This is the kind of book I could have read in one sitting, but instead chose to sit with it a while and immerse myself in the rich prose, beautiful setting, and engaging story.

A story told through the eyes of a young Romany woman named Orchid. She has settled down in, what was, a quiet town with her mother after an early life spent in hiding and running. I found myself immersed in this tale as we learn about the dark side of town, with the gold mining and the panni raklies - water spirits of the females who were wronged in the town. They capture the attention of Orchid one quiet night down by the gold mine tailings while she is out with her secret lover, Jack and thus begins the spiral of her life. Family secrets, friendship and revenge make up this haunting beautiful yet dream-like tale. But it’s very real in the aspect of climate and the people on top who have their hands deep in this world with no care as to what they leave behind in their wake as long as they get their dollars.

This novella explores the life of a young Romani woman surviving in an oppressive town, where she knows she has to keep her identity secret or else face ostracization and violence. The town is run by a mining operation and the narrative examines the forced invisibility of the Romani woman, as well as the ecological destruction and the violent strike breaks and unsafe labor conditions. Orchid also knows how to care for the plants that she is named after and the novel spends a significant time examining the nature that surrounds this mining town, rich in biodiversity and panni raklies (ghosts of murdered women).
One of the strongest points of this novella is its gorgeous writing style, lush and rich and full of descriptors that made it easy to picture the nature and feel the terror of its destruction vividly. It also felt a bit dreamlike, which added to the supernatural aspect of the story for me. The story dives deep into Orchid’s mental state, her fears and worries and rage, which was also beautiful. I also enjoyed the relationships she had with other people, especially the one with her mother and the one with her husband Jack.
Due to the narrative choice of telling this story in many, very short chapters, as well as the very descriptive prose the plot sometimes feels a bit barebones, which is the only reason this novella doesn’t get five stars from me. However, I still enjoyed reading it a lot and if you enjoy magical realism with a focus on ecological themes, you should check this novella out.

TW: animal attack, anti-romani racism, cancer, car crash, classism, death, forced sterilization, murder, racism, violence

Thankyou to Netgalley, Lynn Hutchinson Lee and Stelliform press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens is a short novel that claws you in from page one, sitting somewhere between ecological horror, coming of age romance, lyrical prose and managing to tackle themes of racism and classism it's an impressive feat, a short but punchy book.

We join Orchid, Jack and a host of other characters in several locations but most notably the fen, described so artfully you feel like you are walking through bogs, smelling Orchid flowers and speaking to panni raklei undead girls.

Whilst it was a little start stop and disjointed at times it actually added to the feeling of the book.

If any of the above sounds like your cup of tea, I'd highly recommend the book as an easy one sitting read.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. **

Lynn Hutchinson Lee presents Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens, a literary magical realism story written in mini-vignettes. Readers follow Orchid through her life as a member of the Romany diaspora who has settled in Canada. Orchid speaks with the rusalka of the orchid fens about how they have been wronged by society. Orchid lives alongside people of the First Nations as they go to town meetings to argue against mining in their cultural fishing grounds. Each chapter is a small snapshot of Orchid's life and the everyday magic and tragedies side by side within it.

This was 100% my bad. I'm not a literary magical realism reader on purpose. It isn't for me. I recognize the writing is right there where it should be for genre conventions and this slice-of-life story makes perfect sense within those parameters. I was expecting heavier horror components given that this was in the literary horror shelves on NetGalley and was excited to read something with Romany perspective. Also, the cover is completely stunning and drew me straight in.

Definitely recommend this story to fans of literary magical realism and appreciate the opportunity to read it early.

We love a novella filled with beautiful nature writing and creepy dead girls 😍 When I finished this book, I thought to myself, “wow I need to read something cutesy now to give my brain a break”, but in a good way. Lots of feelings to feel in such a small number of pages.
The only detraction, I think, is how anachronistic the story sometimes feels. When I first started reading, I assumed that the book was taking place at least like 100 years ago, and then the panni raklies have cellphones?

