Immaculate Conception: A Novel
“A superb work of fiction.”—New York Times Book Review
What if you could enter the mind of the person you love the most?
Enka meets Mathilde in art school and is instantly drawn to her. Mathilde makes art that feels truly original, and Enka—trying hard to prove herself in this fiercely competitive world—pours everything into their friendship. But when Mathilde’s fame and success cause her to begin drifting away, Enka becomes desperate to keep her close.
Enter SCAFFOLD. Purported to enhance empathy, this cutting-edge technology could allow Enka to inhabit Mathilde’s mind and access her memories, artistic inspirations, and deep-seated trauma. Undergoing this procedure would link Enka and Mathilde forever. But at what cost?
Blisteringly smart, thought-provoking, and shocking, Immaculate Conception offers us a portrait of close friendship—achingly tender and twisted—that captures the tenuous line between love and possession that will haunt you long after you turn the final page.
What if you could enter the mind of the person you love the most?
Enka meets Mathilde in art school and is instantly drawn to her. Mathilde makes art that feels truly original, and Enka—trying hard to prove herself in this fiercely competitive world—pours everything into their friendship. But when Mathilde’s fame and success cause her to begin drifting away, Enka becomes desperate to keep her close.
Enter SCAFFOLD. Purported to enhance empathy, this cutting-edge technology could allow Enka to inhabit Mathilde’s mind and access her memories, artistic inspirations, and deep-seated trauma. Undergoing this procedure would link Enka and Mathilde forever. But at what cost?
Blisteringly smart, thought-provoking, and shocking, Immaculate Conception offers us a portrait of close friendship—achingly tender and twisted—that captures the tenuous line between love and possession that will haunt you long after you turn the final page.
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Community Reviews
Ling Ling Huang does a great job writing distinct and interesting characters. Some are insufferable, some are awful, but it's clear that's intentional, they never tip into cartoonish supervillain territory. The story is layered, with a twist or two along the way, though the central twist is easy to see coming.
The book has a lot to say about art, AI, and elitism, and it leans into one of my favorite themes, obsession as a darker side of humanity. That said, I found it more intellectually stimulating than emotionally captivating, and that's what brings my rating down. I don't regret reading it, but I'd push back on shelving it as horror, that label feels like a stretch.
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