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Ecstasy
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A deliciously dark horror reimagining of a Greek tragedy, by Ivy Pochoda, winner of the LA Times Book Prize.
Lena wants her life back. Her wealthy, controlling, humorless husband has just died, and now she contends with her controlling, humorless son, Drew. Lena lands in Naxos with her best friend in tow for the unveiling of her son's, pet project--the luxurious Agape Villas.
Years of marriage amongst the wealthy elite has whittled Lena's spirit into rope and sinew, smothered by tasteful cocktail dresses and unending small talk. On Naxos she yearns to rediscover her true nature, remember the exuberant dancer and party girl she once was, but Drew tightens his grip, keeping her cloistered inside the hotel, demanding that she fall in line.
Lena is intrigued by a group of women living in tents on the beach in front of the Agape. She can feel their drums at night, hear their seductive leader calling her to dance. Soon she'll find that an ancient God stirs on the beach, awakening dark desires of women across the island. The only questions left will be whether Lena will join them, and what it will cost her.
Ecstasy is a riveting, darkly poetic, one-sitting read about empowerment, desire, and what happens when women reject the roles set out for them.
Lena wants her life back. Her wealthy, controlling, humorless husband has just died, and now she contends with her controlling, humorless son, Drew. Lena lands in Naxos with her best friend in tow for the unveiling of her son's, pet project--the luxurious Agape Villas.
Years of marriage amongst the wealthy elite has whittled Lena's spirit into rope and sinew, smothered by tasteful cocktail dresses and unending small talk. On Naxos she yearns to rediscover her true nature, remember the exuberant dancer and party girl she once was, but Drew tightens his grip, keeping her cloistered inside the hotel, demanding that she fall in line.
Lena is intrigued by a group of women living in tents on the beach in front of the Agape. She can feel their drums at night, hear their seductive leader calling her to dance. Soon she'll find that an ancient God stirs on the beach, awakening dark desires of women across the island. The only questions left will be whether Lena will join them, and what it will cost her.
Ecstasy is a riveting, darkly poetic, one-sitting read about empowerment, desire, and what happens when women reject the roles set out for them.
224 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 17, 2025
6,260 people want to read
About the author
Ivy Pochoda
15books695followersIvy Pochoda is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Visitation Street published by Ecco / Dennis Lehane Books. Visitation Street was chosen as an Amazon Best Book of the Month, Amazon Best Book of 2013, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Huffington Post, Self, and House & Garden. Her first novel The Art of Disappearing, was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2009. She has a BA from Harvard College in Classical Greek and an MFA from Bennington College in fiction. Ivy grew up in Brooklyn, NY and currently lives in downtown Los Angeles with her husband Justin Nowell.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 6, 2025
ARC for review. To be published June 17, 2025.
2 stars.
Lena’s wealthy, controlling husband has died but she still has to deal with another man trying to control her, her adult son Drew who has taken over the family business. She, Drew, Drew’s wife, Jordan and Lena’s close friend Hady travel to Naxos for the opening of Drew’s new project, the Agape Villas (cringe at the name.)
Lena tries to use the trip to discover the real her, but Drew keeps her on a tight leash, especially when she beckons mes fascinated by a group of women living rough on the beach in front of the Villa and their night music moves Lena. Who are they?
This is one of those “women who howl at the moon� stories. Why Lena never just kicked Drew’s ass is beyond me. And no one really cares too much about Hady, including Lena, in the end. I just didn’t get this one. Not for me.
2 stars.
Lena’s wealthy, controlling husband has died but she still has to deal with another man trying to control her, her adult son Drew who has taken over the family business. She, Drew, Drew’s wife, Jordan and Lena’s close friend Hady travel to Naxos for the opening of Drew’s new project, the Agape Villas (cringe at the name.)
Lena tries to use the trip to discover the real her, but Drew keeps her on a tight leash, especially when she beckons mes fascinated by a group of women living rough on the beach in front of the Villa and their night music moves Lena. Who are they?
This is one of those “women who howl at the moon� stories. Why Lena never just kicked Drew’s ass is beyond me. And no one really cares too much about Hady, including Lena, in the end. I just didn’t get this one. Not for me.
April 4, 2025
3.75⭐️
This was a fun and short read that I inhaled in one sitting. I really loved the focus surrounding how women are often viewed, discounted, and controlled through the different lenses of several generations and classes of women. Now, more than ever, this felt extremely relevant, powerful, authentic, honest, and extremely cathartic.
There were themes of motherhood, autonomy, choice, grief, aging, and the pressure to center the men around them instead of their own needs and wants. We saw this several times through Drew as he casually and cruelly picked apart his mother’s decisions and desires. As soon as the women around him start centering themselves instead of him, they are deemed “crazy�, “wild�, and “unstable. This is one of the greatest frustrations in our society for women, where independence and indulgence are frowned upon and attacked as some malady or something that needs to be controlled and contained. I felt that frustration with the women in this book, and felt the ending was cathartic and satisfying.
