fantastic and compelling read. if you like the incorporation of folktales and lore into your literature you should give Loizou a read.

Cyprus, 1920ies. During the twelve days of Christmas, kallikantzaroi – mischievous goblin-like creatures who usually live underground -- make their appearance on earth to wreak all sorts of havoc. This is one of the reasons Despo, who is pregnant, hopes the baby will not come until Epiphany. She has a lot on her hands, amids bad dreams and premontions, the scratches she hears at night, the stories that are told in front of the fire, and her husband, who is often taciturn and morose.

A tense, clever novella tinged with gothic horror weaving Christian elements, fairy-tale motifs and local lore, omens and superstitions but ultimately dealing with the themes of toxic masculinity and repressed homoerotic desire (it made me think of Brokeback Mountain) on the backdrop of rural Cyprus with its multicultural population and its complex colonial history. An interesting psychological portrait and a good storytelling act. Some themes and motifs are barely sketched,, but overall an interesting read, intriguing and propulsive.

My thanks to Fairlight Books for a review copy through Netgalley.

This was a creepy fairytale/folklore story about a Cyprian family that expects their first child.

I enjoyed the folklore aspect, but I didn't enjoy the dialogue. The story is set in the 1950s and does read old.

It was an okay read.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Okay, I'm not quite sure what I just read... Probably, if I had read the synopsis, I wouldn't have requested this one, as overall the story doesn't really sound like something I would be in to. But that is not how I roll; I just request things willy nilly and hope for the best. Didn't really work out for me this time. I mean, it wasn't bad, I just didn't really like it. It was definitely more litfic-y than I would usually choose.

So, the book is set in 1925 in Cyprus and follows a married couple, Despo and Loukas, who are expecting their first baby. It takes place over Christmas, which felt a bit weird to be reading, as we are finally coming out of winter!

Something that I found interesting was how religion and folklore were so interwoven in this story. The people of this small village are extremely religious, religion pretty much dictates every aspect of their lives. But then, so does folklore. There are so many little traditions that everyone follows; keeping the fire lit for the entire 12 days of Christmas, at one point someone dies and Despo (who is just about to give birth) isn't allowed to lay down or sleep until the body is buried, the idea that you can catch a demon with a loop of string. Loukas is also convinced that he's been cursed/turned into a demon because his grape vines are diseased and he's catching feelings for the red-haired Englishman who has recently moved to the island.

Overall, it was an okay story, though I found it extremely slow (it took me 5 days to read a 144 page long book). I was okay with it being slow, but then the ending just completely confused me. Like, I don't understand what happened. There were also some really weird things happening in the last couple of chapters, that didn't seem to make much sense and didn't really have an impact on the story. I don't know... I feel like maybe I am not smart enough for this story? Or maybe it's a cultural thing and I'm missing something because I'm not familiar with Cyprian culture?

As I've been writing this review, I've slowly talked myself down from a 3 star rating to a 2.5 star rating... Which I feel a bit bad about, but also, I just don't know that this is a 3 star read (for me).

An atmospheric novella set in Cyprus in the 1920s about a couple anticipating their first child. It reads practically like a fairytale with a lot of local lore and superstition in the story.

* Published April 1, A Good Year represents a fascinating type of magic realism. It does exactly what I look for when I read world literature, giving me a glimpse into the perspectives and everyday lives of other cultures, in this case, through their folklore.

There is something archetypal about the unearthly beings and the elements of the life cycle that are playing out, and yet the geography and specific belief system and practices serve as artifacts of early 20th century Cyprus. All in all, an excellent short read.

Thank you to Polis Loizou, Fairlight Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An atmospheric novella set on Cyprus in the 1920s about a couple expecting their first child. It reads in almost like a fairytale with a lot of local folklore and superstition in the story.

"Could We Be Gay (and Gay) in the 1920s?"

