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 found Immaculate Conception to be thoughtful, vibrant, and incredibly intelligent. Enka was a fascinating protagonist, while Mathilde and Logan were just as interesting. The writing style was intensely readable, as well. I can't say that certain claims made of Enka's world were entirely believable, but every character behaved believably in reaction to these circumstances. I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.

“Everyone is jealous but they find a way through it.”

“To me, she was the moon, and I, the tide, alternately lapping at her bright milky feet and receding toward the dark shore.”

Quick synopsis: Two girls meet at art school and form a quick and intense bond. Enka, although talented in all her own rights, heeds in Mathilde’s natural creative genius so much so that she wants to crawl inside her brain and untap her genius for herself— and so she does.

Review: This book felt so fresh, new, and creative. It follows Enka and Mathilde from art school until they are in their 40s. Enka gets into art school on scholarship and meets Mathilde. Most people are intimidated by Mathilde but Enka is enamored and quickly becomes obsessed with her art and wants to get closer to her. The girls form a deep bond and friendship with each other.
Here is where this book takes a light scifi turn and becomes a wild ride I do not want to spoil too much. Essentially this book is one that touches on topics of girlhood, friendship, betrayal, love, loss and grief, depression, jealousy, the dangers of technological innovations, and penance. This is one that will forever live in my head rent free. I felt so many emotions reading this and felt so close to these characters. This is a beautiful and tragic story of one sided jealousy and betrayal and the other side deep love and admiration. 10x recommend!!
Thanks @netgalley and @dutton for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Immaculate conception out everywhere books are sold May 13, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐️3.75⭐️
The premise is really interesting, and I love the way she writes her characters. I feel the same way that I did with Natural Beauty overall— interesting concept but the last half was hard to get through for me and I’m not sure why.

I was both excited and nervous to dig in to this book. I enjoyed Natural Beauty so much, and I couldn't wait to see what Huang would write next. Thankfully, Immaculate Conception was not a disappointment.

Huang is covering a lot of ground here and all of the themes are tightly woven together, so it's hard to tease out a "main theme". If I had to highlight one though, it would be this: friendship and the fine line between awe and jealousy. As Huang writes in this book, "Everyone is jealous, but they find a way through it." The dedication ("for the jealous") immediately let me know that this is a book about a jealous person who does not "find a way through it". Enka starts out feeling insecure, and befriending the seeming prodigy Mathilde just makes these feelings spiral.

It's also an exploration of technology and its many uses. It first comes up in the mention of the barriers that are erected around the country, separating cities into "enclave" and "fringe" areas. Then there is the discussion of AI (Huang never explicitly calls it that, but I think it's obvious that this is what is being discussed) and its effect on the art world. And then we have the one-way mind meld, intended to heighten empathy and heal trauma but instead abused by Enka to live out her dreams of success.

I think Huang does a good job of hitting all these points, and the moral of this novel was quite apparent to me. My only issue is that some of the commentary felt more like it was sort of tacked on at the end of certain scenes to check off a box rather than weaving it in with the narration.

I also really appreciate how Huang found a way to tie music in to this book and Mathilde's artistic process. It both brings to mind the fact that Huang is a violinist and makes me wonder how music affects her own artistic process.

This had a lot of really interesting concepts in it that I'll probably think about from time to time. I did find it somewhat entertaining to read about the performative art pieces Ling Ling imagined and found them fairly pretentious but also fairly plausible. The scifi backdrop was very interesting and imaginative.

I think the main thing that didn't work that well for me was the character writing. I don't think anyone is intended to be particularly likable, but I didn't feel like I developed any attachments to Enka, Mathilde, or Enka's husband.

Received a free copy from Netgalley.

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.

Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang is a polarizing and ambitious novel that intertwines the intense dynamics of a friendship with the unnerving possibilities of futuristic technology. The story focuses on Enka and Mathilde, two artists navigating a relationship filled with admiration, jealousy, and obsession, set against the backdrop of a world where trauma and emotions can be transferred via cutting-edge science.

The writing is lush and cerebral, full of provocative ideas about empathy, art, and control. While some moments are thrilling and deeply affecting, others felt weighed down by over-explained concepts or a narrative that tried to juggle too many themes at once. I’d personally rate it 3/5, as I admired the ambition but found the characters less emotionally resonant than I hoped. It’s a book that will appeal to fans of speculative fiction who enjoy exploring the darker sides of human connection.

What a complete delight this book was! A complete postmodern narrative and a wonderful exploration of the art world and trauma. Its a bot slow going but really immersive. An excellent, compelling read.

"Immaculate Conception" by Ling Ling Huang is a provocative exploration of identity, faith, and personal transformation. The novel follows the complex journey of its protagonist, delving into themes of spirituality, societal expectations, and self-acceptance with lyrical prose. Huang’s compelling storytelling creates an immersive experience that challenges readers to reflect on the interplay between cultural norms and the pursuit of personal truth. I will definitely be reading more from Ling Ling Huang. This was a page-turner.

If a reader is from the art world, I think they will really love to read this book. For me, a very un-arty person, it took some getting used to but the author made the narrative very imaginative, crafting art with her words. I therefore found it slow going at first but gained momentum. At times I disliked what I read and at others, intriqued. I suppose it's each to his or her own taste. Overall, it has been a rather spectacular read.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

December 2024

Disclaimer: This is my own honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: May 13, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

The way I canceled all plans just to read this when I found out I got the chance to read this new book by our author! I love her writing style and her last book had me in a complete chokehold. OBSESSED. This book did me in again. I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished it.

The characters in this were very fleshed out and felt very real, the setting of this story and the premise behind it was amazing and the way Huang writes in such a way that you are able to see every part of the book when you read as though you are living inside this book. I love this about their writing.

