**lapvona contains topics of sexual assault and rape, pedophilia, cannibalism, and abuse. i don't dive too deep into that stuff in this review
*this review is taken from my spacehey blog, with some edits
i blind-bought lapvona back around the time of my 8th grade graduation and have been procrastinating picking it up until yesterday. (dec 2025, as of that post) this was my first moshfegh title. it is definitely gross and WEIRD. i was disgusted the whole way through, and i concluded that she is an incredible author.
read this review!
overall : 4 / 5
lapvona is one of those books you either really detest or really enjoy, and i graciously happen to be the latter. set in medieval times, moshfegh truly shows how raw and desperate humans can get in times of complete despair, how their relationship and reliance on religion intermingles with these, and the inescapable greed of mortal nature.
while the synopsis follows the perspective of marek, a disabled peasant boy who steps in place of the lord's son after the death marek himself brought about, the book's omniscient narrator follows the point of view of something like an ensemble cast that shifts from one person to another. there will not be a single person you will root for in this book. every character is a representation of human flaw, perversion, indulgence, and sin.
this is not everybody's book. there are many who dislike, dnf, and hate it. but if you aren't afraid of a gritty read and enjoy religious themes, i very highly suggest giving it a try.
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characters : 5 / 5
one thing i learned i absolutely cannot get enough of out of moshfegh's writing is how she is able to not only bring life to a character, but make you simultaneously pity and detest them. almost every character is more flawed than they are good, and i almost found myself hating that i could begin to find reason behind the disgustingly evil in the majority. every character is a product of their surroundings.
the thing i find most fascinating is the way different characters interpret and bend their faith to fit into the guidelines around their idea of good and bad. the absolute fear of god is an imposing theme, within marek and jude specifically, and the way characters will attempt to reason with themselves on the heinous acts they do. or how they don't, and how they go about punishment, their fear of it, and their reaction to it.
it's a beautiful, disturbing work of art, the way abuse of power and faith root themselves within these themes and characters. i have no critiques.
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plot / writing : 4 / 5
the plot of lapvona is definitely not palatable to those who enjoy spectacular, suspenseful, action-packed dramas. every reaction to every event is slow and imposing, and the quicker shocks are stated in a very simplistic kind of manner. it is meant to resemble the deliberate, simple life of the dark ages. it focuses primarily on the emotions that come about from these gradual shifts in the world, not that of itself.
mainly, i really like the way moshfegh is direct about everything (which, again, is not definitely not a consensus amongst readers). everything that happens, you are almost certain it is happening, and she has no fear to say it as it is. she takes on taboo topics like assault and cannibalism with such force that i often found myself astonished and needing to take a breather, yet does not do so in a way that romanticizes it or makes it flowery. (cough, cough, dark romance....)
her writing style is one of those things where i can see how many often are turned off by her works and of lapvona specifically, however i personally am honestly amazed at her ineptness in the unsettling.
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pacing : 2.5 / 5
unfortunately, the pacing for me is the only part in which this book falls short.
there are many moments - especially while deep within the perspective of one character - that consist of a slow monologue simply debating and quarrelling within itself about the philosophies in one topic. sometimes this will go on for paragraphs, and sometimes it will go on for pages.
or, substantial moments that will only last for a few pages versus mundane interactions taking up half a section. i don't know if this was an artistic choice or just the way that it came about, but either way, it was often difficult to get through these long bouts, and displayed this true sluggishness during the latter half of the winter act. fortunately, this was the only issue i noticed frequently, and still was better than many other self-esteemed philosophical books i've read.
final thoughts, tl;dr :
lapvona is a great read for those without weak stomachs, who enjoy and want to delve into the relationship between immorality and religion, and one i highly recommend. i'll deffo pick up another ottessa moshfeigh title my next time out ^-^
give it a read yourself!