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby entered the public domain at the end of 2020, sparking plenty of jokes about the new legality of Jay Gatsby/Nick Carraway fanfiction. Set in New York at the height of the Jazz Age, the novel points a finger at the so-called American Dream and calls bullshit. Of course, this all but guaranteed it would spawn an entire party theme that encourages binge-drinking, debauchery, and severe bob cuts. Try as we might, barely anyone looks good in a flapper dress!

But I digress. The release of Gatsby to the masses has prompted many reconsiderations of its impact, including Fitzgerald’s skill at imbuing his work with homoerotic subtext. In the original, Nick, the “everyman” narrator, is so smitten with the mysterious Jay Gatsby that he’s willing to help him win over his cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Cue the lavish West Egg parties, clandestine meetings, and easy hatred for Daisy’s husband Tom.

Naturally, many adaptations have focused on this relationship. But the cream of the crop, The Chosen and The Beautiful, hands the narration over to Jordan Baker — tennis star, socialite, and seemingly jaded friend of Daisy. Written by Nghi Vo, the 2021 novel reimagines Jordan as a bisexual Vietnamese American who sees through Jay, Nick, and Daisy, but loves them anyway.

Vo’s 1920s New York brims with demons and magic. Jordan can cut things out of paper and bring them to life. Jay literally sells his soul to obtain his nouveau riche fortune. Daisy drinks demon blood-infused cocktails to survive the confines of marriage and a baby.

The Chosen and The Beautiful features the same deliciously doomed yearning as Gatsby, but it centers the relationship between Jordan and Daisy, who have known each other since childhood. Jordan uses her power to get her friends out of trouble, but faces new threats as the Manchester Act, an anti-immigrant bill, approaches law. When the characters’ various dreams spiral out of control, Jordan must learn to put herself first before it’s too late.

Vo transforms the women of Gatsby from aspiring “beautiful little fools” to hyper-aware anti-heroines. “Men had no idea how careless the women of their set weren’t allowed to be,” Jordan remarks.

Those craving a darker depth for their “Gatsby parties” would do well to pick up a copy of The Chosen and The Beautiful. Vo has woven an energetic story of love, heartbreak, and decay.

—

But if you’re tired of Art Deco sconces and romanticizing Long Island, A Good Year might better quench your thirst for historical LGBTQ fiction. Set during the twelve days before Christmas in 1925, A Good Year is a folklore-laden novella by Polis Loizou which follows a married couple in rural Cyprus.

Loukas and Despo are expecting their first child, but outside forces — the kalikantzari, gossiping neighbors, the British — put pressure on the existing cracks in their relationship. Like The Chosen and The Beautiful, the novella invokes the supernatural as Loukas finds himself attracted to a British newcomer and Despo fears for her child.

Its isolated setting and tense countdown give A Good Year the quality of a “scary ghost story…of Christmases long, long ago.” But the burgeoning queer love at its heart sets it apart from A Christmas Carol or The Little Match Girl. Loukas must decide between maintaining his heteronormative life or running towards something uncertain but truer. It’s a decision many real queer people faced in the nineteenth century, imbuing the brief horror story with dramatic realism.

In another refreshing move, Despo’s story is given the same amount of space as Loukas’. An orphan desperate for a family, she does everything in her power to protect her home. With or without Loukas, she is determined to be a good mother. (Her depth is neatly mirrored by the scorned wife of a gay politician in Dance of the 41, a David Pablos film set in 1901 Mexico).

Loizou, who is also a playwright and performer, was gracious enough to answer my questions about A Good Year, which debuted at the beginning of April.

“I wanted to highlight the complexity of their situation,” Loizou wrote in an email. “But there is another person in this marriage: Despo, a human with her own dreams and desires. I couldn’t let her simply be the cheated-on housewife; I wanted her to be a sympathetic (but not angelic) character.”

