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Die 13 Tode der Lulabelle Rock
Blade Runner meets Killing Eve – Maud Woolf lässt in ihrem messerscharfen SF-Thriller-Debüt einen Klon in einem futuristischen Los Angeles Jagd auf ihre Schwestern machen.
Als der 13. Klon einer berühmten Filmschauspielerin hat Lulabelle Rock es nicht leicht. Schon weil sie kurz nach ihrer Geburt eine Pistole in die Hand gedrückt bekommt zusammen mit dem Auftrag, alle früheren Versionen ihrer selbst umzubringen, die in Bubble City unterwegs sind. Was als Marketing-Coup beginnt, nimmt als Killing-Spree seinen Lauf und verwandelt sich, Mord für Mord, in die Suche nach Antworten auf existenzielle Fragen. Was macht uns als Individuum aus? Wie kann man seine Freiheit finden, in einer Welt, in der jede Handlung vorherbestimmt zu sein scheint? Eins ist Am Ende ihrer langen Reise durch die Nacht wird Lulabelle Rock nicht mehr dieselbe sein.
Für Leser*innen von Blake Crouch, Naomi Alderman und Fans von Black Mirror
Als der 13. Klon einer berühmten Filmschauspielerin hat Lulabelle Rock es nicht leicht. Schon weil sie kurz nach ihrer Geburt eine Pistole in die Hand gedrückt bekommt zusammen mit dem Auftrag, alle früheren Versionen ihrer selbst umzubringen, die in Bubble City unterwegs sind. Was als Marketing-Coup beginnt, nimmt als Killing-Spree seinen Lauf und verwandelt sich, Mord für Mord, in die Suche nach Antworten auf existenzielle Fragen. Was macht uns als Individuum aus? Wie kann man seine Freiheit finden, in einer Welt, in der jede Handlung vorherbestimmt zu sein scheint? Eins ist Am Ende ihrer langen Reise durch die Nacht wird Lulabelle Rock nicht mehr dieselbe sein.
Für Leser*innen von Blake Crouch, Naomi Alderman und Fans von Black Mirror
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
November 25, 2023
The Black Mirror-esque love child of Orphan Black, The Island and The Terminator, Maud Woolf’s satirical Sci-Fi debut was a cleverly crafted and deliciously compulsive read that I was obsessed with from start to finish!
Taking place over the course of three days and set in a futuristic world where celebs and the rich create clones (called Portraits) to ease their overly packed schedules (or do all the tasks they can’t be bothered with.) If you have the money, the portraits can do and be anything their clients want. The only rule: the person whose DNA created the portrait is the only one who can kill them…as can another version of that portrait.
Which is where 13th and final portrait of Lulabelle comes in. Her primary purpose is to track down the other Lulabelle’s and kill them, one by one.
But the more Portraits she meets (and takes out) the more she begins to question her purpose, developing a unique personality and conscious completely at odds with everything she’s been taught to believe.
I absolutely loved this! The world building was lavishly detailed (capturing both the glitzy decadence and gritty decay associated with urban settings) and our protagonist incredibly endearing; becoming more layered and emotionally complex as the narrative unfolds. Amateur sleuths with adore the noir-esque mystery surrounding the original Lulabelle (and her motivations) which I found incredibly intriguing— she’s the version we spend the least amount of time with, but the one we’re desperate to know the most about!
And thankfully, through the memories of our Portrait protagonist and the info she slowly manages to piece together, we do get those answers. Whilst simultaneously building up a nuanced and intricate picture of Lulabelle that, by the end, will have you thoroughly (and emotionally) invested in almost every version of the actress. Personally, 13 (who refers to herself as death, like the Tarot card) is my favourite incarnation (with Artist Lulabelle a firm second). Her journey to self awareness was skillfully subtle, slowly sneaking up on us as we explore her interactions with the world/ people around her, and learning to understand one of life’s most elusive secrets—what it means to be “human”.
Like I said previously, the concept did remind me of the 2005 dystopian sci-fi movie, The Island merged with Orphan Black and The Terminator. But, it’s this Black Mirror-esque nuance and understanding of human nature that really makes this such a compelling premise.
As we’ve seen with the recent spate of industry strikes linked to AI use, it’s not such a huge leap to imagine clones being made (or exploited) for profit; especially in an industry as valuable (and commercialised) as Hollywood.
I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoiling anything important (especially THAT rather fabulous ending) but if you even remotely enjoy fast paced or darkly satirical sci-fi and enjoy novels that explore themes of identity, ethics or self awareness —then you should definitely consider adding this to your TBRs!
Also, a huge thank you to Caroline over at Angry Robot Books for the stunning (and very pink) proof.
Taking place over the course of three days and set in a futuristic world where celebs and the rich create clones (called Portraits) to ease their overly packed schedules (or do all the tasks they can’t be bothered with.) If you have the money, the portraits can do and be anything their clients want. The only rule: the person whose DNA created the portrait is the only one who can kill them…as can another version of that portrait.
Which is where 13th and final portrait of Lulabelle comes in. Her primary purpose is to track down the other Lulabelle’s and kill them, one by one.
But the more Portraits she meets (and takes out) the more she begins to question her purpose, developing a unique personality and conscious completely at odds with everything she’s been taught to believe.
I absolutely loved this! The world building was lavishly detailed (capturing both the glitzy decadence and gritty decay associated with urban settings) and our protagonist incredibly endearing; becoming more layered and emotionally complex as the narrative unfolds. Amateur sleuths with adore the noir-esque mystery surrounding the original Lulabelle (and her motivations) which I found incredibly intriguing— she’s the version we spend the least amount of time with, but the one we’re desperate to know the most about!
And thankfully, through the memories of our Portrait protagonist and the info she slowly manages to piece together, we do get those answers. Whilst simultaneously building up a nuanced and intricate picture of Lulabelle that, by the end, will have you thoroughly (and emotionally) invested in almost every version of the actress. Personally, 13 (who refers to herself as death, like the Tarot card) is my favourite incarnation (with Artist Lulabelle a firm second). Her journey to self awareness was skillfully subtle, slowly sneaking up on us as we explore her interactions with the world/ people around her, and learning to understand one of life’s most elusive secrets—what it means to be “human”.
Like I said previously, the concept did remind me of the 2005 dystopian sci-fi movie, The Island merged with Orphan Black and The Terminator. But, it’s this Black Mirror-esque nuance and understanding of human nature that really makes this such a compelling premise.
As we’ve seen with the recent spate of industry strikes linked to AI use, it’s not such a huge leap to imagine clones being made (or exploited) for profit; especially in an industry as valuable (and commercialised) as Hollywood.
I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoiling anything important (especially THAT rather fabulous ending) but if you even remotely enjoy fast paced or darkly satirical sci-fi and enjoy novels that explore themes of identity, ethics or self awareness —then you should definitely consider adding this to your TBRs!
Also, a huge thank you to Caroline over at Angry Robot Books for the stunning (and very pink) proof.
September 17, 2026
This was a satirical sci-fi dark comedy that wrapped the typical futuristic hitman thriller in a bizarre, melancholic observation on feminism, consumerism, fame, and commodification. It was weird but surprisingly readable and fun.
