The novel is a story set in a slightly futuristic, dystopian version of Reykjavík, where customer service is predominantly handled by holograms, and a comprehensive virtual assistant named Zoé has replaced the likes of Siri and Alexa. The core of this society is the Empathy Test, which determines an individual’s status as either a “marked one” or an “unmarked,” essentially defining their place within society. Those who fail this test are ostracized and marginalized until they can pass it. The narrative unfolds in the third person, offering the perspectives of four central characters: Vetur, a thirty-two-year-old secondary school teacher grappling with severe PTSD due to her past experiences with a stalker ex-boyfriend; Eyja, a fifty-one-year-old woman who loses her job at Iceland’s largest investment firm after failing the Empathy Test; Ólafur Tandri, an influential member of the Icelandic Psychological Association and a political figure, leading a campaign to make the Empathy Test compulsory for all, even though his own marriage suffers as a result; and Tristan, a twenty-one-year-old who refuses to take the same test that led to his older brother’s incarceration.
At first, these characters appear unrelated, but as the story progresses, their lives become increasingly intertwined. In the opening chapter, we are introduced to Vetur, who exhibits severe symptoms of PTSD. She struggles to connect with her students and is haunted by her traumatic past, making her unable to pursue a romantic interest in a colleague. She has relocated to a “marked” neighbourhood, where only those who have passed the Empathy Test can reside. The school’s parents demand that all children take the test, reflecting the larger societal divide on whether passing the test should be a prerequisite for access to services, basic rights, and commodities. Eyja is profoundly affected by the test, particularly after it becomes mandatory for employees at major companies. Losing her job and her husband, Eyja’s life takes a downward spiral as she seeks to fill the void left by her husband through a failed, emotionless affair.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ólafur Tandri pushes for universal adoption of the Empathy Test, even though this initiative strains his own marriage. Not everyone supports his radical stance, as some believe the test is inherently flawed and divisive, focusing solely on emotional empathy and not intellectual empathy.
While many share Ólafur Tandri’s views, he is highly unpopular among certain segments of society and is frequently the target of death threats. Tristan Máni, a twenty-one-year-old who despises the test for the pain it caused his brother, is responsible for some of these threats. Tristan’s brother Rúrik’s life took a tragic turn after failing the test, leading him to addiction and criminal behavior. Tristan refuses to take the test and work his way into a society that failed his brother. This decision forces him to move to an “unmarked” part of town, where he can only make ends meet by working in questionable jobs at the harbor. He even gets involved in a series of burglaries to save money for an apartment for himself and his brother when he is released from jail. His plea for a loan from the bank is rejected due to his “unmarked” status, leading to a viral social media post highlighting the frustration of being excluded from society. This issue becomes especially significant in a country where suicide is the leading cause of death among young Icelandic men, reflecting the lack of job prospects and life opportunities, much like Tristan’s.
Amid these stories, Vetur continues to grapple with the emotional aftermath of her traumatic past and contemplates the value of subjecting her students to the Empathy Test. Alexandria, a mother of one of her students, Naómí, is particularly concerned about her daughter’s performance on the test. Later, we discover that Alexandria is Tristan’s mother, who had moved to a “marked” neighborhood to escape her abusive, “unmarked” husband who is now in jail. Naómí eventually passes the test, but Vetur spots her stalker, Daníel, near the school, causing her to panic. The police claim Daníel is no longer under surveillance, as he is showing signs of improvement related to the test. Vetur seeks solace in a romantic encounter but is haunted by memories of Daníel.
As the day of the election approaches, Ólafur Tandri’s car tires are slashed and his door vandalized with a large ‘x.’ Sólveig, his wife, identifies Tristan from security videos as the boy who vented his frustration on social media. Ólafur contemplates reporting him, but Sólveig questions the system’s hypocrisy. Instead of reporting Tristan to the police, Sólveig suggests offering the psychological help he cannot afford, a suggestion Ólafur eventually accepts. Just before the election, Tristan accidentally overdoses on a drug commonly prescribed to many of his peers, sparking public outrage as people speculate it may have been a suicide attempt.
In the meantime, Eyja faces yet another failure on the Empathy Test and concocts a scheme to blame her boss, Þórir, to avoid public shame. Her ex-husband, Breki, who had blocked her on social media, comes to her aid after a masked burglar invades her home. In their conversation, Eyja reveals that her firing was a result of refusing Þórir’s advances, which raises red flags for Breki. He remembers her as a manipulative liar who had spread lies and rumors about him and his new girlfriend. Feeling sorry for her, Breki leaves. Eyja then seeks vengeance against Þórir and eventually loses consciousness due to a high dose of psychiatric medication.
Vetur decides to leave her school job due to her fears related to Daníel. When someone attempts to break into her apartment, she seeks refuge with her neighbor, who turns out to be Breki. Eyja’s public shaming leads her to break into Breki’s apartment, where she is ultimately arrested by the police, with both Vetur and Breki present.
The election results in Ólafur and his party’s victory, making the Empathy Test mandatory. However, Sólveig does not share her husband’s enthusiasm. Tristan awakens from his coma and reconnects with his estranged mother and sister. He decides to move in with them in their new “marked” apartment, ending the book with his decision to finally take the empathy test, symbolizing a sense of hope and change in this complex, dystopian world.