A review by abbie_
Colony by Annika Norlin

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, translated from the Swedish and apparently with a TV adaptation on the way - which I think would be very powerful! It centres a group of people struggling to fit into fast-paced modern life, deciding to fend for themselves in a communal house in the countryside. Emelie is suffering burnout, and to recharge heads to the countryside where she stumbles across the colony, unofficially lead by the charismatic Sara.

The feelings Norlin evokes with her writing verge are truly discomfiting. She perfectly and agonisingly captures the stress and never-ending whirlwind of every day life in a world lived mostly online. I loved the way each character’s background was explored at their own pace, little vignettes that really make you feel like you know them, understand them - a bit scary how much I empathised with some of them and could genuinely see why they’d want to live in a commune verging on a cult 👀

Norlin tackles difficult topics with a deft hand - nothing is sugarcoated, but the horror of some the characters’ lives doesn’t feel gratuitous. Considering it’s 400 pages and dealing with heavy subjects, I felt like I flew through this. It’s addictive and readable, very good storytelling and character building.