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Immaculate Conception: From the bestselling author of Natural Beauty
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.
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.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2025
551 people are currently reading
45966 people want to read
About the author
Ling Ling Huang
5 books760 followersLing Ling Huang is a writer and violinist. She plays with several ensembles including the Music Kitchen, Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra, Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra, Shattered Glass, and Experiential Orchestra, with whom she won a Grammy award in 2020. Natural Beauty is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,701 reviews
August 18, 2025
i lack the talent to be an artist, but that won't stop me from obsessively reading about them.
that made this book very relatable.
it took me ages to read this because it is so immersed in the world of a truly gruesome heroine, who is consumed by envy and self-pity. but it also made it an unflinching and exciting read. the themes of legacy, identity, success, and art were a lot to chew on.
i didn't adore the author's debut, which made this all the more impressive.
bottom line: talentless but attention-starved representation is so important.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
that made this book very relatable.
it took me ages to read this because it is so immersed in the world of a truly gruesome heroine, who is consumed by envy and self-pity. but it also made it an unflinching and exciting read. the themes of legacy, identity, success, and art were a lot to chew on.
i didn't adore the author's debut, which made this all the more impressive.
bottom line: talentless but attention-starved representation is so important.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
May 13, 2025
Set in a near future with rapidly advancing technology, Immaculate Conception follows a young art student, Enka, who is experiencing the world outside of the fringe - areas walled in by buffers, alleged art pieces that cocoon those deemed 'worthy' into enclaves with access to art, culture, and opportunities, leaving the rest to exist in a liminal space of disconnection and stagnation - for the very first time. She has been unexpectedly accepted into a prestigious art college, where she meets a woman whose life will be inextricably intertwined with her own. We observe Enka and Mathilde over the decades as their friendship ebbs and flows, codependency and obsession laced with twisted love and envy - crossed boundaries, betrayal, and possession.
Ensconced in the contemporary art world, the novel plunges into the tendency toward pretension, artifice, and self-flagellation for those ambitious enough to chase fame and notoriety based on their trauma dumping and pseudo-intellectualism. Mathilde is widely accepted as a prodigy and artistic genius - and yet her art is often somewhat nonsensical and sensationalist, relying on shock and disgust over a more subtle approach. The constant quotes from art critics, falling over themselves to wallow in interpretive excess and undying praise, are as comedic as they are depressing - a reflection of our own world, often more focused on obscurantism than connection. So much of the art in this book rings hollow, and as a mirror for Enka's inner life and the art world at large, it is perfection.
This novel is ambitious in its thematic scope, from the aforementioned commentary on the art world (including AI's influence on ownership of ideas) and exploration of wealth inequality and caste systems to coercive caretaking and enmeshment, to religious abuse, grief, loss, and the slow journey that is healing from trauma. While Ling Ling Huang does an admirable job of examining each one, there are only so many pages to deliver the level of depth and nuance I might hope for.
What Immaculate Conception does best is exploring the competitive environment fostered by academia and the arts and how it can erode relationships from the inside out. We experience the narrative from Enka's point of view, and she is a complex, if horrifying, protagonist. She sees herself as a selfless caregiver for her traumatized best friend, in orbit of her genius, in awe of her talent and creativity - and yet, in reality, she uses Mathilde's reliance on her to suck her dry. Her moments of clarity are brief, and her guilt lasts only as long as it takes for her to find a new angle of exploitation. Enka is all the more terrifying in that she isn't a monster - she is painfully human. Jealous, angry, insecure, frustrated, greedy, cruel, and self-centred, but also curious, lonely, empathetic, and, at times, caring. The trouble is she never has to face her demons. She has the privilege, as someone married into great wealth and power, to go on living in luxury despite her actions. She can pretend she's done no wrong as her victim withers away into nothing.
Despite being told in first person, the prose remains detached; blunt. It mirrors Enka's cold, calculating mindset. She is obsessed with Mathilde, with her genius, with her pain, and she sees her as both muse and possession. This novel examines our tendency to mine artistic genius, extracting and consuming it—mass producing and commodifying it, through Enka's pillaging of Mathilde's creative mind. The horror here is not supernatural—it's the horror of someone who says, "You'll never be alone," while isolating and devouring you from the inside out.
Religion, too, is incorporated and commented on. Enka asserts that faith could have saved them both from their fate, yet this reads as another in a long line of tools with which Enka can absolve herself without consequence. If she believes God forgives her, does she ever need to atone for what she's stolen from Mathilde?
I'll wrap this up in the interest of leaving something to be discovered, but I'll just add that there's a kind of queerness in their intimacy and obsession, but nothing overt. Instead, we're left with a harrowing portrait of codependency, artistic envy, boundary-crossing, and the disturbing ways love can be used as a justification to possess and destroy.
Some may believe that flipping the perspective to Mathilde would have driven home the horror, but to my mind, making Enka the narrator reveals the true terror: how ordinary this kind of monstrousness can be. People don't need to be demons to be cruel beyond measure-they just need envy, access, and a belief that they deserve what isn't theirs.
This book is brutal, brilliant, and sickening. And while it could have gone even further-what's already here is enough to unsettle and disturb you.
I had no idea how Ling Ling Huang could follow up her incredible debut, Natural Beauty, but she's done it again, folks. Thank you to Dutton Press and Netgalley for an ARC of my most anticipated read of the year!
“Being seen forces me to see myself, and I break under the weight of my gaze.” pg 230
Trigger/Content Warnings: Loss of Parents, 9/11, Suicide, Grief, Loss of a Child/Infant, Insects, Corpses, Self-Harm, Body Horror, Medical Content, Pedophilia, Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Confinement, Conservatorship, Ableism, Trauma, Attempted Suicide, Religious Abuse, Forced Medical Procedures, Toxic Friendship, Misogyny
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Ensconced in the contemporary art world, the novel plunges into the tendency toward pretension, artifice, and self-flagellation for those ambitious enough to chase fame and notoriety based on their trauma dumping and pseudo-intellectualism. Mathilde is widely accepted as a prodigy and artistic genius - and yet her art is often somewhat nonsensical and sensationalist, relying on shock and disgust over a more subtle approach. The constant quotes from art critics, falling over themselves to wallow in interpretive excess and undying praise, are as comedic as they are depressing - a reflection of our own world, often more focused on obscurantism than connection. So much of the art in this book rings hollow, and as a mirror for Enka's inner life and the art world at large, it is perfection.
This novel is ambitious in its thematic scope, from the aforementioned commentary on the art world (including AI's influence on ownership of ideas) and exploration of wealth inequality and caste systems to coercive caretaking and enmeshment, to religious abuse, grief, loss, and the slow journey that is healing from trauma. While Ling Ling Huang does an admirable job of examining each one, there are only so many pages to deliver the level of depth and nuance I might hope for.
What Immaculate Conception does best is exploring the competitive environment fostered by academia and the arts and how it can erode relationships from the inside out. We experience the narrative from Enka's point of view, and she is a complex, if horrifying, protagonist. She sees herself as a selfless caregiver for her traumatized best friend, in orbit of her genius, in awe of her talent and creativity - and yet, in reality, she uses Mathilde's reliance on her to suck her dry. Her moments of clarity are brief, and her guilt lasts only as long as it takes for her to find a new angle of exploitation. Enka is all the more terrifying in that she isn't a monster - she is painfully human. Jealous, angry, insecure, frustrated, greedy, cruel, and self-centred, but also curious, lonely, empathetic, and, at times, caring. The trouble is she never has to face her demons. She has the privilege, as someone married into great wealth and power, to go on living in luxury despite her actions. She can pretend she's done no wrong as her victim withers away into nothing.
Despite being told in first person, the prose remains detached; blunt. It mirrors Enka's cold, calculating mindset. She is obsessed with Mathilde, with her genius, with her pain, and she sees her as both muse and possession. This novel examines our tendency to mine artistic genius, extracting and consuming it—mass producing and commodifying it, through Enka's pillaging of Mathilde's creative mind. The horror here is not supernatural—it's the horror of someone who says, "You'll never be alone," while isolating and devouring you from the inside out.
Religion, too, is incorporated and commented on. Enka asserts that faith could have saved them both from their fate, yet this reads as another in a long line of tools with which Enka can absolve herself without consequence. If she believes God forgives her, does she ever need to atone for what she's stolen from Mathilde?