If you want a book that touches on very real subjects and very raw emotions and feelings then this book is for you. This will take you on an emotional journey of sorts until the very last page. There are many triggers so be sure to pay mind to those but this story is well done & beautifully written, EASIEST five stars for me.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton

As much as I adored Ling Ling Huang’s first novel, I actually thought this one was even better! I love stories about artists, and I loved how Huang blended the art world with sci-fi horror so beautifully. So much is covered in this book, and it was truly very reflective of our time, and is a bleak but necessary look into our future.

A wholly unique concept and seamlessly-blended sci-fi. The world-building is done very gracefully, and I appreciated the artist perspective. Gives a lot of philosophical nods to the cross-section between art, technology, capitalism, and loyalty/relationships to other people.

Yellowface meets Black Mirror in this unsettling literary, light sci-fi(?) novel about two artists and best friends Enka and Mathilde: the latter being received by the art world as much more prolific and talented than the former. We follow their codependent relationship to toxic levels of technological and scientific manipulation.

This book asks a lot of questions about art and ownership: What constitutes art? What counts as "original" art? Is art born out of trauma? Is it ok to use someone else's art and/or trauma to inform your art? Bringing in the science and technology, it also asks questions about identity, creativity, talent, lived experiences, and the ethics of genetic experimentation.

I was a big fan of Huang's last book Natural Beauty, but this one felt like a step above in terms of craft, plotting, and character dynamics. For me, the novel started a bit slow and I was unsure of where it was going, but the novel really gets into a groove at around the 25-30% mark. 4.25-4.5 stars.

I would recommend this to fans of her last book, fans of art and art criticism, fans of gene technology and similar scientific advancements, and for fans of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang or the TV show Black Mirror.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this.

This book is brutally emotional, but in a satisfying and thought provoking way. Huang covers the breach of technology into art, jealousy, class disparity and whether trauma actually makes one a better artist.

The initial few chapters are slow going but halfway through it hits and doesn’t stop. I had to know how it ended. Another excellent book from Huang.

Unsettling from start to finish, and I mean that as a compliment. If you like dystopian novels, but find them lacking in woman-to-woman infatuation that leads to absolute self-destruction, then this is the book for you. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!

Ling Ling Huang, you absolute legend. Quickly rising the ranks to being one of my favorite authors. I read Natural Beauty about a month ago and it’s easily one of my favorites this year. When I saw this one available to request, I didn’t even blink before hitting the request button. I immediately skipped over my remaining 2024 arcs and started this one. And um, this is actually amazing? I mean, I’m not surprised! Huang proved she’s not a one-trick pony and delivered on an incredibly unique story here. Set in the not so far future in a dystopian world not did dissimilar from ours made for an uncanny read that was more than slightly terrifying. The cutthroat world of science, art, and friendship. This read is a TRIP. I had a vague notion of what this might be about based on the title but wow, even I didn’t imagine just how unhinged and dark this was going to go. I loved the nonlinear timeline and there were a few reveals that made my jaw drop.


Huang, you are incredible. I will read anything this beast writes. One of my favorites this year. If you love the intersection of horror and sci-fi with a lethal dose of obsession, look no further.

Immaculate Conception is a novel that I will be thinking about for a while.

It follows two artists, Enka and Mathilde who attend a prestigious art school. Mathilde is a prodigy - she is the star student and during her time at the Academy, has already achieved a level of success that Enka can only dream of. The two soon form a friendship that becomes borderline obsessive and co-dependent.

I really enjoyed how the author focused on themes of jealous, friendship, especially in the context of being envious of a friend's success and how that jealousy can manifest. I liked how we got a glimpse of the two's friendship over the years and how that evolved. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the various questions the author posed in this book: can we even create "original" art anymore? What are our inspiration for art and should we use all types of inspiration (especially trauma that is not ours) for art?. The use of technology in this book was very fascinating. I enjoyed how the author tied that with showing how art can be "extractive" and how jealousy can manifest.

Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to folks who enjoy reading stories of friendship and the role jealousy can play.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang is a sophomore novel that brings the author’s signature shocking and evocative style to the worlds of high art and advanced technology. Centering on a pair of friends Enka and Mathilde, and their meeting in art school, or follows how advanced futuristic technology and the world of high art impact them. While Mathilde is considered a genius, her trauma looms over her personal life. Enka, by comparison, is not given the same laurels for her work, but is initiated into the world of the ultra wealthy elite and their “innovations” controlling the very essence of humanity.

If you’re not familiar with performance art, conceptual artists, or the darker sides of the art industry in elite circles, you may be lost at the earlier points of this book. Once the initial parts of the book have passed, that becomes slightly less relevant as the art elements become a scaffolding for the questions of friendship and humanity.

As a sci-fi book, this is a great triumph because it poses different wildly invasive ‘is this humanity’ technologies against each other. Rather than focusing on a singular issue—shared minds, cloning, parthogenesis, genetic scans to predict someone’s future, genetic editing, Huang has created a world where all of these things are not just probably but possible. Thought this ubiquity, it really dissects what it means to be human or to be an individual.

The lion’s share of this story is a reflection on codependent relationships. From the very first few meetings between Enka and Mathilde, their relationship takes an unhealthy dynamic. Through the course of the story it twists and writhes, becoming different iterations of unhealthy as they age. Jealousy, envy, isolation, mental illness, consent, and wealth all play a huge role in the complex and turbulent relationship.

While I’m not necessarily someone who likes science fiction as a genre, this book had the elegant writing and uniquely shocking elements that had me enjoying Natural Beauty, Huang’s last book.

4/5 stars


(Trigger warnings: parent death, 9/11 mentions, self-harm, birth trauma, child death, child sexual assault, religious trauma.)