The Book of Flora audiobook – Road to Nowhere, Book 3

In the tranquility of a lazy Sunday morning, I embarked on a journey through the pages of The Book of Flora audiobook by Meg Elison. As a lover of LGBTQ+ fiction, I was eager to delve into this third installment of the Road to Nowhere novel series. However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I found myself struggling to connect with the story.

Meg Elison is known for her thought-provoking essays and novels that champion gender equality and women empowerment. While her previous works, such as Find Layla and The Book of the Unnamed Midwife, have garnered praise, The Book of Flora fell short for me. The post-apocalyptic setting, where females are both coveted and endangered, had immense potential. Unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired.

One aspect that greatly hindered my enjoyment was the narration by Shakina Nayfack. In a novel where different narrators bring each chapter to life, Nayfack’s performance failed to impress. Her delivery lacked depth and failed to capture the emotional nuances of the characters’ experiences. It became a struggle to stay engaged in the story due to the distracting narration.

Despite these setbacks, there were moments when Flora’s journey resonated with me. As an outsider in a gendered society, she sought refuge in Shy, a city inhabited solely by females. Alongside a sullen young slave and a few loyal friends, Flora embarked on a quest for freedom and self-discovery aboard a ship where gender norms were fluid but tensions ran high.

While many readers enjoyed The Book of Flora in its paperback form, I cannot recommend the audiobook due to its subpar narration. If you’re intrigued by Meg Elison’s writing style and appreciate LGBTQ+ fiction with dystopian elements, I would suggest exploring her other works instead.