Season three of The Handmaid’s Tale premiers on Hulu today. An adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic novel of the same name, the series is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. In a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced into sexual servitude. One of these women, Offred, is determined to survive the terrifying world she lives in, and find the daughter that was taken from her.
You can catch up on seasons one and two, or read the original novel and the graphic novel for free with a library card.
Once you’re done binging, check out these books that fans of The Handmaid’s Tale love. Click the book jacket or title to request it.
Severance by Ling Ma
When a plague of biblical proportions sweeps New York, Candace Chen joins a group of survivors traveling to a new location with hopes of starting society anew.
The Bees by Laline Paull
This imaginative and unique novel is The Handmaid’s Tale meets Animal Farm. Flora 717, a lowly sanitation bee, is born with unusual features and abilities that allow her to move fluidly between the strict hierarchies of her hive. Through this ability, she witnesses the brutality and beauty that the various castes of bees exhibit to keep the hive productive, all in service and loyalty to the queen.
The Power by Naomi Alderman
All over the world women and girls are discovering they have the power. With a flick of the fingers they can inflict terrible pain, and even death. And with this small twist of nature, everything changes drastically.
VOX by Christina Dalcher
Jean McClellan spends her time in almost complete silence, limited to just one hundred words a day. Almost overnight, women’s bank accounts are frozen, passports are taken away and seventy million lose their jobs. Even more terrifyingly, young girls are no longer taught to read or write. For herself, her daughter, and for every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.
Oryx And Crake by Margaret Atwood
Snowman, known as Jimmy before mankind was overwhelmed by a plague, is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human, and mourning the loss of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and elusive Oryx whom they both loved. In search of answers, Snowman embarks on a journey through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead. Even though the book won’t be released until September, you can place a hold on it today and be one of the first to read when it’s released!