The story was a bit confusing at first then it pulled me in. I liked the way it flowed and would recommend it to others.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anna definitely seemed like it was going to be a pretty interesting and dark book. While it had it's dark and very cringe-worthy moments I honestly just couldn't get into the actual book.

What Anna went through was very gruesome and at times I had to take a breather from it all. I even opened a bottle of wine to help ease everything too. I just felt bad for the girl and what she was going through and it went on for half of this book!

I will be completely honest here - I wanted to throat punch Will repeatedly. He was awful and I absolutely hated him. The way he tried to break Anna and eventually succeed made me want to throw up. So when she became pregnant? Oh man - I just had a bad feeling.

After getting through the hard stuff, the second half just felt way different to me. Things moved a lot slower and I honestly had so many questions as to why things weren't always lining up or making sense to me. I'm not even sure how I feel now after finishing it late last night. Tons of questions are roaming around in my head and I really wanted answers before reading the very last word.

In the end, it was slightly disappointing but I am glad that I got the chance to dive into this one. It had potential to be a great dark book but ended up being okay.

I’m going to preface this review with a warning. The themes explored in Anna are likely going to act as a trigger for some readers. There are elements to the narrative that cover the trauma of physical and mental abuse.

Beaten. Branded. Defiant.

Anna is a possession. She is owned by the man named Will, shielded from the world of struggles by his care. He loves her, protects her, and then breaks her. Anna is obedient, dutiful, and compliant. Anna does not know her place in the world.

When she falls pregnant, Anna leaves her name behind, and finds the strength to run. But the past – and Will – catch up with her in an idyllic town with a dark secret, and this time, it’s not just Anna who is at risk.

This week’s review is a dark, powerful story of survival. Anna by Sammy H.K. Smith is a near-future exploration of a world in decline viewed through the eyes of a young woman.

The larger dystopian elements of the novel are subtly done. Society has collapsed in upon itself through a series of conflicts that have ravaged the world. In the aftermath, humanity has reverted to type. The strong prey on the weak. The more overt evidence that something has gone horribly wrong is found in the wilder parts of the country. In the places where there is no longer any law-and-order roaming gangs run riot, only looking out for themselves. Women are bartered, often branded, and lead around on chains. This is where we first meet ‘Anna’. Captured after years of surviving in isolation she is dragged, kicking and screaming, into a living nightmare.

A lot of the plot unfolds directly from Anna’s perspective, so this gives genuine insight into her thoughts and feelings. She learns to be patient, to watch and listen as her captor’s lives go on round about her. Part of her is able to compartmentalise her painful imprisonment. Anna isn’t her real name. Anna is a character conjured into existence for a specific purpose, a role assumed to survive an ordeal.

Anna’s main nemesis is a man called Will.

I think one of the most horrifying revelations is that Will views himself as the hero of his own story. He has bought into his own bullshit and views his twisted abuse as almost a chivalrous act. He is convinced he is protecting Anna, saving her because she is weak while he is strong. Will’s mood swings from controlling and violent to apologetic and conciliatory. I don’t think I have ever come across a character quite so loathsome, but I guess that is sort of the point. Will is the monster at the heart of this tale after all. The fact he can’t see that is the scariest thing of all. There is a lot to be said about the nature of a patriarchal society and how toxic masculinity has a hell of a lot to answer for. It should be simple, shouldn’t it? No one should ever be in a situation where they are treated as nothing more than a possession.

The second half of the novel has a more hopeful tone. When she escapes Will and finds another life, the Anna persona is washed away. Anna becomes someone else, someone new. Her second chance at life seems to be a million miles away from her traumatic past but is it really? Has Anna just replaced one form of prison for another? A jail is still a jail even if it is pretty to look at. If you don’t have freedom, what does the view matter?

Very rarely I find myself so caught up in the experience of reading a novel that I exclude all else. Anna is one such instance. I read the entire book from cover to cover in a single sitting. It has such a raw, emotive core I had to know how the story resolved itself. The author does an amazing job of capturing Anna’s voice. We follow her on every harrowing step of her transformative journey. Anna’s pain and rage felt palpable. Her steadfast refusal to be defined as a victim feels heartbreakingly real.

I don’t think you can say that you enjoy a book like Anna. That’s not the right word to describe the experience. I think it is more appropriate to say you are educated and informed by reading it. I’ll admit there were moments where I struggled, the first half of the book is relentlessly bleak, but these are the times when you have to put your trust in an author. Smith explores difficult subject matter with a delicate and thought-provoking touch.

Anna is published by Solaris and is available now. Highly recommended.

My musical recommendation to accompany this novel is the haunting and evocative soundtrack to Promising Young Woman by Anthony Willis. As an aside if you do get the opportunity to see this film this soundtrack comes from, I strongly suggest you do so. Carey Mulligan’s performance is mesmerising, and like Anna, this is a story that needs to be told.

By the time I started reading Anna I had forgotten the blurb, which means that everything on the first few pages surprised me. And after those pages I was completely engrossed and couldn't put the novel down. While Anna is not an easy read, it is an amazing one nonetheless. Thanks to Rebellion, Solaris and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anna isn't an easy book. Sammy H.K. Smith takes us deep into the mind of a woman who is being abused and gaslit. Set in a dystopian world that has clear overtones of our own current political and social predicaments, Smith tells us of a woman on the run, a woman in chains, a woman who tries to hold on to hope. Split into three parts, Smith tries to show the depths of trauma and PTSD, as well as the long road of recovery. She doesn't take any short cuts and especially the first part of Anna is hard to read, as her main character is captured and abused. The scenes are frequently explicit and seeing a woman beaten down to a shadow is difficult and can be triggering. I believe it is important to read about these things, however. It never feels as if Smith is angling for Sensationalism or looking to purely shock. Rather, she tries to show the intricate ways in which abusers work, the way in which they slowly chip away at your identity.

Anna has been caught. She was being so careful but now she is in the possession of Will, branded and dominated. Part I of Anna is full of horrors, with only the smallest points of hope. As she is physically weakened, Anna does her best to remain mentally strong, to hold on to herself and to what she knows is real. Part II shows us her escape and new life in a seemingly safe community. There is water, food, protection, and kindness. But it is still a rough world and as Anna recovers, she begins to notice things. The second part of Anna strikes a drastically different tone to the first part. It is meant, I believe, to feel odd and too calm, the way it does to Anna, whose hackles are consistently raised. The third part is best left undiscussed since it is one of the most riveting finales I have sat through. Anna was so close to my heart at that point that everything struck home. Alongside that, there are some beautiful contemplative moments, descriptions of nature, moments of realizations that had me pause. I wouldn't want to say more than this, since the rest of the plot needs to be experienced individually.

Sammy H.K. Smith has written one hell of a book. In the tradition of The Handmaid's Tale, Anna is an unflinching look at a dystopian world whose worst elements are already present in our own. Smith works as a police detective specializing in domestic abuse and sexual offenses (Source: Interview at Civilian Reader) and her experiences really shine through in all aspects of Anna. It is not just that the abuse inflicted on Anna is terrifyingly realistic, it is also that Smith shows her awareness of and respect for the hard road of recovery. It is not something that happens automatically, it is not something that people will immediately understand, and there will be setbacks amid the progress. There were a few details here and there that felt a little disconnected, like Anna's previous life with her husband, but they never took away from my overall experience with the book. To a certain extent this disconnectedness with her past also made sense, since the disaster of the world and her own experiences has cut her loose from who she used to be. While Anna will not be equally accessible to every reader, due to its brutal honesty, I do think that it is a necessary read.

Anna is a heart-breaking, riveting novel that never hides but also never glorifies the cruelties of our world. At its core, it is a novel of strength, of perseverance, and hope.

