A review by aprilamy
The Changeling by Victor LaValle

adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
I’ve had Victor LaValle on my TBR for a long time, and I decided to read The Changeling in February for black history month. I’m not sure exactly what genre this falls in—sort of horror, but not really terrifying, sort-of urban fantasy but much more subtle. Maybe magical realism. But whatever the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale that is half contemporary literary fiction and half absolutely delightfully horrifically batshit crazy. 

Apollo Kagwa and his wife, Emma, live in New York City. She is a librarian and he’s a bookseller, trying to find the rare books that he can sell to support them. After their baby, Brian, is born, their sweet romance starts to change. Emma receives images, photos of Brian, that flash onto her phone and then disappear. She grows distant and struggles to take care of the baby, and then the story really turns when she—well, does something awful. This takes Apollo across New York City in pursuit of trying to figure out what actually happened to him and his family. 

The blend of old fairy tale legends, marriage and parenthood, the fringes of the book industry (both To Kill a Mockingbird and Outside Over There play pivotal roles), an island in the East River, a trip across Forest Park—so many things, all working within the changeling legend. It was chilling and haunting and hopeful, dark and menacing but it made me smile a few times. 

I listened to this on audio; it is narrated by the author and he does an excellent job. I’ll definitely be reading more of Victor LaValle’s work. 

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