Second Nature

by Ling Ling Huang

Bodie is a shy, sweet, curious boy who grows up in the Veil, cared for by his many mothers and devoted to his female God. He spends his days playing in the forest and fulfilling his various responsibilities, which include educating the younger children on the history of their world. Increasingly, he begins to love his closest friend, a boy named Aster, in a way he doesn't understand but knows is infeasible in the Veil.

When Bodie is told that he will undergo fulfillment—a mysterious act which signals his conversion to adulthood—he grows apprehensive. Soon, everything in his world shifts, and a darker truth begins to emerge. To save himself, and those he loves most, he may have to do the one thing that is truly forbidden. . . .

Genres: Horror, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Cults

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 13, 2027

About the author

Ling 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.

Reviews

[Marcus (Lit_Laugh_Luv)]

I HAVE AN ARC NOBODY PANIC
---
I have so few auto-buy authors, but you'd best believe that Ling Ling Huang is on that list. I need this EXPEDITIOUSLY

[Drew]

Pub Date 13 April 2027

Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Off the bat, I should say that Ling Ling Huang is one of my two favourite authors (the other being Iain Reid), so I went into this book with very high expectations. Her first two books were both 5 stars for me and favourites in their respective years. I really enjoyed this one, but sadly, it was not quite a perfect 5 stars.

I really enjoyed the story, but I struggled to envision the world of the Veil. Huang's writing is gorgeous and descriptive, but I could not, for the life of me, grasp what this world actually looked like. And the worldbuilding itself makes up a large part of the story. For that reason, I can’t quite give it a perfect 5.

As I was reading, I kept getting vibes of The Giver by Lois Lowry. I would love to know if this was inspired by it because I really felt like it was, especially since near the end we are introduced to a character named Lowery. Obviously, the spelling is different, but it felt like too much of a coincidence!

I really enjoyed the ending. It was probably my favourite part of the book. It brought the story together and answered some of the questions that lingered throughout, making sense of things that had been left unresolved earlier in the story.

I need more people to read this! At the time of writing this review, only two other people have reviewed it!

I will say that I think the longer I sit with this one, the more likely it is that it could move up to a 5-star. My mind tends to keep processing books long after I finish them, and I could see myself appreciating this one more as everything settles into place. But for now, a solid 4–4.25 stars!

[Erin McLaughlin]

Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!

Iiiiii was disappointed by this. I was expecting it to be something more original near the end but was disappointed in the directions it went in. The language really bogged it down as well, covering up what could have been some really lovely character moments. I felt like I knew where it was headed the whole time, and was not really excited to get there.

[Kristina Nichole]

I need this!!!!!

[Sage]

Ling Ling Huang became an instant read author for me after reading "Immaculate Conception" and "Natural Beauty." I am thrilled to have the chance to review an early eGalley from Netgalley. I will be writing a more in depth review closer to the publication date as is preferred by the publisher.

I will say, the writing from the first sentence is intoxicating and beautiful. The world building starts from the first line and continues to intrigue and draw in the reader as the story progresses. As is expected from a Ling Ling Huang novel, there are characters to love and characters to: be afraid of, to dislike, to be utterly baffled by, and to reluctantly come to adore.

I am a fan of Ling Ling Huang and I can't wait to discuss this novel with more readers as it definitely merits discussion worthy of its depths.

Thank you to Ling Ling Huang for sharing such an incredible talent, to Netgalley for the chance to read this early, and to Dutton for sharing this with me for an early eGalley review, with a longer review near Publication: April 13, 2027.

[Ronnica Fatt]

Our MC is questioning gender role, traditions, and identity in a matriarchal society. What touched me the most was the way our MC processes the deconstruction of the religious beliefs that they were taught and that ruled their life. Ling Ling Huang does it again: weaving a unique story together with beautiful prose and a strong perspective.

Thank you Dutton for the review copy.