Set in the ultra-capitalist future setting of Bubble City, this sci-fi story followed Portrait 13, of famous actress Lulabelle Rock, on her journey and mission to assassinate the previous 12 Portraits. Portraits were basically just clones. Famous actress Lulabelle Rock had commissioned a bunch of clones over the years to make her life easier, but now that being “unique” was all hip and back in fashion, she was exploiting a loophole, and drumming up publicity for her new movie, by having her latest Portrait tasked with eliminating the rest! We followed the day-old Portrait 13 as she learned what it was to be alive in her own right as she went about her task to kill the other Portraits.
It was a weird read. It had plenty of potential to be a bit of a horror thriller thanks to the setup, but it was more of a melancholy dark comedy and social satire in execution. The murders also lacked horror, as most were comically bizarre or slightly melancholy without being brutal or emotionally devastating. The Portraits were a strange bunch in a strange world!
The satire tackled themes such as modern feminism, personal and social expectations, fame, consumerism, and identity. It also did a decent job of showing, via the very different lives and purposes of the various Portraits, the "Grass is Always Greener" paradox. I especially enjoyed the two rival clones who got to live the two big life paths of love and family vs. fame and a successful career, spending all their time envying and spying on each other!
Portrait 13 was a pretty likeable and easy-to-root-for lead character. She was a bit blasé in the early parts of the book but grew as a character as she started to develop friendships, empathy, and her own distinct personality. She even had time to dabble in a weird romantic flirtation!
All in all, this was weird but quite fun. It was short but felt like a complete story.
Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Audio Note: Marta Svetek did a good job with the audio. She seemed to get the tone of the story, which is important in books like this one.
Set in the ultra-capitalist future setting of Bubble City, this sci-fi story followed Portrait 13, of famous actress Lulabelle Rock, on her journey and mission to assassinate the previous 12 Portraits. Portraits were basically just clones. Famous actress Lulabelle Rock had commissioned a bunch of clones over the years to make her life easier, but now that being “unique” was all hip and back in fashion, she was exploiting a loophole, and drumming up publicity for her new movie, by having her latest Portrait tasked with eliminating the rest! We followed the day-old Portrait 13 as she learned what it was to be alive in her own right as she went about her task to kill the other Portraits.
It was a weird read. It had plenty of potential to be a bit of a horror thriller thanks to the setup, but it was more of a melancholy dark comedy and social satire in execution. The murders also lacked horror, as most were comically bizarre or slightly melancholy without being brutal or emotionally devastating. The Portraits were a strange bunch in a strange world!
The satire tackled themes such as modern feminism, personal and social expectations, fame, consumerism, and identity. It also did a decent job of showing, via the very different lives and purposes of the various Portraits, the "Grass is Always Greener" paradox. I especially enjoyed the two rival clones who got to live the two big life paths of love and family vs. fame and a successful career, spending all their time envying and spying on each other!
Portrait 13 was a pretty likeable and easy-to-root-for lead character. She was a bit blasé in the early parts of the book but grew as a character as she started to develop friendships, empathy, and her own distinct personality. She even had time to dabble in a weird romantic flirtation!
All in all, this was weird but quite fun. It was short but felt like a complete story.
Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Audio Note: Marta Svetek did a good job with the audio. She seemed to get the tone of the story, which is important in books like this one.
August 18, 2023
“I want the world to be gentle with me, but I don't know if I deserve it. I've not been gentle with the world.”
Being an actress, being famous, being in demand, being a woman, no wait, actually just being human is hard.
If anyone knows the pressures of living a glamorous life in the public eye, it’s Lulabelle Rock. Everyone wants a piece of you and everyone either wants to see you succeed or gleefully watch you fail. Yet in this near-future world there is the technology to create clones of yourself known as Portraits and naturally for a wealthy woman like Lulabelle who must constantly be present to remain relevant she has made twelve perfect Portraits to fulfil the many duties that come with the price of being famous. Where our story begins Lullabelle has made a thirteenth Portrait and her purpose is solely to assassinate and dispose of all the other Portraits. This thirteenth Lulabelle is the one we follow as she navigates through the strange and mysterious Bubble City, locates each target and kills every version of herself that was made. Her task is no means simple though and things quickly become messy when Lulabelle begins to develop a conscience, when she begins to question her existence, her true reason for being made and when she falls in love with one of her targets.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by debut author Maud Woolf is a stunningly layered, genre blending quirky noir which captured me from the very first page to the very last. This is a novel that draws you in with its strange premise but holds you with its emotional exploration of the human experience.
With razor sharp first person narration, Lulabelle guides us through her journey into the glitzy high end streets of Bubble City, a place full of strange fashion, wild parties, business and elite people. It is a place of wonder but through Lullabelle’s eyes we see it is also a place of falsehood. Portraits can be seen roaming the streets freely, distinguishable by their perfect, blemish-free appearances. Anyone who is anyone owns Portraits of themselves, they alone can afford the technology of the vats, but what exactly that technology is, we are never fully told. That does not mean that Woolf does not include rules for Portraits, or limitations, in fact there are quite a few. Portraits can be injured, they can die, they can kill clones of themselves but never another’s Portrait, nor can they harm a human. A company called Mitosis regulates these factors with tracking devices embedded in each clone and around the clock their engineers and lawyers patrol across Bubble City. No Portrait is left completely unsupervised for long, they are never truly free.
“People, we age and change and gain weight and lose it and get sore joints. The minute we stop growing we start dying. Our lives rise and fall like waves on an ocean. But
you - you're crystallised.
You're a frozen moment in time.”
However, before reaching the city Lulabelle interacts with her first complete stranger, a young goth she labels the Hitchiker, and this is the point where we begin to learn much through imagery and underlying themes. At the beginning of each chapter we are given an epigraph with a description of a different tarot card, the deck which was given to Lulabelle by the Hitchhiker becomes a significant motif throughout, and we quickly discover each card relates to the Portrait being assassinated or to a side character Lulabelle meets within that chapter. Of course Lulabelle’s card, number thirteen, is Death. Though does this foretell that she is the bringer of death or her own death? This is just one of the many ways Woolf sprinkles wonderful depth throughout her novel and I felt it was such a clever addition as each card, each Portrait, each interaction could be interpreted in a myriad of ways—nothing is as it seems.
"But what if the whole painting is a mistake? Or terrible? And the more you work on it, the worse it gets?"
"Well yeah. That can happen.
But what's the alternative? Just leave the canvas blank? Or leave it unfinished? It's hard to tell if it's good or bad till you're finished. And what's good or bad art anyway?"
