*Endling* by Maria Reva is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that beautifully blends dystopian themes with a powerful exploration of human resilience. Reva's rich storytelling and vibrant character development make this a captivating and unforgettable read.

Am I no better than a snail, sniffing out the softest, most rotten part of a log to feast on? At least a snail digests the rot and excretes nutrients, useful.

I never thought I'd rave about a book about snails (I'm only partially joking lol), but here we are...

Maria Reva's Endling is a profound exploration of survival, identity, and the intricate dance between humanity and nature, set against the backdrop of contemporary Ukraine. At its heart is Yeva, a solitary biologist dedicated to preventing the extinction of rare snail species. Her unconventional methods of funding her research—engaging with Western men seeking traditional brides in Ukraine—serve as a poignant commentary on the commodification of culture and the lengths one goes to preserve what is precious.

Reva masterfully intertwines the personal and the political, digging into the lives of three women entangled in Ukraine's booming marriage industry. As they navigate their personal quests amidst the looming threat of war, the narrative highlights themes of extinction, both ecological and cultural. The metafictional elements of the novel add depth, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, and prompting readers to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves and their power to shape our existence.

In a time when Ukraine faces great challenges, Endling resonates deeply, offering a lens into the resilience of its people and the complexities of their struggles. Reva's narrative is both a tribute to the enduring human spirit and a stark reminder of the fragility of life, making it an essential read for those seeking to understand the multifaceted layers of contemporary Ukrainian society.

Thanks so much to Doubleday for the gifted copy!

Maria Reva’s Endling is a novel that resists easy categorization. It is metafictional, certainly, with the author positioning herself as the orchestrator of an intricate and often darkly humorous narrative. But while its themes lean toward the bleak, it is not truly dystopian, nor does it embrace the full absurdism its premise might suggest. Instead, Endling exists in a category of its own—a rare and original feat.

The title refers to the last known member of a species before extinction, an apt metaphor for Yeva, a scientist who studies vanishing species while remaining steadfastly detached from human connection. In need of funding, she turns to Ukraine’s booming marriage industry, where she works as an entertainer for foreign bachelors seeking submissive brides. There, she crosses paths with two activist sisters plotting an audacious stunt: the kidnapping of an entire truckload of these men to expose the industry's commodification of women.

Reva’s novel is a sharp and often satirical examination of contemporary Ukraine—its contradictions, its survivalist spirit, and the uneasy relationship between past, present, and future. Beneath its humor and adventure lies a deeper meditation on storytelling itself: do the narratives we construct offer us agency, or merely the illusion of control?

Richly intelligent yet eminently readable, Endling is both an insightful social commentary and an absorbing literary adventure. A novel unlike any other.

Many thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the advance copy.

such an interesting book!!! the synopsis was spot on. It was a mix of horror and terrifying things mixed with comedy and ironic moments. I think it was a great take on the issues facing the world right now. It was a great book!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

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.