The Empusium

• We get a series of strange events intermingled in between extensive dialogues that oscillate between pseudo intellectual nonsense and misogynistic vitriol. The book is clear in its disdain for many of these characters. The main character, however, is a young engineer who exudes an air of femininity, whose naivety and innocence form the core of the narrative. The Empusium is a book full of surprises, one that rewards patience and attention.

• There’s so much more going on in the book than this brief review can encompass: the background of impending war is one; the expectations placed on both genders in a very limiting fashion; folk horror, myth and memory; and the modernisation of the world during this period in history. It’s a heady mix and makes for a stunning read, one which I thoroughly enjoyed and which reminded me how good Tokarczuk’s writing is.

• This was such a joy to read. For all those people who think Tokarczuk may be difficult and hard work: not at all! It's fun and accessible. The right mix of atmosphere, mystery and entertaining dialogue. I was completely transported to the wet and forested mountains of pre-war Central Europe.

• This was a grim, unsettling novel, yet fascinating from the very first page to the last. Put simply: Tokarczuk has crafted a gorgeous horror story, delivering precisely what many of us crave in our reading lives right now. There is a sense of disquiet, pressing social themes, and an invitation to reflect on life and fundamental values such as equality on multiple levels.

• The voice of the omniscient narrator, referring to herself in the plural as a 'we' that constantly watches everything, plays a key role here and is yet another literary choice that makes this novel a first-rate read. Then there is the plot: the Polish Nobel laureate lets her readers simmer for a long time, but the conclusion is not only surprising, it is also deeply restorative and satisfying.

1 / 5