The Underworld
Australia

The Underworld

by Sofie Laguna

Coming of Age Romance Fiction 2025

Summary

Martha Mullins has always felt like an outsider. Growing up with a glamorous but judgmental mother and a mostly absent father, she finds refuge in the myths of ancient Rome, discovering in the underworld and its gods a world that reflects her own feelings of isolation, desire and longing. As she navigates adolescence, Martha gradually discovers the joys of friendship, intimacy and the freedom of being understood by others. Her circle of friends introduces her to spontaneity, laughter and experiences that challenge her tendency to retreat into her imagination. But when events take a painful turn, Martha must confront the difficulties of growing up and the limits of the worlds she has created to protect herself. Following her intellectual and sexual awakening through school and into adulthood, Laguna’s novel explores loneliness, queer identity, grief and the search for belonging. Blending classical mythology with the emotional realities of contemporary life, The Underworld is a tender portrait of a young woman learning how to inhabit a world in which she can be herself.

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Country
Australia
Oceania
About the author
Sofie Laguna
Sofie Laguna

Sofie Laguna is an Australian novelist, playwright and author of books for children and adults. Before becoming a full-time writer, she studied law at the University of New South Wales and later trained as an actor in Melbourne. She also completed a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Laguna published her first adult novel, One Foot Wrong, in 2008, earning international recognition and a place on the longlist for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. Her subsequent novels include The Eye of the Sheep, which won the 2015 Miles Franklin Literary Award, The Choke and Infinite Splendours, which received the 2021 Colin Roderick Award. Her fiction is known for its sensitive portrayals of vulnerable characters, family relationships, trauma and the complexities of human experience. Alongside her adult novels, she has written numerous children’s books, several of which have received recognition from the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Her fifth adult novel, The Underworld (2025), explores adolescence, mythology, sexuality and the search for belonging. Laguna lives in Australia and continues to write for readers of all ages.

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Details
Published
2025
Author
Sofie Laguna