In this inventive, poetic debut, Lieselot Mariën tells the story of a young mother who, after giving birth, becomes estranged from her new reality and struggles to inhabit her role. Drawing on mythology and the animal kingdom, Mariën weaves form and content into an exploration of language and meaning, in an attempt to capture an experience that resists both.
Longlisted Libris Literatuur Prijs 2026
“The story is so intimate it cuts to the bone; a formidable achievement for a debut.” – De Standaard ****
“In her utterly ingenious debut novel about a young mother with postpartum depression, Lieselot Mariën skillfully plays with form and content. The result is a gripping narrative that forces the reader to think, feeling their way through the text.” – NRC•••••
“A confronting, essential, and profoundly moving book.” – Humo ****