A review by shit_she_reads
Magma by Thora Hjörleifsdóttir

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“Magma” is the first book I’ve read written by an Icelandic author. The novella follows the course of an abusive relationship from the perspective of Lilja, a young woman who finds herself increasingly entangled in a web of toxicity. Hjörleifsdóttir dedicates “Magma” to “those who have spoken out” and aims at using her voice to raise awareness and empathy for women in abusive relationships and tries to explain why one cannot just end these relationships. I read “Magma” in one sitting and loved the writing—some chapters are only two sentences long and the entire novel is incredibly fast-paced and stream of consciousness like which works so well with the topic. I really appreciate how “Magma” follows the process of Lilja becoming more and more lost in this relationship and depicts how she tries to rationalize her partner’s behavior. It is not the story of how one can leave a toxic relationship, but how one becomes increasingly unable to break free. “Magma” is sad, tense, but oh so raw and honest and I really recommend it. 
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