Things have changed in the world and life is not as pedestrian as it used to be but we are not told why. People have to fend for themselves, be the hunter or the hunted. Scavenging and foraging are the norm and Anna is having to learn to fend for herself in this new world whilst trying to protect herself from those who may cause her harm. Then she is captured by Will who makes her his possession. She is locked up, handcuffed to him when they venture out and eventually is abused by him physically in an attempt to make her compliant and submissive. Will Anna survive? Can she escape?
I have read a number of dystopian books told from the point of view of the female protagonist and this ranks up there with the best. It's scary to imagine a time when some of the issues raised in this book may actually happen.

I found this one really hard to read once I started. The premise sounded really good but when I actually started it was almost too much of the triggers. I powered through but would have to really put a trigger warning on it when I am recommending.

Feminism isn't just writing about every brutal thing that could possibly happen to a woman. If you want to read about a woman being violently abused, then this is for you. If not, avoid it. There's really no purpose for this book. It wasn't empowering, or enlightening, or insightful. What was the point??

Woah.... this is a read and a half!! One of those books that you find yourself open mouthed at during some passages, and just wondering where the heck this journey is going to take you! But it's a journey worth sticking with and despite the bleakness, it can be seen as hopeful and inspiring.. showing just how strong a woman can be when pushed to the limits.

In a dystopian world, Anna is captured by a man meaning she is now his property. To do with as he wishes. And that involves torture, beating, assaults..... all under the name of 'love' and 'protection'. It's the rules of the Unlands where she found herself so there is no help. She just has to rely on herself to get through this and the hope that better times are ahead.

When she falls pregnant, she manages to escape to start a new life, with a new name in a world very different from the one she left behind. But, weirdly, just as unsettling and fraught with fear.

The middle of the book does take on a whole different feel, and it felt a little out of place when I started it, but it soon all made sense again and the fear, tension and claustrophobic feelings soon returned!

This was horrifying at times and brutal to read, but in Anna you have a character to connect with and just admire her determination, resilience and spirit in the lowest, bleakest of times.

Two years has Anna on her own in the post-apocalyptic “unknown lands.” She is captured by a man named Daniel. He chains her to the wall when they get to his home. She is his “property.” He will brand her. There is no medicine to prevent infection. As time goes by, he takes her on one of his trips where she will eventually escape from ownership. Her real name is not Anna — it’s Kate. When found, she is pregnant due to Daniel’s kindness. The people put her in a bed where she waits not knowing where she is. Kate feels safe and free but is reluctant to make friends as she is afraid Daniel will find her and hurt those who helped her. Will Daniel find her? If so, what will he do? The town she lives in helps another town. They trade stuff. They are looking for teachers to help school the children learn. On Kate’s birthday, she sees Daniel. She doesn’t know what to do. Will Daniel and Kate get together? What about the newborn? Will Kate be able to protect the baby from Daniel?

The novel is about trust, friendship, trust, getting yourself back to normal and standing up for your rights. There is little emotional depth among the characters in the book. There is some physical violence in the book but it appears remote to me — not real somehow. It’s a powerful novel to read. It is Kate learning who she truly is. I am glad that I got to read this book as I ended up thinking about some of Anna’s truth finding for herself.

In the near future, war has ravaged the country. Those who survived the fighting, conscription and diseases that followed are left to survive however they can. Realising that the lawless cities are no longer safe, the protagonist of this book has lived alone in the ‘Unlands’ for two years. But then one day she is captured by Will, who is now considered to own her. Using physical and sexual violence he breaks her mentally and physically while telling her he loves her. After discovering she is pregnant she realises she must get away from him.

After they come under attack from men who want to take her for themselves, Anna as she tells Will she is called, manages to escape both them and Will. Finding herself in a new town which seems to have a strong community completely at odds to the one she has run from, she starts to build a new life for herself and her baby.

But all is not as it seems, and soon shadows from the past reappear. Will Anna and her child ever really be safe?