I'll wrap this up in the interest of leaving something to be discovered, but I'll just add that there's a kind of queerness in their intimacy and obsession, but nothing overt. Instead, we're left with a harrowing portrait of codependency, artistic envy, boundary-crossing, and the disturbing ways love can be used as a justification to possess and destroy.
Some may believe that flipping the perspective to Mathilde would have driven home the horror, but to my mind, making Enka the narrator reveals the true terror: how ordinary this kind of monstrousness can be. People don't need to be demons to be cruel beyond measure-they just need envy, access, and a belief that they deserve what isn't theirs.
This book is brutal, brilliant, and sickening. And while it could have gone even further-what's already here is enough to unsettle and disturb you.
I had no idea how Ling Ling Huang could follow up her incredible debut, Natural Beauty, but she's done it again, folks. Thank you to Dutton Press and Netgalley for an ARC of my most anticipated read of the year!
“Being seen forces me to see myself, and I break under the weight of my gaze.” pg 230
Trigger/Content Warnings: Loss of Parents, 9/11, Suicide, Grief, Loss of a Child/Infant, Insects, Corpses, Self-Harm, Body Horror, Medical Content, Pedophilia, Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Confinement, Conservatorship, Ableism, Trauma, Attempted Suicide, Religious Abuse, Forced Medical Procedures, Toxic Friendship, Misogyny
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
August 13, 2025
This unique, fascinating concept delivers a penetrating study of artistic ambition, technological innovation, and the intricate threads of human relationship. The novel tracks Enka and Mathilde, two artists whose connection becomes a nuanced investigation of creativity, desire, and the murky boundaries between inspiration and ownership.
Enka, wrestling with her artistic identity, becomes deeply enmeshed with Mathilde, an emerging talent in the contemporary art scene. Her intense need to remain relevant in Mathilde's world drives her to an extraordinary choice: marrying into a tech enterprise developing a revolutionary method of mental intersection. This narrative mechanism becomes a potent allegory for artistic and personal intimacy, challenging our understanding of individual selfhood and emotional proximity.
Huang's writing is sharp and atmospheric, capturing the art world's intricate power dynamics with surgical precision. The novel explores the psychological terrain of two artists linked by a relationship that defies simple classification—part mentorship, part competition, part desperate connection. The speculative technology functions not as a narrative trick, but as a sophisticated lens examining human fragility and the extreme measures people undertake to comprehend one another.
The book's power emerges from its willingness to confront difficult terrain. It interrogates challenging concepts about originality, understanding, and the ethical landscape of technological intimacy. Huang resists providing comfortable resolutions, instead presenting a narrative that demands intellectual engagement and moral reflection.
While addressing weighty themes—trauma, artistic competition, technological ethics—the novel maintains a delicate balance between intellectual depth and narrative energy. The story avoids sensationalism, instead offering a carefully constructed exploration of how personal yearning intersects with broader technological and social questions.
Immaculate Conception represents a sophisticated reflection on creativity, connection, and the increasingly fluid boundaries between individual consciousness in an era of rapid technological transformation. It will resonate with readers who value literature that challenges conventional narrative structures and investigates the profound complexities of human experience.
Note: The book contains mature and potentially challenging thematic elements.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me this unique horror concept's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
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Enka, wrestling with her artistic identity, becomes deeply enmeshed with Mathilde, an emerging talent in the contemporary art scene. Her intense need to remain relevant in Mathilde's world drives her to an extraordinary choice: marrying into a tech enterprise developing a revolutionary method of mental intersection. This narrative mechanism becomes a potent allegory for artistic and personal intimacy, challenging our understanding of individual selfhood and emotional proximity.
Huang's writing is sharp and atmospheric, capturing the art world's intricate power dynamics with surgical precision. The novel explores the psychological terrain of two artists linked by a relationship that defies simple classification—part mentorship, part competition, part desperate connection. The speculative technology functions not as a narrative trick, but as a sophisticated lens examining human fragility and the extreme measures people undertake to comprehend one another.
The book's power emerges from its willingness to confront difficult terrain. It interrogates challenging concepts about originality, understanding, and the ethical landscape of technological intimacy. Huang resists providing comfortable resolutions, instead presenting a narrative that demands intellectual engagement and moral reflection.
While addressing weighty themes—trauma, artistic competition, technological ethics—the novel maintains a delicate balance between intellectual depth and narrative energy. The story avoids sensationalism, instead offering a carefully constructed exploration of how personal yearning intersects with broader technological and social questions.
Immaculate Conception represents a sophisticated reflection on creativity, connection, and the increasingly fluid boundaries between individual consciousness in an era of rapid technological transformation. It will resonate with readers who value literature that challenges conventional narrative structures and investigates the profound complexities of human experience.
Note: The book contains mature and potentially challenging thematic elements.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me this unique horror concept's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
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May 28, 2025Ahhhhh idk what to think about this one.
It kept my attention the entire time, but I kept wondering like, when is this gonna start? Where is this going? I don’t want to spoil things, but the synopsis doesn’t actually like happen in the story until around 70%.
I liked it, but I was also pretty disappointed how slow things moved. There were a few tense moments, but also, things were resolved, or more conflict was introduced too easily.
Last thing, I initially liked how the “before” and “current” timelines played out (helped keep things interesting), but eventually there’s just a “now” timeline where things catch up, but it kinda felt like, even though it was “now” it was written more as a recollection of events that was kinda confusing bc it kinda felt like (to me) that it was building up to this extremely catastrophically intense finale, and that really didn’t happen.
The more I think about it, the more I have no idea if I liked it or not 😂 will follow up when I’ve got a better idea.
It kept my attention the entire time, but I kept wondering like, when is this gonna start? Where is this going? I don’t want to spoil things, but the synopsis doesn’t actually like happen in the story until around 70%.
I liked it, but I was also pretty disappointed how slow things moved. There were a few tense moments, but also, things were resolved, or more conflict was introduced too easily.
Last thing, I initially liked how the “before” and “current” timelines played out (helped keep things interesting), but eventually there’s just a “now” timeline where things catch up, but it kinda felt like, even though it was “now” it was written more as a recollection of events that was kinda confusing bc it kinda felt like (to me) that it was building up to this extremely catastrophically intense finale, and that really didn’t happen.
The more I think about it, the more I have no idea if I liked it or not 😂 will follow up when I’ve got a better idea.
July 8, 2025
Early Style
So I'm not loving this as much as NATURAL BEAUTY, which hurts me a little.
I'm not sure if I'm bored or enamored by Enka and Mathilde yet. Could be gayer. However, the way Enka talks about Logan gives me dating PTSD, although most things do these days. Attacked.
Middle Style
I'm already more interested in this section. I'm glad it holds promise.
I will admit the past vs. present was confusing me earlier, but now I'm semi-invested. Mathilde has developed something that transcends art. She has birthed a baby without sperm. The Vatican is horrified. I'm amused.
Well, holy shit.
Late Style
The pacing of this book feels off. EARLY STYLE was slow. Too slow. We learned a few things in MIDDLE STYLE, so that went faster and was more enjoyable.
This felt too fast? The high point just came and went. Are we about to be brought back down?
Retrospective
I'm still mad about the pacing. And the overall "horror" of the book. Even if it's the horror I've come to expect from East Asian diaspora authors, which I usually know and love. But, I'll continue to read Ling Ling.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton
So I'm not loving this as much as NATURAL BEAUTY, which hurts me a little.
I'm not sure if I'm bored or enamored by Enka and Mathilde yet. Could be gayer. However, the way Enka talks about Logan gives me dating PTSD, although most things do these days. Attacked.
Middle Style
I'm already more interested in this section. I'm glad it holds promise.
I will admit the past vs. present was confusing me earlier, but now I'm semi-invested. Mathilde has developed something that transcends art. She has birthed a baby without sperm. The Vatican is horrified. I'm amused.
Well, holy shit.
Late Style
The pacing of this book feels off. EARLY STYLE was slow. Too slow. We learned a few things in MIDDLE STYLE, so that went faster and was more enjoyable.
This felt too fast? The high point just came and went. Are we about to be brought back down?
Retrospective
I'm still mad about the pacing. And the overall "horror" of the book. Even if it's the horror I've come to expect from East Asian diaspora authors, which I usually know and love. But, I'll continue to read Ling Ling.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton
May 9, 2025
Ask yourself this….. If you could erase all the past trauma from your life, with no memory of it ever again, would you? Forever gone.
I can’t even fathom the perfect review for this, because what this is … is above and beyond my intelligence. I was in awe of Huang’s work. The writing is eloquent. Exceptional. Mesmerizing.