I think I just wanted more substance, and I got lost at times with how the book flows. I had a hard time connecting with Luz at times, not completely understanding what her motivations were or really knowing very much about her.
Also, this was labeled as horror so I think I was expecting more on the horror front, but that is completely personal to me and not a criticism of the book at all. I just caution people like myself who read a lot of horror to not expect to not go into Ecstasy expecting a lot of horror elements.
I saw someone refer to this book as a “feminist fever dream� which is so so accurate. Overall I do recommend this and will be telling the women in my life about it, but I recognize it definitely won’t be for everyone.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own
This was a fun and short read that I inhaled in one sitting. I really loved the focus surrounding how women are often viewed, discounted, and controlled through the different lenses of several generations and classes of women. Now, more than ever, this felt extremely relevant, powerful, authentic, honest, and extremely cathartic.
There were themes of motherhood, autonomy, choice, grief, aging, and the pressure to center the men around them instead of their own needs and wants. We saw this several times through Drew as he casually and cruelly picked apart his mother’s decisions and desires. As soon as the women around him start centering themselves instead of him, they are deemed “crazy�, “wild�, and “unstable. This is one of the greatest frustrations in our society for women, where independence and indulgence are frowned upon and attacked as some malady or something that needs to be controlled and contained. I felt that frustration with the women in this book, and felt the ending was cathartic and satisfying.
I think I just wanted more substance, and I got lost at times with how the book flows. I had a hard time connecting with Luz at times, not completely understanding what her motivations were or really knowing very much about her.
Also, this was labeled as horror so I think I was expecting more on the horror front, but that is completely personal to me and not a criticism of the book at all. I just caution people like myself who read a lot of horror to not expect to not go into Ecstasy expecting a lot of horror elements.
I saw someone refer to this book as a “feminist fever dream� which is so so accurate. Overall I do recommend this and will be telling the women in my life about it, but I recognize it definitely won’t be for everyone.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own
April 20, 2025
Ecstasy by Ivy Pochoda is a wild, dark, and fiercely liberating ride. This book dives headfirst into the complexities of female autonomy, desire, and identity—with zero apologies.
Loosely inspired by the Greek myth of the Bacchae, it spins a modern, feminist take through multiple perspectives that are sharp, bold, and brilliantly developed. The pacing? Smooth and steady. The characters? Complex, layered, and unforgettable.
It’s a short read, but it hits hard—equal parts fun, feral, and thought-provoking. If you’re into stories that unravel the chaos and beauty of womanhood while flipping the patriarchy the bird, this one’s for you.
Loosely inspired by the Greek myth of the Bacchae, it spins a modern, feminist take through multiple perspectives that are sharp, bold, and brilliantly developed. The pacing? Smooth and steady. The characters? Complex, layered, and unforgettable.
It’s a short read, but it hits hard—equal parts fun, feral, and thought-provoking. If you’re into stories that unravel the chaos and beauty of womanhood while flipping the patriarchy the bird, this one’s for you.
April 8, 2025
“Ecstasy� is a wild reimagining of a Dionysian bacchanal, complete with a golden god, rage fueled maenads, hedonism, and debauchery galore.
Pochoda has a distinctive way of writing that despite its descriptiveness, doesn’t come across as obnoxious purple prose, but rather prose that has been elevated. Where it sometimes felt out of place in her novel “These Women�, it works exceptionally well here.
There are quite a few repetitious words/phrases that could have been revamped a bit, but nothing major to pull you out of the story. The only thing that really bothered me was Lena asking, “can you still get on pointe?� Any former professional dancer knows it’s en pointe, not on.
On a personal note, as a former professional dancer myself who had to stop due to my body betraying me, this story resonated deeply with me. Aside from decades of traditional dance, I also danced professionally at raves and festivals working alongside some well known DJs and performance artists, so both worlds are extremely familiar to me.
Pochoda did a wonderful job writing about rave culture, especially the underbelly of the rave scene where it’s not always about PLUR: peace, love, unity, respect.
Having a character with macular degeneration also hit home for me as it runs in my family. I could completely empathize with Hedy and I wished there was a little more from her POV, especially near the end of the book as it seemed like everyone forgot about her.
I really, REALLY wanted to punch Drew. He is absolutely atrocious and incredibly ableist to boot. I know he’s supposed to be unlikable, but Pochoda did such a good job that it made reading difficult for me at times because he bothered me so much.
There are some sections that might rub people the wrong way; in particular, the comments made by privileged characters about others they feel are beneath them, (ie: stay at home moms, professional dancers, anyone who “marries up�). These aren’t throwaway comments though and are necessary to the character development, but I can just imagine some people complaining about them anyway.
Ecstasy is a wonderful fever dream of feminism, rage, angst, hubris, and shadow work. It makes you think and question your own life choices well after you’ve finished reading. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.