At the heart of this novel Woolf explores themes of individuality and self awareness and it is so spectacularly done. There are thirteen versions of Lulabelle and not one of them is happy or content with themselves. These are not just mindless clones, they are sentient beings with Lulabelle’s core memories, her feelings and yet they also long for more. The longer they exist the more they desire their individuality, to do more than the role they were created for, to be just that bit more human. The novel revolves around a lot of dialogue between our Lulabelle and the other Portraits. At first glance the subjects they discuss feel strange, disassociated and they are often filled with satire and dark humour, but on closer inspection they are filled with so much meaning, so much emotion. As Lulabelle discovers subtle differences between each Portrait, deviations from their original counterpart, they force our Lulabelle to question who she really is, they muddle with her memories and they make her consider her own morality. Don’t these Portraits, who have become more than just copies of Lullabelle Rock, also have a right to exist? Can she also be more?
Throughout we see that being a woman there are many expectations set upon us. Fall in love, get married, be a mother, be creative, have a successful career, be sociable, be beautiful, never fall ill, never fade away, be tough, be gentle, be kind. When life demands so much from us and we have such little time, how are we to be everything all at once? This is what makes this novel so sorrowful upon reflection and towards the end things take an even more poignant twist as Lulabelle begins to understand loneliness and crave companionship. As she strikes up a closeness to the artist Portrait, Woolf explores how we all start as blank canvas’ and how we can adapt, change, grow. The Portraits' appearances may always remain the same, never aging or deteriorating unless injured, but their minds are an ever expanding part of themselves. The question is, do they see this as a blessing or a design flaw? In turn, here is where Lulabelle truly understands what it is to be human, to have regrets, make mistakes, feel pain but carry on regardless. Though it is not all doom and gloom as she also discovers the pleasures in life, from discovering your favourite foods to even experiencing love. She learns what it is to love someone else more than yourself.
“Does the piano want to be played? Does the horse want to be ridden?”
"I don't know," I say. "No. Yes.”
"What do you want?" she asks me. When she leans closer, I think for a minute that her right eye is blue. "Do you want to live?"
Woolf makes her readers contemplate on much in her debut and I feel each reader will come away with their own experiences and perhaps even relate to Lulabelle in different ways. For me Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is an addictively enthralling sci-fi thriller with razor sharp prose, cinematic scenes and a surprising tender exploration of experiencing the highs and lows of life and finding love.
E-ARC provided by Caroline at Angry Robot Books. All quotes used are taken from a very early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is out 9th January 2024
Being an actress, being famous, being in demand, being a woman, no wait, actually just being human is hard.
If anyone knows the pressures of living a glamorous life in the public eye, it’s Lulabelle Rock. Everyone wants a piece of you and everyone either wants to see you succeed or gleefully watch you fail. Yet in this near-future world there is the technology to create clones of yourself known as Portraits and naturally for a wealthy woman like Lulabelle who must constantly be present to remain relevant she has made twelve perfect Portraits to fulfil the many duties that come with the price of being famous. Where our story begins Lullabelle has made a thirteenth Portrait and her purpose is solely to assassinate and dispose of all the other Portraits. This thirteenth Lulabelle is the one we follow as she navigates through the strange and mysterious Bubble City, locates each target and kills every version of herself that was made. Her task is no means simple though and things quickly become messy when Lulabelle begins to develop a conscience, when she begins to question her existence, her true reason for being made and when she falls in love with one of her targets.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by debut author Maud Woolf is a stunningly layered, genre blending quirky noir which captured me from the very first page to the very last. This is a novel that draws you in with its strange premise but holds you with its emotional exploration of the human experience.
With razor sharp first person narration, Lulabelle guides us through her journey into the glitzy high end streets of Bubble City, a place full of strange fashion, wild parties, business and elite people. It is a place of wonder but through Lullabelle’s eyes we see it is also a place of falsehood. Portraits can be seen roaming the streets freely, distinguishable by their perfect, blemish-free appearances. Anyone who is anyone owns Portraits of themselves, they alone can afford the technology of the vats, but what exactly that technology is, we are never fully told. That does not mean that Woolf does not include rules for Portraits, or limitations, in fact there are quite a few. Portraits can be injured, they can die, they can kill clones of themselves but never another’s Portrait, nor can they harm a human. A company called Mitosis regulates these factors with tracking devices embedded in each clone and around the clock their engineers and lawyers patrol across Bubble City. No Portrait is left completely unsupervised for long, they are never truly free.
“People, we age and change and gain weight and lose it and get sore joints. The minute we stop growing we start dying. Our lives rise and fall like waves on an ocean. But
you - you're crystallised.
You're a frozen moment in time.”
However, before reaching the city Lulabelle interacts with her first complete stranger, a young goth she labels the Hitchiker, and this is the point where we begin to learn much through imagery and underlying themes. At the beginning of each chapter we are given an epigraph with a description of a different tarot card, the deck which was given to Lulabelle by the Hitchhiker becomes a significant motif throughout, and we quickly discover each card relates to the Portrait being assassinated or to a side character Lulabelle meets within that chapter. Of course Lulabelle’s card, number thirteen, is Death. Though does this foretell that she is the bringer of death or her own death? This is just one of the many ways Woolf sprinkles wonderful depth throughout her novel and I felt it was such a clever addition as each card, each Portrait, each interaction could be interpreted in a myriad of ways—nothing is as it seems.
"But what if the whole painting is a mistake? Or terrible? And the more you work on it, the worse it gets?"
"Well yeah. That can happen.
But what's the alternative? Just leave the canvas blank? Or leave it unfinished? It's hard to tell if it's good or bad till you're finished. And what's good or bad art anyway?"
At the heart of this novel Woolf explores themes of individuality and self awareness and it is so spectacularly done. There are thirteen versions of Lulabelle and not one of them is happy or content with themselves. These are not just mindless clones, they are sentient beings with Lulabelle’s core memories, her feelings and yet they also long for more. The longer they exist the more they desire their individuality, to do more than the role they were created for, to be just that bit more human. The novel revolves around a lot of dialogue between our Lulabelle and the other Portraits. At first glance the subjects they discuss feel strange, disassociated and they are often filled with satire and dark humour, but on closer inspection they are filled with so much meaning, so much emotion. As Lulabelle discovers subtle differences between each Portrait, deviations from their original counterpart, they force our Lulabelle to question who she really is, they muddle with her memories and they make her consider her own morality. Don’t these Portraits, who have become more than just copies of Lullabelle Rock, also have a right to exist? Can she also be more?
Throughout we see that being a woman there are many expectations set upon us. Fall in love, get married, be a mother, be creative, have a successful career, be sociable, be beautiful, never fall ill, never fade away, be tough, be gentle, be kind. When life demands so much from us and we have such little time, how are we to be everything all at once? This is what makes this novel so sorrowful upon reflection and towards the end things take an even more poignant twist as Lulabelle begins to understand loneliness and crave companionship. As she strikes up a closeness to the artist Portrait, Woolf explores how we all start as blank canvas’ and how we can adapt, change, grow. The Portraits' appearances may always remain the same, never aging or deteriorating unless injured, but their minds are an ever expanding part of themselves. The question is, do they see this as a blessing or a design flaw? In turn, here is where Lulabelle truly understands what it is to be human, to have regrets, make mistakes, feel pain but carry on regardless. Though it is not all doom and gloom as she also discovers the pleasures in life, from discovering your favourite foods to even experiencing love. She learns what it is to love someone else more than yourself.