This is a story about friendships, love, the world of art and the jealousy that divides them. I would classify this as several genres, speculative fiction, mystery, literary and contemporary fiction. It’s broad. It expanded way beyond my mind’s comprehension. The reveals left me speechless. 🤯
I cannot elaborate further beyond what I have mentioned. You will have to discover it for yourself. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking. Shocking and tragic.
Immaculate Conception is a character driven slow burn that I absolutely loved. Massive thanks go out to Dutton, Ling Ling Huang and NetGalley for the opportunity. I purchased my own copy from Aardvark Book Club.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can’t even fathom the perfect review for this, because what this is … is above and beyond my intelligence. I was in awe of Huang’s work. The writing is eloquent. Exceptional. Mesmerizing.
This is a story about friendships, love, the world of art and the jealousy that divides them. I would classify this as several genres, speculative fiction, mystery, literary and contemporary fiction. It’s broad. It expanded way beyond my mind’s comprehension. The reveals left me speechless. 🤯
I cannot elaborate further beyond what I have mentioned. You will have to discover it for yourself. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking. Shocking and tragic.
Immaculate Conception is a character driven slow burn that I absolutely loved. Massive thanks go out to Dutton, Ling Ling Huang and NetGalley for the opportunity. I purchased my own copy from Aardvark Book Club.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 19, 2025
Ling Ling Huang’s disturbing, intricate novel follows the formation of an intense, increasingly-toxic bond between two women. Huang’s setting is America, as she puts it, five minutes into the future. Economic and social hierarchies are rigidly demarcated through giant buffers physically severing links between different communities – reminiscent of America’s notorious, urban, public housing projects, they’re also a manifestation of online divides directed and sustained by algorithms. Huang’s narrator is Enka a “fringe” kid, a socially-marginal undesirable. An unexpected scholarship to a prestigious art school allows Enka to mingle with students from the, previously unreachable, upmarket “enclaves.” Enka becomes fixated on classmate Mathilde who’s a charismatic, art star in the making, someone with the economic and, crucially, cultural capital Enka so desperately wants. Huang’s story moves between Enka’s past and present, charting Enka’s and Mathilde’s experiences in the years after they first meet, gradually building towards a devastating conclusion.
Enka’s an unreliable but compelling narrator, driven by envy and deep-seated insecurities intensified by failed attempts to triumph in the cut-throat artworld. Tech artist Enka’s hopes of success were dashed by the launch of a generative AI programme. Overnight, anyone and everyone could churn out the sort of art Enka spent years trying to perfect. Meanwhile Mathilde’s dedication to performance and transient art forms made her highly-personal work resistant to digital substitution. As Mathilde’s fame increases, Enka takes an alternative route to fortune by marrying into the all-pervasive, Dahl tech dynasty – Huang’s depiction of the sinister Dahl Corps with tentacles spreading into every part of society is especially timely given coverage of the recent activities of Silicon Valley billionaires. But Enka’s newfound riches don’t stop her from obsessing over Mathilde’s successes and growing celebrity status. Huang uses these elements of Enka and Mathilde’s story to raise issues about art, its nature and purpose, its interactions with technology and with capitalism – the institutions that harness art for profit, the ultra-rich patrons who collect art, and artists, as a means of positioning themselves as especially discriminating, socially distinctive.
Huang criss-crosses genre boundaries literary fiction, deliberate Elena Ferrante echoes, rubbing up against speculative, SF and flashes of gothic horror. Aspects of the Dahl’s family estate resemble Dracula’s castle – vampirism in myriad forms is a central theme. Scenes featuring Mathilde’s trauma-driven art inject bursts of body horror -- highlighting a clash between enduring concepts of the tortured artist and a wellness industry centred on erasing so-called ‘emotional scars’. A clash which raises concerns about the potential fallout from the erasure of painful memories: its impact on an individual’s sense of self, their creative impulses. Huang’s complex novel’s laced with unresolved, often significant, questions but there are so many they threaten to overwhelm the narrative. Alongside meditations on technology and techno-determinism, Huang touches on the menacing reach of corporations; appalling social inequalities; and the role of the artist. Artistic creation is mirrored by considerations of motherhood and mothering from controlling behaviours to all-consuming grief over the loss of a child to cloning and genetic experimentation around conception.
There’s also an ongoing exploration of religious themes which I'm still puzzling over. Notions of confession, absolution and possible redemption are introduced via Mathilde’s lapsed Catholicism then underlined by Enka’s confused attempts to atone for actions that resulted in Mathilde’s terrifying downfall – presumably drawing on Huang’s former Christian faith and her own struggles to forgive a close friend’s affair with Huang’s then-boyfriend. Huang’s title invokes the idea of the immaculate conception. Unlike other women all inescapably tainted by Eve’s fall, the Virgin Mary was considered uniquely free from original sin, making her a suitable vessel for the son of God. Mary’s fate is paralleled by a bizarre plot development whereby the decidedly less-than-innocent Enka becomes a willing vessel for Mathilde’s mind, striving to channel Mathilde’s creative abilities.
In many ways this is quite a messy piece, its multiple strands never quite coalesce – and the world-building’s definitely underdone. There’s also a major tonal shift between the early and later sections that some readers will find off-putting – slow and introspective gives way to a more frenzied, faster pace. But, even though this is nowhere near as disciplined and focused as Huang’s debut, I still found it surprisingly gripping, inventive, entertainingly unpredictable. I loved the coverage of art and Huang’s willingness to take risks and tackle challenging subjects.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Canelo for an ARC
Rating: 3/3.5
Enka’s an unreliable but compelling narrator, driven by envy and deep-seated insecurities intensified by failed attempts to triumph in the cut-throat artworld. Tech artist Enka’s hopes of success were dashed by the launch of a generative AI programme. Overnight, anyone and everyone could churn out the sort of art Enka spent years trying to perfect. Meanwhile Mathilde’s dedication to performance and transient art forms made her highly-personal work resistant to digital substitution. As Mathilde’s fame increases, Enka takes an alternative route to fortune by marrying into the all-pervasive, Dahl tech dynasty – Huang’s depiction of the sinister Dahl Corps with tentacles spreading into every part of society is especially timely given coverage of the recent activities of Silicon Valley billionaires. But Enka’s newfound riches don’t stop her from obsessing over Mathilde’s successes and growing celebrity status. Huang uses these elements of Enka and Mathilde’s story to raise issues about art, its nature and purpose, its interactions with technology and with capitalism – the institutions that harness art for profit, the ultra-rich patrons who collect art, and artists, as a means of positioning themselves as especially discriminating, socially distinctive.
Huang criss-crosses genre boundaries literary fiction, deliberate Elena Ferrante echoes, rubbing up against speculative, SF and flashes of gothic horror. Aspects of the Dahl’s family estate resemble Dracula’s castle – vampirism in myriad forms is a central theme. Scenes featuring Mathilde’s trauma-driven art inject bursts of body horror -- highlighting a clash between enduring concepts of the tortured artist and a wellness industry centred on erasing so-called ‘emotional scars’. A clash which raises concerns about the potential fallout from the erasure of painful memories: its impact on an individual’s sense of self, their creative impulses. Huang’s complex novel’s laced with unresolved, often significant, questions but there are so many they threaten to overwhelm the narrative. Alongside meditations on technology and techno-determinism, Huang touches on the menacing reach of corporations; appalling social inequalities; and the role of the artist. Artistic creation is mirrored by considerations of motherhood and mothering from controlling behaviours to all-consuming grief over the loss of a child to cloning and genetic experimentation around conception.
There’s also an ongoing exploration of religious themes which I'm still puzzling over. Notions of confession, absolution and possible redemption are introduced via Mathilde’s lapsed Catholicism then underlined by Enka’s confused attempts to atone for actions that resulted in Mathilde’s terrifying downfall – presumably drawing on Huang’s former Christian faith and her own struggles to forgive a close friend’s affair with Huang’s then-boyfriend. Huang’s title invokes the idea of the immaculate conception. Unlike other women all inescapably tainted by Eve’s fall, the Virgin Mary was considered uniquely free from original sin, making her a suitable vessel for the son of God. Mary’s fate is paralleled by a bizarre plot development whereby the decidedly less-than-innocent Enka becomes a willing vessel for Mathilde’s mind, striving to channel Mathilde’s creative abilities.
