The Willing by Lindsay Lees

Release: June 14th 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Lindsay Lees
Source: Pumpup your Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo

In less than a year, fifteen-year-old Gypsy Capone will be considered a woman in Ovoidia, a “utopian” city state where every woman can be approached for immediate sex by any man. And where curving architecture adheres to the feminine form, no knives and sporks are the only cutlery. Also true intimacy between the genders is a sign of suspect subversion. After all, if a woman just plays along, she’ll also do her job and have children. She will have the reward of a fine home in the “Communities,”with other “Mamas” in harmony with everything they need.

The irony: Diam and Isis, the two current leaders of Ovoidia, are themselves a part of a legacy of females known as the Head Gajes. Fun, yes! And just below the surface, perversely sinister. The Head Gajes personally execute these precise sacrifices by women to establish their absurd utopia. And they have the backing of their chosen army of male “crusaders,” enforcing a crime-free, fully controlled society.

Not surprisingly, in Ovoidia women have evolved until they feel nothing of sexual pleasure. But in Gypsy’s deepest heart, she realizes her own dark secret: she is the exception. To save her body and even her soul, Gypsy chooses a dangerous path—to single-handedly confront this scary and unpredictable world. She believes she has the support of her allegiant sister Sadie and Miles Devine, a rogue, secretly gay crusader, and also “Doctor,” a morally questionable physician to help her. But none of them fathom the levels of paradox, incongruity, and twisted evil they will soon face, and the ride becomes something even Gypsy could have never imaged.

About the Author:

Lindsay Lees is originally from Los Angeles and holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and while growing up and later in college, she split her time between the two countries.

Lindsay earned a B.A. in 2008 from Manchester Metropolitan University, and next an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from California College of the Arts. The Willing is Lindsay’s debut novel.

She currently lives a quiet Southern life with her husband and a houseful of pets..

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The Willing Review:

“The Willing” is a fascinating Dystopian with a unique plot, and the author executed it well!

To begin with, I liked the concept of the story. While the story takes place in a Dystopian setting, what’s interesting is how the author heightened the stereotyped of what we expect of men and women. The author beautifully takes some severe issues like trafficking and blends them into this exciting world. I had no idea in which direction the story would move, and it turned out to be a fun read.

Moreover, the characters also shine in their storylines. The author wrote Gypsy very well, where you see how anxious and upset she becomes at the prospect of what they expect of her. Some of the highlights of the story revolved around her conversations with Crusader Katz and Diam. My heart went out to her at times, and I was wondering what she would do.

Moreover, I enjoyed how the author doesn’t focus only on Gypsy, and we have a large cast of characters. Each character you meet (well, except maybe Diam and Isis) has conflicts they are trying to resolve. I particularly loved Miles and Rigby and how they have this secret relationship and have their plans. Similarly, even Sadie added well as she starts working for Miles. The Doctor also had so much potential because of his low esteem, and I wished the author had made him more prominent in the tale.

However, I felt the ending was anti-climactic and not one which I would have expected. Also, some of the plots felt like they were left open-ended. While I find such conclusions a hit or miss, it would have been nice if the decision differed.

Apart from that, I enjoyed reading “The Willing” and found it different.