Pochoda has a distinctive way of writing that despite its descriptiveness, doesn’t come across as obnoxious purple prose, but rather prose that has been elevated. Where it sometimes felt out of place in her novel “These Women�, it works exceptionally well here.
There are quite a few repetitious words/phrases that could have been revamped a bit, but nothing major to pull you out of the story. The only thing that really bothered me was Lena asking, “can you still get on pointe?� Any former professional dancer knows it’s en pointe, not on.
On a personal note, as a former professional dancer myself who had to stop due to my body betraying me, this story resonated deeply with me. Aside from decades of traditional dance, I also danced professionally at raves and festivals working alongside some well known DJs and performance artists, so both worlds are extremely familiar to me.
Pochoda did a wonderful job writing about rave culture, especially the underbelly of the rave scene where it’s not always about PLUR: peace, love, unity, respect.
Having a character with macular degeneration also hit home for me as it runs in my family. I could completely empathize with Hedy and I wished there was a little more from her POV, especially near the end of the book as it seemed like everyone forgot about her.
I really, REALLY wanted to punch Drew. He is absolutely atrocious and incredibly ableist to boot. I know he’s supposed to be unlikable, but Pochoda did such a good job that it made reading difficult for me at times because he bothered me so much.
There are some sections that might rub people the wrong way; in particular, the comments made by privileged characters about others they feel are beneath them, (ie: stay at home moms, professional dancers, anyone who “marries up�). These aren’t throwaway comments though and are necessary to the character development, but I can just imagine some people complaining about them anyway.
Ecstasy is a wonderful fever dream of feminism, rage, angst, hubris, and shadow work. It makes you think and question your own life choices well after you’ve finished reading. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.
April 11, 2025
Ecstasy is a dark, feminist fever-dream that is based loosely around the Greek myth of the Bacchae. It explores themes motherhood and autonomy, female empowerment, and the damaging effects of catering to the male figures in ones life over the self.
This was a fairly fast read, and super fun.
I am not a partier. Never been to a rave, never actually even been to a house party. But Pochoda does an incredible, visceral job setting the dance/rave scene. The writing is poetical and unsettling and perfect for this style of story.
The book shifts perspectives amongst several different characters: Lena, a former dancer who's controlling husband has just died, being the central narrative; her son Drew, as equally cruel and domineering as his father; his wife, the calculating and serious Jordan; Lena's besfriend Hedy who faces macular degeneration; and the mysterious figure Luz who sets the plot underway.
Important note: Fuck Drew. That guy sucks. I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth every time we got a chapter from his POV. But I guess that is the entire point of him.
I enjoyed this sort of modern reimagining of maenads, drunk on freedom and rage. And the ending is so damn cathartic. I wanted just a little more substance.
Luz was still a bit of a mystery, I wish we got more of her background and motivations. Also, it felt like Hedy was completely forgotten about until the very end.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley, and the author forbthis arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fairly fast read, and super fun.
I am not a partier. Never been to a rave, never actually even been to a house party. But Pochoda does an incredible, visceral job setting the dance/rave scene. The writing is poetical and unsettling and perfect for this style of story.
The book shifts perspectives amongst several different characters: Lena, a former dancer who's controlling husband has just died, being the central narrative; her son Drew, as equally cruel and domineering as his father; his wife, the calculating and serious Jordan; Lena's besfriend Hedy who faces macular degeneration; and the mysterious figure Luz who sets the plot underway.
Important note: Fuck Drew. That guy sucks. I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth every time we got a chapter from his POV. But I guess that is the entire point of him.
I enjoyed this sort of modern reimagining of maenads, drunk on freedom and rage. And the ending is so damn cathartic. I wanted just a little more substance.
Luz was still a bit of a mystery, I wish we got more of her background and motivations. Also, it felt like Hedy was completely forgotten about until the very end.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, NetGalley, and the author forbthis arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2025
I found this book to be both dark and liberating. I loved that it was a fresh take on a Greek classic of the Bacchae, but also with a more feminist twist to the story. In the classic, the tragedy is more blamed on the FMC whereas with Pochoda's approach, there is more of a feminine freedom. Even through fury and madness, the women found liberation from the shackles of their lives.
I inhaled this book in a day. The pacing was great and consistent. The scenery was beautifully written and like the story, made you question reality (in a good way). I really enjoyed this read.
I inhaled this book in a day. The pacing was great and consistent. The scenery was beautifully written and like the story, made you question reality (in a good way). I really enjoyed this read.
March 30, 2025
I got an advanced copy of this book from the Penguin Random House booth at Emerald City Comic Con. Thanks to PRH for being there and providing copies of interesting books I might not otherwise pick up.
I just finished this one and I'm honestly not sure how to talk about it. I probably should've waited to write a review until I'd fully processed my feelings about it, but at the same time I also felt like I had to get my thoughts out right away. The book was inspired by the play the Bacchae by Euripedes, and if you know the plot of that work you'll know where things might be headed from page one.