In many ways this is quite a messy piece, its multiple strands never quite coalesce – and the world-building’s definitely underdone. There’s also a major tonal shift between the early and later sections that some readers will find off-putting – slow and introspective gives way to a more frenzied, faster pace. But, even though this is nowhere near as disciplined and focused as Huang’s debut, I still found it surprisingly gripping, inventive, entertainingly unpredictable. I loved the coverage of art and Huang’s willingness to take risks and tackle challenging subjects.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Canelo for an ARC
Rating: 3/3.5
July 16, 2025
if "do i want her or do i want to be her" was a book
January 13, 2025
Science fiction is far from my favorite genre but Huang still manages to amaze me. Immaculate Conception is a remarkable piece that is enjoyable to read and will get the wheels of your brain turning.
Meditations on greed, AI and technology, digital identity, friendship, ownership over art, the wealth divide, bodily autonomy, and so much more. One of the more fascinating parts of Immaculate Conception (to me) was its focus on something that I have questioned a lot lately: what qualifies as original? Is there still such a thing as an original thought, an original idea, an original piece of work? Or are we all just regurgitating each others’ thoughts and words and feelings in various forms?
The writing in this book is superb and exactly what I expected having read and loved Huang’s previous work. Something about this one though feels superficial; connections between characters and the rise of certain technologies grew at an alarming rate or occurred mostly off-page. Initially I enjoyed this style—the way it seemed like Huang was cutting through all the bullshit and unnecessary fluff in order to break through to the real story—but by the end, I found myself wishing for more depth and excavation.
Even still, that didn’t steal too much enjoyment away from me and seems minor when compared to the quality of the rest of the book.
Thank you Dutton Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available May 13 2025
Meditations on greed, AI and technology, digital identity, friendship, ownership over art, the wealth divide, bodily autonomy, and so much more. One of the more fascinating parts of Immaculate Conception (to me) was its focus on something that I have questioned a lot lately: what qualifies as original? Is there still such a thing as an original thought, an original idea, an original piece of work? Or are we all just regurgitating each others’ thoughts and words and feelings in various forms?
The writing in this book is superb and exactly what I expected having read and loved Huang’s previous work. Something about this one though feels superficial; connections between characters and the rise of certain technologies grew at an alarming rate or occurred mostly off-page. Initially I enjoyed this style—the way it seemed like Huang was cutting through all the bullshit and unnecessary fluff in order to break through to the real story—but by the end, I found myself wishing for more depth and excavation.
Even still, that didn’t steal too much enjoyment away from me and seems minor when compared to the quality of the rest of the book.
Thank you Dutton Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available May 13 2025
June 29, 2025
SO good and gripped me from page one. Terrifying, heartbreaking and fascinating commentary on originality, envy and what makes us human. This one hit me especially because I recognized a lot of the feelings of artistic self-doubt Enka struggled with, and then have it take such a dark turn was unsettling, to say the least.
April 6, 2025
[4.5 stars] I love an author who has such a distinct point of view and voice that you could quickly identify their writing from just a few sentences. I enjoyed Huang's debut Natural Beauty and was eagerly awaiting the release of Immaculate Conception. After devouring this in 24 hours, I can confirm that I think it is even better than her debut.
The book could not be more timely as it confronts the threat of generative artificial intelligence to the livelihood of artists. We follow Enka and Mathilde, two burgeoning talents in art school with a bright future ahead of them. When their college announces the public release of a generative AI tool that creates art instantaneously, the entire art world is thrust into chaos. Artists enter ugly legal battles over copyright to their own ideas, the public becomes accustomed to instant gratification, and artists are forced to find ways to adapt. Artists are only deemed worthy of attention if they're willing to show the most raw and vulnerable aspects of their existence that AI cannot possibly capture. It leads to discourse around commodifying pain, the right to privacy, and the true meaning of art in late-stage capitalism.
Ling Ling Huang approaches this in a way I wouldn't expect most authors to. Everything in the novel is set from the perspective of Enka, whereas I think the easier choice would have been to frame things from Mathilde's point of view. For the reader, it tests our bounds of empathy and patience, but adds a layer of nuance and themes that otherwise would go unexplored. It would be a stretch to even call Enka morally grey, but her character arc explores important themes that Mathilde alone could not.
My only minor critique of the novel is the world-building. The integration of technology and division of classes is interesting, but seldom explored beyond the introduction. As a reader, I'm greedy - give me all the context and backstory behind a dystopian world!
Immaculate Conception is like the twisted, dark love child between Suture and Sirens & Muses that I'll be thinking about for weeks to come. If you're interested in literary science fiction (Goodreads classifies this as horror, which I don't think is quite accurate), it's a very timely read. Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC, and for solidifying Ling Ling Huang as one of my all-time favourite authors.
The book could not be more timely as it confronts the threat of generative artificial intelligence to the livelihood of artists. We follow Enka and Mathilde, two burgeoning talents in art school with a bright future ahead of them. When their college announces the public release of a generative AI tool that creates art instantaneously, the entire art world is thrust into chaos. Artists enter ugly legal battles over copyright to their own ideas, the public becomes accustomed to instant gratification, and artists are forced to find ways to adapt. Artists are only deemed worthy of attention if they're willing to show the most raw and vulnerable aspects of their existence that AI cannot possibly capture. It leads to discourse around commodifying pain, the right to privacy, and the true meaning of art in late-stage capitalism.
Ling Ling Huang approaches this in a way I wouldn't expect most authors to. Everything in the novel is set from the perspective of Enka, whereas I think the easier choice would have been to frame things from Mathilde's point of view. For the reader, it tests our bounds of empathy and patience, but adds a layer of nuance and themes that otherwise would go unexplored. It would be a stretch to even call Enka morally grey, but her character arc explores important themes that Mathilde alone could not.
My only minor critique of the novel is the world-building. The integration of technology and division of classes is interesting, but seldom explored beyond the introduction. As a reader, I'm greedy - give me all the context and backstory behind a dystopian world!
Immaculate Conception is like the twisted, dark love child between Suture and Sirens & Muses that I'll be thinking about for weeks to come. If you're interested in literary science fiction (Goodreads classifies this as horror, which I don't think is quite accurate), it's a very timely read. Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC, and for solidifying Ling Ling Huang as one of my all-time favourite authors.
August 2, 2025
Enka meets Mathilde in art school and quickly falls in platonic love. While Enka struggles to create innovative work, Mathilde’s installations are genius—and the wider art world agrees. Enka marries rich and mostly leaves her career aspirations behind, while Mathilde becomes contemporary art’s it girl. The two fall largely out of touch, in part because of Enka’s jealously, but when Mathilde’s most daring project to date goes horribly wrong and she goes missing, it’s Enka who tracks her down. Neither woman realizes how enmeshed their worlds are about to become.
Wow, I loved this one. The author skillfully blends sci-fi and satire to skewer the contemporary art world while beautifully portraying the complexities of female friendship. If you’ve ever been jealous of a friend or colleague, you might be slightly horrified by how relatable you find this book. The art installations and technological innovations in this story border on outrageous, and yet they feel like heightened versions of real-world trends. This novel was absolutely stunning, with a twist at the end that I loved. I definitely recommend this one!
Wow, I loved this one. The author skillfully blends sci-fi and satire to skewer the contemporary art world while beautifully portraying the complexities of female friendship. If you’ve ever been jealous of a friend or colleague, you might be slightly horrified by how relatable you find this book. The art installations and technological innovations in this story border on outrageous, and yet they feel like heightened versions of real-world trends. This novel was absolutely stunning, with a twist at the end that I loved. I definitely recommend this one!
Read
May 5, 2025Ling Ling Huang's follow-up to 2023's Natural Beauty focuses on the obsessive friendship between Enka and Mathilde, who meet in art school. But when Mathilde's art career takes off, Enka is willing to do anything to remain close to her friend—even if it means investing in a controversial new technology that allows a person to inhabit another person's mind, absorbing their emotions, experiences, and traumas.
—Emily Martin, New Horror Books to Keep You Up At Night
—Emily Martin, New Horror Books to Keep You Up At Night
May 23, 2025
i think i just need to accept that i dont really jive with the way huang writes dystopians :/ had similar issues after finishing natural beauty where it feels like huang wants to dial every last minute detail of her setting to the most extreme “dystopian” degree possible but doesn’t care to explore any of it- it’s mostly window dressing. instead of those details enriching the atmosphere though if anything it becomes distracting and cartoonish. Adds an unsatisfying quality to the story as well and while I did like the ending of this better than natural beauty i think i just need to throw in the towel here lol
November 12, 2024
I absolutely loved this. It was one of my top reads of the year by far, but it doesn’t release until 2025. I enjoyed Huang’s other book, “Natural Beauty,” quite a bit and was very interested in this one’s premise. I’m always on board for anything involving artists, especially when the plot gets dark. To say that Huang did not disappoint with “Immaculate Conception” would be an incredible understatement.