This books deals with some very heavy topics. From extreme violence, particularly towards women, rape and disfigurement, this was at times a difficult read. But it was also a very interesting look at domestic violence, and how control can be exerted over a person through threats of violence. There are quite a few novels that look at how quickly society can change like this, and start to see women as possessions without any autonomy, and something to be controlled, which is frightening but something we need to be aware of. The way the world has changed so quickly over the last few years has really shown how what we thought to be just a fictional plot can suddenly become terrifyingly real.

There are very upsetting scenes throughout the book, but you really root for Anna and want her to find freedom and happiness. It really makes you think, and will stay with me for a long time.

I would recommend this book for people who enjoyed books such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Vox.

Content Warning: Abuse, Violence, Assault

It should be said right off the bat: this is not a light read.
Set against the backdrop of a dystopic regressive society, where women are often treated as little more than chattel, Anna tells the tale of a woman taken captive, who does what she must to survive. This is a haunting tale, speaking on abuse, power imbalances, and finding identity in the most difficult of times.
This was an often unsettling read, and yet I found myself unable to put it down; the portrayal, although graphic at times, was expertly done, and ultimately did justice to the subject matter.
The pacing throughout this was expert, in the most horrific way; part one felt visceral and current, as if you were experiencing it with her, while the quiet of the second half felt like the literary equivalent of the jaws theme playing - sometimes things are worse when you see them coming. I can see this being quite polarising, but I felt like it was the most poignant summation of surviving abuse: even when it seems the worst is behind you, the overwhelming feeling that there is something more ahead is often too true.
If you are looking to see a depiction of abuse that feels accurate, yet somehow hopeful in the end, then this book is for you.

ARC provided by the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found it a struggle to read this book. It’s a bit like a more gruesome Handmaid’s Tale - I love dystopian fiction but I found this a bit too much to cope with. There are very graphic descriptions of violence against women, and I found it difficult to connect with the characters.

I enjoy a good dystopian novel and I know I have read many of them.

This is a particularly graphic and violent novel so isn’t for the faint-hearted. It is, as is often the case, focused around the violence to and ownership of women.

We don’t know what caused the end of civilisation, but it is over and it happened slowly and gradually (in fact, you get the feeling that the world was going to hell in a handcart a bit like it is now). Anna has spent years on the run before she is captured, becoming the property of ‘Will’ who is, you quickly discover, a violent and awful man. The first part of the book covers great detail of the abuse and suffering that is experienced by Anna.

But, she finds herself pregnant and she knows she has to escape, for her and for her baby. And she does and having run from a hellish situation, she seems to fall into a perfect world - a town where (it seems) everyone is welcome and helps each other.

I did start to lose interest in the second part of the book. I knew there would be a twist, I thought I knew what it would be (I was right) but it took a long time to get there and, having gone from the adrenaline-fuelled first part, the second just seemed an anti-climax.

It’s difficult to put too much without leaving spoilers, but it is the fact that the second part seemed a bit too boring and too long that made this novel a 3 rather than a 4 star. It is a solid read and if you like dystopian novels, you should read it. Just be prepared for the fact that this is a sprint, then a long stroll, then a sprint to the end.

When the world as we know has ended, a young woman finds herself struggling to survive in the Unlands. She never knows where her next meal is coming from or where she will sleep that night but at least she is free. But then she is found by a man, who goes by the name of Will. Now she is his to do with as he pleases. He will love and protect her until she breaks and escapes. This is a truly horrifying, edge-of-your-seat thriller and you should certainly be aware of trigger warnings for rape and physical abuse. The plot is such a rollercoaster and I was never sure that our heroine was finally safe. It’s incredibly unsettling to read but it has a hugely satisfactory ending that will have you whooping and cheering. It is a literal page-turner and it’s powered by perfectly written suspense.

