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The Changeling

A Novel

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The Changeling

Written by: Victor LaValle
Narrated by: Victor LaValle
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About this listen

 “Mesmerizing . . . a dark fairy tale of New York, full of magic and loss, myth and mystery, love and madness.”—Marlon James, author of the Dark Star trilogy

NOW AN APPLE TV+ SERIES STARRING LAKEITH STANFIELD • ONE OF TIME’S 100 BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF ALL TIME

Winner of an American Book Award, a Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, a British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel • Nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award, an International Dublin Literary Award, a Mythopoeic Award for Literature

When Apollo Kagwa’s father disappeared, he left his son a box of books and strange recurring dreams. Now Apollo is a father himself—and as he and his wife, Emma, settle into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Apollo’s old dreams return and Emma begins acting odd. At first Emma seems to be exhibiting signs of postpartum depression. But before Apollo can do anything to help, Emma commits a horrific act and vanishes. Thus begins Apollo’s quest to find a wife and child who are nothing like he’d imagined. His odyssey takes him to a forgotten island, a graveyard full of secrets, a forest where immigrant legends still live, and finally back to a place he thought he had lost forever.

NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST HORROR BOOKS OF THE DECADE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times • USA Today • The New York Public Library • NPR • BuzzFeed • Kirkus Reviews • Book Riot

“The thriller you won’t be able to put down.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

“Intense, riveting . . . The story is a long, slow burn with a lingering sizzle.”—Los Angeles Review of Books

“A modern-day tale of terror rooted in ancient myth and folklore, brimming with magical revelation and emotional truth.”—San Francisco Chronicle Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense Scary Magic Paranormal Marriage Emotionally Gripping Exciting Feel-Good Dream New York
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Lovely interwoven themes. Honestly I find this book more straight literature than fantasy or horror, it just uses those as tools for metaphor.

Loved it

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I really loved this book! It was such an interesting blend of a contemporary story of a young couple and their child coming head on into the nightmare of the old world. The narrator (also the author) added to the story as though he were telling the story as though it were his own personal story. I was engaged throughout the novel and couldn't wait to hear what would happen next. Strong plot right from the beginning.

Wonderful blend of the old and the new.

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The writing and narration was good but the overall story was lacking. It starts slow and takes a long time to get to the good meat of the plot. I wish the explanation at the end was a bigger part of the story as it was the most interesting. Also a note: This should have bright red trigger warnings all over the cover. TW for severe post partum depression and infant death. I honestly think this book could be harmful for someone struggling with these themes. This was the only source of plot/horror for most of the book. Overall I didn’t really like it.

Well written, rough story

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I was ready to give up on this book about 4 hours into it as it felt like I was listening to a new parent's blog. Then without warning, a complete switch in tone and pace gets things moving. The story ended up being original and entertaining. While this isn't conventional horror, the author explores those natural fears of parenthood and amplifies them.

The author is a decent enough narrator but he reads very slowly. Listening at 1.25 speed is a much better pace and 1.5 is doable but things occasionally become garbled.

Slow Start, Solid Finish

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Many unexpected turns which kept me riveted, sometimes because they seemed so on the nose

Exciting novel

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