(Free review copy received from the publisher) Dark Mother Earth is very dark indeed, almost a psychological horror novel. Translated from the Croatian, this book won awards in Croatia, but I wasn’t completely sold. It follows a writer who must face up to a past he’s long kept buried as his career struggles.

The ‘foreword’ was so strong, an objective summary of a devastating string of suicides which swept through a remote Croatian village, claiming research was underway to figure out the cause, ranging from mass paranoia and cults to the supernatural. But then we switch to Matija’s POV as an adult, the young boy who had strange connections with all of the suicides in 1991. I couldn’t stand adult Matija - it’s exhausting being in the head of a straight white man. It’s all swelling balls, his girlfriend’s unsymmetrical nipples, not being able to think about anything but ‘removing her panties’ during an argument... EXHAUSTING.

The section after, switching the Matija’s POV as a child, is better, and infinitely more disturbing. This books comes with a slew of content warnings, including suicide obviously, but also child abuse and animal abuse. I felt nauseous for much of it, and it made me think of @readingwithkt’s recent post about child abuse as a plot device. Given that most of the book is Matija dealing with the fallout of his traumatic childhood (he is not the victim of the abuse), it’s not just mentioned then dropped, but something about it just made me feel uneasy.

I did enjoy the backdrop of Croatia’s independence unfurling in the background of the 1991 section, and the changes and consequences that had for the inhabitants of Matija’s village.

If you have a strong stomach and like your books dark, then perhaps this Croatian novel will be a good choice for you!