Ecstasy begins as the story of Lena, who was once a ballet dancer, then married a very rich man and then lived a life for thirty years where everything was decided for her, where she had to be a certain way all the time. Her husband has recently died, and she thought that maybe this meant she would be able to free herself from the sterile, lonely, planned out life she was living. Yes, she is incredibly wealthy, but she hasn't been allowed to do what she wants how she wants.
However, she's just as trapped as ever, because her son has taken over the role of her husband and he's pretty much the worst. The sort of man who never listens, only assumes, who believes he knows best for everyone around him (especially the women) and either ignores when something doesn't fit his very specific vision of what it should be or browbeats the thing into submission until it does what he wants. He will then pat himself on the back for having been right the whole time and gives whatever (or whoever) he was browbeating credit for having recognized his genius. Men like this don't have to be rich (some men just think this way period), but when they're rich it makes it a lot worse. Drew, the son, honestly believes that everyone will be better off if they just conform to what he wants.
They are vacationing on Naxos in Greece, but not really so they can enjoy the sun and the beach and the authentic Greek life, but so they can stay in the sterile, curated ultra luxury resort that Drew's father started building and which Drew wants to be his first triumph without his father. The only sticking point is that there are a group of women camping on the beach, having wild bonfires and dancing all night and Drew wants them gone.
Lena gets involved with these women, who show her a side of herself she thought was dead, and who also appeal to the other women who came with them, Hedy (Lena's best friend from her days before marrying rich and fellow former party girl) and Jordan, Drew's seemingly ultra competent and "perfect" (to him) wife.
The writing is evocative and visceral, and the story explores all the ways in which Lena has shut herself off from her true self over the years, and how much she wants to be let go. There are chapters from Drew's point of view, where he proves himself to be the type of person who sees things as important only if they're important to him, and summarily dismisses anyone else's view (these were hard to get through). Jordan also has chapters where she wonders if she's making the same mistakes previous generations of women have made, and reflects on what the baby she's currently pregnant with means.
The book touches on the nature of motherhood, on how the children we bring into the world can ultimately end up stifling or betraying us, and on what re-connecting with the primal parts of oneself can cost someone. Lena wants desperately to reconnect with who she used to be, and on the whole, allowing herself to let go seems like it would be a good thing, but there's a darker side to the beach party and the bonfire and the camp full of seemingly free and wild women there.
The other part of the book is from the point of view of the woman who is seemingly directing the party on the beach, and as her story is revealed, it's clear that there is more to the seeming freedom Lena is experiencing than meets the eye.
I'm all for a narrative that touches on all the ways women, even rich ones, even ones who seemingly have it all together, are controlled by society and the men around them, and how terrified society and the men around them are of these women finding the freedom they might want, and taking control, coming into power that they didn't know they could have.
I can see why the book would not be for everyone. I'm sure there will be some who will take issue with the thing sit has to say about motherhood, and how some people believe that woman should just, as a matter of course, a) want children and b) want more children if they already have one. Especially those who have nothing to do with actually having to carry the child in the first place (Drew certainly has definite opinions about his being an only child and about how many children his wife will want, opinions he certainly doesn't bother confirming with either of the women in question). Others may also not particularly enjoy the ending. I personally had no issues with either of these things (especially the motherhood discussion; I find honest discussions about how women have been made to believe it's their obligation to society to have lots of kids interesting and relevant) but just know that they might not appeal to everyone.
I thought there were parts of the book that could've been fleshed out a bit, but for the most part the more compact narrative worked, helping to build the tension towards the confrontation that ends the book.
The book will definitely stick with me for a while. It has good insight into the issues its exploring and I always like when someone uses Greek mythology as a starting point. As someone who loves Greek mythology but recognizes its more problematic aspects, it's always fascinating to see modern takes on the old stories, and this story does some interesting things with the mythological aspects of the original.
(and definitely another one I probably wouldn't have picked up if not for the PRH booth, so thanks again!)
I just finished this one and I'm honestly not sure how to talk about it. I probably should've waited to write a review until I'd fully processed my feelings about it, but at the same time I also felt like I had to get my thoughts out right away. The book was inspired by the play the Bacchae by Euripedes, and if you know the plot of that work you'll know where things might be headed from page one.
Ecstasy begins as the story of Lena, who was once a ballet dancer, then married a very rich man and then lived a life for thirty years where everything was decided for her, where she had to be a certain way all the time. Her husband has recently died, and she thought that maybe this meant she would be able to free herself from the sterile, lonely, planned out life she was living. Yes, she is incredibly wealthy, but she hasn't been allowed to do what she wants how she wants.