He also understands the larger appeal of historical fiction for queer readers. “I think as we become more open about being LGBTQ, we start to look for others like us, even in the past. It’s a comfort to know we’ve always been around and important to remember that our stories were either erased, diluted, or never expressed out of fear.”

At a time when politicians and school boards in my home state are banning books by LGBTQ folks and people of color, it’s comforting to find new authors crafting honest and alluring depictions of queer history. And it seems the twenties, rife with secret speakeasies and rapidly changing politics, are a great place to start.

“But we also can’t pretend that being LGBTQ was always an empowering thing – for many around the world, it’s still an aspect of you that could put your life in danger,” Loizou wrote in the same email. “I’m not a fan of whitewashing history, even in fiction. We’re still not free of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, and we owe it to our community to acknowledge that. But I hope more queer writers turn to historical fiction – we’ve always been around, so let’s put ourselves back in the narrative we’ve been erased or excluded from.”

Recommendations

A Good Year (2022) by Polis Loizou is available April 1 from Fairlight Books.
The Chosen and The Beautiful (2021) by Nghi Vo is available now from Tordotcom.
Dance of the 41 (2020) directed by David Pablos is currently streaming on Netflix.
InfrequentMusing’s video essay about LGBTQ films created in the 1910 – 1920s, many of which were destroyed, censored, or lost.
Jordan Baker is Fucking Sexy, a 3.5 hour playlist subtitled, “the great gatsby but whoops no it’s the chosen and the beautiful.”

I’ve never read fiction set in Cyprus, so reading “A Good Year” written by Polis Loizou was a treat for me!
The story of Despo and her husband Loukas is a tale of folklore, horror and a queer love story.

Despo is heavily pregnant with he first child and finds herself both physically and emotionally alone during Christmas, and Loukas continues to retreat into himself—especially after a sexual encounter with an English tourist. Both are devout in their Christian faith, and their lives revolve around the ceremonious traditions and beliefs which they believe will keep them safe from harm. What harm can possibly come? The harm inflicted by the kalikantzari: creatures from Hell which are known for causing harm and wreaking havoc. Will Despo’s child be born alive? Deformed? Healthy? Can Loukas rid himself of his impure desire for the Englishman? Is his desire the work of the devil? These questions, among others, preoccupy the couple as they move through the Christmas season, ever closer to the birth of their son.

I found this short work of fiction interestingly dark and moving. I’m not a fan of reading about homosexuality as an impurity or influence of the devil. However, considering this setting is rural Cyprus in 1925, it’s clear that these viewpoints are a sign of the times. I found the heavy influence of religion and rituals/superstition fascinating. The performative nature of religion and culture in this story are suffocating at times, which I believe is indicative of how it would have felt for Despo and Loukas, form whom this would have just been their lifestyle. It’s a stark reminder though of how we haven’t moved very far. Although our performance is in a digital sphere, we’re still pretending and living in a time when culture is considered a religion.

Loizou’s focus is not primarily on setting or creating a scene, yet his portrayal of rural Cyprus was done so well. “A Good Year” is certainly an atmospheric novella, and I loved that aspect of the story. I also loved the introspection of both Despo and Loukas. They’re clearly at a point in their relationship when they know something is amiss, and they need to confront the issue head on. There were moments when I wanted to shake them both and tell them to speak with one another instead of keeping their innermost thoughts to themselves. Alas, it doesn’t happen, and the lack of character development is infuriating at best.
My only irritation about the story was the overuse of similes and metaphors. Loizou’s writing could carry itself without the embellishment.

If you’re interested in reading fiction from a country that, at least in Canada, we don’t have much access to, I would recommend this short, unsettling story of lives on the precipice. Many thanks to Fairlight Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers’ copy of “A Good Year” in exchange for an honest review.

An enthusiastic 3.5 stars from me!

Cyprus 1925

Set between Christmas and Epiphany, this novel feels like a fairytale, steeped in traditional beliefs, religion, foodways, and lifestyles—but with the very real facts of World War I, the British, the Turks, and archaeological exploration all lurking in the near past.

