I always enjoy a Kate Mildenhall novel and this one was no exception. This is a story told from the points of view of four different women and four different timelines.

We start with Peggy in 1933 in a Melbourne meat works and follow her journey into the workforce, marriage to a meat worker and automation of work and it’s consequences. Then we skip ahead in time to Hilda in an old people’s home in 2020 when the pandemic begins. The third story is set in 2031 about La who is forced to work in a warehouse dealing with automation and robots where work time is clocked to the mini-second.  Fast forward to 2181 where we learn about Maz and Onyx living in a post- apocalyptic world where their work continues to control them.

Each story delves into the everyday lives of work, the environment and how each woman fights to survive. The stories alternate with each other which for some may be off-putting and confusing. Of course, I love an alternate chapter. Its not until the end that we see the connections. And in between, AI is asked for an analysis of what went wrong with humanity.

I really enjoyed this book, what it had to say, the observations of women’s lives and the world they occupy. I particularly enjoyed Peggy’s story which I think stood out as the strongest for me. I warmed quickly to each of the characters who are well drawn by the skilful Mildenhall.

A mix of historical fiction, fantasy and dystopian, it has a lot to say. Easy to read and thought-provoking, I recommend this one.