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review!

"The fen belongs to itself. Like us, it protects its own. It is a force like no other. It has no mercy."

Have you ever had this experience of waking up from a dream, where you remember you sort of remember its ghostly outlines, but not enough to grasp what it was fully about? Maybe you remember it was a pleasant dream, or maybe there was something ominous about it, yet when you try to return to that memory, it’s just out of reach. That feeling is very close to what I felt after finishing Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens.

The story follows a young Romany woman’s life in a seemingly idyllic mining town that hides its secrets just below the surface. Orchid finds solace in a lush orchid fen where she doesn’t fear the villager’s judgement. Here, she meets not only her future husband Jack, but a group of “panni raklies”; the spirits of dead girls that haunt the waters in which they were murdered. Through them, Orchid learns they history of the town; one filled with violence inflicted upon the girls and the lands alike, in pursuit of profit. As her own desire for revenge intwines with that of the panni raklies, it becomes clear that all roads will lead to eventual blood in the waters...

Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens is told in lush prose and extremely short chapters, often not even a full page long. It adds to the distinct and ephemeral atmosphere I described at the start of my review, but it can also keep the reader from fully connecting to the story as a result. When you have imagery and language this slippery, it becomes hard for the story to stick, and I fear the novel will lose some readers here, regardless whether that was intentional or not.
For me personally, there were many elements to the book that I loved. Part folklore, part eco-fiction, coming-of-age with a ghostly touch, and all told through almost poetic prose: that’s basically a listing of my readers-catnip. Yet the intangibility of some of the images, the short chapters and the lack of character development in our protagonists kept me at a distance. The story never stuck with me, and whenever I put it down, I felt a little lost trying to pick it back up again.

I adore Stelliform Press and love how they publish eco-fiction that’s just a little outside the mainstream. I have yet to have a full miss with them. Yet with Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens, I can’t help but feel like I wanted to love this more than the sum of its parts, and I didn’t.
If dreamlike fiction with an ominous tone is your vibe, I recommend checking out this novel, or any of the previous works by Stelliform Press for that matter. I’m a big fan in general.

Many thanks to Stelliform Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lynn Hutchinson Lee, and Stelliform Press for giving me a copy of this book.

Content Warnings: Death, Murder, Self-Harm, Minor Gore, and Racism.

"Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens" by Lynn Hutchinson Lee is now a new favorite book in my library. The story is about a Romany woman named Orchid, who lives with her overly critical mother in a small, Canadian town called Carminetown. Orchid falls in love with Jack, one of the men who works in the local goldmines, and marries him surrounded by nature. That's the thing with the two of them; they fell in love over orchids and the orchid fen. It is their special place. It is where their hearts join.

The fen and nearby river are also haunted by a group of woman and girls who have been murdered over the history of the town. They are driven by revenge, ghosts of those who were wronged. They call to Orchid, begging her to help them. Begging her to end their plight.

"Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens" is told through a series of short chapters. Some of these chapters are text messages, poems, information on fens and orchids, or in normal prose, giving the overall narrative a sort of dreamy feel. Some chapters are disconnected, more thoughts than substance, but that's part of the feeling, the emotion of the overall piece. In exploring the thoughts of the main character, Orchid, as well as her connection with the women in Carminetown, her beloved Jack, her mother, and the Earth itself, Lynn Hutchinson Lee crafts a thoughtful, powerful, and enchanted narrative about the strength of community, love, and trust.

I sincerely loved this novel. I wish it could be longer, however; I will note that the ending is a bit abrupt considering the pace of the rest of the novella. Many of the names in the book were similar to other names as well, making it a bit difficult for me to keep track of the numerous characters.

Overall, I would highly recommend this novella to anyone looking for a solid, if not short, read.

I am in awe. The writing was so evocative and emotional. I felt like I knew Orchid Lovell on a deep, cellular level. Her psyche, her peculiarities. I was immediately sucked into her world and perspective. This story was beautiful and heart wrenching in a subtle, almost intimate way.

