Privilege (Peaceful Society Book 1) by Megan Wobus is a tightly woven dystopian YA novel that flips expectations with its matriarchal power structure and weaponless society. We land in the future state of Greater Maryland, where Amity has been raised to believe that peace comes from obedience and that women alone should lead. But when she’s assigned a mission beyond her borders and forced to partner with a member of the enemy militia—a young man whose every instinct contradicts her upbringing—Amity begins to question the foundation of her world. As truths crack open and emotions stir, she must decide whether to uphold the doctrine she was born into or chart a new, dangerous path toward change.

Author Megan Wobus has a flair for dialogue and interpersonal chemistry, and delivers an exciting and thought-provoking start to what promises to be a thrilling trilogy with a great character-driven conflict at its core. I appreciated how the worldbuilding never overpowers the human drama, especially in how Amity’s inner conflict drives the stakes just as much as the external dangers, and they work together to challenge her growth and further the plot naturally. The relationship between unexpected allies unfolds with tension and depth, offering something more than the typical YA romance, with much more conceptual and in-depth issues the pair faces. Wobus also brings strong pacing, relevant themes, and a sharp eye for emotional nuance to every page in a book that quietly educates about empathy and understanding whilst it entertains. Overall, Privilege is an exhilarating and unique entry into the YA dystopian canon, with just the right mix of action, politics, and heart. I definitely recommend it.

Privilege: Peaceful Society Book 1 by Megan Wobus is the first of a planned trilogy of young adult books that looks at a society run primarily by women, where men have been relegated to a subservient position. It is 2034, and in Greater Maryland, the Peaceful Society is in place. Amity is about to graduate from high school and, like all her fellow students, must take the Oath of Allegiance to the Peaceful Society. Like her mother, Amity has plans to train as a leader in this society and serve the people. Her best friend, Zeph, informs her he has no intention of taking the oath and is prepared to escape to Anchorage, Alaska, where he plans to join an organization known as Forge, a group determined to restore free will, men’s rights, and the right to carry weapons to the Peaceful Society. When Amity is recruited to infiltrate Forge and report on their activities, she knows her loyalties will be tested to the extreme.

Privilege offers an interesting premise. Megan Wobus does an excellent job of introducing it and creating the base for her planned trilogy. The idea of removing all guns from society is certainly topical, and it is fascinating to consider how such a society might evolve. The language, characters, and scenarios in this initial offering are perfectly tailored for the young adult target audience, and even though I am not in that demographic, I still found the concept interesting and the plot enjoyable. I particularly appreciated the generational split that was evident between the founders of the Peaceful Society and their children. It was clear that the animosity between men and women that had developed in Amity’s parents’ generation was not so prevalent in Amity’s generation. I also found the vast overreach in “taming” men’s supposed instincts to be slightly hypocritical, if understandable. The plot is fast-moving, and the action is decisive and bold, which will keep readers glued to the pages. The author has set up an ending to this story that definitely will have readers searching for the next iteration of the series to see where it leads next. I enjoyed this read and also want to know what is next for Amity. I highly recommend this story.