outbreak, or asteroid hitting the earth or anything like that. No. The global event was simply that women decided to conquer the men since they’re all inherently evil. 🥴— no offense to anyone, but I do not subscribe to that kind of ideology either.
Anyway. I do not recommend and will not be continuing the series.
2 stars since it didn’t actively piss me off. I just thought it was a bit juvenile and, for lack of a better word, stupid.
Neen
Tem
Dron
Ems (that’s right, folks. Like Emergency Medical Services)
etc.
It just felt like a lot of nonsense thrown together that was trying entirely too hard.
Not to mention, this is a dystopian society where the women took over the world, but where the hell are all the animals? Not one animal is ever mentioned. Not once. Then they break out into the “wild” at the end and talk about foraging for plants to eat and how there are remnants of society like collapsing buildings and such, suggesting a wasteland— BUT why the hell would women taking over the world cause this kind of catastrophic collapse in society?! Did they not know how to fix things when they started breaking without the help of the guys they had now enslaved?! 🤣
“Guess we’re screwed, ladies. We’ll just have to close all this off and start over from scratch with the limited knowledge of what we know how to do.” 🤣🤣🤣
I mean, I’m joking, but at least I’m offering a more logical explanation than the author did. All signs just point to them not thinking out their own story clearly because there is no logical reason as to why it would be that way. There was no global event like a zombie outbreak, or asteroid hitting the earth or anything like that. No. The global event was simply that women decided to conquer the men since they’re all inherently evil. 🥴— no offense to anyone, but I do not subscribe to that kind of ideology either.
Anyway. I do not recommend and will not be continuing the series.
2 stars since it didn’t actively piss me off. I just thought it was a bit juvenile and, for lack of a better word, stupid.
June 27, 2023
The Female Breeders is the first book in The Female Saga and a great start to this new series. The Female Breeders drew me in with the summary. Once I picked it up there was no way I could ever lay it down without reading the whole thing. I love the world that was created for The Female Breeders. The descriptions are so vividly written that I had no problem seeing it all in my head as I was reading.
The world of The Female Breeders may not be new but I did like the twists that the author put on it. It is the opposite of The Handmaid's Tale. In The Female Breeders, the men are kept as prisoners in a dome. The women-only keep them around so they can breed with them and keep their world going.
The men have to compete against each other if they want to stay alive. If they fail in the arena then they will be taken out of the game. When it comes time for the women to breed they interview the men to see which one they want to choose to breed with.
The time has come for Neen Salvek a young brilliant scientist to interview the men for breeding. Neen’s time has come for her to assess the men’s mental and emotional fitness. Neen learns through the eyes of one of the men, Tem about his world and what goes on in the domes, and how the men are treated.
Neen’s eyes are opened to a whole new world one in which she didn’t know existed. And it doesn’t sit too well with her. She does not like the way the men are treated. Neen wants to help Tem and the other men in any way she can. Can she help the men? Can she save them from this life?
I really enjoyed reading The Female Breeders and can’t wait for the next book The Female Uprising to see where the story goes next.
I would definitely recommend The Female Breeders to all dystopian fans! Grab your copy of The Female Breeders today!
The world of The Female Breeders may not be new but I did like the twists that the author put on it. It is the opposite of The Handmaid's Tale. In The Female Breeders, the men are kept as prisoners in a dome. The women-only keep them around so they can breed with them and keep their world going.
The men have to compete against each other if they want to stay alive. If they fail in the arena then they will be taken out of the game. When it comes time for the women to breed they interview the men to see which one they want to choose to breed with.
The time has come for Neen Salvek a young brilliant scientist to interview the men for breeding. Neen’s time has come for her to assess the men’s mental and emotional fitness. Neen learns through the eyes of one of the men, Tem about his world and what goes on in the domes, and how the men are treated.
Neen’s eyes are opened to a whole new world one in which she didn’t know existed. And it doesn’t sit too well with her. She does not like the way the men are treated. Neen wants to help Tem and the other men in any way she can. Can she help the men? Can she save them from this life?
I really enjoyed reading The Female Breeders and can’t wait for the next book The Female Uprising to see where the story goes next.
I would definitely recommend The Female Breeders to all dystopian fans! Grab your copy of The Female Breeders today!
February 5, 2023
"The Female Breeders" is a big-scale, dystopian, post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel / thriller with a complex plot and a wide diversity of characters, each with his / her own agenda, as they fight in favor of or against the current status quo. The basic concept is that women, being tired of murderers, rapists, war, and other criminal behavior associated to male pathopsychology, take over society, isolate and overpower men for the greater good of society. The author has done an excellent job in constructing a new and complete society based on this concept - with its own history and complex collection of rules, values, internal stresses, and change agents. Ironically, in this particular case, it's the women that have become the aggressors, and unknowingly, the conditions they have created for men are designed to actively promote the aggression in them that the women disdain in the first place. As expected, inevitably at some point, a woman develops sympathy for a man and becomes dissatisfied with this female-based / female-dominant society. However, what happens next is unknown. The story and plot are very complex and offer the reader various characters to support, worry for, or hate. The book's writing style is very vivid and realistic, and makes the reader travel to this well-built and beautiful world the author has created. Fans of books like "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner and "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins will find this read quite intriguing, interesting and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews