The Underworld (Sofie Laguna, Penguin)

Sofie Laguna’s The Underworld is an introspective, bittersweet coming-of-age tale that follows a 15-year-old Martha Mullins in 1970s Sydney from adolescence through to university, focusing on her female friendships, her studying and ambivalent feelings of queer desire. A shy, insecure only child with emotionally distant parents, Martha spends much of her home life immersed in Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, entering the figurative depths of the underworld when she yearns for escape or to explore her sexuality without shame. As Martha’s childlike fascination with the classics transforms into serious academic study and a potential scholarly career, she grows in confidence and finally finds her feet. Laguna’s portrayal of Martha is intimate and compassionate – Martha’s aching loneliness is deeply felt. Yet, Martha’s ongoing suffering and stasis begins to feel oppressive as the story reaches its third act. The Underworld is at its most powerful when Martha is unburdened and uninhibited, and these lighter moments are accompanied by vivid imagery: the erotic ‘pink blood plums […] so sweet and tart’ that Martha eats with her first female crush, Valerie; the ‘alternating diamonds of pink and green’ on a newly purchased silk scarf; and the scent of ‘everywhere heavenly gardenia’ when Martha receives her first credit at university. Despite Martha’s sorrows, The Underworld is a charismatic and imaginative novel for readers of Hannah Kent, Diana Reid and Craig Silvey.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Charlotte Callander is a freelance writer who has worked as a bookseller and museum educator. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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