Oblivion Black by Christa Wojciechowski

A recovering addict attempting to rejoin society is swept into the mysterious world of an eccentric sculptor in Oblivion Black by Christa Wojciechowski, a shadowy meditation on art, lust, fame and its ensuing destruction.

From the first explosive, mind-rattling pages, this novel hits like a tailor-made drug, with well-timed jump cuts of narration and insightful drop-ins to critical moments and revelations. Anton, Ona, Aunt Vee, and Oz make an interesting core of this darkly entrancing story, their fates seemingly entwined, despite their haphazard involvement in one another’s lives. Ona’s relationship with the regulars of her NA meetings adds another layer of thematic complexity, positioning Ona’s process of healing and wellness against a new slip into obsession and desire.

Wojciechowski is obviously a skilled writer with an ear for authentic dialogue and a penchant for broken, deeply human characters. Once the heart of the plot unfolds in the studio, the book picks up in intensity for the book’s strongest moments. There are occasional moments of filler and excess exposition, and some stray errors – extra letters, grammatical slips, and awkward syntax – but the writing is largely polished and neatly paced.

A sinister and brilliant thriller, Oblivion Black is tense, ominous, and richly imagined for Gothic art lovers and dark fiction fans alike.

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