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Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. See less
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The Changeling: A Novel Paperback – March 6, 2018

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 3,496 ratings

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“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
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The combination of Grimm-ish allusion and social commentary might seem pat in the hands of less capable authors, but [Victor] LaValle executes the trick with style. . . . LaValle has written a story full of things to terrify not children but the parents who lose sleep worrying about how best to protect them.”Time

“One of the reasons to read Victor LaValle’s novels is the simple sentence-by-sentence pleasure of them—they offer hundreds of baby dopamine hits, tiny baths for the prose snob’s reward system. . . . LaValle’s observations about race remain, as ever, both stinging and mordantly funny. . . . And his imagery is a source of immense satisfaction. . . . If monsters are your subject, writing like an angel helps.”
—Jennifer Senior, The New York Times

“[A] bewitching masterpiece. . . . Like a woke Brothers Grimm, his clever new spin on the ages-old changeling myth is a modern fairy tale for the Trump era, taking on fatherhood, parenting, marriage, immigration, race and terrifying loss. . . . LaValle impressively maintains his storytelling momentum throughout
The Changeling. . . . He not only recaptures the need for fairy tales but makes his essential reading as well.”USA Today (four out of four stars)

“Victor LaValle’s fabulist ode to fatherhood and fairy tales offers a new take on themes as old as time. . . . Throughout western mythology, white men with swords have been the heroes while the rest of us watch, oohing and aahing, from the sidelines. With his genre-bending novel,
The Changeling, Victor LaValle updates the epic narrative for the twenty-first century.”O: The Oprah Magazine

“Fiercely defies categorization. Written as a self-proclaimed ‘fairy tale’ in a punchy, inviting style, Mr. LaValle’s haunting tale weaves a mesmerizing web around fatherhood, racism, horrific anxieties and even
To Kill a Mockingbird. And the backdrop for this rich phantasmagoria? The boroughs of New York.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“I was frequently startled by
The Changeling’s piercingly beautiful insights into parenthood, childhood, [and] adulthood. . . . By turns enchanting, infuriating, horrifying, and heartbreaking, The Changeling is never less than completely engaging. . . . It’s a book that makes me want to seek people out to talk about it, to share together our own stories of reading it.”—NPR

“Fans of the macabre can’t miss the latest offering from prolific horror master Victor LaValle, which hurls us into the most harrowing abyss imaginable: parenthood. . . . Definitely scarier than anything you’ll hear around the campfire.”
Vulture
 
“This is a perfect summer horror read.”
Houston Chronicle

“Like a good Coen brothers film, this genre-defying, achingly literate phantasmagoria of a novel will work every nook and cranny of the imagination, taking the reader to places we’re either too afraid to visit or never knew existed.”—Paul Beatty, author of The Sellout

“Absolutely compelling, completely thrilling, The Changeling overflows with menace, wonder, and beauty.”—Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble

About the Author

Victor LaValle is the author of six previous works of fiction: three novels, two novellas, and a collection of short stories. His novels have been included in best-of-the-year lists by The New York Times Book Review, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The Nation, and Publishers Weekly, among others. He has been the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, an American Book Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Key to Southeast Queens. He lives in New York City with his wife and kids and teaches at Columbia University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ One World; Reprint edition (March 6, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812985877
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812985870
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.16 x 0.98 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 3,496 ratings

About the author

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Victor LaValle
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Victor LaValle is the author of a short-story collection, Slapboxing with Jesus, four novels, The Ecstatic, Big Machine, The Devil in Silver & The Changeling, and two novellas, Lucretia and the Kroons and The Ballad of Black Tom.

His most recent novel, THE CHANGELING, is an old school fairy tale. It's made to keep you up at night. It's meant to make you scared.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
3,496 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read with vivid descriptions. They appreciate the well-crafted family story that captures the anxieties of parenthood and creates a relatable tale of creating a family. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the reader feel for each character. The insights and relevant message provide a compelling and relevant narrative. However, opinions differ on the overall interest level - some find it compelling and thrilling, while others feel it lacks depth.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

107 customers mention "Readability"104 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging and relatable. They appreciate the well-written writing and the unique ideas that bring the fairy tale model to modern day NYC. While some parts are difficult to read, the story is satisfying and inspiring.

