Life Cycle of a Moth by Rowe Irvin is a haunting and unforgettable debut novel. Told from the distinct and immersive viewpoints of two women, Myma and her Daughter, this story explores isolation, trauma, and survival in a forest that feels like a world apart from time and place.

Myma fiercely protects her Daughter by keeping her inside a fence they have built around their home, warning her of the lurking dangers beyond, especially the terrifying “Rotters.” Their life is raw and stripped back, filled with odd rituals, unique language, and the constant struggle to find food and safety in the wild. The arrival of Wyn, a stranger from beyond the fence, disrupts their fragile sanctuary, forcing both women to confront the outside world and themselves in profound ways.

Irvin’s writing is both brutal and beautiful, blending lyrical, folkloric prose with stark realism. The alternating timelines and voices, Myma’s past in the third person and Daughter’s first-person narrative, create a powerful contrast that deepens the emotional impact. Daughter’s fey-like language takes some getting used to, but it becomes mesmerizing as you settle into her perspective.

This is not an easy read. It contains difficult themes, including violence and trauma, and some moments are uncomfortably raw. But it is a deeply moving exploration of love, motherhood, and the lengths we go to protect those we cherish. The forest setting is almost a character itself, a haunting backdrop where nature’s beauty and cruelty intertwine.

If you enjoy original, character-driven novels that challenge you emotionally and intellectually, this book is a must-read. Life Cycle of a Moth is an extraordinary tale of transformation, resilience, and the cost of isolation.

Written from the points of view of the two main characters - Myma and Daughter - Life Cycle of the Moth is an emotive and stark story about two women who live in a forest.

It describes their lives and struggles to find food and to stay safe as Myma teaches her daughter, in her own way, about the dangers beyond the fence she has erected around their home. The most dangerous of all are called Rotters. Myma warns Daughter constantly that the Rotters are everywhere and she must keep herself inside the fence to stay alive.

However, one day Daughter is confronted by a Rotter on her side of the fence. What will the two women do to defend themselves against this person who will disrupt their lives in ways neither of them could imagine.

This is an extraordinary book. There are few pointers to when or where it is set. The place where Myma and Daughter live seems to exist almost outside of any place. The writing gives this idea that they are almost marooned on an island of their own making.

Some of the novel makes for uncomfortable reading but it is a book I found hard to put down and I wanted to discover Myma's "secrets".

I loved it. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a truly original novel.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Canongate Books for the advance review copy.

Reflecting the ephemeral yet transformative stages – from egg to larva, to pupa, and finally to imago – Rowe Irvin’s Life Cycle of a Moth offers a visceral, atmospheric portrayal of the decay festering within us. Irvin lures the reader into a murky forest where a solitary house stands like a bone from a rotting finger pointing upwards amid a clearing, where two sinister figures do this-and-that, and where an unexpected almost-stranger comes.

The novel opens with a brutal yet lyrical description of a gang rape scene. Shortly thereafter, the narrative shifts focus to Myma – also known as Maya – and Daughter, exposing their daily routines, interpersonal dynamics, and unique ways of speaking. Myma is a controlling figure in Daughter’s life, the only person she truly knows. Her love is distorted, rotten even, conditioning daughter to a life she thought the only possible. They exist in complete isolation deep in the forest, living on what nature provides within their self-contained boundaries, unexpectedly evoking comparisons to classic fairytales such as Little Red Riding Hood. The premise is straightforward: a woman, brutally gang raped and left for dead in the woods, wanders aimlessly until she finds shelter, with the brutal aftermath leaving a growing lump in both her mind and body, from which Daughter is born. Over time, Myma and Daughter create their own fey-like language – which might feel tiring and annoying to some readers not fond of whimsical prose – customs, and rituals, until a man perturbs their sanctuary, bringing with him an innate rottenness from the outer world, beyond the protective fence created by Myma.

The beauty and brutality of Irvin’s work lie not merely in its heart wrenching plot, but in the masterful use of language, the depth of her characters, and the haunting atmosphere she crafts. Each word is heavy and carries meaning. This can be clearly seen by contrasting the two different timelines in the novel. Maya’s upbringing is narrated in the third person, where the reader is introduced to her parents, soon learning her father is an alcoholic womaniser, and her mother a depressive woman at the edge of her marriage. Maya is an introspective teenager, grappling with toxic masculinity. Here, the language is snappy and modern. Maya’s chapter alternate seamlessly to Daughter’s first person fey-like narrative from her fifteens to sixteens. It took me some time to get into her voice, but once I started noticing the minutiae of Irvin’s writing, Daughter’s voice became much more compelling to me. Her use of idiosyncrasies is dense and ever-present, but never overly complicated. In an interview for The Guardian, the author says she drew influence from Eimear McBride’s A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing to fully dive into Daughter’s idiosyncrasies, such as dark-come, light-come, this-and-that.

In their world, protective trinkets are scattered along a short fence that delimits the boundary between their safe haven and the rotten world beyond. This rotten world is an unmistakable allegory of the toxic patriarchal society overflowing with rotters, better known as men. Daughter is doing her chores in the forest when she encounters Wyn, a rotter from over the fence – the first person she’s seen aside from Myma. At their hut, Myma is ready to kill the rotter, but is halted by the Grey Woman, an apparition that both protects and speaks with Myma. This moment marks the beginning of the unmaking of their isolation, and the richness of these interactions is brilliantly crafted by this remarkable new author. With time, their relationship evolves, resulting in Daughter’s increased curiosity about the strange rotten-words Wyn exchange in secrecy with Myma. Wyn’s presence affects Myma in unexpected ways, and through him the outside world bleeds into their lives, bringing inevitable change. I adored every nuance of Irvin’s characterisation and development, along with the beautiful “nature writing” reminiscent of authors like Daniel Mason.

Ultimately, Life Cycle of a Moth emerges as an evocative folktale of transformation in fragile isolation where the rotted patriarchal decay reaches and spreads, persistently putrefying women’s individuality. Irvin brilliantly blends brutal realism with folkloric lyricism, challenging the reader to confront the rot in our backs. As isolation crumbles beneath inside the cocoon, the larvae reveal that even amid darkness, the break of our protective silk gives light to the emerging moth, name, human. With every vivid, unsettling image, Irvin prompts us to reconsider our own metamorphoses, reminding us that rebirth is often born from the anguish of inevitable death.

Rating: 4.0/5

This is very different for me, I don’t usually read this type of genre but this was definitely quite mysterious and disturbing. I wasn’t a big fan of the style of writing which I guess knocked down one star however I still pushed through till the end and I was still able to follow the story. The way the book was structured was great as we go through two sides of the story - the present day and of Maya’s past. After discovering what happened in her past, it now becomes obvious as to why she’s so protective of her daughter. From preventing her from going past the marked perimeters around their home to the limited learning of the outside world. With the introduction of Wyn to the story, we learn how both Maya and Daughter cope to live with this stranger in their home and also how Daughter progresses as a teenager being exposed to a male for the first time. I did find the description of them hunting animals and how they prepare it quite gory but this is to be expected when it comes to surviving in the forest. I feel like I still have so many questions after finishing this and I’m still baffled by it all. Overall, this is a great debut written by the author.

Not bad, but not for me. An interesting book, both quite twee (the language used by the main characters, living outside of society, being very in awe of the natural world around them) and surprisingly dark and brutal, right from the beginning. I fully expect other readers will connect with the prose more than I did and be totally blown away by this. I also found the plot slightly predictable and a bit too familiar.

this book felt difficult. not in a way of reading it but just in a way of how much it hit the heart. it felt raw and exposing and i felt emotional but of what im not quite sure how to pinpoint just why that was. i think because i was frustrated for these characters. i was angry. i was also scared for them both living the way they do but also of others and how the others would interrupt the life they have.
because this was about a mother. but before that a woman who had the unspeakable happen to her. and so she fled. left hurt in every way in side and out she seeked refuge. but from this event there came her daughter. and she is hers. so she does all she can think of to keep them both safe. and that is to stay away. stay away in these "outside worlds" away from everything. and so for years this is simply all they both know.
is it ok? im not sure and this is what led to so much emotional impact for me. because you are bound to say this isnt ok. because we as readers are living in the outside world and cant fathom two being trapped outside of that. and we at once think of how this is affecting both these characters. but then you think "well, whats the harm" and you can totally feel for the mother and why she came to be in the place she finds herself.
the book follows two timelines. one tells us Miyas story. and wow its harrowing. the next is the daughters telling.
all is isolated until the girls comes to be 16. and for the first time an outsider comes into their fenced off world. is this going to cause harm? and if so for whom? and will it finally be the unveiling of whats going on here and what is outside?
this book was such an intriguing read. it felt compelled to read it from page 1.

First and foremost I want to say I don't know if I will adequately be able to describe how I feel about this book. I loved it so, so much, and found the narrative voice to be so compelling and loveable. That being said, let me try to describe to you what Life Cycle of a Moth is about.

Life Cycle of a Moth is Rowe Irvin's debut novel, and I am so excited to have read this early and will absolutely be reading future novels from this author. It follows the life of Daughter, a child born in an isolated cabin deep in the woods, and raised solely by her mother who she calls 'Myma.' Daughter and Myma's lives are simple, filled with little rituals and fairytales of the outside world. At its core, this novel is about the lengths a mother will go to to protect her child, and the ways in which trauma can manifest.

