Inspired by the author’s own family story, Lázár is a gothic intergenerational family saga with a touch of magic following an aristocratic Hungarian family over several generations—perfect for readers of Kazuo Ishiguro and One Hundred Years of Solitude. The Lázárs are a noble Hungarian family who spend their time between their rural summer estate, the “Waldschloss”—surrounded by menacingly dark, fairytale-like woods—and a glittering winter castle in the city. Lajos von Lázár is the youngest child and only son, who looks nothing like the rest of his family with his light blue eyes and translucent skin. Feeling a constant divide between himself and others, he is only able to truly connect with his uncle, whose otherworldly foresight is often confused for insanity. As the decades go by, the Lázárs repeatedly fall prey to their own desires, leading to a family history steeped in tragedy and recurring trauma. But time and again, in the lighter years, great love and hope shine through. Masterfully written and deeply haunting, Lázár is an astonishingly self-confident, clever novel, and Nelio Biedermann is a brilliant storyteller, a fresh voice of a new generation looking at history through a different lens and telling it in a way that feels both modern and timeless.
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Lázár: A Novel
Inspired by the author’s own family story, Lázár is a gothic intergenerational family saga with a touch of magic following an aristocratic Hungarian family over several generations—perfect for readers of Kazuo Ishiguro and One Hundred Years of Solitude. The Lázárs are a noble Hungarian family who spend their time between their rural summer estate, the “Waldschloss”—surrounded by menacingly dark, fairytale-like woods—and a glittering winter castle in the city. Lajos von Lázár is the youngest child and only son, who looks nothing like the rest of his family with his light blue eyes and translucent skin. Feeling a constant divide between himself and others, he is only able to truly connect with his uncle, whose otherworldly foresight is often confused for insanity. As the decades go by, the Lázárs repeatedly fall prey to their own desires, leading to a family history steeped in tragedy and recurring trauma. But time and again, in the lighter years, great love and hope shine through. Masterfully written and deeply haunting, Lázár is an astonishingly self-confident, clever novel, and Nelio Biedermann is a brilliant storyteller, a fresh voice of a new generation looking at history through a different lens and telling it in a way that feels both modern and timeless.
Popular Reviews(2)
Reviewed by Frauke HaackUnglaublich tolles Buch. Absoluter Pageturner
Reviewed by GeriLázár is a dark, gripping novel about reinvention across twentieth-century Hungary. Biedermann writes with precision, creating characters who are deeply flawed, fascinating, and haunted by history and trauma. While the novel engages with many heavy themes, I sometimes felt they were touched on too quickly rather than explored in real depth. Still, Lázár is an ambitious work from a very young talent, and I’m excited to see what Biedermann writes next. 3.5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.