“Does the piano want to be played? Does the horse want to be ridden?”
"I don't know," I say. "No. Yes.”
"What do you want?" she asks me. When she leans closer, I think for a minute that her right eye is blue. "Do you want to live?"
Woolf makes her readers contemplate on much in her debut and I feel each reader will come away with their own experiences and perhaps even relate to Lulabelle in different ways. For me Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is an addictively enthralling sci-fi thriller with razor sharp prose, cinematic scenes and a surprising tender exploration of experiencing the highs and lows of life and finding love.
E-ARC provided by Caroline at Angry Robot Books. All quotes used are taken from a very early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is out 9th January 2024
April 13, 2024
Set in a zany near future, Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is narrated by the clone of a famous film star. This clone has been created to dispose of the various other clones that the film star accumulated for various purposes. It's an ingenious concept, with some fun details. I liked the roles of the different clones and car chases that involved fighting with an automated driving system. What seemed to be a cameo from Marie Kondo as a spirit guide also made me smile. However the story takes place over only a few days and the pace is rather limiting. This is part of the reason that I found the love story that ought to be the emotional centre of the book disappointingly lifeless.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is a diverting thriller and I can imagine it working well as a film. There's a lot of snappy dialogue and some great action scenes. However I would have liked more emotional depth and exploration of cloning's implications beyond the protagonist. For a novel that does the latter, I recommend David Brin's Kiln People.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is a diverting thriller and I can imagine it working well as a film. There's a lot of snappy dialogue and some great action scenes. However I would have liked more emotional depth and exploration of cloning's implications beyond the protagonist. For a novel that does the latter, I recommend David Brin's Kiln People.
January 7, 2024
For fans of Black Mirror / Orphan Black and futuristic worlds.. Thirteen ways to kill Lulabelle Rock is a great book for you!
Celebrities like Lulabelle simply don’t have enough time to do everything they want to accomplish..That is where portraits come in.
Lulabelle decides to have 12 clones made and all is well until she decides to pull the plug, and has number 13 made with only one mission in mind.. kill the rest of them.
But killing a clone isn’t murder.. right?
There is a lot of world building, endearing side characters and adventure in this one.
I would recommend for a fast paced enjoyable read!
Thank you to @angryrobotbooks and Maude Woolf for a stunning copy of this book!
Celebrities like Lulabelle simply don’t have enough time to do everything they want to accomplish..That is where portraits come in.
Lulabelle decides to have 12 clones made and all is well until she decides to pull the plug, and has number 13 made with only one mission in mind.. kill the rest of them.
But killing a clone isn’t murder.. right?
There is a lot of world building, endearing side characters and adventure in this one.
I would recommend for a fast paced enjoyable read!
Thank you to @angryrobotbooks and Maude Woolf for a stunning copy of this book!
September 20, 2023
”You must try to do everything with kindness. If you must do it at all."
Lulabelle Rock is a celebrity, a fashionista, an accountant, a party animal, and twelve other lives. This Lulabelle is the thirteenth and an assassin, made to kill her predecessors by the original Lulabelle Rock.
For they are all clones - Portraits - designed to fulfil different aspects and needs of the natural, original in the glitzy, glam world in Bubble City.
What a bizarre, exciting, hilarious, humanely pressing premise and execution! This would make an amazing TV show. One episode per chapter counting down each murder.
What does it mean to be unique? What does it mean to live? How can we be accepted? How can we distinguish ourselves?
”But what if the whole painting is a mistake? Or terrible? And the more you work on it, the worse it gets?"
"Well yeah. That can happen. But what's the alternative? Just leave the canvas blank? Or leave it unfinished? It's hard to tell if it's good or bad till you're finished. And what's good or bad art anyway?"
Thank you to the author and Angry Robots for providing the uncorrected proof in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Lulabelle Rock is a celebrity, a fashionista, an accountant, a party animal, and twelve other lives. This Lulabelle is the thirteenth and an assassin, made to kill her predecessors by the original Lulabelle Rock.
For they are all clones - Portraits - designed to fulfil different aspects and needs of the natural, original in the glitzy, glam world in Bubble City.
What a bizarre, exciting, hilarious, humanely pressing premise and execution! This would make an amazing TV show. One episode per chapter counting down each murder.
What does it mean to be unique? What does it mean to live? How can we be accepted? How can we distinguish ourselves?
”But what if the whole painting is a mistake? Or terrible? And the more you work on it, the worse it gets?"
"Well yeah. That can happen. But what's the alternative? Just leave the canvas blank? Or leave it unfinished? It's hard to tell if it's good or bad till you're finished. And what's good or bad art anyway?"
Thank you to the author and Angry Robots for providing the uncorrected proof in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
June 16, 2024
Punchy character driven soft Sci-Fi. Definitely the best book I've read about a woman killing her clones structured around a tarot deck.
June 4, 2024
I loved this! It was so much fun to follow along with an assassin clone trying to kill all the other clones. I felt like I was in the same position as the clone since we both knew nothing of their existence and what their meaning was or what they were supposed to do in life aside from their orders. It was very interesting to see them come to certain conclusions and become more and more "human". I also loved how everything was very non-chalant for them (including killing) and they just went about their day doing wild things. It definitely opens up the question of how you would perceive the world if you only had to focus on certain things to exist and what that existence would feel like. I know it left me wanting more of what life has to offer. And I need more Lulabelle in my life! I hope their is a sequel.
December 9, 2023
This was like an episode of Black Mirror, a multifaceted quirky debut that draws you in with its unusual premise and then gut punches you with its emotional and raw exploration of the human experience, a satirical sci fi that is equal parts witty and heartbreaking, one of the most original books I've read, thankyou angryrobotbooks for the advance copy! Releases Jan 2024
July 24, 2026
An entertaining and quick read
January 29, 2024
4.5*
I have been excited for Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock since I first heard the premise. I mean, come on, a clone made for the sole purpose of killing all the other incarnations of Lulabelle, by OG Lulabelle herself? Goodness, yes! And I am happy to report, this book absolutely lived up to the hype I'd given it in my head!
First, while it is a book about murdering, it is delightfully fun! That is not to say it doesn't have its serious moments, because it absolutely does. But the humorous parts really make the murder-y bits quite a bit more palatable.
So, Lulabelle Rock is famous, but man, being famous is hard work! And as one does when they have disposable income but not enough time, Lulabelle has made some clones to help her out with various aspects of her life. Big party she doesn't feel like attending? There's a clone for that! Tedious social media posting? No worries, got one for that too! Only, sometimes managing clones is hard, and since Lulabelle has a new movie coming out that she's worried about ruining her career... well, maybe killing a bunch of Lulabelles will make for some renewed attention!
Our particular Lulabelle, 13th of her kind, is pretty okay with the murdering. I mean, this is her purpose after all. And the clones (or "Portraits" as they're referred to here) are made for specific purposes, right? After a little heart to heart with her maker, she sets off, making very calculated plans to off the Lulabelles.
