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dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is not a horror, nor a thriller frankly. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t expecting a slow build of tension. I also don’t love the way that intersex bodies and non normative gender identities are used as a plot device, without being actually explored at all. The author took a lot of care in accurately representing misogyny of the time, but didn’t stop to consider that most people who have been raised as men cannot just put a dress on and pass as a woman.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Empusium
Interesting read. I really had to work at it and dig deep for the first 3/4 but really glad I stuck with it and persevered. While reading I was always appreciating her very good writing(and the translator!) and aware that there was a lot of smart stuff going on. A slow read of tremendous greatness. There are many passages I will not forget anytime soon. Would love to have someone explain it all to me!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
I need help understanding where I sit with this one!
There’s no doubt that Olga is a genius (maybe too much of a genius for everything to fully land for me) and no word is wasted.
There’s no doubt that the Empusium is a horror story, I’m confused as to the critique surrounding that. I was creeped out, doubting what was real, full of dread; I felt like I was the one hallucinating at times. I think this would also make a very creepy series or movie too.
I really respect Olga for how much social commentary she puts into her work, both novels I’ve read so far have been very thought provoking and good topics of discussion - I just feel like there was a lot that went over my head with this one. I’m not particularly used to slow paced books, so that could be one thing that’s preventing me from rating this higher.
Call me crazy but it kind of was giving the Wasp Factory meets Jackal? Like a very intelligent hybrid of the two. If I’m way off please feel free to call me an idiot.
All in all, I had a good enough time reading it but not as good as Drive your Plough, and due to some of the commentary being lost on me I don’t feel like 4 stars is accurate, however 3.5 stars is an insult so I’m going to be annoying this time and settle on 3.75.
The acknowledgements at the end? Boom 🤯
Please someone discuss this book further with me because I’m more than willing to bump up my score after hearing what everyone else thought! 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
There’s no doubt that Olga is a genius (maybe too much of a genius for everything to fully land for me) and no word is wasted.
There’s no doubt that the Empusium is a horror story, I’m confused as to the critique surrounding that. I was creeped out, doubting what was real, full of dread; I felt like I was the one hallucinating at times. I think this would also make a very creepy series or movie too.
I really respect Olga for how much social commentary she puts into her work, both novels I’ve read so far have been very thought provoking and good topics of discussion - I just feel like there was a lot that went over my head with this one. I’m not particularly used to slow paced books, so that could be one thing that’s preventing me from rating this higher.
Call me crazy but it kind of was giving the Wasp Factory meets Jackal? Like a very intelligent hybrid of the two. If I’m way off please feel free to call me an idiot.
All in all, I had a good enough time reading it but not as good as Drive your Plough, and due to some of the commentary being lost on me I don’t feel like 4 stars is accurate, however 3.5 stars is an insult so I’m going to be annoying this time and settle on 3.75.
The acknowledgements at the end? Boom 🤯
Please someone discuss this book further with me because I’m more than willing to bump up my score after hearing what everyone else thought! 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced