The Book Women
The Book Women at your next game night?
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- Designer David Bernal , Eugeni Castaño
- Publisher Salt & Pepper Games
- Illustration Amelia Sales
The description, FAQ and assessments for this game were generated with the help of artificial intelligence from the game data and reviewed editorially. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
What to Expect
Players become Pack Horse Librarians in 1930s Kentucky, riding a modular map to deliver books, build community libraries and develop a personal journal engine. The game blends Dice Rolling, route optimization, resource management and engine building via a personal rondel across three rounds. Each turn you draft a die from a shared pool and place it to unlock actions and effects.
Who Is This Game For?
Aimed at hobby gamers: medium complexity and a roughly 120-minute playtime require planning and patience. Supports 1–4 players so solo play is included. Prior experience with worker-placement and engine-building mechanics is useful.
How It Works
Each round players draft a die from a common pool, gaining resources and actions based on its value and color (Dice Rolling / Dice Drafting). The chosen die is placed into action spaces (Worker Placement with Dice Workers) that grant additional effects. Players move point-to-point on a modular map, perform pick-up-and-deliver tasks (deliver books), construct libraries and add rondel tiles to improve future turns.
What Makes It Special
Designed by David Bernal and Eugeni Castaño, the game ties a historical theme (Pack Horse Library Project, 1930s Kentucky) to mechanisms like Dice Drafting and Engine-Building. The interplay of Contracts-, Dice Rolling- and Pick-up-and-Deliver-mechanics creates a trade-off between short-term tactics and long-term engine development.
Pro
- Historical theme: Pack Horse Library Project / 1930s Kentucky
- Mechanic mix: Dice Drafting, Worker-Placement-with-Dice-Workers and Pick-up-and-Deliver
- Solo playable (1–4 players)
- Balance of tactical and long-term planning via personal rondel
Contra
- Long playtime (~120 minutes)
- Medium weight requires some prior experience
Setting & atmosphere
Set in the Appalachian region of Kentucky during the 1930s, the game is based on the Pack Horse Library Project where women traveled to isolated communities to bring books and education.
Tips for beginners
Focus first on understanding the dice-drafting and rondel progression; plan actions with multiple rounds in mind rather than only reacting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
Yes. The game supports 1–4 players, so a solo mode is included.
How long does a game really take?
The listed duration is about 120 minutes; first plays with rule explanations may take longer.
What prior experience do I need?
Familiarity with worker-placement, dice-drafting or engine-building mechanics helps, since the game is medium-weight.
How does this compare to similar games?
It combines dice-drafting with pick-up-and-deliver in a historical setting; the personal rondel engine is a distinguishing feature.
Is this suitable for families?
With a minimum age of 12 and a 120-minute playtime, it is more suited to hobby gamers than casual family play.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of Dice Drafting and Worker-Placement-with-Dice-Workers together with personal rondel-based engine-building stands out.
Fazit
The Book Women suits players who enjoy thematic Eurogames with dice mechanics. If you can invest ~120 minutes and like engine-building, this offers layered planning and tactical choices.
The Book Women at your next game night?
Add The Book Women to your collection, let your group vote on what to play, and keep track of winners and scores. Free, no credit card.
Add The Book Women to my collectionAlready have an account? Log in