Content Warning: violence, blood, suicide, implied sexual content
I have been excited for Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock since I first heard the premise. I mean, come on, a clone made for the sole purpose of killing all the other incarnations of Lulabelle, by OG Lulabelle herself? Goodness, yes! And I am happy to report, this book absolutely lived up to the hype I'd given it in my head!
First, while it is a book about murdering, it is delightfully fun! That is not to say it doesn't have its serious moments, because it absolutely does. But the humorous parts really make the murder-y bits quite a bit more palatable.
"But you must try not to think like that. You'll only confuse yourself. I grew up in the countryside. You were fished out of a vat in my basement.”
So, Lulabelle Rock is famous, but man, being famous is hard work! And as one does when they have disposable income but not enough time, Lulabelle has made some clones to help her out with various aspects of her life. Big party she doesn't feel like attending? There's a clone for that! Tedious social media posting? No worries, got one for that too! Only, sometimes managing clones is hard, and since Lulabelle has a new movie coming out that she's worried about ruining her career... well, maybe killing a bunch of Lulabelles will make for some renewed attention!
Our particular Lulabelle, 13th of her kind, is pretty okay with the murdering. I mean, this is her purpose after all. And the clones (or "Portraits" as they're referred to here) are made for specific purposes, right? After a little heart to heart with her maker, she sets off, making very calculated plans to off the Lulabelles.
As the journey takes Lulabelle 13 to see (and dispose of) her clones, we get to see if it is really so easy to murder- even if it is quite literally your whole purpose. It is thought provoking, fun, and at times even quite emotional. And underneath it all is another layer of mystery that adds to the excitement and readability. Add to it, that the journey makes Lulabelle think quite a bit too, and it leads to some great character development, which is impressive, even more so considering this is a short book about someone who has just come out of a vat, more or less. Cannot wait for whatever the author does next!
Bottom Line: This one has it all: murder, mystery, humor, camaraderie, clones... what more could you need?
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
January 10, 2024
Review originally on
JamReads
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is a satirical sci-fi novella, written by Maud Woolf, and published by Angry Robot Books. In a bizarre and complicated near future, where celebrities get portraits (clones) so they attend all the obligations and acts they are expected, Lulabelle Rock has created her thirteenth clone, with a straightforward task: eliminating the rest of her previous portraits.
In this fast paced story, we will be following how this portrait proceeds to follow her instructions and dive into Bubble City in order to terminate those portraits; in the process, she discovers which aspects of Lulabelle's life they were covering and how that has shaped the portraits' lives and personalities, which Woolf ties to a major arcana's card. Even if she was created for this, that doesn't mean this was an easy task.
In terms of characterization, is quite interesting how despite being all the portraits clones of Lulabelle, they have developed their own personality, even their own quirks and manias; some of them have accepted their destiny, but others will represent an authentic challenge for our Lulabelle. Some of the secondary characters are relatively plain, more a vehicle for the plot than an entity of its own; probably a consequence of the length.
The story is excellent at keeping you hooked, creating your own theories and trying to answer the questions generated by the plot; and it has some twists that you can't really guess until you get to them. Alongside with this plot, Woolf proposes deeper questions about the nature of those portraits, giving the novella another layer of complexity.
Bubble City, where the story takes place, is a sort of near futuristic place, where some incredible technologies exist, but there are also many details similar to our world; fame seems to have a big importance for them. It's not excessively detailed, but as a frame works marvels.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is an excellent debut novella, a read that you will want to devour while suffering together with Lulabelle; if you like Black Mirror, you should check this novel.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is a satirical sci-fi novella, written by Maud Woolf, and published by Angry Robot Books. In a bizarre and complicated near future, where celebrities get portraits (clones) so they attend all the obligations and acts they are expected, Lulabelle Rock has created her thirteenth clone, with a straightforward task: eliminating the rest of her previous portraits.
In this fast paced story, we will be following how this portrait proceeds to follow her instructions and dive into Bubble City in order to terminate those portraits; in the process, she discovers which aspects of Lulabelle's life they were covering and how that has shaped the portraits' lives and personalities, which Woolf ties to a major arcana's card. Even if she was created for this, that doesn't mean this was an easy task.
In terms of characterization, is quite interesting how despite being all the portraits clones of Lulabelle, they have developed their own personality, even their own quirks and manias; some of them have accepted their destiny, but others will represent an authentic challenge for our Lulabelle. Some of the secondary characters are relatively plain, more a vehicle for the plot than an entity of its own; probably a consequence of the length.
The story is excellent at keeping you hooked, creating your own theories and trying to answer the questions generated by the plot; and it has some twists that you can't really guess until you get to them. Alongside with this plot, Woolf proposes deeper questions about the nature of those portraits, giving the novella another layer of complexity.
Bubble City, where the story takes place, is a sort of near futuristic place, where some incredible technologies exist, but there are also many details similar to our world; fame seems to have a big importance for them. It's not excessively detailed, but as a frame works marvels.
Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is an excellent debut novella, a read that you will want to devour while suffering together with Lulabelle; if you like Black Mirror, you should check this novel.
December 4, 2025
That thing when a friend gets you a book as a gift you have never heard of, and it turns out to be pitch perfect because that friend knows you so well. Thirteen Ways To Kill Lulabelle Rock is a sci-fi pop culture satire set in a world where celebrities can clone themselves, and do, in this case to fulfill tedious jobs for them, such as social media, going to endless parties, testing to see if they have a secret talent, or in the case of our protagonist - kill the rest of them. A light black comedy, that works its way through the obvious twist you thought of the minute the premise was raised, it nevertheless manages to tickle with some quite profound topics around free will and the
January 11, 2025
4.5 stars <3 i want a book about the hitchhiker
February 8, 2024
Lulabelle Rock, B- or C-lister star that she is, has a number of commitments, whether places to be seen at, fantastic designer ware to sport, and any number of other things busy celebrities must do regularly to keep their names top of the public's mind, particularly in advance of their new movie.
To manage the heavy demands of many marketing events, Lulabelle had several clones created by the company Mitosis, who can successfully download memories and mannerisms into each clone, or Portrait, as they're called. Each Portrait is expensive, and have one distinguishing feature to tell them apart from the real person: their hands do not have any lines at all.
At the novel's outset, Lulabelle awakens her latest Portrait, and sends her on a mission: kill all of her previous Portraits within three days.
While travelling to her first kill, Portrait 13 meets a young man who is heading to Bubble City, where all the other Portraits are located. He's going there to study divination, and gives her a deck of tarot cards, which she uses to identify the other Portraits, including herself, whom she names Death. Interestingly, author Maud Woolf names each chapter heading after each of the cards Death has designated as her upcoming kill's role.
As Death progresses, she begins to question the point of killing all the Portraits, and by extension, her purpose. Each of the Portraits has begun developing their own personalities, and the more time Death spends doing her job, the more she begins diverging from her stated purpose. It's all a lot of fun, with dark humour with a bit of a noir feel, as Death travels from the secluded and opulent estate Lulabelle lives in to a glitzy party, to a crappy apartment with a busted elevator, to a suburban home. (I was reminded a wee bit of the beginning of "The Big Sleep" even though the main character here is an utter blank slate unlike Philip Marlowe).
