Oubliette by LV Russell is a short and macabrely “sweet” gothic tale about a young woman isolated in a crumbling manor with her mother. A mix of Victorian Psycho and a 1960s Roger Corman Hammer film (most on par with The Fall of the House of Usher), Oubliette follows Rue as she contends with her mother’s specific tastes. LV Russell never truly unveils the rules of this world, as they somewhat differ from other establish undead and vampire lore (trying not to be too spoilery here, but I believe neither of these terms are ever used). However, I don’t believe we need an in depth explanation of the why and the how for what Rue’s mother is. The stakes are presented adequately for the reader to understand Rue’s predicament. Russell does, however. provide some flashback chapters from Rue’s mother’s perspective when she was a young girl explaining how she becomes what she is.
The small town in which Folkehaven Manor lies seems to have some general knowledge of what happens at the Manor, and about what Rue’s mother does in her nightly consumptions. Russell provides the reader with detailed, visceral, beautifully-constructed prose of the most gory and macabre subjects (TW gore throughout this book if that bothers you!) While a reader could become distracted by the descriptions and the speculative/horror side of this book, it is important to remember that at its core, Oubliette is essentially about breaking free of toxic, co-dependent relationships in favor of following ones’ own path to freedom. A glimmer of hope for freedom comes to Rue in the form of prospective suitor, Oren Pengelly. While Rue tests the boundaries of her life’s constrictions under her mother’s “rule,” her association with Oren is never overly romanticized. While their relationship could grow under “normal,” circumstances, Oren himself is not the key to Rue’s liberation. But rather, Rue’s mindset shift is.
Russell excels at making the reader feel uncomfortable, as well as at creating a richly dark atmosphere with uniquely detailed prose. If you were a fan of Victorian Psycho, you will absolutely be on board with Oubliette. My only complaint is that this book wasn’t long enough to fully explore certain themes and subjects.
