Naomi Alderman’s enthralling book “The Power” imagines a dystopian world that shows the strife of power dynamics between genders in a new light.

Despite being fictional, Alderman creates a historical-like structure with illustrations of artifacts transporting the reader into a life where women have a newfound deadly power of electricity coursing through their veins capable of death through a single touch.

The novel begins 10 years earlier when the power emerges, and gradually builds up suspense to the present day where the story ends. Stories of the four main characters – Roxy, Tunde, Allie, and Margot- provide different perspectives on the effects “The Power” has generated in their lives.

Eventually, their stories intertwine to formulate the captivating, not-to-be-missed story “The Power” is. I recommend “The Power” to everyone because the central idea of the story applies to the world we live in through satire-soaked pages.

In a present-day world 0f primarily patriarchal systems, “The Power” contrasts to prove, even in a matriarchal system, our world cannot succeed without a balance between genders. Although some readers may find certain scenes of revolt or violence discomforting, many of the new orders and laws imposed in the book for men were and are still in some places a case of reality for women.

For instance, at one point in the novel, several legal institutions are created to prohibit men from driving cars, voting, gathering together in groups larger than three without a woman present, or even traveling without a woman’s permission. All of these scenarios are conditions women around the world have endured throughout history. In fact, only within the last 10 years, women in Saudi Arabia have been permitted to vote and drive motor vehicles and it wasn’t until August this year that women were allowed to travel independently without a male guardian’s permission.

While it may be true women’s rights have progressed over time, women still face gender discrimination worldwide, and what “The Power” clearly asserts is that a world where the discrimination reverses between genders doesn’t generate any solution.