"...The writing is lyrical almost beautiful in scope. You care about the main character, about his love of books, the love he has for his wife his child...." Read more

"...The first half of the book, based in reality, was extremely well done, and the characters drew me in, wanting to get to know them more...." Read more

"...those two stories is tricky, at the best of times, but Lavelle does a fabulous job, for the most part, of weaving a chilling, slow burn contemporary..." Read more

"...It’s easy to read. The plot is easy to follow, but it does take a while to really get going...." Read more

52 customers mention "Writing quality"46 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the voice original, observant, and easy to read. The descriptions are vivid and the author writes from a black perspective without being too heavy-handed.

"...The style of writing does not change. The writing is lyrical almost beautiful in scope...." Read more

"...Overall, well written and well told, and I'll be looking for LaValle's other works." Read more

"...The writing style of this story is an interesting blend of prose and choppiness that really adds to the creepy and vaguely unsettling nature of the..." Read more

"Greta read, definitely would suggest reading this over watching the show. Ending still kinda sucked." Read more

50 customers mention "Family story"35 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the family story. They find it relatable and honest, capturing the challenges of parenthood. The book is described as a testament to the power of family ties. Readers appreciate the father's love for his child. The story is compelling and honest, challenging readers to confront their feelings and emotions. While staying true to the original fairy tales, it stays true to modern day storytelling.

"...It is compelling, honest, and forces the reader to confront feelings, emotions, and perceptions that cannot be real. Is there a good witch?..." Read more

"...While it has trolls and witches, family secrets, and an element of fantasy, it also has a very relevant message, a cautionary tale against..." Read more

"Oh gosh, can I be honest. I was 75% confused this entire book. Why? Idk it was just confusing to me, but once we MADE it toward the end...." Read more

"...on the tradition of the original fairy tales: stories shared by adults that concern adult anxieties...." Read more

28 customers mention "Character development"25 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters and vivid portrayals of the protagonist's family and friends. They feel for each character and the villains. The narrator is unreliable but likeable, and the writing style is original and talented.

"...The writing is lyrical almost beautiful in scope. You care about the main character, about his love of books, the love he has for his wife his child...." Read more

"...the book, based in reality, was extremely well done, and the characters drew me in, wanting to get to know them more...." Read more

"...His characters are intelligent and multidimensional. No shortcuts...." Read more

"...I still am nearly 12 hours later. The characters are so well developed you can't help but wonder how they'll cope with a less fraught life, much..." Read more

23 customers mention "Insight"18 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insightfulness. They find it has relevant life lessons and truisms woven into a fantastical story. The book is well-researched and beautifully written, providing an interesting perspective and answering questions. Readers describe it as a great introduction to a wonderful writer.

"...Lavalle is a connoisseur of words and books...." Read more

"...family secrets, and an element of fantasy, it also has a very relevant message, a cautionary tale against oversharing on social media..." Read more

"...of genres: horror, fantasy, psychological thriller, and social commentary...." Read more

"Best book I’ve read in a while. So many life lessons and truisms woven into a fantastical story about the need to let go of our own demons and do..." Read more

113 customers mention "Interest"78 positive35 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some find it interesting and compelling, with an exciting journey. They describe it as a great fantasy/mythology/horror/mystery blend set in NYC. However, others feel the reveal is too long and the first half boring. The scenario can be difficult to understand, and the ending feels rushed.

"...It is compelling, honest, and forces the reader to confront feelings, emotions, and perceptions that cannot be real. Is there a good witch?..." Read more

"...of times, but Lavelle does a fabulous job, for the most part, of weaving a chilling, slow burn contemporary thriller with a fantasy horror story...." Read more

"...If you are in the mood for something original that provides thrills, sadness, and fear, I would recommend you try it out." Read more

"...several slow parts that I had to force myself to get through, and lots of long, descriptive scenes...." Read more

54 customers mention "Horror story"36 positive18 negative

Customers have different opinions about the book. Some find it a dark fairytale with creepy urban fantasy elements. Others find the story sweet but turns dark after getting invested in the main characters. The book contains extreme violence against babies and kidnapping of kids.

