Ultranatural: A Radical Reimagining of Female Celebrity

Ultranatural: A Surreal Descent into the Dark Side of Pop Stardom

The intersection of global fame and personal erasure is a recurring theme in pop culture, but Candice Wuehle’s Ultranatural takes this exploration to a haunting extreme. Published by the University of Iowa Press, the novel is described as part pop elegy, part horror story, and a radical reimagining of female celebrity. It charts the meteoric and treacherous rise of a young girl who transforms from a small-town dreamer into a carefully controlled global idol.

From Appalachia to the Global Stage

The story follows Lacey Dove Bart, a determined teenager living in a bleak small-town Ohio environment in the foothills of Appalachia. Desperate to escape poverty and fear, Lacey’s life changes when she dazzles at an audition for the prestigious Newland Academy, catching the attention of mega-producer Jimmy Coins.

Lacey isn’t alone in her ambition; her best friend, Carrie-Anne, is equally eager to break free from their hometown. Carrie-Anne’s drive is influenced by her mother, a self-styled witch who utilizes astral projection to observe the future. While the two girls initially believe they are on the brink of a shared dream, a betrayal by Lacey leaves both reeling and severs the only authentic anchor they have to their origins.

The Transformation into “Love”

As Lacey is rebranded as “Love,” she becomes the idol of a generation, but this ascendancy comes at a steep personal cost. The novel depicts the “gilded cage” of celebrity through a series of grueling experiences, including:

• Stints on Christian variety shows.
• Exhausting tours through malls and state fairs.
• Crash recording sessions in Sweden.
• Isolation within a fortress-like mansion between sessions.

The narrative explores the process of becoming “pure media,” where Love loses pieces of her identity until she is more of a brand than a human being. As younger replacements wait in the wings, Love’s only path to redemption and freedom lies in reconnecting with Carrie-Anne.

Themes of Occultism and Celebrity Mythos

While Ultranatural is a work of fiction, it draws heavy parallels to the real-world experiences of child stars. Specifically, the story echoes the “glittering dread” of the tabloid-era Britney Spears. This influence is evident in Love’s lyrics, which interpolate Spears’ songs, and the fictional album title I Got It (U Grab It).

Beyond the pop star mythos, Wuehle weaves in elements of the occult. As Love grows increasingly isolated from reality, she looks toward magic and the divine—connections mirrored by Carrie-Anne—in an attempt to establish a healthier relationship with the world. However, these connections wane as Love follows the restrictive path laid out by her captors.

Critical Reception

Critics have praised Wuehle’s ability to blend “shades-dark humor” with an “alien gloss of mystic uncanny.” Sadie Dupuis, songwriter and guitarist for Speedy Ortiz, describes the work as a pitch-perfect retelling of the pop starlet mythos. Other reviewers have noted that the novel’s youthful and vulnerable narration makes the experience of following Love’s struggle feel intimate and engrossing.

Key Book Details

Final Verdict

Ultranatural serves as a searing critique of the music industry’s tendency to exploit young talent, turning human beings into consumable products. By blending the surreal with the systemic, Candice Wuehle provides a haunting glance at the price of fame and the enduring necessity of authentic human bonds.