This is going to sound pretty gross, but I loved the first part of the book. I loved that the author really got into the head of Anna and made us feel what she was feeling. I liked learning about Ben and Olly.
I also really liked the second part of the book on how Anna had tried to reinvent herself with the community and tried to get a library going.
The third part of the book was very disorganized and drawn out. I really didn't like it and I won't do any spoilers but the end...took forever to get through.
The beginning was great. Loved the flashbacks and really felt what Anna was feeling.
The book has some issues that need to be addressed....for instance, more character development, what happened in Part 3.
Overall, not a bad post apocalyptic book, just needs some tweaking.

Content Warning for Sexual and Physical Violence

Several weeks back, I got a free advance copy of Sammy HK Smith’s Anna, and while I finished it on the day that I started reading it, Sammy wanted me to hold back the review till nearer the time for release.

I held…

Wasn’t easy…

Anna begins with an assault, and then an imprisonment, and what can only be described as torture. This is not torture in the pulling fingernails out sort of way, this instead is the steady erosion of confidence and the lack of control where you’re in a situation that others say you should just walk out of, but when you’re on the inside of it, it’s really not so very easy.

I’ve been in abusive relationships, I’ve been there when I doubted that I was sane, that what I was going through was real, that it couldn’t be happening to me, and yet it was, and that’s how those sorts of people control you, they make you believe that you can’t fight them, that you can’t win, and that;

You

Belong

To

Them

This is how the story begins, and an uncomfortable read it was, I did pause on many pages while I thought about what I was reading, and as the story went on, I wanted to see Anna escape, to run free, to find a better life, and she does, but her assailant follows her, and that’s when the story really comes into its own.

In the first part of the book, the scenes of imprisonment, of injury, of rape, of coercive control, were harrowing, not made lurid or titillating as other books have done, but laid bare as what they are, but it was when I got to the second part of the book that the true darkness of the situation was laid clear. What happens when you’re being controlled in plain view, when other people think that the person who is doing this to you is a nice person, that they’re your friend, that you want to spend time with them because you dare not go against them. How much worse is a prison when no one knows that you’re in it.

Anna is superb, it won’t be for everyone, because the scenes are written with such power that they burn from the page and into your mind, and the subject matter won’t be something that everyone can read.

And I understand why that is.

Some will say that it’s written to shock, to horrify people, and I don’t see it that way, this book is truth, it’s what happens when bastards can turn the world against you, it’s what happens when no one believes you, it’s what happens when the prison isn’t visible, but you’re still in it.

But you’re here, wondering what happens in the book, because I haven’t told you anything about the events in the book, and that’s for good reason, I could wax lyrical for days on this book and what it means, but all I’m doing is telling you the shortened version of a story that shouldn’t be shortened.

Anna is the story of a woman who suffers as many millions of other people do every day in silence, she finds her strength, but it isn’t enough, and she has to find more, not just for her, but for the child that she was made to carry, and the life that she could one day lead.

Anna is a masterpiece.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This review may contain spoilers.

Okay, first things first: the content warnings. This book covers some pretty violent topics, including sexual violence, rape, enslavement, and torture, and a lot of that happens in the first third of the story. Suffice to say, this book may not be for everyone.

I have to admit, this was not an easy book to get to grips with, mainly because of those elements mentioned above. That said, there’s something about the way the story is presented that makes it compelling; we want to know how the titular character copes with the hardships she’s forced to endure at the start of the story, or if she can get away from the man who’s making her life a misery. Along the way, we’re given glimpses into a world where the normal rules of civilised behaviour seem to have been well and truly abandoned, and left with a sense that this is how the world is now. If you need a good example of a dystopian future, you could do worse than the first twelve chapters of this book.

Set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia, the story starts with Anna’s capture, and explores the way she is broken down by her captor through violence, humiliation, and emotional abuse. We’re told the entire story from Anna’s point of view, and have to watch helplessly from the sidelines as her will to fight is gradually eroded by the brutal treatment of a man who claims he just wants to love and care for her.

Through Anna’s eyes, we get to see the lives of other people, and witness how they’ve adapted to the collapse of society around them, how they’ve learned to do whatever is necessary to survive in a world seemingly without rules. And we find ourselves being worn down just as much as Anna by the apparent lack of a way out of this hellish parody of civilisation. The final nail in the coffin for Anna is the moment she realises she’s pregnant with her abuser’s child.

Fortunately, by the end of the first part of the narrative things take a turn for the batter. Escaping her captivity, Anna becomes Kate and finds her way to a more humane settlement. This is a town where people work together, where the houses have power, and heat, and in some cases running water. Welcomed into the town by the inhabitants, a heavily pregnant Kate slowly overcomes her fear and distrust and gradually becomes a productive member of society once again, taking charge of the town’s library, and helping with the implementation of a school for the local kids. And just as she’s beginning to take the safety and comfort for granted, the dark-eyed abuser from the first part of the novel comes back into her life.

As I’ve already mentioned, despite the dark tone and gut-wrenchingly brutal narrative, there’s something seriously compelling about this book. The way we’re so intimately inside Anna/Kate’s head throughout the story makes it our story as well. We suffer as she suffers, and view everyone she meets with the same trepidation and paranoia. But we also get to watch as she rebuilds her confidence, and can’t help but cheer her on as she digs deep inside herself for the strength she needs to overcome the forces ranged against her. We want Anna/Kate to succeed, because if she fails, then we’ve failed as well. And that’s where this book works so well.

It’s one hell of a ride, but it’s a ride worth taking. A solid four and a half stars for this one, and a strong hope that there’s a sequel so I can find out if Simon gets what’s coming to him, and if Rich ever gets his picnic.

Minor spoilers ahead.

“I was Anna now. I must remember. They say you can tell someone’s personality from a name. Anna was gracious. Anna was compliant. I had to be Anna.”

After finishing this I felt like I’d been emotionally beaten. Which is kind of the point I guess. Be warned this book deals with sexual violence and domestic abuse and it’s told from the point of view of the victim. It doesn’t pull any punches and is unflinching. Our main character ‘Anna’ (she refuses to give her abuser her real name) lives, at the beginning of the book, in the Unlands in a post-collapse dystopia. She is captured, ‘owned’ and branded by a man who, for the minimalist and existentially terrifying part one of the book abuses her. (You know very little about how the world works in this first part, bits and pieces are drip fed but the unknown is claustrophobic here.)

Anna is held captive, literally chained up, and emotionally and physically abused with only brief periods of mental escape playing Monopoly with another branded captive. This was difficult reading but, as the foundation of part two, absolutely necessary to understanding Anna’s later new life (trying to minimise the spoilers here) where the people she trusts and likes see her abuser as a popular and nice guy. The psychological nature of the second part was difficult to read too, but in a much more emotional way. Smith kicks you in the head, in the heart and in the gut with this. Like I said it felt like I’d had an emotional beating when I finished reading it. It’s a book I think will stay with me. Did I like it, though? I’m not sure that’s the right question. If you ‘enjoyed’ The Road and Room then this is for you. Grab a blanket, a comforting hot drink, take a few deep breaths – and read.

Powerful stuff. Recommended.

Wow!! Anna was extremely unsettling and dark, yet I could not put it down. I don’t usually give five stars to books, but this one deserves them all.

If you read this be aware of trigger warnings for rape, psychological and physical abuse, among others. This book delves into some heavy topics and is often bleak, but it never feels gratuitous. It feels like you’re right there with Anna.

This is a dystopian novel that immediately starts with the main character, Anna, who is captured by a man who ends up stripping her of all autonomy and tries to break her. This is a dangerous world where wars have broken out across the globe and people are left dealing with the aftermath and are fighting to survive. It’s a world where one’s rights can be stripped away without anyone blinking and where a narrow, regressed view of morality rules.

Even though this novel is hard to read there are parts where hope and happiness seep through. This book will take the breath out of you.

Thank you Netgalley, Rebellion and the author for a digital ARC of this book!!

Anna is a possession. She is owned by the man named Will, shielded from the world of struggles and possessions 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.

WoW what a book this was! Ill admit this was at times a little hard to read. But my goodness the storytelling here s fantastic. I devoured this hardcore read.

This book is more of a 2.5 stars.

I'm conflicted with this review because eventhough I could not put this down, it lacked so much.
The plot had massive holes, character development was just not there and I skipped over a few bits.

The story is essentially about a girl self-called Anna who is captured, abused, falls pregnant and escapes. He finds her again. The cycle repeats. A bit boring tbh.

Gripping and haunting, Anna is an intense and powerful page-turner. Set against a dystopian backdrop where women are treated as property, the plot deals with abuse, power, identity and feminism. The story dives straight into the action when Anna, who has been surviving on her own for a couple of years, is captured by a stranger.

This book pulls no punches. It’s uncomfortable at times. There is no soft lens for the reader to squint behind. We’re shown the terrifying workings of a psychopath with all his disregard for another’s freedom. And we feel every scrape of the chain, every hopeless second that drags by for Anna.

It almost felt like reading Leila by Praya Akbar, only this time focusing on the feminist lens.

It have taken me forever to read this one. Something didn't click much. It was fun, it was okay, just never was quite able to fully get into it... don't know why!

