Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang paints a vivid portrait of the art world and friendship, and of our consumption and perception of each.
Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang: Synopsis
Huang introduces us to Enka, an ambitious artist seeking an art career, and, despite her lack of training and education due to her low-class status, accomplishes the impossible and lands a scholarship at a prestigious art school.
Despite her struggles to fit in and be accepted by the wealthy elites, she stumbles into a friendship with the talented artist, Mathilde. They form a close bond after Enka helps Mathilde through a dark mental health period. But when Mathilde later begins to make a splash in the art world, leaving Enka behind, her obsessive admiration turns into envy, creating a silent competition and a need to reach similar success and accolades.
As Enka charts a different path and approach to her art by becoming the wife of a successful innovator who has invented a powerful device known as the SCAFFOLD that can link the minds of two humans as a way to treat and address trauma. Enka leaps at the chance to test drive this new technology to aid Mathilde in treating her trauma.
What happens is a heartbreaking journey of self-discovery, identity, and radical self-acceptance that will change both Enka’s and Mathilde’s lives and friendship forever.
Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang Book
Genre: Horror, Speculative, Literary
Publication: May 13, 2025
Author: Ling Ling Huang is a writer and violinist. Immaculate Conception is her second novel, with Natural Beauty being her first.
Themes: art, authenticity, exploitation, friendship, envy, identity, ethics of technology in art and creation, classism and elitism in the art world, trauma, creativity, and bodily autonomy.
Content/Trigger Warnings: suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, body horror, death, grief, sexual assault, molestation, mental health, depression, ableism
Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang Review
Craft & Style
Huang doesn’t stray from her traditional writing style. She delivers a thought-provoking novel full of rich commentary about art, the commodification of art and artists by the wealthy elites, and how a friendship quickly becomes toxic as jealousy and envy have an impact.
The pacing for this novel was steady as it balanced plot-driven and character-driven plot points. We start off with a conflict that propels the first half of the novel forward as we alternate between the past and present timelines, getting context regarding Enka and Mathilde’s friendship and what led to this point.
It then flows into another conflict that will continue to expand until the novel’s climactic conclusion.
Huang’s commentary felt more well-balanced in this novel. She wasn’t as heavy-handed or forceful in pushing a particular narrative at you. But allowed space for you to interpret the author’s message without being told explicitly what she’s driving at.
When it comes to the structure, the juxtaposition of Mathilde with Enka was masterful and highlighted not only the deeper themes regarding identity, envy, and obsession with differing creative art approaches and beliefs about originality, creativity, inspiration, and what constitutes good art. This made it feel like Huang was opening the door for an exploratory conversation about these topics and their current impact on the art and creative spaces.
Emotional Impact
I had such visceral reactions and emotions about this novel’s content. Enka’s behaviors, actions, and thought processes were troubling to witness, and it was hard to be in her head. While I wanted strongly to root for her, I also found myself yelling at her.
Her identity struggles and insecurities are palpable and oftentimes troubling, considering how they usually trigger an unhealthy reaction that has damaging consequences on those around her.
Additionally, the themes in this novel led me to consider how I view, approach, and understand art and creativity when it comes to ownership, inspiration, and the classic debate surrounding originality.
I found Mathilde’s struggles with mental health relatable and accurately depicted, and appreciated the way it was reflected in her art and as part of her inspiration for many of her pieces. However, the mental health aspects may be triggering for some, so take this with a grain of salt.
Representation
Ling Ling Huang is an Asian American author, and her lived experience navigating diversity, race, and being a first-generation immigrant provides a non-white, non-mainstream perspective.
Characters Enka and Mathilde are described as Asian, but little focus is placed on the racial identifiers of characters, as Huang prioritizes themes regarding class as another form of prejudice and oppression. Leaving race to be intuited by the reader.
Additionally, there are characters in the story that represent the LGBTQIA+ community with their sexuality or gender presentation.
Huang also explores the class/privilege divide, which is represented by those who live in “fringe” neighborhoods, which make up the lower class/underprivileged class, and those who live in “enclave” communities, which represent the upper/privileged class.
We see how these classifications impact job opportunities, education, housing, and the community’s ability to be permitted access to the arts via the internet, and the presence of museums and other institutions. Omitting the presence of any culture or art in these communities and silencing their voices by denying access to this form of self-expression.
Notable Strengths
Where this novel shines is its brilliant commentary on its various themes. Huang had a lot to say, and while there are various themes covered in this novel, the way it’s structured and paced allows you to experience each theme or idea and see these storylines intersect to explore its central theme, regarding art and creation being a force that is impossible to commodify or control.
Potential Challenges
Enka may be tough for many readers to connect with and even root for. She quickly becomes the underdog from the fringe that you’re rooting for, to an entitled social climber. The depths of her envy, manipulation, and one-sided competition become hard to witness and follow as the plot thickens and tensions increase.
Deeper Reflection
Huang also explores how Generative AI and Generative Art impact artists and challenge all we know about originality, inspiration, and creativity. Consider how Generative Art has impacted the art community in our world. Do you believe it’s diminishing the need for art, artists, and stifling creativity?
Who Do I Recommend This To?
This novel feels like a love letter to artists and creatives and would be a thought-provoking book for readers with a background or interest in art. It’s also a great pick for readers who want to explore themes regarding toxic female friendships, codependency, identity crisis, imposter syndrome, classism, and the commodification of art.
Join the Conversation
Have you ever been in a toxic, competitive friendship that led you to do unthinkable things to get ahead? If so, what? Share in the comments.