There was very little in the book that did not work for me, actually. The story held my interest from start to finish and kept evolving. It focuses on the friendship of two artists named Enka and Mathilde, and is told from Enka’s perspective. Huang knows her characters intimately, and vividly portrays the experiences of struggling, successful and pretentious artists in a believable way. There were times that Enka and her colleagues were discussing their projects and I had trouble following what they were saying, but I think maybe that was the point. I LOVED reading about the wild art installations and performance art that the characters in this world came up with. (Honestly, I wanted even more.)
This was a book that went to very strange and unexpected places, some dark and terribly sad. I could never predict what exactly was going to happen next. There were twists that I did not expect. It was the kind of literary fiction that I can’t get enough of. I loved the strange but subtle magical realism that Huang worked into the story. (People with unnatural abilities, technology combined with the human body to assist with the art process, etc.) There is never really a spotlight shone on this, and I thought that was interesting. Though I will say that there were a few times that I had trouble picturing what she was describing. The chapters are also separated into “Then” and “Now” sections, like a lot of current books seem to be, and I kept forgetting about the changes in time. The story somehow felt linear to me despite the transitions.
I particularly liked how this book handled friendship vs jealousy among artistic peers. Envy has always been something I’ve struggled with on a very personal level. It’s absolutely a part of being insecure, and there’s a terrible guilt that comes along with it. The author understood all of that. It’s the worst when it happens with people you really care about, because those dynamics are so complicated. You do want them to succeed, but you want yourself to succeed, also. They say “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and they aren’t kidding. But it’s a compulsion.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot itself, but bodily autonomy becomes a theme, as Mathilde is subjected to a situation in which her mental capacity is questioned and Enka is tempted by her inclination towards whether or not to take advantage. Their friendship evolves throughout their careers as success, failure and manipulation brings them closer and tears them apart repeatedly. The novel also questions whether or not trauma really contributes to an artist’s creativity, and if that artist would be the same person without it. (A fascinating concept!) There are multiple complex stories and concepts being explored in this book and I loved all of them.
You should know that this is definitely not a light or easy read. Things get very dark and unsettling. You are reading from the perspective of a character who can most likely never be truly happy, no matter what happens. Enka is potentially irredeemable, and very difficult to root for. However, there were still parts of her that I could relate to, as much as I hate to admit it. I wanted something a bit different from the ending, though I’m not entirely sure what that would be. And I still consider this to be a solid 5-star read and a new favorite in general. Highly recommend if you like dark stories about artists!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and it was an honor to read this early.
Biggest TW: Self-harm, Child death, Racism, Depression, Mention of Sexual Assault
There was very little in the book that did not work for me, actually. The story held my interest from start to finish and kept evolving. It focuses on the friendship of two artists named Enka and Mathilde, and is told from Enka’s perspective. Huang knows her characters intimately, and vividly portrays the experiences of struggling, successful and pretentious artists in a believable way. There were times that Enka and her colleagues were discussing their projects and I had trouble following what they were saying, but I think maybe that was the point. I LOVED reading about the wild art installations and performance art that the characters in this world came up with. (Honestly, I wanted even more.)
This was a book that went to very strange and unexpected places, some dark and terribly sad. I could never predict what exactly was going to happen next. There were twists that I did not expect. It was the kind of literary fiction that I can’t get enough of. I loved the strange but subtle magical realism that Huang worked into the story. (People with unnatural abilities, technology combined with the human body to assist with the art process, etc.) There is never really a spotlight shone on this, and I thought that was interesting. Though I will say that there were a few times that I had trouble picturing what she was describing. The chapters are also separated into “Then” and “Now” sections, like a lot of current books seem to be, and I kept forgetting about the changes in time. The story somehow felt linear to me despite the transitions.
I particularly liked how this book handled friendship vs jealousy among artistic peers. Envy has always been something I’ve struggled with on a very personal level. It’s absolutely a part of being insecure, and there’s a terrible guilt that comes along with it. The author understood all of that. It’s the worst when it happens with people you really care about, because those dynamics are so complicated. You do want them to succeed, but you want yourself to succeed, also. They say “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and they aren’t kidding. But it’s a compulsion.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot itself, but bodily autonomy becomes a theme, as Mathilde is subjected to a situation in which her mental capacity is questioned and Enka is tempted by her inclination towards whether or not to take advantage. Their friendship evolves throughout their careers as success, failure and manipulation brings them closer and tears them apart repeatedly. The novel also questions whether or not trauma really contributes to an artist’s creativity, and if that artist would be the same person without it. (A fascinating concept!) There are multiple complex stories and concepts being explored in this book and I loved all of them.
You should know that this is definitely not a light or easy read. Things get very dark and unsettling. You are reading from the perspective of a character who can most likely never be truly happy, no matter what happens. Enka is potentially irredeemable, and very difficult to root for. However, there were still parts of her that I could relate to, as much as I hate to admit it. I wanted something a bit different from the ending, though I’m not entirely sure what that would be. And I still consider this to be a solid 5-star read and a new favorite in general. Highly recommend if you like dark stories about artists!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and it was an honor to read this early.
Biggest TW: Self-harm, Child death, Racism, Depression, Mention of Sexual Assault
October 28, 2024
If you don't want to spiral into an existential crisis or two (or five), don't read this book. But also, you suck then. Sorry, I don't make the rules.
Is there such thing as an original thought? Do you really want to know the ones you love as fully as possible? What's the driving force in creativity, and how can it be harnessed? And at what point can - or better, should - that creativity be considered genius? Those are just a handful of the questions you'll be left to ruminate on thanks to Ling Ling Huang's Immaculate Conception.
Ling Ling Huang blows my mind, once again. I had been putting off reading this ARC because my hopes were so high I was afraid to be disappointed. Lemme tell ya, I wasn't. As in her first novel, Ling Ling Huang manages to write the hottest of takes beautifully. The clarity with which she described each piece, the imagery was unmatched. I read some of Sirens & Muses (also largely focused on the art world) and struggled at times with visualization. There was no such problem here.
To say I'm a layman in the art world would be an understatement; I was googling artist names, names of pieces, names of museums mentioned, more often than I'd like to admit. Yet I never felt left out or (very) intimidated by the author's immense knowledge on the topic, my comprehension of the whole wasn't hindered by ignorance of the finer details. My preference of Canva-made graphics to aged, fine art could remain intact.
Dare I say I prefer this to her debut novel, Natural Beauty? I'll be picking up a paper copy on pub day, 5/13/25!
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Ling Ling Huang and publisher Dutton for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
Is there such thing as an original thought? Do you really want to know the ones you love as fully as possible? What's the driving force in creativity, and how can it be harnessed? And at what point can - or better, should - that creativity be considered genius? Those are just a handful of the questions you'll be left to ruminate on thanks to Ling Ling Huang's Immaculate Conception.
Ling Ling Huang blows my mind, once again. I had been putting off reading this ARC because my hopes were so high I was afraid to be disappointed. Lemme tell ya, I wasn't. As in her first novel, Ling Ling Huang manages to write the hottest of takes beautifully. The clarity with which she described each piece, the imagery was unmatched. I read some of Sirens & Muses (also largely focused on the art world) and struggled at times with visualization. There was no such problem here.
To say I'm a layman in the art world would be an understatement; I was googling artist names, names of pieces, names of museums mentioned, more often than I'd like to admit. Yet I never felt left out or (very) intimidated by the author's immense knowledge on the topic, my comprehension of the whole wasn't hindered by ignorance of the finer details. My preference of Canva-made graphics to aged, fine art could remain intact.
Dare I say I prefer this to her debut novel, Natural Beauty? I'll be picking up a paper copy on pub day, 5/13/25!
{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Ling Ling Huang and publisher Dutton for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}
May 21, 2025
although this felt a little too "kitchen sink" but not enough development for each thing, I enjoyed the various pieces and plot points, as well as the very last line. this absolutely falls under the category of "books like Black Mirror" & I can't wait to see what Ling Ling Huang does next. if you love pretentious art discussions and obsession stories like I do, try this one out!
