This novel has a fascinating premise: three women caught up in Ukraine’s romance tourism industry take an unexpected road trip just as the invasion begins. But while the story is ambitious, its shifting tones don’t always come together. At times, the humor and absurdity make it hard to fully connect with the heavier themes, pulling focus from the story's emotional depth.

That said, the characters are sharp and memorable, and the novel's take on survival, both physical and emotional, has some truly brilliant moments. The metafictional elements add another layer, though they won’t work for everyone and sometimes distract from the core narrative. It’s an inventive and thought-provoking book, but the mix of satire and stark realism doesn’t always blend smoothly, making for a compelling read in some places but not my favorite overall.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Endling" by Maria Reva is a unique absurdist piece of darkly humorous metafiction set in Ukraine at the onset of Russia's invasion in 2022. There's a lot to unpack in this novel, and revealing too much would spoil the enjoyment, but it offers an amalgamation of perspectives.

The central character, Yeva, is asexual and a loner scientist who feels disheartened in her fight to save endangered snails. When she joins a bridal scheme targeting Westerners, she encounters sisters Sol and Nastia, the daughters of a former famous activist akin to the Guerrilla Girls, Marina Abramović, or Pussy Riot. The story unfolds as these women scheme to kidnap a dozen foreign bachelors.

This novel delves into complex themes, such as what stories get told, what becomes marketable, and the role of propaganda. The women are engaged in divergent struggles—one is focused on saving the planet, or at least the snails. Paralleling her solitary snail existence, Yeva is a nomad, retreating into her shell or trailer amid chaos. The themes emphasize how individuals cope differently when it feels as though the world is ending. Some leaders create conflict avoiding solving real issues like climate change, poverty, illness. Other people maintain a normal life, and many struggle to adapt. The novel looks at the role of art and storytelling have.

I believe fans of "The Extinction of Irene Ray" by Jennifer Croft or Noor Naga's "If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English" would appreciate this read. Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the ARC.
Rating: 4.5 stars.

After turning the last page of Maria Reva’s fascinating new book, Endling, I sat still for a few minutes and asked myself, “What did I just read?”

Certainly, it’s a book of metafiction. It’s written by a Ukrainian expat who reveals herself as the puppeteer of this engrossing story. I would not call it absurdist literature because, while the themes are pessimistic, I was left with a feeling of hope, not nihilism. Nor would I call it fabulistic or dystopian or heaven forbid, romance. Endling is sui generis, and that, in my opinion, is a very good thing.

Let’s start with the title. An endling is the last known member of a species or subspecies. When the ending dies, the species becomes extinct. Yava – whose name translates to Eve, the mother of humankind – is a scientist who studies these soon-to-disappear species. Ironically, she has no interest in marrying or procreating herself, and it’s not a stretch to think of her as closed up in her own little spiral.

Since funding is hard to come by, Yeva earns money by being part of the booming marriage industry in Ukraine. Her job is to entertain bachelors who arrive from other countries, hoping to connect with beautiful brides unfettered by modern ideas. There, she connects to two activist sisters hatching an audacious plot – to kidnap a truck full of these bachelors to shine a light on the industry's excesses.

To provide more of the plot would be to deprive readers of the delight of reading this original novel, which is threaded with fascinating insights about how the Ukrainian people are functioning and holding up in these surreal times. So many questions arise: in a country where it’s hard to hold on to the past or future, where everything is trained on the present, how do ordinary people survive? Does the illusion of romance ever equal reality? How do we tackle the forces of nihilism – and even extinction – to end up with hope? And finally, most importantly, do we have any power over the stories we tell that define our circumstances and also give us reasons not to give up? How do our stories help us survive?

All this being said, Endling is also an accessible book, that can also be read as a sort of adventure and a peephole into biology, the wedding industry, and the state of the Ukraine people today. I am thankful to Doubleday and NetGalley for enabling me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review.