However, she's just as trapped as ever, because her son has taken over the role of her husband and he's pretty much the worst. The sort of man who never listens, only assumes, who believes he knows best for everyone around him (especially the women) and either ignores when something doesn't fit his very specific vision of what it should be or browbeats the thing into submission until it does what he wants. He will then pat himself on the back for having been right the whole time and gives whatever (or whoever) he was browbeating credit for having recognized his genius. Men like this don't have to be rich (some men just think this way period), but when they're rich it makes it a lot worse. Drew, the son, honestly believes that everyone will be better off if they just conform to what he wants.
They are vacationing on Naxos in Greece, but not really so they can enjoy the sun and the beach and the authentic Greek life, but so they can stay in the sterile, curated ultra luxury resort that Drew's father started building and which Drew wants to be his first triumph without his father. The only sticking point is that there are a group of women camping on the beach, having wild bonfires and dancing all night and Drew wants them gone.
Lena gets involved with these women, who show her a side of herself she thought was dead, and who also appeal to the other women who came with them, Hedy (Lena's best friend from her days before marrying rich and fellow former party girl) and Jordan, Drew's seemingly ultra competent and "perfect" (to him) wife.
The writing is evocative and visceral, and the story explores all the ways in which Lena has shut herself off from her true self over the years, and how much she wants to be let go. There are chapters from Drew's point of view, where he proves himself to be the type of person who sees things as important only if they're important to him, and summarily dismisses anyone else's view (these were hard to get through). Jordan also has chapters where she wonders if she's making the same mistakes previous generations of women have made, and reflects on what the baby she's currently pregnant with means.
The book touches on the nature of motherhood, on how the children we bring into the world can ultimately end up stifling or betraying us, and on what re-connecting with the primal parts of oneself can cost someone. Lena wants desperately to reconnect with who she used to be, and on the whole, allowing herself to let go seems like it would be a good thing, but there's a darker side to the beach party and the bonfire and the camp full of seemingly free and wild women there.
The other part of the book is from the point of view of the woman who is seemingly directing the party on the beach, and as her story is revealed, it's clear that there is more to the seeming freedom Lena is experiencing than meets the eye.
I'm all for a narrative that touches on all the ways women, even rich ones, even ones who seemingly have it all together, are controlled by society and the men around them, and how terrified society and the men around them are of these women finding the freedom they might want, and taking control, coming into power that they didn't know they could have.
I can see why the book would not be for everyone. I'm sure there will be some who will take issue with the thing sit has to say about motherhood, and how some people believe that woman should just, as a matter of course, a) want children and b) want more children if they already have one. Especially those who have nothing to do with actually having to carry the child in the first place (Drew certainly has definite opinions about his being an only child and about how many children his wife will want, opinions he certainly doesn't bother confirming with either of the women in question). Others may also not particularly enjoy the ending. I personally had no issues with either of these things (especially the motherhood discussion; I find honest discussions about how women have been made to believe it's their obligation to society to have lots of kids interesting and relevant) but just know that they might not appeal to everyone.
I thought there were parts of the book that could've been fleshed out a bit, but for the most part the more compact narrative worked, helping to build the tension towards the confrontation that ends the book.
The book will definitely stick with me for a while. It has good insight into the issues its exploring and I always like when someone uses Greek mythology as a starting point. As someone who loves Greek mythology but recognizes its more problematic aspects, it's always fascinating to see modern takes on the old stories, and this story does some interesting things with the mythological aspects of the original.
(and definitely another one I probably wouldn't have picked up if not for the PRH booth, so thanks again!)
April 6, 2025
Ecstasy | Ivy Pochoda
🖤🖤🖤🖤/ 5
"Ecstasy" by Ivy Pochoda hits you like those summer nights where the air is heavy with possibility and danger. It's intoxicating and unsettling in equal measure (which makes the perfect combo, if you ask me).
In this deliciously dark reimagining of Euripides' The Bacchae, we meet Lena, who thought her wealthy husband's death would finally free her from her sterile, curated existence. Instead, her controlling son Drew has simply stepped into the role of dictator of her life. When they travel to Naxos, Greece for the unveiling of Drew's luxury resort project, Lena becomes entranced by a group of wild women camping on the beach, hosting bonfires and dancing under the stars.
What follows is a visceral exploration of female autonomy, the expectations of motherhood, and what happens when women reject the suffocating roles society assigns them. When Lena begins spending time with these women, she reconnects with parts of herself she thought were long buried - the dancer, the party girl, the woman with desires of her own.
The narrative alternates perspectives, showing us Drew's insufferable entitlement (these chapters had me gripping my highlighter like a weapon), his pregnant wife Jordan's growing doubts about her choices, longtime BFF Hedy's helplessness in her physical decline, and the mysterious leader of the beach women whose own story reveals darker undercurrents beneath the surface freedom Lena is experiencing.
When women decide to center themselves instead of the men around them, they're labeled "unstable" or "wild", which is a frustration that resonates deeply with me. Thankfully, the women in this story set that frustrating reality ablaze. Pochoda's writing is evocative and raw, building tension toward an explosive ending that might not be for everyone, but is definitely FOR ME. It’s truly cathartic in its boldness; a feast of female empowerment that I ate to my heart's content. Like the glutton I am, I do wish certain elements had been given more room to breathe - particularly Luz's character and motivations.