"...It is compelling, honest, and forces the reader to confront feelings, emotions, and perceptions that cannot be real. Is there a good witch?..." Read more

"...While it has trolls and witches, family secrets, and an element of fantasy, it also has a very relevant message, a cautionary tale against..." Read more

"...n’t see it mentioned in reviews that there is some extreme violence against babies in this book, kidnapping of kids, as well as some pretty graphic..." Read more

"...If you are in the mood for something original that provides thrills, sadness, and fear, I would recommend you try it out." Read more

16 customers mention "Pace"9 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pace. Some find it good and fast-paced, while others mention that it drags at the beginning and is difficult to follow.

"...It was slow...." Read more

"...Four stars because there were several slow parts that I had to force myself to get through, and lots of long, descriptive scenes...." Read more

"...The beginning has a very deliberate pace - and for a while the novel feels as if it's going to be an examination of two young parents doing the best..." Read more

"...It’s easy to read. The plot is easy to follow, but it does take a while to really get going...." Read more

The Troll Is Real
4 out of 5 stars
The Troll Is Real
This book was a surprise and delight for me. I normal do not care to read Sci-Fi, but this was different it was a good read. It begins with a black hippie couple having a baby the natural way at home with a mid-wife. Apollo and Emma Kagwa has baby Brian on the subway in New York because he comes early. All the preparation for the birth actually comes to realization in front of strangers. It was the highlight of their marriage and the beginning of their family. What happens next is unforgettable, Emma starts to see Brian as something other than a baby. She sees him as a demon. This image takes Apollo and Emma into the history of the Norwegian pepole who settled in Queens, NY and the monster referred to as the troll. The descriptions are vivid and you the reader can see them in your minds eye as you read. How far will they go to save baby Brian? You must read to find out.Quotes:Apollo nearly sank at the words.The single concrete road that wormed through the middle of Forest Park had been soaked so dark, it looked freshly laid.He couldn't stop the volume from rising. He felt the wildness, a crazed energy, refusing to be contained.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2017
    What happens when a good writer explores the building blocks of a family; a man, his wife, and how a child is first conceived in mind and then by an act of intense physical intimacy is given form and substance in this tension building narrative. At the heart of the narrative, the reader begins to sense the introduction of a really evil magic.

    Lavalle is not a johnny-come-lately writer. He has written quite a few good books and has a large following. What drew me into the sphere of Lavalle’s writing was the incredible disparity among the reviews of the average reader on Amazon.com. Amazon’s readership was almost equally divided between “Excellent” and “Horrid.” The style of writing does not change. The writing is lyrical almost beautiful in scope. You care about the main character, about his love of books, the love he has for his wife his child. It is compelling, honest, and forces the reader to confront feelings, emotions, and perceptions that cannot be real. Is there a good witch? Is there a bad witch? Is a modern midwife a nurse or Satan’s protégé? If your wife and child are burned to ashes in a fire started by your wife, can you bring them both back from hell, and what must you give to do it? How do you love the woman who has killed everything you love including herself, especially herself? In many respects, this would have been better treated like Dorothy in Oz so the reader could feel the distinct click that tells you we now suspend reality because the Munchkins are dancing around us, but we will soon return to Kansas and everything will be wonderful.

    Lavalle gives you none of that. His style, his love of the beauty of words never changes nor is the horror blatant. It is simply there, in your face, and as you read your own perceptions begin to change. You become immersed in a quest not only to restore your child but to destroy the one who has taken him from you. For Lavalle, the great equalizer, what gives a person the ability to breathe life into a cursed child, to capture a life that once was, is love. There is no complexity. Some readers will call it God, but God is too complex for this. This is human, real human love between father and child. The sex of the child is trivial, it is father attached to a child; totally unidirectional and absolute.

    Lavalle’s style of writing is unusually straightforward, direct, and in your face. He writes with the rapier thrust and parry style of Hemingway, but there are certain paragraphs in the book that have the lilting melodies of Thomas Wolfe describing a banquet; so poignant they almost bring you to tears. Lavalle is a connoisseur of words and books. His main character is a book dealer who searches estate sales and back alley old and dying shops for that rare ever elusive volume that will bring him both wealth and recognition. He has a minor success and sells his valuable book, to whom, if not the devil, is certainly an emissary and so begins a really frightening journey for both him and the reader. The reader can only feel a sense of the disquiet, he cannot truly grasp the gaping, maw of hell, particularly as it is so cleverly disguised.