The Romany culture and spirituality is woven into the story so beautifully. I don't know much about Romany beliefs and practices, but this book has truly sparked deep interest to know more.

The format of this book was very interesting. It was a bit confusing at first because there were SO MANY chapters, but after a couple of the vignettes, I got used to it and was able to become fully engrossed in the story. The short chapters really helped to pace the book, and give it that dreamy tone. It also helped me understand Orchid and the way she was processing the events in her life.

I would probably consider this book ecological horror in a way. The horror is subtle, but there were still moments I was biting my fingernails, afraid for Orchid or Jack or the panni raklies. The ecological emphasis was both daunting and inspiring.

In general, I truly, genuinely, was in awe and fascinated by this book. I was utterly enraptured by it and the different emotional and spiritual facets.

Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens – Lynn Hutchinson Lee
Lush, atmospheric, and brimming with longing, this novel paints a rich portrait of desire and self-discovery. Lee’s prose is intoxicating, immersing readers in a world where emotions are as wild and untamed as the natural landscape. A beautifully written exploration of love and identity.

Thank you net galley and Stelliform press for providing this early read in exchange for an honest review. Magical realism is one of my favorite themes and I was roped into the novella right from the start. This first-person narrative is engaging and declarative in its tone to aid readers through a difficult journey. The lyrical prose brought the vivid imagery to life and felt like I was watching a movie through print. The metaphors amplified the reading experience that I had to continue reading. We, the readers experience everything through the protagonist and her rich dialogue.
The citations at the end of chapters broke me away from the story each time and I would prefer this as footnotes and/or saved for the end section of the novel. However, with this being about climate change I understand the purpose of needing these references. This serves as a great allegorical warning of climate change and how this is exerted through Romani oppression and experiences.

This book is beautifully written but there were several time where I thought "wait, what's going on?". There was a lot of random things happening that didn't tie into the plot and a lot of plot holes happening. The resources chapter I thought was a mistake at first. That was really confusing. The basic underlying story, I really enjoyed. All the other stuff, I was getting lost and confused

The prose in this story is dark, lyrical, and seductive. I loved it. I loved the danger that lurked in every corner, the panni raklies and their vengeance from beyond the grave, Orchid's deep connection to the fen. I'm excited for what this author will go on to write.

Love, hurt and ecological revenge. Beautiful. Tactile.

Fragmentary: dreamlike, thrown beyond itself. Featuring (fragmentary) fictive academic bibliography: a technique I love, love love.

Lynn Hutchinson Lee seems to have been mostly writing short stories so far and Orchids shows a kind of sensibility towards the craft that is (more commonly, better) suited to shorter fiction: economical, masterly emotional, punchy, if a bit vague.

Beautifully written, this novella absolutely sings. Dreamlike and surreal, it tells the story of a community, particularly its women, fighting back against a corrupt mining company and the effects on both the people and the environment. It absolutely takes a hold of you with its characters and doesn't let go. Highly recommended.

This was really lovely!

The prose was beautiful, very dreamlike. I’m noticing a lot of “nothing can ever be the same again” in books that I’ve been reading recently, and this is very much part of this novella. I find it somewhat comforting that I am not alone in grappling with this concept.

The relationships in this were incredible as well, particularly between Orchid and her mother, as well as Orchid and Jack. Orchid and her mother particularly got me; I think that’s just what being close to your mom is like sometimes. It was well-paced, just as long as it needed to be. I would love to read more from this author and publisher!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Title & Author: Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens by Lynn Hutchinson Lee

Diversity and Representation: OwnVoices Romani, woman, Canadian

Genre: literary fiction, magic realism, speculative fiction (horror/fantasy)

Length: Novella

Publisher: Stelliform Press (indie)

Pub Date: 4/21/2025

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Notable Quote: "Girls and women and the land, it's all the same to the Galvestons, the panni raklies sing."

