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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ooof that ending. I don’t know if I’m mad or impressed. Now I have to read the sequel soon instead of the other books on my TBR. This ending may be my Villian origin story.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so engaging yet confusing. Think of Harry Potter and the Secret History set in Soviet-esque Russia. None of the characters were good, but they weren’t evil either; they all had their reasons I’m looking at you Lisa . The main character herself would probably be the villain of the novel if she wasn’t the central character and we didn’t have her perspective, I like that.
excellent combination of incomprehensible middle game vibes and russian lit that felt made just for me. i was getting murakami vibes sans misogyny but can’t tell if that’s just because magical realism in translation just has a specific texture.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just kept thinking that I missed something in the translation. Perhaps the Russian world view is necessary to understand what happened here. Or perhaps it’s illuminated in the rest of the series...that isn’t available in English.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this more than I expected to. It was easy to read and interesting enough to make me look forward to reading more each night. I'd read it again, eventually.