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A review by sha
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn
dark
slow-paced
3.5
I’m a big fan of Olga Ravn—The Employees and My Work are both standout favourites of mine—so I was excited to pick up The Wax Child. This novel starts off in a more abstract and experimental style, with the narration from the wax child occasionally making it a bit challenging to follow. That said, Ravn’s unique voice and vision still shine through.
The second half of the book, which shifts into the witch trials, was more grounded and easier to sink into. It’s a fascinating, deeply researched section that explores themes of power, persecution, and the historical silencing of women.
While The Wax Child didn’t hit me quite as hard as her previous works, it’s still a solid, thought-provoking read with moments of haunting beauty. Ravn remains one of the most compelling contemporary voices in literature, and I’ll continue to follow wherever her work leads.
Thank you Bookhug Press for the ARC 🫶🏼
The second half of the book, which shifts into the witch trials, was more grounded and easier to sink into. It’s a fascinating, deeply researched section that explores themes of power, persecution, and the historical silencing of women.
While The Wax Child didn’t hit me quite as hard as her previous works, it’s still a solid, thought-provoking read with moments of haunting beauty. Ravn remains one of the most compelling contemporary voices in literature, and I’ll continue to follow wherever her work leads.
Thank you Bookhug Press for the ARC 🫶🏼
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Torture, Violence, Murder