Lapvona
Dark
Gruesome
Unpredictable

Lapvona A Novel

In a village in a medieval fiefdom buffeted by natural disasters, a motherless shepherd boy finds himself the unlikely pivot in a power struggle that puts all manner of faith to a savage test, in a spellbinding novel that represents Ottessa Moshfegh's most exciting leap yet Little Marek, the abused and delusional son of the village shepherd, never knew his mother; his father told him she died in childbirth. One of life's few consolations for Marek is his enduring bond with the blind village midwife, Ina, who suckled him when he was a baby, as she did for many of the village's children. Ina's gifts extend beyond childcare: she possesses a unique ability to communicate with the natural world. Her gift often brings her the transmission of sacred knowledge on levels far beyond those available to other villagers, however religious they might be. For some people, Ina's home in the woods outside the village is a place to fear and to avoid, a godless place. Among their number is Father Barnabas, the town priest and lackey for the depraved lord and governor, Villiam, whose hilltop manor contains a secret embarrassment of riches. The people's desperate need to believe that there are powers that be who have their best interests at heart is put to a cruel test by Villiam and the priest, especially in this year of record drought and famine. But when fate brings Marek into violent proximity to the lord's family, new and occult forces upset the old order. By year's end, the veil between blindness and sight, life and death, the natural world and the spirit world will prove to be very thin indeed.
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Reviews

Photo of carla t ho
carla t ho@carlath
3.5 stars
Aug 19, 2025
Photo of Alison Hinklom
Alison Hinklom@alisq
4 stars
Jul 21, 2025
Photo of Stas
Stas@stasreads333
4.25 stars
Jun 27, 2025
Photo of Arie P
Arie P@ariesweets
4 stars
May 8, 2025
Edgy
Vivid
Surreal
Photo of constance
constance@constellation
5 stars
Apr 7, 2025
Intense
Gruesome
Depressing
Page turning
Photo of james cao
james cao@woofs
4 stars
Feb 21, 2025
Gross
Offbeat
Offensive
Compelling
Photo of Elizabeth Denny
Elizabeth Denny@lillyjean
5 stars
Jan 27, 2025
Photo of bonnie
bonnie@cradledbylambs
4 stars
Jan 14, 2025
Intense
Compelling
Conceptual
Photo of Katy
Katy@katymaccarrone
2.5 stars
Jan 3, 2025
Photo of Karmen
Karmen @karmentorralba
3.5 stars
Dec 7, 2024
Gruesome
Controversial
Unpredictable
Photo of Kira L
Kira L@krispyk
4 stars
Nov 10, 2024
This review contains a spoiler
Unpredictable
Photo of baku
baku@swallowthemoons
4 stars
Oct 21, 2024
Photo of Jillian McParland
Jillian McParland@jillianmac
3 stars
Sep 22, 2024
Photo of toni
toni@tmoneygotbandzzz
3 stars
Aug 7, 2024
Photo of a
a@literaury
3 stars
Aug 7, 2024
Unpredictable
Photo of Maya
Maya @restupkin
4 stars
Jul 11, 2024
Photo of Abbie Duggan
Abbie Duggan@abbieduggan
3 stars
Jul 1, 2024
Photo of armoni mayes
armoni mayes@armonim1
5 stars
Jun 17, 2024
Photo of tori 👻
tori 👻@persefonitas
2 stars
Jun 15, 2024
Photo of weenie ♡
weenie ♡@cybersabrin
4 stars
May 30, 2024
Tragic
Gruesome
Visionary
Page turning
Photo of paigev
paigev@paigev
4 stars
May 15, 2024
Photo of Mitch
Mitch@mitch
2.5 stars
Apr 25, 2024
Offbeat
Repetitive
Photo of 𓆨
𓆨@viridiantre
2 stars
Mar 14, 2024
Photo of aya
aya@lovetheme
4 stars
Jan 31, 2024

Highlights

Photo of Arie P
Arie P@ariesweets
Page 186
Photo of james cao
james cao@woofs
Page 286
Photo of james cao
james cao@woofs
Page 229
Photo of mallorie 🦌
mallorie 🦌@mallorie
Photo of Jordan Card
Jordan Card@origintales
Photo of Helen
Helen @helensbookshelf
Photo of Helen
Helen @helensbookshelf