Rübezahl by M. Laszlo is a cornicopia of dark chaos that left me speechless and stupefied but in the best way. It is one of those books where you close the last page and wonder what on earth you just read and in that effect, it is absolutely genius.

Waltraud lives in a mythical (yet strangely dystopic) city, refusing to bend to the "groupthink" and follow the tide into modernisation. Trying to find a way out, seeking answers to the events of her life, she turns in desperation to the only person she believes has the answers and the escape she is desperate for, the mysterious Rubezhal. However, the person she thought would be her solution, became a very, very large problem

I cannot emphasise enough, my thoughts are so scattered that I wish I had written notes throughout as I usually would, but I was so immersed in the storyline that I did not want to put the book down for fear of breaking the threads as I followed them

(Note - Check TW's)

There are so many diferent concepts blended together in this book that they can at times feel overwhelming and as such, by grounding with Waltrauds perceptions, her threads, it is easy to see that the book is actually written in a cohesive and logical way that is equally satisfying and deeply terrifying. This book reaches new depths of dark gothic fantasy and I would certainly recommend it

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher Alkira for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

The story is about Waltraud, an adopted child - who was abandoned in the woods at three years of age because her parents thought she was a witch. Rubezahl is a "god" that took her in but she has no memory of this - not until way later in the book.

it is defintely gothic fantasy - I think also the city was trying to make sure to put Waltraud into her place because, she has given up the Church, not wanting to be involved in politics, has had multiple sexual partners (we only learn this in memories of her talking about it - not the actual acts), I think also she was raped in the past by two men, who told the man who loved her, that they had consensual sex.

At times, I was wondering if what was happening was really happening or in her head happening - but they appear to have actually happened.

I think this defintely is a cerebral book that I can go back and find new meaning.