July 19, 2025
Something of Mathilde's creativity was lost when Mathilde's mind and my body were connected; some unknown quantity of her creativity was stored in her body, out of reach to someone who could only access her mind.
Huang has nailed that proverbially difficult second book with this follow up to her Natural Beauty. Once again, she has created a zeitgeisty narrative that isn't easily categorised: if Natural Beauty leaned into body horror, this one is more attuned to speculative fiction. The blurb is clear about the human-technology theme and some of the beats of the story have been done before: the close female friendship that is built on envy and jealousy; the predations of the contemporary art world; the 'what makes us human' questioning as technology and humanity merge - but, to Huang's credit, she makes these elements feel fresh again in the way that she combines them and puts them to work in a lightly futuristic world where class is physically buffered by silver 'walls' which separate the enclaves of the wealthy from the fringes of everyone else.
What made this stand out for me is the creativity - as well as light satire - of the art works that punctuate the story, as well as the exploration of where creativity might reside and how it might be affected by trauma as well as other life experience. In that sense, this is a cautiously optimistic book which asserts that however much AI might be able to derive art from what has gone before, there's an emotive corporeality that is inextricably part of humanity.
With gestures towards the predatory nature of late-stage capitalism and the commodification of pretty much everything, as well as the 'democratisation' of social media and the internet pushed to the nth degree, this is very much a 'now' novel that is built on ideas yet puts personal relations at the heart of the story.
March 4, 2025
If I hadn't enjoyed Huang's previous novel NATURAL BEAUTY so much I'm not sure I would have stuck with this one. Eventually it has some interesting ideas but the writing is quite flat, the prose version of a monotone, measured and steady even when there is something extraordinary happening or a significant depth of feeling from the first person narrator. I never fully warmed up to it because of that voice, but I can't deny that I'm glad I finished it. Huang is grappling with interesting questions of art and authorship and creativity, questions that feel incredibly relevant in the present moment of AI.
Huang also successfully builds a whole near-future world of art and technology, both of which are incredibly difficult things to do. The art is most successful, and I'd argue the most difficult. And that was what kept drawing me back to the book, was the way Mathilde and Enka explored the possibilities of art and expression. The pieces Huang imagines are compelling enough to hang such a grand plot on, which is no small feat.
Huang also successfully builds a whole near-future world of art and technology, both of which are incredibly difficult things to do. The art is most successful, and I'd argue the most difficult. And that was what kept drawing me back to the book, was the way Mathilde and Enka explored the possibilities of art and expression. The pieces Huang imagines are compelling enough to hang such a grand plot on, which is no small feat.
October 17, 2024
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, it's too good to be a 2, but I'm not sure I loved it. 3.5 stars? Rounded down.
Immaculate Conception follows Enka and Mathilde's friendship. Mathilde is an artistic genius, envied by everyone in their art school. Enka, who is also very envious, befriends her, and while her career tanks, Mathilde's rises to stardom. Enka works in art technology and gets the great opportunity to make art for the SCAFOLD project - a project that downloads someone's brain inside your brain.
The book is heavy on art and Huang manages to make the characters pretentious, but not her writing, which is a feat. This being said, this is mostly about artists trying to win against AI and thus art gets wacky.
Theme-wise, this is mostly about bizarre art, post-humanism, and toxic friendships. All of it was amazing, but the dystopic setting needed more chewing (it's got an IP-based caste system and that seems sort of silly since it's so easy to change IPs?). Aaaand the book featured something I *hate* in sci-fi books, won't say what because it's a twisty twist, but that sort of made me go from 'I'm not enjoying this book' to 'yikes I hate this' in one page.
I'm not as petty as to say "you added (blank) so I hate your book," the biggest reason I struggled with Immaculate Conception was the characters. The writing is good. But the relationships were so awkward and superficial. We're following two best friends, and later on, we have a woman with her 'loving husband', but it's all so... I don't know. Quick, simple, depthless? At first, I thought I just disliked Enka, but everything in the book character-wise lacked depth and richness.
It's a good read, not sure it was my cup of tea. Check trigger warnings.
*ARC received for free, this hasn't impacted my rating.
Immaculate Conception follows Enka and Mathilde's friendship. Mathilde is an artistic genius, envied by everyone in their art school. Enka, who is also very envious, befriends her, and while her career tanks, Mathilde's rises to stardom. Enka works in art technology and gets the great opportunity to make art for the SCAFOLD project - a project that downloads someone's brain inside your brain.
The book is heavy on art and Huang manages to make the characters pretentious, but not her writing, which is a feat. This being said, this is mostly about artists trying to win against AI and thus art gets wacky.
Theme-wise, this is mostly about bizarre art, post-humanism, and toxic friendships. All of it was amazing, but the dystopic setting needed more chewing (it's got an IP-based caste system and that seems sort of silly since it's so easy to change IPs?). Aaaand the book featured something I *hate* in sci-fi books, won't say what because it's a twisty twist, but that sort of made me go from 'I'm not enjoying this book' to 'yikes I hate this' in one page.
I'm not as petty as to say "you added (blank) so I hate your book," the biggest reason I struggled with Immaculate Conception was the characters. The writing is good. But the relationships were so awkward and superficial. We're following two best friends, and later on, we have a woman with her 'loving husband', but it's all so... I don't know. Quick, simple, depthless? At first, I thought I just disliked Enka, but everything in the book character-wise lacked depth and richness.
It's a good read, not sure it was my cup of tea. Check trigger warnings.
*ARC received for free, this hasn't impacted my rating.
August 19, 2025
My Brilliant Friend meets Yellowface, an incredible story of jealousy and a devastating message against AI art.
February 7, 2025
ARC for review. To be published May 13, 2025.
3 stars.
Erika meets Mathilde, a talented but tortured artist while both are in art school. They develop a deep friendship. Mathilde becomes famous and Erika is determined to keep herself in Mathilde’s life.
Erika then meets and marries a billionaire whose family company is funding technology that could inhabit brains. Meanwhile she and Mathilde become even more codependent. The book is about society, technology, betrayal and the nature of friendship.
I liked the book but I think taking on all four of those topics is a lot. The whole Enclave/Fringe thing really wasn’t explored much at all; there were just too many other threads to unravel. However I do love a book about complicated female friendships.
Also read as part of Book Riot’s 2025 Read Harder Challenge, #1 Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
3 stars.
Erika meets Mathilde, a talented but tortured artist while both are in art school. They develop a deep friendship. Mathilde becomes famous and Erika is determined to keep herself in Mathilde’s life.
Erika then meets and marries a billionaire whose family company is funding technology that could inhabit brains. Meanwhile she and Mathilde become even more codependent. The book is about society, technology, betrayal and the nature of friendship.
I liked the book but I think taking on all four of those topics is a lot. The whole Enclave/Fringe thing really wasn’t explored much at all; there were just too many other threads to unravel. However I do love a book about complicated female friendships.
Also read as part of Book Riot’s 2025 Read Harder Challenge, #1 Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
August 23, 2025
“The anticipation of pain as powerful as the pain itself….secretly I worry that the headaches are a physicalization of my guilt, maybe there exists in my subconscious a masochist hellbent on punishing me.”
June 3, 2025
TW/CW: 911 mention, depression, anxiety, grieving, mourning, death of parents, death by suicide, death of baby, gaslighting, toxic family relationships, toxic friendships, cutting, racism
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Enka meets Mathilde in art school. Mathilde is a dizzyingly talented yet tortured artist whose star is on the rise—and Enka, struggling to make art that feels original, is immediately drawn to her. The two strike up an intense bond that soon turns codependent. But when Mathilde’s fame reaches new heights, Enka becomes desperate to keep her best friend close—no matter the cost.
Enka quickly falls in love with and marries a billionaire whose family’s company is funding an unconventional technology purported to heighten empathy, which could allow someone else to inhabit Mathilde’s mind and absorb the trauma from her brain. Soon, the boundaries between Mathilde and Enka begin to blur even further, setting in motion a disturbing series of events that forever changes their lives.
Release Date: May 13th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Dystopian setting
2. Writing style was good
3. Enka is the biggest villain
What I Didn't Like:
1. "You breathe in and I breathe out" repeated over and over
2. First 20% of book was dull feeling and saturated with boring art stats and styles
3. Some parts felt repetitive at times
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Enka's obsession with Mathilde is creepy. I can't understand how Enka was able to get into this program. She has no art direction and seems to just copy other people.
This weird world where French people are treated like paras is crazy.
I hate Enka. She ignores Mathilde for years but then she is getting married so she wants her there. It's like why? She gets jealous when people give Mathilde attention when Enka wanted the attention of knowing Mathilde in person. She doesn't make any sense. She says she isn't jealous but she clearly is. She then goes right back to ignoring her after the wedding.
When Enka finds Mathilde and sees she's grieving the death of her child she pretty much dismisses her feelings and tells her to get over it.
Enka even thinks she's happy that Mathilde's child die so she can be there for her kids. What a terrible friend. There was like one moment where I actually felt bad for Enka and that was how Mona treated her and wouldn't let her have a relationship with her child. That's all I am willing to give Enka!
Ahh and then Enka sells out Mathilde and says she is self harming and needs to stay because Enka needs her for her art.
Omg so Enka can actually get worse... When she finds out that Mathilde is kind of like a modern marvel she pulls out the tube for her testing changing the results. I only have one issue with this though since the one scientist saw her scan how would he have not noticed that it changed when he left the room and wasn't what it said before?
Shut up that Logan is actually a clone of his father's dna. I gasped out loud!
Ahhhhhh and now Enka is getting access to Mathilde’s brain and is thinking of taking her talent for her own.
Of course this piece of crap human Enka would tell her husband that he is nothing and not human. How horrible.
I can not believe that Enka gets a happy ending. She gets the husband she ruined. She gets the family and friends. Everyone thinks that Mathilde is dead and now she has woken up enough to ask for pen and paper to draw, but we know Enka hasn't changed and she's going to steal all her art.
Final Thoughts:
Can A24 get on making this a movie yet???
My heart is weeping for Mathilde. She lost everything just because she gave Enka a chance at friendship. She was already so broken and she trusted her only for this psycho to bleed her dry.
I almost quit this book the first 75 pages in because it was art heavy (yes, I know it's what the book was about) but something told me to stick with it and see where it went - I am so glad I did! It took so many turns from a toxic friendship, to a weird dystopian world, and then husband that's a clone. It was such a crazy story. I started with one star, went to three stars, jumped to 4 stars, and ended with this book getting 5 stars, but how could I give it any less!? So much packed into 300 pages.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Dutton for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Enka meets Mathilde in art school. Mathilde is a dizzyingly talented yet tortured artist whose star is on the rise—and Enka, struggling to make art that feels original, is immediately drawn to her. The two strike up an intense bond that soon turns codependent. But when Mathilde’s fame reaches new heights, Enka becomes desperate to keep her best friend close—no matter the cost.
Enka quickly falls in love with and marries a billionaire whose family’s company is funding an unconventional technology purported to heighten empathy, which could allow someone else to inhabit Mathilde’s mind and absorb the trauma from her brain. Soon, the boundaries between Mathilde and Enka begin to blur even further, setting in motion a disturbing series of events that forever changes their lives.
Release Date: May 13th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Dystopian setting
2. Writing style was good
3. Enka is the biggest villain
What I Didn't Like:
1. "You breathe in and I breathe out" repeated over and over
2. First 20% of book was dull feeling and saturated with boring art stats and styles
3. Some parts felt repetitive at times
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Enka's obsession with Mathilde is creepy. I can't understand how Enka was able to get into this program. She has no art direction and seems to just copy other people.
This weird world where French people are treated like paras is crazy.
I hate Enka. She ignores Mathilde for years but then she is getting married so she wants her there. It's like why? She gets jealous when people give Mathilde attention when Enka wanted the attention of knowing Mathilde in person. She doesn't make any sense. She says she isn't jealous but she clearly is. She then goes right back to ignoring her after the wedding.
When Enka finds Mathilde and sees she's grieving the death of her child she pretty much dismisses her feelings and tells her to get over it.
Enka even thinks she's happy that Mathilde's child die so she can be there for her kids. What a terrible friend. There was like one moment where I actually felt bad for Enka and that was how Mona treated her and wouldn't let her have a relationship with her child. That's all I am willing to give Enka!
Ahh and then Enka sells out Mathilde and says she is self harming and needs to stay because Enka needs her for her art.
Omg so Enka can actually get worse... When she finds out that Mathilde is kind of like a modern marvel she pulls out the tube for her testing changing the results. I only have one issue with this though since the one scientist saw her scan how would he have not noticed that it changed when he left the room and wasn't what it said before?
Shut up that Logan is actually a clone of his father's dna. I gasped out loud!
Ahhhhhh and now Enka is getting access to Mathilde’s brain and is thinking of taking her talent for her own.
Of course this piece of crap human Enka would tell her husband that he is nothing and not human. How horrible.
I can not believe that Enka gets a happy ending. She gets the husband she ruined. She gets the family and friends. Everyone thinks that Mathilde is dead and now she has woken up enough to ask for pen and paper to draw, but we know Enka hasn't changed and she's going to steal all her art.
Final Thoughts:
Can A24 get on making this a movie yet???
My heart is weeping for Mathilde. She lost everything just because she gave Enka a chance at friendship. She was already so broken and she trusted her only for this psycho to bleed her dry.
I almost quit this book the first 75 pages in because it was art heavy (yes, I know it's what the book was about) but something told me to stick with it and see where it went - I am so glad I did! It took so many turns from a toxic friendship, to a weird dystopian world, and then husband that's a clone. It was such a crazy story. I started with one star, went to three stars, jumped to 4 stars, and ended with this book getting 5 stars, but how could I give it any less!? So much packed into 300 pages.
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Thanks to Netgalley and Dutton for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 26, 2025
This book is a mind bender. Well, it's a bit on the nose for me to say, since mind bending is what the book is about in large part. Still, it bent my mind.
It's hard to talk about this book without giving it away. There wasn't a whole lot of action, but there was one big revelation after another. Each one raised the level of this book's no-way factor higher and higher. Enka reminded me a lot of our current TACO - constantly creating destruction wherever she goes with complete oblivion and obliviousness. She pretends to care, but she only cares for herself. She's driven by insecurity and jealousy. She's in denial of who she is at her core - an empty, broken, inner child who's so ugly that it's hard to feel any compassion for her.
Logan's entire existence is weird. He seems perfect, but you know - things too good to be true usually are too good to be true, right? I felt sorry for him. He had no choice in being who he was. His parents, on the other hand, are as selfish and careless as Enka. Still, if I had the bombshell dropped on me about who he really was, I don't think I could look at him the same way or want to stay married to him or even look him in the eyes ever again.
Monika is as toxic as Enka, but she knows what she's doing and doesn't care. She doesn't apologize because this is how she became the powerful and wealthy person she is. And like some of the wealthiest people in the world, all she does is seek more power and more wealth. Gross.
Mathilde - poor, poor Mathilde, and yet, she is the only hero in this story. I did want to throw water at her to wake her up, though. Like all victims of gaslighting, controlling, villains, she was too naive and gullible and giving from the beginning. She didn't want this relationship with Enka, but she gave into Enka's persistence. Worst decision of her life. People, please hear me when I say - listen to your intuition! It will save your life!!
I would give this book a five, but my mind feels too scraped out to give it that acknowledgement.
It's hard to talk about this book without giving it away. There wasn't a whole lot of action, but there was one big revelation after another. Each one raised the level of this book's no-way factor higher and higher. Enka reminded me a lot of our current TACO - constantly creating destruction wherever she goes with complete oblivion and obliviousness. She pretends to care, but she only cares for herself. She's driven by insecurity and jealousy. She's in denial of who she is at her core - an empty, broken, inner child who's so ugly that it's hard to feel any compassion for her.
Logan's entire existence is weird. He seems perfect, but you know - things too good to be true usually are too good to be true, right? I felt sorry for him. He had no choice in being who he was. His parents, on the other hand, are as selfish and careless as Enka. Still, if I had the bombshell dropped on me about who he really was, I don't think I could look at him the same way or want to stay married to him or even look him in the eyes ever again.
Monika is as toxic as Enka, but she knows what she's doing and doesn't care. She doesn't apologize because this is how she became the powerful and wealthy person she is. And like some of the wealthiest people in the world, all she does is seek more power and more wealth. Gross.
Mathilde - poor, poor Mathilde, and yet, she is the only hero in this story. I did want to throw water at her to wake her up, though. Like all victims of gaslighting, controlling, villains, she was too naive and gullible and giving from the beginning. She didn't want this relationship with Enka, but she gave into Enka's persistence. Worst decision of her life. People, please hear me when I say - listen to your intuition! It will save your life!!
I would give this book a five, but my mind feels too scraped out to give it that acknowledgement.