As soon as I read the blurb, I really wanted to read this book. This is an emotionally tough book with trigger issues of rape, physical and mental abuse. This book reminded me of Handmaid's Tale but in a more gruesome way. This book definitely isn't for the faint hearted.

This novel is about survival and what we do inorder to survive. I liked the way the story was split into three parts and in each part we see different Anna.

I also liked the writing style and the language. It is so beautiful and poetic in places. I throughly enjoyed this book but please be aware of thebl trigger warnings in the book.

Anna by Sammy H.K. Smith is a dark, horrific dystopian novel that gave me The Handmaid's Tale vibes but with more violence, grit, and abuse. I loved the Handmaid's Tale so I was excited to read this book. I almost gave up on it because it was a little too gruesome and hard to read but I pushed through. The plot at times fell flat for me and I found my attention wandering, but i wanted to see the outcome of the story which is what kept me reading during these times. Overall, it was a good book.

This might be considered a darker and horrific version of The Handmaid’s Tale. I liked how the author gave us some pointers into the past and what lead to society breaking down but without giving all the details.
This book is such a thrilling dystopian universe. I had felt mixed feelings during the entire read. The times when the action occurs is set in an apocalyptic world where women are 'owned' by men. I found this a difficult read at times, but it is well-written.

The first thing that jumped out to me as I started Anna is how creepy and visceral the book was. The book was excellent at building terror as we moved through the story and I thought it was remarkably well done. This was probably one of the strongest aspects of the book. It really elevated the first and third part of the book but during the middle where the character was in a relatively stable environment it meant that the novel dragged a little. As the book is written from Anna’a point of view, it’s her emotions that really help to build the tension and atmosphere so when she gets any form of safety it means the atmosphere falls flat.

Unfortunately, the plot didn’t add to the reading experience. I don’t think it was a negative aspect but it was fairly predictable and a plot line I think I’ve seen before in similar settings. The characters did exactly what I thought they would, so as the plot wore on I enjoyed it less. I think if there’d been a bit more to the plot, maybe subverting some of my expectations it could have been a really solid read.

I thought Anna was a good read, a definite page turner as the first part hooks you in deep. I enjoyed soaking in the suspense and atmosphere the author built and I really think it stands apart from other books in how well the tension was built.

Anna
Author: Sammy HK Smith
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing
Page count: 300pp
Release date: 25th May 2021

“I am Anna
Comply
Anna is gracious.”

In Part One of a three part narrative, we are introduced to Anna, who is in the wastelands - or Unlands - having left the ‘town’ three years ago. She lives on stale cereal, unlabelled cans and scraps of good carried in her backpack. It’s obvious we’re in a dystopian scenario and it’s pretty bleak. We are also showed snippets that tell us there has been a war and what’s left is a collapsed world.
She’s surviving alone until she is suddenly captured by a strange man; her right hand is cuffed his and she now belongs to him; as per the rules of the Unland. He is Will, though he has other names too.
Her hair is chopped off and she is branded, as well as being sexually assaulted on a regular basis.
Smith deftly handles issues such as menstruation in this world, something often ignored in such books.

Names play an important role in the narrative, especially as it progresses and we find out more about each person.
When we meet the young boy Alan later on, Smith clarifies; “All he had was his name, and yet it was all he needed. It was his umbilical cord … something to use as both a shield and a badge, his identity and his safety net.”
Without spoiling it, the relevance of the different names and titles people use in different situations, soon becomes clear.

This is beautifully written, it’s grim, emotional and may trigger some readers, but it is also a powerful book that will be read for generations.
An amazing and stunning novel with a strong female character.

Anna is the story of a young woman living in an apocalyptic type place where laws are made and controlled by men. She is captured and it is her story.of her capture and what comes next.

Very good writing throughout. Very good character development meant that I really came to cheer Anna on and hope that she survives her ordeal.

The story is very hard to read and very descriptive, women are treated terribly and brutalised so this story wouldn't be for anyone who finds reading about rape and abuse too triggering as those scenes are very descriptive.