Ecstasy

“[Ecstasy] revamps ‘The Bacchae’ into a contemporary feminist horror story. . . [that] explodes into hallucinatory violence, blinding bloodlust and outbreaks of primal madness. . . Pochoda has been grouped with such writers as Jonathan Lethem, Richard Price, Walter Mosley, Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane. . . Joan Didion is likewise evident, in Pochoda’s ability to turn sunlight dark or to capture the universe in a traffic jam.” —New York Times

“This beautiful and lyrical fever dream of a novel isn’t afraid to embrace the power of female rage and desire.” —People

“[A] stiletto-sharp remake of Euripides. . . The White Lotus meets Midsommar, with a nod to Absolutely Fabulous.” —Washington Post

“Quick, bloody fun. . . [If] you can’t make it to Mykonos or Corfu for parties this summer, this book may be the next best thing.” —Wall Street Journal

“Ecstasy is a lyrical, fevered, and furious re-imagining of a classic Greek tragedy. Tense and phantasmagoric, the novel sinks its considerable teeth into the patriarchal 21st century capitalist machine. And gloriously, no one is spared.” —Paul Tremblay, author of the New York Times bestseller Horror Movie

“Ecstasy is a superb and horrific reimagining of a Greek tragedy. Pochoda’s writing is a lyrical scalpel reopening old wounds, dissecting abandoned dreams, and slicing to the core of motherhood and female friendship with style to spare. Don’t miss it.” —Gabino Iglesias, author of House of Bone and Rain

“Trippy, sensual, hallucinatory, and very strange. . . Pochoda’s novel is full of staccato lines, short and at times enigmatic; at times beautifully evocative. . . [Blends] magical realism and surreal effects into a churning, fiery concoction.” —New York Journal of Books

“Lyrical and dreamlike. . . Perfect for fans of Greek retellings and novels that explore feminine rage and empowerment, like Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch or Kirsten Miller’s The Change.” —Booklist

“The brisk, feminist beach read you’re looking for.” —Bustle

“Based on Euripides’ ‘The Bacchae’ — well, the one he might have written as a brilliant, fiercely feminist provocateur . . . As delicious as Zeus’ home-brewed nectar.” —Los Angeles Times

“Pochoda’s intoxicating feminist retelling of The Bacchae is full of dreamlike prose that flows effortlessly. A great pick for fans of CJ Leede and Cassandra Khaw that begs to be finished in one sitting.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“A moving novel about power, desire, and society’s expectations of women.” —Alta

“Psychedelic, dizzying and deadly. . . [A] quick and powerful novel that shows off Ivy Pochoda’s gifts as a writer who knows how to get under readers’ skin.” —BookReporter

“It’s a bloody story in the old and new, rife with decadence and depravity.” —Harvard Gazette

“With stunning prose that transcends the merely evocative into the realm of glorious hallucination, Pochoda gleefully resurrects the idea of Dionysian rites and mystery cults and, yes, the ultimate triumph of the Goddess.” —The Day

“Pochoda takes female rage, desire, and liberation to a thought-provoking, blood-curdling level. The final chapters are unsettling and deeply provocative. Unflinching in its vision, Ecstasy resonates long after the last page.” —Suspense Magazine

“Astute, incisive and sharp, this modern retelling of Euripides’ The Bacchae is all atmosphere, all the time. It’s mystery, horror and so much more on its way to exemplifying what it is to be a woman in the world today.” —Barnes & Noble, Best Books of June

“[A] defiantly feminist reimagining of Euripides’ The Bacchae . . . Pochoda’s sun-drenched, blood-soaked literary fever dream pits hubris against hedonism, likens religion to rave culture, and explores the transformative power of female rage. Incandescent prose, present-tense narration, and frequent perspective shifts impart urgency, rendering the characters’ passions palpable. It’s a gleefully transgressive tour de force.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“There’s been no shortage of feminist retellings of ancient myths and classics in recent years, and this next one definitely deserves a place on your shelf. With elements of horror and suspense, it revisits Euripides’ The Bacchae, following a woman drawn in by a cult of women who appear to be living much more freely than she’s been allowed to.” —Marie Claire

“Fierce and fearless, Ecstasy is a tempest of a novel that reminds women that we are born forces of nature and woe be upon anyone who would stand in our way. Ivy Pochoda again proves she’s a literary priestess of the highest order.” —Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger

“Ecstasy pulses with the hypnotic rhythm of a rave set in Plato’s allegorical cave. A mind-bending story about yearning to break the chains that bind us, and how our greatest adversaries can often be the ones we love most. Thrilling, provocative, and darkly funny. This isn’t the perfect summer read. It is the summer.” —Gus Moreno, author of This Thing Between Us

“Ecstasy is a stunning, hallucinatory trip of a novel that explores female friendship, the dark side of motherhood and liminal experience. This addictive novel is an explosion of the feminine unbound. Pure, primal Pochoda. Drop everything and read it now.” —Danielle Trussoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Puzzle Box

“Pochoda’s turn into horror and mythology will bring ample rewards to her readers.” —Crime Reads

“Described as both ‘hallucinatory’ and ‘addictive,’ with a synopsis that gives the perfect whiff of Suspiria vibes, Ecstasy promises an exploration of themes like female identity and desire. . . [A] killer one-sitting summer read.” —The Lineup