4.4⭐

Furies: The Virago Book of Wild Women is a stunning anthology of fifteen short stories written by women writers that vary in theme, setting and genre ranging from magical realism to historical fiction several of which are based on true events, sci-fi and much more. Every single story in this book is praiseworthy and it is difficult for me to choose a favorite. My ratings for each of these stories are as follows:

“Siren” by Margaret Atwood(5/5) is both imaginative and laugh-out-loud funny while sending a strong message. “Virago” by CN Lester(5/5), loosely inspired by real events is hard-hitting and sheds a light on the topic of gender identity and societal perceptions of the same in the early twentieth last century with a predominant look at the role medical science played in the definition and understanding of the same. “Churail” by Kamila Shamsie (4/5) will give you the chills, but entertainingly combining folklore and magical realism. "Termagant” by Emma Donahue (4/5) is also set in the first half of the twentieth century and based on real characters. “Wench” by Kirsty Logan (4/5)is a beautifully written story that broke my heart but shows resilience among women trapped in unfortunate circumstances. “Hussy” by Caroline O’Donoghue (4/5) revolves around an adult film star, past her glory days but determined to make the best of her circumstances. “Vituperator” by Helen Oyeyami (5/5) features a protagonist whose tendency to voice brutally honest views about people lands her a dream job. In “Harridan” by Linda Grant (3/5; ⚠ animal cruelty) revolves around an aging woman who relies on her own resourcefulness to get her own way. “Warrior” by Chibundu Onuzo (5/5) features a Biblical figure whose leadership and wisdom lead her people to victory in battle. “She-Devil” by Eleanor Crewes (4/5), is the only short story written in graphic novel format in this selection of stories, atmospheric and spooky. (Scared me silly, but to be honest, I am easily scared!) ”Muckraker” by Susie Boyt (4/5) explores the concept of grief and loss from a unique perspective. “Spitfire” by Ali Smith (4/5) is nostalgic in tone and delves into a daughter’s memories of her mother who once served in WAAF during WWII. “Fury” Rachel Seiffert (5/5) is a fictionalized account of a true event from WWII Poland. “Tygress” Claire Kohda (5/5) is impressive in its symbolism and its unique representation of motherhood. Finally, “Dragon” by Stella Duffy (5/5) explores the theme of aging and change in the context of menopause. A thought-provoking read!

Exquisite writing with strong feminist overtones, compelling characters and the astonishing range of themes and genres represented in this anthology render this a remarkable book. The introduction written by Sandi Toksvig is absolutely brilliant where she talks about the thought that went into creating the Virago imprint in publishing and much more. Even the titles of the stories in this anthology are symbolic in that they are words that are ordinarily used to describe women in not-so-pleasant terms. However, in these stories, the authors have taken ownership and empowered strong, bold and vibrant women with these words. This book represents a celebration of womanhood through the ages. A perfect read for Women’s History Month! ( )