A review by savvylit
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lapvona was a strange and riveting book. Only one word echoed in my mind as I read it: depraved. Every aspect of this story is utterly depraved. The characters are perverse and delusional. Disgusting scenarios and warped ideas fill each page. In fact, the plot points and characters in this novel were exaggerated to the point of farce. Moshfegh has taken tropes from fairytales & medieval literature and blown them completely out of proportion. Lapvona is a ridiculous novel and yet it is also incredibly readable. I was impressed, depressed, and horrified. Only Moshfegh could publish such a nihilistic and grotesque story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press for the advanced copy of Lapvona in exchange for my honest review!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Rape, Classism, Violence, Animal death, Body horror, and Cannibalism