The young couple Despo and Loukas eagerly and nervously await the impending birth of their first child. Despo is desperately lonely, with no family of her own, terrified. Loukas is hiding a secret and worried about his grape vines and aging wine.

Perfect for fans of modern and modernized fairytales and fables.
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The author was born and raised on Cyprus, moving to England as a high schooler. The novel relates to traditional stories he was told, rural life, and real world problems.

This beautiful and fun book takes us through the folklore and tales leading up to a Christmas celebration, with creatures, spirits and stories peppered throughout to add life and texture.

As the characters go through their own personal struggles (sexuality, family cohesion, fears about the future) they also tie together beautifully in this story that felt like it was being delivered in an oral tradition.

It was fun, clever and very alive, and I enjoyed the ride greatly.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DRC provided by Fairlight Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: Cypriote protagonist, gay Cypriote protagonist, queer white English secondary character, Cypriote secondary and tertiary characters, Armenian tertiary character, Turkish tertiary character.

Content Warning: death, anxiety, violence, toxic masculinity, sexism, xenophobia, internalised homophobia, alcohol.

A Good Year by Polis Loizou is an intriguing historical novella tinged with Cyprian folkloristic tales and horror-ish vibes set in a post-World War I Cyprus, in the span of twelve days between Christmas and the Epiphany, centring the questioning Loukas and his expecting wife Despo.
It is very fitting that the word “good” is in the title because this novella is so, so, so good! The word is there for other reasons, but still, so, so good!

I love reading new-to-me authors and savour their writing and Polis Loizou is no exception. He is not new to me as in I have never heard of him because I was already aware of his past works, but I had not yet had the chance to experience his writing style. His writing transports you to another time and a completely different place effortlessly as if you were astral projecting and watching the events happen before your own eyes. He crafted such a tense atmosphere and an emotional tale which captivated me from start to finish. I loved reading about Cyprus and some of its folklore, Despo’s journey to childbirth and Loukas’ internal turmoil.

A Good Year by Polis Loizou was definitely an intriguing reading experience. One which makes me excited about what he has in store for us next and the works he already gifted us.

Nicely structured and delicately examined by Loizou.

A novella riddled in superstition with it's strict rules and regulations. Seems ridiculous to us now, but consider what you would do if you did not have a lot of control over your life, your land, your livelihood and not a lot of educated information. Well this is the result.

Loizou builds the relationships day by day and we come to see that we cannot reason with our hearts, they will feel what they want to regardless of logic or duty or 'morality'. What is unwillingly given will turn out to be worthless.

Enjoyed this Fairlight novella, they'll continue to be on my list.

An ARC gently given by the author/publish via Netgalley

This is the weirdest book I've ever read I think ! Because it was so full of mundainities and then it was so unsetteling and dark. I craved more folklore references but I also really likes the tone of like the everyday life of these people. If you know the movie Canine, the vibes that are so off reminded me of that ! But also you have sweet moments.

Each chapter in this novella is one of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The villagers in rural Cyprus celebrate each one with visits to the church, family, and food. However, the superstitions and folklore are intertwined with the Christian rites. Coupled with individual animosities and collective xenophobia, one begins to wonder what the real reason-for-the-season is.

Despo and Loukas are a young couple expecting their first child to be born by Epiphany, January 6, 1925. Despo goes about her day taking care of their very humble home while Loukas works in their vineyard. She is worried about the baby and wonders about Loukas: why can’t he just let her love him; and does he want this baby. Loukas doesn’t want to be in the house. He is going through a personal crisis, and sees himself as a sinner because of his attraction to William, an Englishman visiting their village.

Often, it is easier to blame supernatural as the cause for our difficulties, and this is true for Despo and Loukas. Despo is certain that she must protect herself and her unborn child from the Kalikantzari: creatures that come up from the underground only during the Twelve Days of Christmas to cause mayhem. Loukas, however, sees himself as a sinner in need of God’s mercy.