Tropes!
🎭 Greek mythology retelling
🧠 Psychological horror
😡 Feminine rage/revenge
👭 Found Sisterhood
💪🏽 Self discovery/empowerment
🏖� Idyllic vacation goes wrong
🤯 Blurring of reality
If you're expecting traditional horror elements, adjust your expectations. This is psychological horror that infects your mind and festers under your skin rather than jumps out at you. A captivating one-sitting read that will leave you thinking for days. If you enjoy dark feminist tales with mythological roots, read on, ghouls.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read an early e-copy of this book.
🖤🖤🖤🖤/ 5
"Ecstasy" by Ivy Pochoda hits you like those summer nights where the air is heavy with possibility and danger. It's intoxicating and unsettling in equal measure (which makes the perfect combo, if you ask me).
In this deliciously dark reimagining of Euripides' The Bacchae, we meet Lena, who thought her wealthy husband's death would finally free her from her sterile, curated existence. Instead, her controlling son Drew has simply stepped into the role of dictator of her life. When they travel to Naxos, Greece for the unveiling of Drew's luxury resort project, Lena becomes entranced by a group of wild women camping on the beach, hosting bonfires and dancing under the stars.
What follows is a visceral exploration of female autonomy, the expectations of motherhood, and what happens when women reject the suffocating roles society assigns them. When Lena begins spending time with these women, she reconnects with parts of herself she thought were long buried - the dancer, the party girl, the woman with desires of her own.
The narrative alternates perspectives, showing us Drew's insufferable entitlement (these chapters had me gripping my highlighter like a weapon), his pregnant wife Jordan's growing doubts about her choices, longtime BFF Hedy's helplessness in her physical decline, and the mysterious leader of the beach women whose own story reveals darker undercurrents beneath the surface freedom Lena is experiencing.
When women decide to center themselves instead of the men around them, they're labeled "unstable" or "wild", which is a frustration that resonates deeply with me. Thankfully, the women in this story set that frustrating reality ablaze. Pochoda's writing is evocative and raw, building tension toward an explosive ending that might not be for everyone, but is definitely FOR ME. It’s truly cathartic in its boldness; a feast of female empowerment that I ate to my heart's content. Like the glutton I am, I do wish certain elements had been given more room to breathe - particularly Luz's character and motivations.
Tropes!
🎭 Greek mythology retelling
🧠 Psychological horror
😡 Feminine rage/revenge
👭 Found Sisterhood
💪🏽 Self discovery/empowerment
🏖� Idyllic vacation goes wrong
🤯 Blurring of reality
If you're expecting traditional horror elements, adjust your expectations. This is psychological horror that infects your mind and festers under your skin rather than jumps out at you. A captivating one-sitting read that will leave you thinking for days. If you enjoy dark feminist tales with mythological roots, read on, ghouls.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read an early e-copy of this book.
April 12, 2025
Can we just collectively agree that Drew is the most insufferable character known to man? The depths of hatred that arises from the pit of my soul when he speaks is a testament to how much Ivy Pochoda made me feel in 220 short pages.
Let's back up a bit. The story follows Lena, a wealthy, middle-aged, former ballerina/party girl after the death of her narcissistic and mentally abusive husband of 30ish years. Lena, her deteriorating best friend Hady, her son Drew, and Drew's wife Jordan are vacationing in Greece to inspect the family's latest luxury hotel and potentially open it's doors to the pubic. Drew, having watched his father marginalize and degrade his mother for his entire life, takes it upon himself to fill that role in his father's absence. Lena hopes to have a nice trip, but Drew doesn't care what she thinks. In fact, he's unconcerned about anyone's fun or happiness except his own. The deplorable man-baby, bulldozer, and gas lighter spends his time bossing people around and making every woman around him feel worthless. Lena indulges him with only a minimal amount of backtalk, which in and of itself is infuriating. The toxic boy mom vibes almost made me wanna quit. But as the book progresses, you start to see Lena blossom. She's making decisions. She's defying the "rules." She's seeing herself return from who she was before marriage and children.
In this process, she becomes infatuated with what is seemingly a harmless group of gypsy-like women who dance on the beach every night, but it's soon revealed that something much darker is at play
If you know the story of The Bacchae, you know you're going into a pretty messy and tragic retell. If you don't know the story, I suggest you do a quick wiki to get the gist, it will make this make more sense. The story is nothing short of a fever dream of revenge and violence combined with the most extravagant episode of "Snapped" you've ever seen. The god's are cruel. The women are wild and nothing about this is warm and fuzzy. If you love a pitch black ending. If you love a story about brutal revenge. If you love greek mythology, I think you'll love Ecstasy.
Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Let's back up a bit. The story follows Lena, a wealthy, middle-aged, former ballerina/party girl after the death of her narcissistic and mentally abusive husband of 30ish years. Lena, her deteriorating best friend Hady, her son Drew, and Drew's wife Jordan are vacationing in Greece to inspect the family's latest luxury hotel and potentially open it's doors to the pubic. Drew, having watched his father marginalize and degrade his mother for his entire life, takes it upon himself to fill that role in his father's absence. Lena hopes to have a nice trip, but Drew doesn't care what she thinks. In fact, he's unconcerned about anyone's fun or happiness except his own. The deplorable man-baby, bulldozer, and gas lighter spends his time bossing people around and making every woman around him feel worthless. Lena indulges him with only a minimal amount of backtalk, which in and of itself is infuriating. The toxic boy mom vibes almost made me wanna quit. But as the book progresses, you start to see Lena blossom. She's making decisions. She's defying the "rules." She's seeing herself return from who she was before marriage and children.
In this process, she becomes infatuated with what is seemingly a harmless group of gypsy-like women who dance on the beach every night, but it's soon revealed that something much darker is at play
If you know the story of The Bacchae, you know you're going into a pretty messy and tragic retell. If you don't know the story, I suggest you do a quick wiki to get the gist, it will make this make more sense. The story is nothing short of a fever dream of revenge and violence combined with the most extravagant episode of "Snapped" you've ever seen. The god's are cruel. The women are wild and nothing about this is warm and fuzzy. If you love a pitch black ending. If you love a story about brutal revenge. If you love greek mythology, I think you'll love Ecstasy.
Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2025
This book is a strange beautifully written novel based loosely on a Greek myth set in the present. It challenges the predetermined role women often have forced upon them and does so in a brutal trippy fashion.
Lena and Hedy are two middle aged women who were once ballet dancers. Lena gave up her dream to marry a wealthy man while Hedy is going blind but wishes to remain free and wild.
Drew is Lena's son and heir of his father's real estate empire. A luxury hotel on a Greek island is his way of cementing his legacy. He, Lena, Hedy, and his wife Jordan will stay there for a week before opening, having every conceivable luxury at their beck and call.
But there's a group of squatters on the beach. A group of seemingly wild women who soon entice Lena, Hedy, and Jordan. And as their backstory is revealed, we'll find out that there's something much more to this group.
This shorter novel is told from a few perspectives and it's great to see the arrogance and misogyny of Drew being challenged by Lena as he tries to control her every move. This relationship is the catalyst for the horrific events to happen later.
But this is clearly about female empowerment and breaking the chains of sex and gender roles especially for women of a certain age. Drew's insistence that his mother has no right to be a bonfire party on the beach because of her age is a stark reminder of how women are viewed especially as they age, and the terrifying consequences of breaking out of those boxes.
This book is effectively a dark tale with a fairy tale like quality and some truly horrifying scenes. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Lena and Hedy are two middle aged women who were once ballet dancers. Lena gave up her dream to marry a wealthy man while Hedy is going blind but wishes to remain free and wild.
Drew is Lena's son and heir of his father's real estate empire. A luxury hotel on a Greek island is his way of cementing his legacy. He, Lena, Hedy, and his wife Jordan will stay there for a week before opening, having every conceivable luxury at their beck and call.
But there's a group of squatters on the beach. A group of seemingly wild women who soon entice Lena, Hedy, and Jordan. And as their backstory is revealed, we'll find out that there's something much more to this group.
This shorter novel is told from a few perspectives and it's great to see the arrogance and misogyny of Drew being challenged by Lena as he tries to control her every move. This relationship is the catalyst for the horrific events to happen later.
But this is clearly about female empowerment and breaking the chains of sex and gender roles especially for women of a certain age. Drew's insistence that his mother has no right to be a bonfire party on the beach because of her age is a stark reminder of how women are viewed especially as they age, and the terrifying consequences of breaking out of those boxes.
This book is effectively a dark tale with a fairy tale like quality and some truly horrifying scenes. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
April 23, 2025
***Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and the author, Ivy Pochoda, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.***
I’m really torn on this one. Ecstasy had some intriguing ideas, especially around feminine rage and liberation, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The pacing was pretty slow, and most of the book felt like it was building toward something that didn’t fully deliver. We finally get some drama toward the end, but it’s brief and left me wanting more depth or follow-through. It’s also labeled as horror, which I don’t think fits at all. There’s no real suspense or sense of dread, it’s more of a psychological or literary novel with mythological inspiration. The modern Greek tragedy angle was interesting, but I kind of wish the story had done its own thing instead of leaning so heavily on the retelling aspect. The characters were all pretty unlikeable. Maybe that was intentional, but it made it tough to connect or care about what happened to them. Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book, but it didn’t quite work for me either. It had potential and some strong themes, but the execution felt a bit uneven.