As she moves from place to place, Lulabelle calls to berate her for not moving fast enough, even while Death begins to wonder why Lulabelle wants all the Portraits dead, as they're very costly, and just doing what she doesn't have time to do herself. Lulabelle the employer remains a bit of a mystery, beyond coming off as bored, spoiled and demanding, and the longer Death works, the more she chips away at her employer's motivation, the reveal of which is satisfying.
As Death is figuring all this out, her growth is terrific, as well as the relationship she cultivates with the Artist, probably the most interesting of Death's targets. The Artist's many, many efforts at eye paintings and the impetus for each was simultaneously funny, sweet and sad.
For a relatively short novel, this one packed in lots of humour, action, character development, and satire, and was also just a lot of fun to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Angry Robot for this ARC in exchange for my review.
To manage the heavy demands of many marketing events, Lulabelle had several clones created by the company Mitosis, who can successfully download memories and mannerisms into each clone, or Portrait, as they're called. Each Portrait is expensive, and have one distinguishing feature to tell them apart from the real person: their hands do not have any lines at all.
At the novel's outset, Lulabelle awakens her latest Portrait, and sends her on a mission: kill all of her previous Portraits within three days.
While travelling to her first kill, Portrait 13 meets a young man who is heading to Bubble City, where all the other Portraits are located. He's going there to study divination, and gives her a deck of tarot cards, which she uses to identify the other Portraits, including herself, whom she names Death. Interestingly, author Maud Woolf names each chapter heading after each of the cards Death has designated as her upcoming kill's role.
As Death progresses, she begins to question the point of killing all the Portraits, and by extension, her purpose. Each of the Portraits has begun developing their own personalities, and the more time Death spends doing her job, the more she begins diverging from her stated purpose. It's all a lot of fun, with dark humour with a bit of a noir feel, as Death travels from the secluded and opulent estate Lulabelle lives in to a glitzy party, to a crappy apartment with a busted elevator, to a suburban home. (I was reminded a wee bit of the beginning of "The Big Sleep" even though the main character here is an utter blank slate unlike Philip Marlowe).
As she moves from place to place, Lulabelle calls to berate her for not moving fast enough, even while Death begins to wonder why Lulabelle wants all the Portraits dead, as they're very costly, and just doing what she doesn't have time to do herself. Lulabelle the employer remains a bit of a mystery, beyond coming off as bored, spoiled and demanding, and the longer Death works, the more she chips away at her employer's motivation, the reveal of which is satisfying.
As Death is figuring all this out, her growth is terrific, as well as the relationship she cultivates with the Artist, probably the most interesting of Death's targets. The Artist's many, many efforts at eye paintings and the impetus for each was simultaneously funny, sweet and sad.
For a relatively short novel, this one packed in lots of humour, action, character development, and satire, and was also just a lot of fun to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Angry Robot for this ARC in exchange for my review.
November 2, 2024
3.5 stars
Well, don't mind me relating on a deep emotional level to the thirteenth clone of a washed up celebrity whose entire purpose is to assassinate her earlier clones... it's fine, I'm fine.
There's no denying that the premise of Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is slightly wacky and insane, but Maud Woolf just goes for it and nails the execution. It's somehow both tragically funny and profoundly poignant, and I really loved how the deeper emotional layers slowly got peeled back as Lulabelle started to question her own purpose. How Woolf managed to make this protagonist so utterly complex and compelling when she has literally zero backstory and agency is truly beyond me, but I am here for it.
On the surface, this story might seem like just another fun and satirical sci-fi romp, but you really don't have to come here expecting a wild thrillfest. The tone is much more quiet and introspective, with the highlight of the story being the beautiful exploration of themes like individuality, morality, agency, loneliness, and humanity. The unexpected interpersonal relationships that start to develop over the course of this story really were beautifully complex, and I loved discovering how inexplicably unique each clone felt that Lulabelle meets as she goes on her killing spree. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by how much the unconventional romance tugged on my heartstrings; give me all the sapphic love!
Now, I do have to admit that the second half was much stronger than the first half for me, and some of the more literary elements/allusions probably went a bit over my head. Still, I found myself eagerly flipping the pages out of morbid curiosity, and ultimately Woolf really stuck the landing for me. So, if you are looking for a short yet memorable futuristic, satirical sci-fi thriller with Killing Eve and Black Mirror vibes, then I can't recommend Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock highly enough.
Well, don't mind me relating on a deep emotional level to the thirteenth clone of a washed up celebrity whose entire purpose is to assassinate her earlier clones... it's fine, I'm fine.
There's no denying that the premise of Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock is slightly wacky and insane, but Maud Woolf just goes for it and nails the execution. It's somehow both tragically funny and profoundly poignant, and I really loved how the deeper emotional layers slowly got peeled back as Lulabelle started to question her own purpose. How Woolf managed to make this protagonist so utterly complex and compelling when she has literally zero backstory and agency is truly beyond me, but I am here for it.
On the surface, this story might seem like just another fun and satirical sci-fi romp, but you really don't have to come here expecting a wild thrillfest. The tone is much more quiet and introspective, with the highlight of the story being the beautiful exploration of themes like individuality, morality, agency, loneliness, and humanity. The unexpected interpersonal relationships that start to develop over the course of this story really were beautifully complex, and I loved discovering how inexplicably unique each clone felt that Lulabelle meets as she goes on her killing spree. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised by how much the unconventional romance tugged on my heartstrings; give me all the sapphic love!
Now, I do have to admit that the second half was much stronger than the first half for me, and some of the more literary elements/allusions probably went a bit over my head. Still, I found myself eagerly flipping the pages out of morbid curiosity, and ultimately Woolf really stuck the landing for me. So, if you are looking for a short yet memorable futuristic, satirical sci-fi thriller with Killing Eve and Black Mirror vibes, then I can't recommend Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock highly enough.
May 26, 2025
Arthur. Babe. Why.
Like legit why is this in the shortlist ?
I get what it tried to do - the clone gaining consciousness through the power of love is nice and all, the thriller mystery is fine, but ... yeah. No. It's all too surface level to be really interesting - especially the selfcest love story, I am so sorry, but I have never seen two characters with a LESS developped affective bond, and I have unfortunately read Twilight. The world in itself is quite poorly done (why is there even a clone thing ?? What's happening outside or away ?), Lulabelle is a cariacture of Paris Hilton in the 2000s, it's just too bland.
Like legit why is this in the shortlist ?
I get what it tried to do - the clone gaining consciousness through the power of love is nice and all, the thriller mystery is fine, but ... yeah. No. It's all too surface level to be really interesting - especially the selfcest love story, I am so sorry, but I have never seen two characters with a LESS developped affective bond, and I have unfortunately read Twilight. The world in itself is quite poorly done (why is there even a clone thing ?? What's happening outside or away ?), Lulabelle is a cariacture of Paris Hilton in the 2000s, it's just too bland.
September 20, 2024
Meh. Author didn’t know how to finish the story. Toward the end one character actually says to another something like, “You didn’t really think this through, did you?” Same can be said for the author. A number of plot points didn’t really make sense.
