SPOILERS AHEAD

★★★★☆

“Severance” by Ling Ma is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that blends elements of dystopia, satire, and coming-of-age narratives. Set in a near-future world devastated by a global pandemic called Shen Fever, the story follows Candace Chen, a young woman navigating life in a post-apocalyptic New York City.

Ma skillfully weaves together themes of corporate culture, consumerism, and the existential ennui of modern life. Through Candace’s eyes, we see her journey as a routine-obsessed millennial working for a publishing company that produces specialty Bibles manufactured in China. As the fever spreads and society collapses, Candace finds herself part of a small group of survivors making their way to a purported safe zone in the Midwest.

The novel’s strength lies in Ma’s ability to blend the mundane with the surreal, creating a narrative that is both haunting and darkly humorous. The depiction of Shen Fever’s victims mindlessly repeating their last routines is chilling, reflecting on our own societal habits and dependencies.

Moreover, Ma’s exploration of identity and belonging is poignant, as Candace grapples with her Chinese heritage and American upbringing amidst a crumbling world. The novel raises questions about the meaning of work, community, and survival in a world where familiar structures are unraveling.

Critically acclaimed for its originality and depth, “Severance” challenges readers to reflect on contemporary issues through the lens of speculative fiction. Ling Ma’s debut novel is a standout work that resonates long after the final page, offering a haunting meditation on society, isolation, and the search for purpose in a world that seems increasingly precarious.