I don't want to say too much about the actual plot of the book because, to me, that's not the point of this novel. It's definitely an experience, a character study, and one of the most unique books I've ever read. I loved Daughter so much, the way she saw the world and the words she used to describe herself and her environment. I loved the rituals that her and Myma would do together (especially this-and-that). I loved Irvin's writing style and the voice she gave to Daughter, it made these characters feel so realised and alive and had me so deeply and emotionally invested in them. This is a book I'm going to be thinking about for a long time after reading, and one that I will definitely return to again in the future.

A really thought provoking read about what some people will do to protect their children and themselves and the impact of these decisions.
I loved the voices of myma and Mia and listening to her grow up

" The larvae was clever too, she thought, to make their cocoons under the cottony swathes that protected them from predatory birds."

Life Cycle of a Moth is a challenging read.

It is moving; it is harrowing; it is beautiful; it is full of love; it is unique.

Rowe Irvin's debut novel explores the outcome of violence and the desire to escape and protect.

Maya and her daughter live in a woodland. They hunt for food and they grow vegetables- they forage for existence. They have the shelter of a small hut. But they are protected from "Rotters." Until this life of isolation is broken by the arrival of a stranger -Wim.

The book is told in alternating voices moving between the past and present; the past told through Maya building up to a denouement explaining her decision to protect herself and her daughter and live in the woodland; the present is told through the voice of the daughter- recounted in her own individual voice- of a life that has interacted only with her mother. A world that has existed only of items found within the woodland. The girl's name changes over the years and is linked discovered items- Flint daughter; Root daughter; Bone daughter.

The two are cocooned away from the world ; pupae wrapped in their hidden world...

The prose is haunting and often minimal. There is violence and a deep rawness of emotions- feelings and life stripped back to a primal feel.

This is a book that will divide readers. The start was a challenge - interpreting the voices- the move between chapters and finding a sense of understanding of the world of Maya and her daughter.. But the perseverance was worthwhile. It was the rawness of the text that hit hard.

This is a book about love and motherhood and survival - a rewarding read

Odd, sad, and lovely in equal parts. I love books with flawed and unusual characters, and this has that in abundance.

It’s a difficult book to review because you just have to experience it. It reminded me of the film “Mama”, with less of a horror aspect (although TW for SA, abuse, death, self harm etc)

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for the ARC!

‘Myma calls me Daughter but that is not always my name. What are you now, Daughter? she asks, and I tell her I am Stone or Vole or Twig or Finger or Worm.’

I don’t think I’ll forget this book in a hurry! Life Cycle of a Moth is a hauntingly evocative tale of trauma and a mother’s harrowing endeavour to protects ones child.

I can’t quite decide if it’s just a vibe but I found myself comparing it to ‘I Who Have Never Known Men’ - Jacqueline Harpman, ‘The Garden’ - Nick Newman and the movie ‘The Village’!

This is a fantastic debut and I’m very intrigued to see what Irvin writes next!

I can't stop thinking about "Life Cycle of a Moth" by Rowe Irvin and what made Maya isolate herself from society so much.... we find out later in the book. Plot is quite dystopian - mother and daughter living in a hut in the woods, relying on nature and some "treats" that will soon run out. The language in the book is beautiful. I knew it couldn't carry on like that and when Wynn shows up he disrupts the order of things but they do include him in "This-and-That" and the "Thankyous and Sorrys". Amazing how humans can adapt. Beautifully written.

I really don’t know how to start this review … this book broke me, I loved it so much. I thought I’ll never read another book that could touch me so deeply after The Lamb, but here we are. I dare say I love this one more from start to finish. I wanted to read it slow, just to have it for longer, being with these characters was an extraordinary experience.
The writing is very unique, from the point of view of Daughter, Her Myma is the only other person she knows and they both live in a cabin in the woods. This book has so many things that I love - mother/daughter relationship, creepy shadows, hidden place in the woods, weird rituals, something rotten lurking outside. I can compare it to The North Woods and In the house in the dark of the woods, as well as The lamb. If you love these books, you’ll most probably love that one as well.
There are heavy themes in here, so be prepared. Throughout the book you know what happened and what made Maya decide to raise her child that way, but at the very end we have the confirmation of what has happened. It’s heartbreaking, the characters were so vivid and you absolutely care for them, the POV of the daughter was my favorite, her way of thinking and seeing the world, how resilient and resourceful she is. There is one scene involving a hen that I couldn’t read, because it was a horrendous animal abuse, but it was there as a metaphor for what happened to Maya.
This will be probably my favorite book of the year. I hope you have the chance to read it. Also, it’s unbelievable that this is a debut novel. I cannot wait for the next thing Rowe Irvin writes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for providing me with the ARC.