April 11, 2025
bro that one line in the epilogue killed me
April 23, 2024
The creative premise of this book was what originally drew me in, and that part did not disappoint. It was pretty fast-paced, the world building was fun but felt realistic even in the more out-there parts, and the overarching mystery was (mostly) satisfying. The biggest issue was that as much as I thought the main character was really well-done, and had a strong story progression, the rest of the cast felt like a vessel for the character's development. Relationships between the clone we follow and the other 13 Lulabelles felt like they should have been explored deeper, but a lot of them were two-dimensional, even those who have been around a long time and were presented as unique individuals. A lot of the connections felt forced, as if they only existed for the MC to learn something about the world. It was especially unfortunate because we saw a few glimpses of other clones interacting, and it was infinitely more interesting than the dynamic between them and the MC. I think there was a lot of potential to make the characters stand out more, and in doing so make the story feel more realistic. However, the creativity and writing style really worked for me, and I think especially given that this is (I think) Maud Woolf's first book, I would definitely read whatever she published next.
February 4, 2024
I expected this to be a more lighthearted/madcap read just based on the cover (and the name Lulabelle Rock). I thought it would be a satirical comedy. But it was actually a future that felt straight out of Black Mirror. Not dystopian, but unsettling in its own way. I was surprised when the novel revealed everyone knew clones (Portraits) exist, but that worked very much in the story's favor.
Each of the Portraits was like a Sliding Doors alternate universe. Who would you be if you made X choice, or if you had unlimited money and no responsibilities, and the thirteenth Portrait was investigating them all like Scrooge on Christmas Eve.
Very much enjoyed it, and it's a novel that I look forward to going back and reading again at some point.
Each of the Portraits was like a Sliding Doors alternate universe. Who would you be if you made X choice, or if you had unlimited money and no responsibilities, and the thirteenth Portrait was investigating them all like Scrooge on Christmas Eve.
Very much enjoyed it, and it's a novel that I look forward to going back and reading again at some point.
July 9, 2025
Probably a good book but I was expecting more action, a real sci-fi thriller. It’s a bit too conceptual for me.
August 14, 2025
I enjoyed this but I needed more. It felt like each chapter was rushed through, would have loved to see more depth!
January 3, 2025
Mám rada toto prelomové obdobie medzi rokmi, kedy vychádza na booktube množstvo videí s najlepšími aj najhoršími knihami roka. Vždy tam nájdem nejaké zaujímavé tipy a pridá mi to nové knižky na tbr. Toto bola jedna z nich.
Príbeh sa odohráva vo svete, kde si viete spraviť svoje klony. A presne túto možnosť využila aj herečka Lulabelle Rock, ktorá má 13 týchto klonov. Jedna sa venuje koníčkom, na ktoré nemá čas. Druhá navštevuje všetky možné párty. Tretia má rodinu a deti. A tak ďalej.
Trinásta bola vytvorená, aby ich všetky zabila.
Koncept je výborný, kniha ma bavila a bolo to pútavé. Ale niečo tam chýba. Neprišlo mi to ako naplno využitý potenciál témy, postavy nemali dostatočnú hĺbku. Je to veľmi fajn oddychovka, ktorej čítanie podľa mňa veľmi neoľutujete, ale zároveň z toho nepadnete na zadok a ak si to neprečítate, nič moc sa nestane.
Príbeh sa odohráva vo svete, kde si viete spraviť svoje klony. A presne túto možnosť využila aj herečka Lulabelle Rock, ktorá má 13 týchto klonov. Jedna sa venuje koníčkom, na ktoré nemá čas. Druhá navštevuje všetky možné párty. Tretia má rodinu a deti. A tak ďalej.
Trinásta bola vytvorená, aby ich všetky zabila.
Koncept je výborný, kniha ma bavila a bolo to pútavé. Ale niečo tam chýba. Neprišlo mi to ako naplno využitý potenciál témy, postavy nemali dostatočnú hĺbku. Je to veľmi fajn oddychovka, ktorej čítanie podľa mňa veľmi neoľutujete, ale zároveň z toho nepadnete na zadok a ak si to neprečítate, nič moc sa nestane.
March 10, 2024
I really like the concept, but I the follow through was lacking
January 27, 2024
3.5 STARS
CW: death, assault, blood, violence, suicide
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A movie star who has made copies of herself now tasks her thirteenth clone to kill the others? Sign me the f up. I was immediately drawn in by the blurb of the book, especially because Orphan Black was mentioned and I absolutely love that show. I can definitely see where the comparison comes from and I really enjoyed reading this story about Lullabelle Rock.
We follow Lullabelle's thirteenth Portrait, dubbed the Assassin, on her journey through Bubble City tracking down and decommissioning her predecessors. The reader is thrown right into the story without much preface and is left to figure out what is going on in the first few pages but I really loved the start.
Unfortunately the story becomes rather formulaic after Lullabelle 13's arrival in Bubble City for a while. It's basically just the same scene over and over again, look for the other Portrait, find her, maybe a quick conversation, do the deed and repeat. Naturally, there is some stuff in between that keeps building up suspense but for a while, I was slightly bored even... Nevertheless, I think the book is worth sticking through the repetitive parts and I absolutely loved the ongoing discussion of free will and decision making. There were some more (or less) obvious metaphors for that but even though they were pretty on the nose, I enjoyed them nonetheless.
I was a little disappointed with the ending but I can't really pinpoint why. I had expected a different end to the book but I don't know what I was expecting. Be that as it may, I definitely think it fits with the story even though I did see it coming in parts.
I think this is a great book to pick up in between tomes, it was fun, a quick read that only took me so long because I was extremely busy and who isn't intrigued by a story about clones? I'd definitely recommend it for some fun but also surprisingly deep scenes sprinkled in. I'd love to discuss this with someone because the Portrait situation was wild to read about. Now if you read this and enjoy it and for some reason haven't seen Orphan Black yet, I would recommend you check that out as well. And because others have compared the book to Black Mirror, too, that has now moved up in my list of shows to watch.
CW: death, assault, blood, violence, suicide
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A movie star who has made copies of herself now tasks her thirteenth clone to kill the others? Sign me the f up. I was immediately drawn in by the blurb of the book, especially because Orphan Black was mentioned and I absolutely love that show. I can definitely see where the comparison comes from and I really enjoyed reading this story about Lullabelle Rock.
We follow Lullabelle's thirteenth Portrait, dubbed the Assassin, on her journey through Bubble City tracking down and decommissioning her predecessors. The reader is thrown right into the story without much preface and is left to figure out what is going on in the first few pages but I really loved the start.
Unfortunately the story becomes rather formulaic after Lullabelle 13's arrival in Bubble City for a while. It's basically just the same scene over and over again, look for the other Portrait, find her, maybe a quick conversation, do the deed and repeat. Naturally, there is some stuff in between that keeps building up suspense but for a while, I was slightly bored even... Nevertheless, I think the book is worth sticking through the repetitive parts and I absolutely loved the ongoing discussion of free will and decision making. There were some more (or less) obvious metaphors for that but even though they were pretty on the nose, I enjoyed them nonetheless.