Read this if you enjoyed: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

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First line: "The orchid arranges her flower in the image of the pollinator she desires, whether bee, wasp, moth, or fly. The petals- fleshy, succulent, x-rated- can be rolled in, bruised, or caressed."

Summary (spoiler free): Orchid is a young Romani woman hiding her heritage in Carminetown, a rural, Canadian gold-mining center surrounded by water. A river, and a fen. It's a town with an undercurrent of violence- particularly towards women. So many that their spirits inhabit the waters as vengeful sprites, or "panni raklies."

That's not the only strange thing about this town. Orchid once saw a young boy seemingly born straight from the fen. As an adult, Jack, he seems to be the only man the panni raklies don't immediately turn their vengeance upon. Orchid and Jack fall in love, violence erupts due to corruption and expansion of the local mine, and Orchid's relationship with the water sprites becomes even stranger. And more ruthless.

_ _ _ _ _

This is my first 5-star read of this year, and it was a treat. Its chapters are short, ranging from 1-5 pages long, and this helps you speed through despite the dense writing. And it is dense. Heavy in abstract imagery, symbolism, and local and Romani colloquialisms, this novella is best enjoyed slowly. Some chapters may require a re-read, which is facilitated by their short length. The writing is beautiful; it is essentially prose poetry arranged into a narrative, and giving it your full attention to fall into the rhythm of its prose is essential.

While I do not have much experience or knowledge of the Romani diaspora, Hutchinson Lee's writing painted a vivid, understandable, and empathetic picture. Orchid and her mother's fear connected to their Romani heritage being found out is ever-present, lending an urgent and dread-filled backdrop to the lyrical prose.

Just as deeply felt is the linking of nature with women, female friendships, and safety. The orchid fen is a place of love, desire, and authenticity for the Romani family feeling alienated everywhere else. It is a home for the spirits of abused young women where they find support and companionship. It is also the target of corrupt men who treat nature and women much the same way- to be used, dirtied, and discarded. The men who are safe- Jack, seemingly literally born from the fen, the caring husbands of Indigenous women- are ones who respect and protect nature, just as they respect the women in their lives.

This is a book that will stick with me for quite a long time. If you enjoy quick, poetic reads with themes about motherhood, environmental justice, and community, give it a read!

Written in what feel like short bursts, Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens is a hybrid novella of mixed genre, it feels experimental, comprised of prose, poetry, encyclopedia definitions, mobile phone conversations and excerpts of non-fiction environmental texts.
It tells the story of Orchid, a young Romany girl living in Carminetown with her unwell mother. On one side of town Nurses Creek, known to be the resting place of the river spirits; the ‘Ruskalkas’; the panni Raklies; the dead girls who have not been forgotten by the town and are waiting for revenge their chance at revenge. On the other side of town is the Orchid Fen, a place of quiet beauty, loved by most who live in the town.
Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens is at once a horror story of what happens when dead girls start calling, a love story and a piece of environmental commentary that considers the results of greed and corruption in the mining industry. I could not put it down and sat turning pages well into the night.

This wasn't my favorite infestation book. I felt like compared to some of the others this just didn't have as much to offer. I usually really enjoy spore type horror and I didn't hate this or anything but it just fell sort of flat for me. Overall this was a good but not great.

I love orchids, so that title and synopsis by Lee combined with the incredible cover art by Jay Rasgorshek had me in a chokehold.

This is a darkly dreamy and atmospheric story. Short chapters, sometimes oddly styled prose, but totally enthralling. I felt like I was in the warm and muddy marsh waters at times and could picture myself as a bystander in many scenes.

I would’ve liked a tale more grounded in reality and less surreal, though, it was a beautiful read. The horror elements were more subtle, in varied creeping forms, so read this tale for all its elements, not just for fear inducing moments.

“In the fen there’s light. There’s life. Whirring air, shifting islets, motes of morning light on transparent wings, a haze of green things unfurling and opening to the sun. I’d rather be at the fen, that place where the laws are true, real, embedded in the underground networks humming from root to root.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Stelliform Press for a copy.