I don’t even know where to start, This story was so riveting and appalling. The story is far fetched and yet it seems like it’s a possible election away from mostly coming true. Excellently done.

This book was such a hard read so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings for this one. I would say that I enjoyed this book, even though it was a bit slow.

I received an ARC of this direct from the author and then from Netgalley and wow, it didn't disappoint.
I've read Smith's work before, but this is the next level.

*TRIGGER WARNING* - this is not an easy read and nor is this a love story. This is a story that deals with abuse, identity, and a craving for normality when everything is falling apart. Our main character is alone and dealing with the fallout of a world war while fighting for survival in a harsh world where laws and society have crumbled. Unfortunately she is captured and becomes the property of a man who calls himself Will/Daniel who convinces himself he loves her and that she loves him. He is abusive, controlling, gas lighting and narcissistic. I think it would be fair to call him a psychopath.

Anna is the opposite. She hides her true self to remain compliant and has to repeatedly remind herself not to fight back, not to make him angry, not to do anything that might anger him – else she could die.

This is a story about survival in the rawest forms. What we do to survive, how we survive and how it affects us.
The first person narration is uncomfortable at times. We see our main character fall apart in front of us and slowly rebuild into someone new. Their scars and pain clear to all who they might meet.

I liked the way this was broken down into three parts and in each part we see a different side to Anna and the world she lives in. The ‘accompanying cast’ of characters are cleverly layered and rich with their own backstories and pain.

The first person narration is uncomfortable at times. We see our main character fall apart in front of us and slowly rebuild into someone new. Their scars and pain clear to all who they might meet.

The dystopia was an added bonus. It allowed the novel an indulgent quality without distracting from the story. The world has been at war and in part 2 we learn a little as to why and what happened through the stories of townspeople. It’s subtle, but well thought out.

I can't really discuss the plot without spoilers, but part 3 had me on the edge of my seat and I spent hours turning each page, willing for the resolution Anna deserved.

The language is beautiful, almost poetic in some scenes, and this is absolutely a novel for those who enjoy strong female characters who don’t immediately show their strength.



I was thinking about this long after I finished it.

Thank you Rebellion/Netgalley/Sammy

CW: sexual and domestic violence

Anna is a near future dystopia about a woman trying to survive alone in a world where society has completely fallen apart and people live in small, often brutal communities. It starts with Anna being taken captive by an unknown man, what she suffers at his hands and mostly centers on her escape and struggle to recover and reclaim her life and identity for herself. It is dark, thrilling, ultimately triumphant and kept me on the edge of my seat reading, and has sat heavy in my mind ever since. The depiction of Anna's trauma and especially her need to disassociate herself from it felt all too real, as well as her dread of talking about it and fear of being disbelieved. This book was a difficult one for me to read and really resonates with things I've experienced. Anna is a book that stays with you long after you finish reading.

When I first started with this book, I thought I was in for a fast-paced, gripping thriller novel. I couldn't be more wrong. I DNF at 27%. Here's why.

The narrator is captured by a man called Will and assumes the name Anna to convince herself that she wasn't herself anymore and had to be compliant. This is written so so so many times in the book that I felt like smashing my kindle every time I read it. To say that it was overused would be an understatement.

"He called me Anna. I was Anna now. I must remember. They say you can tell someone’s personality from a name. Anna was gracious. Anna was compliant. I had to be Anna."

"Anna, I am Anna, I should be gracious."

"“Anna.” My name again, Anna, submissive and gracious."

"I was Anna, I was weak; Anna didn’t have the strength to try."

"Swallowing my anger and bitter reply I stared blankly at the floor. Anna, I am Anna, only Anna."

WE. GET. IT.

From the book description, we understand that there is a pregnancy involved. I waited patiently for the plot to pick up but it was painfully slow. I honestly felt like I was reading a Wattpad story. The plot sounded really interesting and that was the only reason I kept going until I felt as if I was going to have "I am Anna" nightmares.

Thank you NetGalley & Rebellion for the ARC.

Book Review for Anna by Sammy H.K. Smith
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

If there was ever a book that should be made into an edge of your seat, nail gripping thriller movie- its Anna!
I demolished this book in one night - turning the pages into the early morning.

Anna is set in a post-apocalyptic world where women are 'owned' by men. We first meet Anna in the woods, where she is captured by Daniel/Will who claims to love her and will protect her from other men. Anna is not her real name and neither do we know Daniel/Will's real name as he changes it based upon the people he meets or deals with.
The story plays out over three chapters and each is more gripping than its predecessor. To give a complete review of each chapter would contain so many spoilers, which would be unfair to future readers.

It truly is an absorbing read and the ending is left open for future novels - I really hope three will be a sequel.