I would have enjoyed this book more if some of the plotlines and inner dialogues were developed further. For example, characters often change their thoughts every paragraph. When we next see the character, there is no evidence that they are affected by their reflections.

This was an enjoyable and quick read. It made me explore the Kalikantzari further; and for that alone, this novella was worth it.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Fairlight Books for the opportunity to read and review this novella.

An enchanting novella about how folklore and religion can fuel fear and uncertainty during our most vulnerable moments. A Good Year is set during the twelve days after Christmas where a heavily pregnant Despo is riddled with nightmares, sleepless nights and visions of creatures from folkloric stories her father would tell her as a child. During this her husband, Loukas, is haunted by desires for the foreign newcomer who has enchanted his spirit and unveiled a deep longing he has forever tried to keep hidden. As the two battle against the fears instilled by religion and folklore, they are torn apart and unable to reach one and other to ensure the safety of their unborn child.

A hauntingly beautiful story which is filled with magic, tension and mystery. Polis Loizou create, in only 150 pages, a mystifying world where superstition prevails against reality. Terrifyingly he touches on a shared experience among all of us, no matter our age, gender or culture, which is the stories of our childhoods.

Set in 1925 in Cyprus, Loizou introduced us to the Kalikantzari, a goblin like creature which come up from hell during the twelve days after Christmas. These evil mythical beings lurk in the deep darkness of the wintery nights and act as cautionary tale for the children of the village. With Despo’s baby on the way, she fears that he may be born during those twelve days and may become a victim of one of the folklore.

The poetic prose and beautiful visuals juxtaposed with the grotesque creatures and heartbreaking reality allows us to bounce between the key ideas of the book. Love and fear in all their forms. A Good Year is a suspenseful story which offers a warm sadness beneath its magic and terror, and in the end softens it’s gaze as the twelve days pass and sunshine prevails.

Thank you to Fairlight Books for allowing me to read and review an arc of this beautiful book.

I enjoyed this a lot — rich characters and the framing of the Novell's narrative around the Yule season was very effective.

‘A Good Year’ was a fantastic read! It has a great concept, with different story threads coming together to make a really beautiful book. It was tense, emotional and captures the different journeys of the characters, really well. Loizou’s future work will definitely be added to my TBR!

This was a quick and easy read that I loved as it was full of folklore and gothic elements. I loved the setting, the stoyr, the characters and the writing. I really enjoyed it.

Well written account of a interbellum man struggling with his sexuality and his pregnant wife’s struggle with a loveless marriage. Set in Cyprus, magical thinking and folklore play a major part
Was she crying for him, for fear for his welfare, or was she crying for herself, the idiot, for the loss of something she’d never had?

Unhappy Loukas and pregnant Despo (Despina) form the backbone of this novella. Set in 1920's Cyprus over the 12 days of Christmas leading up to Epiphany, we get to know them, and the village life that keeps a strict surveillance on them.
Food and rituals, family and religion play a major part.
Also the fear of children dying (and polio), folktales and superstition being real is something prominent in A Good Year.

Kalikantzaro, supernatural forest dwellers with benevolent intent, form a central plot element. If they are real or just figments of imagination from island dwellers long under the rule of others is left open.
The British (Looks like the English have souls, too) are mentioned as having recruited Cypriot farmers for the First World War. William and his wife, English folk living in a fruit orchard nearby, are seen as fabulously wealthy to the main characters.

Loukas and William whirl around each other in the woods, making the relationship to pregnant Despo fraught with tension: With company gone, the house was filled with the silence of their marriage.
The characters are rendered in a believable way, and the conclusion is open ended. I really liked this book, it reminded me in stillness and shortness a bit to the recently published Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, and I'll definitely want to check out more of the writing by Polis Loizou.