I was a little disappointed with the ending but I can't really pinpoint why. I had expected a different end to the book but I don't know what I was expecting. Be that as it may, I definitely think it fits with the story even though I did see it coming in parts.
I think this is a great book to pick up in between tomes, it was fun, a quick read that only took me so long because I was extremely busy and who isn't intrigued by a story about clones? I'd definitely recommend it for some fun but also surprisingly deep scenes sprinkled in. I'd love to discuss this with someone because the Portrait situation was wild to read about. Now if you read this and enjoy it and for some reason haven't seen Orphan Black yet, I would recommend you check that out as well. And because others have compared the book to Black Mirror, too, that has now moved up in my list of shows to watch.
October 3, 2026
In the old days books were described as 'X meets Y', while more recently it's the fans who get the mention - in this case 'perfect for fans of Orphan Black, Killing Eve and Keeping it Real' though we also get in the title tag 'Blade Runner meets Barbie'. There's an element of truth in most of these, but Maud Woolf has nonetheless pulled off an entertaining and different novel.
Lulabelle Rock is a film star who over the years has accumulated 12 Portraits - these are not human (so not clones as they are described in the blurb), but are replicas, pretty well only distinguishable by not having palm prints or the usual stuff inside their body. The idea is that the Portraits can be used to do boring tasks that Lulabelle can't be bothered with, from social media to guest appearances. But for whatever reason she has create a thirteenth Portrait, the first person narrator of the book, who is given the task of decommissioning all the rest. (If a human did it, they would be sued, but a Portrait can do so without legal comeback).
That being the case there is an element of Blade Runner, and though they're not clones I'd also reference the brilliant Orphan Black for all the different versions of the character. However, Killing Eve is entirely the wrong parallel - the central character here is no psychopath. Woolf does a great job of making the thirteenth Lulabelle relatable in a naive way as she learns about the reality of her non-life and struggles through the role of destroying the others.
A rather neat additional framing is that early on the central character gives a lift to someone who gives her a pack of Tarot cards, and we get each version of Lulabelle framed in terms of one of the cards of the Major Arcana, with 'our' Lulabelle inevitably being the Death card. After the first couple of killings I was wondering if it could become a little samey, but as things spiral away from the initial plan, it's a genuine page turner.
As often is the case with a book like this, the ending isn't perfect, though it does come with a nice twist. There is one aspect that could have done with a bit more thought, though - the Portraits, we discover, neither need to eat nor breathe. And the certainly don't plug in. So how do they get their energy? This doesn't spoil the enjoyment, though, and despite those 'X meets Y' speculations it's an original and engaging piece of writing.
Lulabelle Rock is a film star who over the years has accumulated 12 Portraits - these are not human (so not clones as they are described in the blurb), but are replicas, pretty well only distinguishable by not having palm prints or the usual stuff inside their body. The idea is that the Portraits can be used to do boring tasks that Lulabelle can't be bothered with, from social media to guest appearances. But for whatever reason she has create a thirteenth Portrait, the first person narrator of the book, who is given the task of decommissioning all the rest. (If a human did it, they would be sued, but a Portrait can do so without legal comeback).
That being the case there is an element of Blade Runner, and though they're not clones I'd also reference the brilliant Orphan Black for all the different versions of the character. However, Killing Eve is entirely the wrong parallel - the central character here is no psychopath. Woolf does a great job of making the thirteenth Lulabelle relatable in a naive way as she learns about the reality of her non-life and struggles through the role of destroying the others.
A rather neat additional framing is that early on the central character gives a lift to someone who gives her a pack of Tarot cards, and we get each version of Lulabelle framed in terms of one of the cards of the Major Arcana, with 'our' Lulabelle inevitably being the Death card. After the first couple of killings I was wondering if it could become a little samey, but as things spiral away from the initial plan, it's a genuine page turner.
As often is the case with a book like this, the ending isn't perfect, though it does come with a nice twist. There is one aspect that could have done with a bit more thought, though - the Portraits, we discover, neither need to eat nor breathe. And the certainly don't plug in. So how do they get their energy? This doesn't spoil the enjoyment, though, and despite those 'X meets Y' speculations it's an original and engaging piece of writing.
September 24, 2026
Lulabelle is the thirteenth clone/Portrait of actress Lulabelle Rock, she has been created with a single purpose - to kill the others.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows the thirteenth clone of Lulabelle Rock, as she wakes and is given a single mission, a car, a gun, and a folder containing information on each target.
It's set in the near future where Portraits have become a regular part of society - they're still very expensive, so most Portraits are of famous people, who want and need visibility.
This book was weird.
In reviews, I normally start with the good stuff, and follow with the bad; but it's really hard to pin down any part of the plot, characters, writing, etc. that stood out as good. For me, they were all just ok. I was intrigued enough to keep reading, but never truly enjoyed any aspect of this book.
It felt like the story didn't know what it wanted to be. It mused on the meaning of life and death, but didn't feel like our narrator made any personal growth. It also mused on absolutely everything else, sometimes going in circles, and sometimes musing over things with zero relevance to what was going on.
The plot was similarly unfathomable. I didn't get it.
It started off quite promising, but then had some random tangents, before completely going off the rails; and then acting like it was going with the plan all along; and then derails again.
And then the ending, or lack thereof.
I didn't get it.
The main character was a nice person, there was nothing about her that stood out in her personality - she's one of those nice, bland people that you like, but doesn't stand out in any way. She doesn't do anything to move the story forward, she goes along with whatever people around her decide. Some of it feels like naivety; she still feels like a child, new to this world, naturally submitting to everyone older than her (which is practically everyone).
I was very disappointed with this book. I thought it had a lot of promise, but it just felt like it couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows the thirteenth clone of Lulabelle Rock, as she wakes and is given a single mission, a car, a gun, and a folder containing information on each target.
It's set in the near future where Portraits have become a regular part of society - they're still very expensive, so most Portraits are of famous people, who want and need visibility.
This book was weird.
In reviews, I normally start with the good stuff, and follow with the bad; but it's really hard to pin down any part of the plot, characters, writing, etc. that stood out as good. For me, they were all just ok. I was intrigued enough to keep reading, but never truly enjoyed any aspect of this book.
It felt like the story didn't know what it wanted to be. It mused on the meaning of life and death, but didn't feel like our narrator made any personal growth. It also mused on absolutely everything else, sometimes going in circles, and sometimes musing over things with zero relevance to what was going on.
The plot was similarly unfathomable. I didn't get it.
It started off quite promising, but then had some random tangents, before completely going off the rails; and then acting like it was going with the plan all along; and then derails again.
And then the ending, or lack thereof.
I didn't get it.
The main character was a nice person, there was nothing about her that stood out in her personality - she's one of those nice, bland people that you like, but doesn't stand out in any way. She doesn't do anything to move the story forward, she goes along with whatever people around her decide. Some of it feels like naivety; she still feels like a child, new to this world, naturally submitting to everyone older than her (which is practically everyone).
I was very disappointed with this book. I thought it had a lot of promise, but it just felt like it couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
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