December 16, 2024
4.5 - Ling Ling Huang has to be one of most impressive writers and freshest voices working today. Her work feels so singular, and I am amazed with how she bends genres so seamlessly. I had such high expectations for this after Natural Beauty, and I’m so pleased to say that this lived up to them for me.
I probably need more time to really articulate my thoughts on how Huang uses sci fi elements and the art world to create commentary about a variety of things (art, technology, friendship, etc). Truly my only complaint is that I wish we had gotten a bit more time with Enka and Mathilde during their formative years and watching their friendship grow because at times I didn’t really feel their bond after being told they were best friends, but everything else was perfect.
What a book!
I probably need more time to really articulate my thoughts on how Huang uses sci fi elements and the art world to create commentary about a variety of things (art, technology, friendship, etc). Truly my only complaint is that I wish we had gotten a bit more time with Enka and Mathilde during their formative years and watching their friendship grow because at times I didn’t really feel their bond after being told they were best friends, but everything else was perfect.
What a book!
August 6, 2025
4.75 stars
A toxic pair of tortured artists—having already been a fan of Natural Beauty, I’m thrilled to say Ling Ling Huang’s follow-up, Immaculate Conception, is yet another engrossing, thought-provoking page-turner. It folds in themes of friendship, technology, fine art, and classism within a speculative narrative that’s unapologetically high-concept. Just a heads-up—this leans much more into literary fiction than traditional horror (despite its top label on Goodreads).
I thought the friendship in R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface was problematic, but the relationship between Enka and Mathilde operates on a whole different level—being jealous of someone else's grief and trauma is an insane concept to explore! I particularly appreciate the decision in setting the story in a fictional future, the light sci-fi elements provide framework for high-stakes decisions and allow for morally ambiguous choices that are both conceptually fascinating and emotionally charged.
The novel immerses itself in the world of fine art; while this niche focus might alienate some readers, that’s also proving its point—the practice and appreciation of art as a pursuit often reserved for the privileged. As someone who went to art school and endured similar critiques and exercises, I couldn’t help but feel both seen and slightly roasted by the book’s portrayal of insular intellectualism. It’s self-indulgent, yes—but I also can't deny its allure.
With Immaculate Conception, Ling Ling Huang has officially become an auto-read author for me. I love the scale of her ideas, her surreal prose (reminding me a bit of Mona Awad), and how she packages all of it into something genuinely addictive. That said, I’d still recommend starting with Natural Beauty—while the subject matter here really worked for me, I can see how its pretentiousness might rub some readers the wrong way.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A toxic pair of tortured artists—having already been a fan of Natural Beauty, I’m thrilled to say Ling Ling Huang’s follow-up, Immaculate Conception, is yet another engrossing, thought-provoking page-turner. It folds in themes of friendship, technology, fine art, and classism within a speculative narrative that’s unapologetically high-concept. Just a heads-up—this leans much more into literary fiction than traditional horror (despite its top label on Goodreads).
I thought the friendship in R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface was problematic, but the relationship between Enka and Mathilde operates on a whole different level—being jealous of someone else's grief and trauma is an insane concept to explore! I particularly appreciate the decision in setting the story in a fictional future, the light sci-fi elements provide framework for high-stakes decisions and allow for morally ambiguous choices that are both conceptually fascinating and emotionally charged.
The novel immerses itself in the world of fine art; while this niche focus might alienate some readers, that’s also proving its point—the practice and appreciation of art as a pursuit often reserved for the privileged. As someone who went to art school and endured similar critiques and exercises, I couldn’t help but feel both seen and slightly roasted by the book’s portrayal of insular intellectualism. It’s self-indulgent, yes—but I also can't deny its allure.
With Immaculate Conception, Ling Ling Huang has officially become an auto-read author for me. I love the scale of her ideas, her surreal prose (reminding me a bit of Mona Awad), and how she packages all of it into something genuinely addictive. That said, I’d still recommend starting with Natural Beauty—while the subject matter here really worked for me, I can see how its pretentiousness might rub some readers the wrong way.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
March 19, 2025
just finished this ARC and this was a solid sci fi/dystopian/horror story that was super chilling at times. focuses in on obsession and jealousy, and somehow deeply emotional all at once! it felt very futuristic, clones and sharing consciousness? insanely good
May 30, 2025
Immaculate Conception isn't like any book I read before. It is horrifyingly steeped in AI and technology advances whilst showing us all too human frailties. Brilliant.
Set in an alternative future where people in the US are segregated into Enclave or Fringe and physical barriers have been set up to stop the two mixing. Enka is Fringe and set to stay that way but her art is just enough to get her a place at BCAD (an art college) where she meets the brilliant Mathilde.
As Enka and Mathilde form a friendship, Enka begins to realise she will never have Mathilde's vision and her envy grows while she becomes ever closer to her. Enka decides to take her own path and marries Logan, a multi millionaire with connections to the tech art world. Her life seems complete until an increasingly reclusive Mathilde disappears and Enka has to mine her memories to find her suffering friend.
I can't say any more because I'll give away the plot. The novel itself packs a huge punch as Enka tries to make herself and her art in the image of Mathilde. But nothing in this novel is quite as it seems, including the characters.
There are some extremely shocking examples of technology gone insane and what may constitute art in the future. But under all the tech is the simple human emotion of jealousy. Enka's envy of Mathilde leads her down some very dark paths. Ling Ling Huang certainly delves deep into the psyche of the person who knows they will never be a great.
You could liken this to the relationship between Salieri and Mozart but Enka's revenge is couched in an all consuming love for her friend. The lengths she goes to were certainly shocking but it is compelling reading and I could barely put it down.
There are serious issues addressed in this novel such as segregation, self-harm, AI, clone technology and death of a child.
I really need to read more by this author.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.
Set in an alternative future where people in the US are segregated into Enclave or Fringe and physical barriers have been set up to stop the two mixing. Enka is Fringe and set to stay that way but her art is just enough to get her a place at BCAD (an art college) where she meets the brilliant Mathilde.
As Enka and Mathilde form a friendship, Enka begins to realise she will never have Mathilde's vision and her envy grows while she becomes ever closer to her. Enka decides to take her own path and marries Logan, a multi millionaire with connections to the tech art world. Her life seems complete until an increasingly reclusive Mathilde disappears and Enka has to mine her memories to find her suffering friend.
I can't say any more because I'll give away the plot. The novel itself packs a huge punch as Enka tries to make herself and her art in the image of Mathilde. But nothing in this novel is quite as it seems, including the characters.
There are some extremely shocking examples of technology gone insane and what may constitute art in the future. But under all the tech is the simple human emotion of jealousy. Enka's envy of Mathilde leads her down some very dark paths. Ling Ling Huang certainly delves deep into the psyche of the person who knows they will never be a great.
You could liken this to the relationship between Salieri and Mozart but Enka's revenge is couched in an all consuming love for her friend. The lengths she goes to were certainly shocking but it is compelling reading and I could barely put it down.
There are serious issues addressed in this novel such as segregation, self-harm, AI, clone technology and death of a child.
I really need to read more by this author.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Group for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.
April 23, 2025
2.75 stars
This was a readable narrative with interesting thematic exploration, but I felt it was bogged down by uneven pacing and muddied technology.
The story was initially grounded in contemporary life, but the technology and futurism that developed were incomplete, like a half finished sketch. The world building needed much more context and explanation. There’s clones, brain merging, digital twins, immaculate conception, genome editing. Throw a dart at a speculative fiction dartboard, and Immaculate Conception will incorporate that trope into the narrative.
For a tale that involves art and artists, and stretches decades into humanity’s future, there is a noticeable absence of gender non-conformity and sexual expression within the pages of Immaculate Conception.
Overall, I think many readers will enjoy Immaculate Conception, it simply fell a little flat for me.
This was a readable narrative with interesting thematic exploration, but I felt it was bogged down by uneven pacing and muddied technology.
The story was initially grounded in contemporary life, but the technology and futurism that developed were incomplete, like a half finished sketch. The world building needed much more context and explanation. There’s clones, brain merging, digital twins, immaculate conception, genome editing. Throw a dart at a speculative fiction dartboard, and Immaculate Conception will incorporate that trope into the narrative.
For a tale that involves art and artists, and stretches decades into humanity’s future, there is a noticeable absence of gender non-conformity and sexual expression within the pages of Immaculate Conception.
Overall, I think many readers will enjoy Immaculate Conception, it simply fell a little flat for me.
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