Lapvona
Dark
Gruesome
Original

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 baku
baku@swallowthemoons
4 stars
Oct 21, 2024
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Jillian McParland@jillianmac
3 stars
Sep 22, 2024
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toni@tmoneygotbandzzz
3 stars
Aug 7, 2024
Photo of a
a@literaury
3 stars
Aug 7, 2024
Unpredictable
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Maya @restupkin
4 stars
Jul 11, 2024
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Abbie Duggan@abbieduggan
3 stars
Jul 1, 2024
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armoni mayes@armonim1
5 stars
Jun 17, 2024
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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 McGonegal
Mitch McGonegal@mitch
2.5 stars
Apr 25, 2024
Offbeat
Repetitive
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𓆨@viridiantre
2 stars
Mar 14, 2024
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aya@lovetheme
4 stars
Jan 31, 2024
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catalina@fonetisch
2 stars
Jan 19, 2024
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mousie@mousepilled
5 stars
Jan 15, 2024
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désirée@desireereads
2 stars
Jan 14, 2024
Photo of mallorie 🦌
mallorie 🦌@mallorie
4.5 stars
Jan 11, 2024
Beautiful
Offensive
Photo of Syahla Aurel
Syahla Aurel@owhrel
4 stars
Jan 10, 2024
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Christine @christinie
3 stars
Jan 8, 2024
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sarah@leechlife
2 stars
Jan 8, 2024
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marlene@marlenee
4 stars
Jan 8, 2024
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🦌@leann
4 stars
Jan 7, 2024
Photo of Nathan Canon
Nathan Canon@warmlightboybedside
5 stars
Jan 7, 2024
Charming
Photo of Sara
Sara@saraemily
3 stars
Nov 30, 2023

Highlights

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mallorie 🦌@mallorie
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Jordan Card@origintales
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Helen @helensbookshelf
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Helen @helensbookshelf