I’m really torn on this one. Ecstasy had some intriguing ideas, especially around feminine rage and liberation, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The pacing was pretty slow, and most of the book felt like it was building toward something that didn’t fully deliver. We finally get some drama toward the end, but it’s brief and left me wanting more depth or follow-through. It’s also labeled as horror, which I don’t think fits at all. There’s no real suspense or sense of dread, it’s more of a psychological or literary novel with mythological inspiration. The modern Greek tragedy angle was interesting, but I kind of wish the story had done its own thing instead of leaning so heavily on the retelling aspect. The characters were all pretty unlikeable. Maybe that was intentional, but it made it tough to connect or care about what happened to them. Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book, but it didn’t quite work for me either. It had potential and some strong themes, but the execution felt a bit uneven.
February 5, 2025
Oh, this was fun! Definitely more my speed than some of the stable stories (ie boring af) I have read recently. I was starting to think that no one wrote like a wild cicada anymore. Then, like a breath of unbridled mountain air, here we are! This isn't just a story of levels to Lena, our MC. There's grief over her husband's sudden death, her friendship and youthful vibes with her best friend, annoyance and wonder at her son's buzzkill attitude, her thinking there's more to her daughter-in-law, and her yearning to dance unbridled amongst the young sentient beings out there in the night. This quickly becomes a feminist fever dream, and believe me, you'll be entertained.
April 11, 2025
3.75 - Ecstasy was a good, quick read that pulled me in right away with its eerie, atmospheric tone. It felt like a perfect blend of White Lotus and American Horror Story—equal parts vacation luxury (gone wrong) and unsettling, slow-burning tension. The characters were intriguing, and you either love them or hate them (or are totally confused by them). It’s the kind of book that’s hard to describe without giving too much away, but if you're into dark secrets, morally murky characters, and stories that unravel in unexpected ways, this one’s worth picking up.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for a review! All thoughts are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy in exchange for a review! All thoughts are my own.
April 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc!
This is a dark, intense, gory read but still not one that really grabbed me by the throat. Very interesting premise but the characters themselves fell a bit flat. Even with multiple perspectives, I don't feel like we really dug deep into anyone and that doesn't lend well to such a character-driven book. Plenty of visceral, brutal, bloody descriptions of body horror but not as much personality as I would have liked. Still, an interesting read overall.
This is a dark, intense, gory read but still not one that really grabbed me by the throat. Very interesting premise but the characters themselves fell a bit flat. Even with multiple perspectives, I don't feel like we really dug deep into anyone and that doesn't lend well to such a character-driven book. Plenty of visceral, brutal, bloody descriptions of body horror but not as much personality as I would have liked. Still, an interesting read overall.
April 15, 2025
Netgalley e-arc
Ecstasy is a fast paced Dionysus retelling. I had to brush up on my Greek history a bit to see the parallels. This book was really wild and I think the reason it was so wild was because it’s a modern day spin on the story. The bright colors and modern references made the horror elements more unsettling. This book was really interesting, however the characters were a little flat for me. I could’ve used a little more depth. But overall I sat and read this in one sitting. I’d recommend to someone who really enjoys Greek mythology!
Ecstasy is a fast paced Dionysus retelling. I had to brush up on my Greek history a bit to see the parallels. This book was really wild and I think the reason it was so wild was because it’s a modern day spin on the story. The bright colors and modern references made the horror elements more unsettling. This book was really interesting, however the characters were a little flat for me. I could’ve used a little more depth. But overall I sat and read this in one sitting. I’d recommend to someone who really enjoys Greek mythology!
April 17, 2025
Rooted in the Greek myth of Bacchae, Ecstasy is a feminist, psychological exploration of motherhood, autonomy, female empowerment, and the debilitating consequences of catering to male expectations. I had slightly mixed feelings about this book. The message was great, but the characters didn't really stand out. The premise was cool, but it didn't quite live up to its potential. It was still a pretty interesting read!
Thank you to Netgalley, Ivy Pochoda, & publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ivy Pochoda, & publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2025
This was an ARC. Thank you.
Many symbolisms, especially related to life as a woman. The internal struggles these women go through are relatable. Drew has to be one of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read. There were times though that the flow of the story lost me. Other than that it was a good quick read if you enjoy the genre.
Many symbolisms, especially related to life as a woman. The internal struggles these women go through are relatable. Drew has to be one of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read. There were times though that the flow of the story lost me. Other than that it was a good quick read if you enjoy the genre.
January 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
The writing in this was really beautiful, but I was hoping for meat on the bones of the story. The characters felt flat when the words describing them were so detailed and beautiful, I just wanted more substance.
The writing in this was really beautiful, but I was hoping for meat on the bones of the story. The characters felt flat when the words describing them were so detailed and beautiful, I just wanted more substance.
April 7, 2025
novel that reads incredibly "wild" for lack of a better word. this oftentimes works, but sometimes this really weakens it, and in this case it sorta does. 3.5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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