Life Cycle of a Moth is a work of genius, a deeply moving, immersive, reflective book that I forced myself to reda slowly and carefully to fully appreciate its wonder. Not one word was out of place. Daughter and Myma live hidden in the woods, living hand to mouth, protected by talismans and ghosts from the outside world. Daughter has never known any other existence. All is well, until Wyn, a man lost and grieving, stumbles into their world. The language of this book was so clever, the characters so well drawn. The storyline was full of hope and love and moments of peril and despair. Excellent stuff.

Rowe Irvin's debut novel Life Cycle of a Moth is a haunting, beautiful, fragile work about motherhood, isolation and a haunting sense of a world changed through loss.

Myma and her Daughter live in an isolated woodland - Myma has been here for some considerable time - and they have no connection with the outside world, simply living and surviving off what they find in their wood. Irvin's spare, gripping prose immerses you instantly in their world, and brings it to life with vivid colour. Then one day a red-haired stranger, Wyn, appears, and the world Myma and Daughter knows is challenged, and here the novel truly blossoms.

I was thoroughly impressed by Life Cycle of a Moth, and truly surprised it was a debut. There is such rich confidence to the writing. I really look forward to seeing what Rowe Irvin does next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

"In the dark beyond the fence, creeps the rotted thing. Sleep you sound now, little daughter, safe from everything."

This debut novel follows the story of Myma and her journey through trauma and motherhood. Myma believes she has set her daughter up well, to be fearful of the world on the other side of their fence. It's fairly simple really...stay within the boundaries and the rotters can't get you. But what if one day a rotter appears and it isn't what you had been warned to fear?

Wow. I don't have the words to do this book justice. This was one of the most strange, beautiful and mesmerising books I have ever read.

I must admit, the writing style took me a little bit of time to get used to, as there are no speech marks and the storytelling is short and snappy. However, once I'd gotten into the flow of it, I was absolutely hypnotised by how this author wrote this novel. It was almost like poetry - it just rolled off the page so effortlessly.

Myma's storyline was devastating to read. I spent a lot of the book feeling really frustrated by what I first perceived as her negligence and manipulation towards Daughter. Daughter's lack of understanding of the real world was so distorted. You can see so clearly how children are so easily influenced by the people they trust.

When you get to understand Myma's backstory, it's so obvious why she has become the way that she is. I felt so sad for her character. She clearly lacked any control in her previous life, so tried her upmost to ensure she had control in the way she brought up Daughter.

Wyn quickly became my favourite character. He was such a necessary role model for Daughter. Reflecting on the story, it's so clear that both Myma and Wyn wanted to protect Daughter. They just had different ideas on how this should be done.

If I could give it six stars I would!

I was sold on that book from the very first scene in the woods.
These are the lives of Myma and Mud-daughter, deep in the forest, isolated from the world of “Rot”:
“In the dark beyond the fence, creeps the rotted thing. Sleep you sound now, little Daughter, safe from everything."
Here is their own little world with their own rules and their own language, with their keepsakes and keepsafes, their rituals, their joys and fears. But what if the “rotted world” came a-creeping in?
Will it scupper their weirdly claustrophobic relationship?
You can feel, smell and touch the haunting forest, the dark atmosphere closing in on you.
Irvin has delivered a stellar debut with “Life-Cycle of a Moth”. Already crouching down to be poised for her next creation.

This book was so beautiful. Going in I thought it was going to be very dark and there are certainly darker elements but this very much reads as a fable about love, family and fear. I really liked the writing style and the use of language was perfect.

To be completely honest, I was scared that when I started to read this book it was going to be so similar to Lucy Rose’s The Lamb in terms of maternal relationships that I worried it would put me into a slump. However, as I continued to read Irvin’s storytelling I was hooked, tense in not knowing what would become of Daughter and Myma whilst having glimpses of the past interweaved with the present plot line.

Living on the outskirts of the community, without language, without peers, and without modernity, daughter has never seen another person other than her mother. They play games, catch food, forage, cook, and clean in their own world located in the forest. Daughter’s language is stunted, limited to the words she has heard from Myma and are written on tins. Daughter sits on the fence of maturity at almost sixteen yet linguistically, and socially she is much younger through Myma’s insistence on keeping her safe from the rotted people who exist on the opposite side of the fence.

The plot of the novel picks up pace with the introduction of a new person who transgresses and comes over the fence, forcing his existence upon Daughter and Myma - unsettling everything daughter knows of life and the world. A breathtaking and tense metaphor for the harsh world we live in, generational trauma that rots from within, and how maternal love despite its pure intentions, has the potential to stunt, and hold back the children they sought to protect.

An emotionally wrought novel about what happens when you leave society behind and raise a child in the forest. I really liked the vibe of the this book, the folk lore elements, the atmospheric descriptions. This book is beautifully written, the prose is lyrical and the language style of daughter is really interesting. The only thing I didn’t like is the trauma Maya encountered that lead to her leaving society, it’s always the same thing for female characters and this book was so well written, I feel like a different route could have been taken with her. I love the whole thing with the grey woman as well