    Some reviewers have equated the writings of Lavalle with the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, to whit, “The Raven”, but Poe is absolutely not subtle. The raven would happily sit on your shoulder and pick out your eye. Lavalle is more like Arthur Rimbaud. In short, you think you smell a rose, but it is the euphoria of black tar opium.

    It is almost as if Lavale has decided to rewrite Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” in the twenty-first century. The story of such a genuinely poisonous woman has never been better written than this.

    Reading The Changeling is an experience to be savored as an exploration of avenues within your soul you know exist, but they are to be approached with a sense of trepidation and wonderment. It is a fairy tale not for children.
    50 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2017
    Having grown up on Disney movies and fairytales, I was intrigued when I discovered there was such a subgenre as dark fairytales. With that being said, this book was what I expected, and at the same time, it wasn't. If you know what a changeling is, you'll know generally what this book is about.

    I loved the tale of fatherhood. Being from NYC myself, and having lived here for over 20 years, and having worked in almost every borough, I also loved LaValle's depiction of NYC. It made me feel like I didn't know my own city, and there are some places mentioned that I never knew of, such as North Brother Island.

    The first half of the book, based in reality, was extremely well done, and the characters drew me in, wanting to get to know them more. The second half started to get a little strange (this coming from a lover and writer of fantasy) and the fantasy half of the novel seemed to move very quickly.

    While it has trolls and witches, family secrets, and an element of fantasy, it also has a very relevant message, a cautionary tale against oversharing on social media (we all know someone who does that), and speaking of the ease in which someone can get into your most personal spaces and aspects of your life via the internet. I did wish for a little more time spent on the witches and trolls, as they seemed like they had some interesting lore behind them.

    Four stars because there were several slow parts that I had to force myself to get through, and lots of long, descriptive scenes. Was also a little confused about the relationship of the MMC to his best friend...at times, they didn't seem like friends at all.

    Written in third person and while there is no graphic sex, there are a lot of F-bombs thrown around, and there's a decent amount of violence. Overall, well written and well told, and I'll be looking for LaValle's other works.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • AB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Amazing Book
    Reviewed in Belgium on November 16, 2023
    Very well written, very rarely enjoy fiction novels, but I'm addicted to Victor LaVelle's work now.
  • Ronald C McKenzie
    5.0 out of 5 stars LaValle’s best yet - highly recommended
    Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2020
    LaValle creates a modern-day fairy tale that blends folklore and contemporary horror in perfect balance. HIs finest and most ambitious work yet, so it’s an easy recommendation.
  • Sireesha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous story
    Reviewed in India on February 22, 2020
    Has an another take on magic in the world. The courage of the mothers to protect their children against everything.
  • Tamara K.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Mittelmäßiges Lesevergnügen
    Reviewed in Germany on November 18, 2019
    Ich fand den Roman eher enttäuschend... Der Twist in der Story war für mich nicht ganz nachvollziehbar und auch die Entwicklung bis zum Ende empfand ich als einigermaßen platt. Wie leider so oft bei phantastischen Romanen hat auch hier der Anfang mehr versprochen als das Ende zu halten vermochte.
  • Carmilla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute perfection.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2018
    My favourite read of this year so far. The genre is best described as magical realism. It’s set in New York and the central character is a young man with a Ghanaian mother and a white, ex-cop, father. He’s a book man and spends his time searching for rare books. On the day of his greatest find his wife attacks him and kills their son, or so it seems. But the book is far more complex than that. The title might give you some clues.

    It’s about masculinity and the changing nature of fatherhood; it’s about motherhood, childbirth, love, paranoia, cyber-stalking, immigration, witches, wishes, revenge and trolls (both kinds). It is also beautifully written.

    Tradition and high tech mesh seamlessly in the story. It takes mere steps to bridge the mundane and the magical. I’ve read one other writer who manages to do this with equal elegance – Haruki Murakami.

    It is a deeply human tale about what can go wrong psychologically and emotionally when a couple has a baby. I cannot recommend enough that you get hold of this book now and consume it.