The Robber Bride is a novel written by Margaret Atwood, a renowned Canadian author. Published in 1993, the book explores themes of betrayal, friendship, and the power dynamics between women. It tells the story of three women who are haunted by their past connection to a manipulative and destructive woman named Zenia.

The narrative is divided into three parts, each focusing on one of the main characters: Tony, Charis, and Roz. The story begins with the reunion of these three women at a restaurant, where they discover that Zenia, whom they believed to be dead, is actually alive. This revelation brings back memories of their tumultuous relationships with Zenia and sets the stage for the exploration of their individual experiences.

Tony, a successful businesswoman, is portrayed as strong-willed and independent. She had been friends with Zenia during their university days but was ultimately betrayed by her. Tony’s relationship with Zenia was marked by manipulation and deceit, leading to Tony’s financial ruin and emotional turmoil. Throughout the novel, Tony struggles to come to terms with her past and find closure.

Charis, on the other hand, is depicted as a free-spirited and idealistic woman. She had been involved in an abusive relationship before meeting Zenia, who took advantage of her vulnerability. Charis becomes entangled in Zenia’s web of lies and suffers greatly as a result. However, she eventually finds solace in spirituality and nature.

Roz is a pragmatic and ambitious woman who owns a publishing company. She had an affair with Zenia’s ex-boyfriend while they were still together, which led to Zenia’s wrath. Roz’s life is deeply affected by Zenia’s actions, both personally and professionally. Despite her success in business, Roz struggles with feelings of guilt and regret.

As the story progresses, Atwood delves into each character’s past through flashbacks and memories. The reader learns about Zenia’s manipulative nature and her ability to exploit the vulnerabilities of those around her. Through these revelations, the novel explores the complexities of female relationships and the ways in which women can both empower and harm each other.

The Robber Bride also delves into broader themes such as identity, feminism, and the impact of societal expectations on women. Atwood skillfully weaves together past and present, creating a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The characters’ struggles with their past traumas and their attempts to move forward make for a compelling read.

In conclusion, The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood is a captivating novel that explores the intricate dynamics between women. Through the stories of Tony, Charis, and Roz, Atwood delves into themes of betrayal, friendship, and the lasting effects of manipulation. With its complex characters and thought-provoking narrative, this book offers a profound exploration of female relationships and the power dynamics within them.

• The Robber Bride

• By: Margaret Atwood
• Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

From the bestselling author of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments – one of Margaret Atwood’s most unforgettable characters lurks at the heart of this intricate novel like a spider in a web. The charming, irresistible, heartless Zenia is nothing more than a fairy tale villain in the memories of her old friends.

Roz, Charis and Tony – college friends decades ago – reunited at Zenia’s funeral and have met for lunch every month since, hauntingly recalling the destructive cut she once cut through their lives. A brilliantly creative person, Zenia has a knack for exploiting her friends’ weaknesses, using intimacy as a weapon and defrauding them of money, time, empathy, and men.

But one day, five years after her funeral, they are shocked to find Zenia: Even her death seems to be just another fictional story. As the three women conspire to confront their larger-than-life foe, Atwood proves to be a cheerfully astute observer of the treacherous shoals of friendship, trust, desire, and power.

Margaret Atwood is my favorite author, and I was not disappointed with this book. I found the story interesting and unique, with great character development. I love the narrator’s voice and style – she’s perfect for the voices of all three main characters.

This took me an unusually long time to complete. I skimmed most of Atwood’s books. But this one was slow. I like the characters, but I don’t like that constantly. I have to hear the same story from 3 perspectives. That’s overkill for me.

I love it! I’ve read some of Margaret Atwood’s one-of-a-kind books and this book occupies one of my top spots! Great story, perfectly drawn characters, combined with Atwood’s unmatched writing style! Great!

As always, Margaret didn’t let me down, but somehow everything after The Handmaid’s Tale fell short of average. However, you cannot really compare the two. The Robber Bride has a lot of thriller/detective elements and, as usual, the split plot works great – it sparks suspense and excitement and just makes you want to read more.

Tony, Caris and Roz aren’t perfect, but they don’t deserve it. This beautifully written story follows the lives of women from the ’60s to the ’90s and how to handle themselves gracefully in the face of adversity. It’s also a bit about the deep innocence we all harbor.

Audiobookss audio player

Hi everyone, please be noticed that the Audio player doesn't play next track on IOS version < 15.6. If you are facing that issue, just upgrade your IOS to version 15.6 to fix it. Enjoy!