Reviews

Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko

forroan's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

4.75

Really fantastic but utterly confusing at times (though in a way that was enjoyable). I was thinking about this book all the time and I will continue to think about it. Points only docked because I have no idea what happened at the end

heather_boo's review against another edition

4.0

I’m thankful to be reading this as part of a book club because I need some discussion since I don’t quite understand what happened. I understood everything well up until we find out exactly what the school is preparing the students to do. I understand that this is an ode to the power of language and its importance. Are words monstrous? The character development is wonderful, and the storyline is very interesting and absorbing. Some of the lessons become esoteric as Sasha progresses in her work, and it becomes more complicated. this is my initial review and I still have a lot to discuss about this book.

sugar_bandit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

tyrantcbass's review against another edition

5.0

This is a book about being initiated into a mystery, which itself feels like an initiation into a mystery for the one reading it. Full marks.

mifflinreads's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 ⭐️ If you held a gun to my head and asked me the plot of this book, I simply could not. Our main character goes to school and has multiple psychedelic experiences while dodging all personal relationships? This is definitely an all vibes book and I’m not mad about it. I did really like it and will be continuing the series.

I read this because of its comparison to Harry Potter in multiple reviews. The only way this is like Harry Potter, is that it’s an academia story. I would compare this more to a new age Name of the Wind, if anything, but overall this was an incredibly unique book. A very interesting concept that students are blackmailed into attending a school where they will be learning metaphysical concepts and will become more enlightened after each year. Highly recommend having a psychedelic experience before reading as almost every course and teaching the main character goes through can be closely related to what a trip feels like LOL. The ending felt a little predictable but is enough of a cliffhanger that I want to read the next book!

stockholm_syndrome's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kaschi's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

geenahnola's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

teatoto's review against another edition

4.0

Questo libro si divora, ma come ogni young adult, scorrevole grazie ad una scrittura non troppo impegnativa. È un libro fuori dagli schemi, un romanzo fantasy, quasi metafisico, se lo si può definire così. Si arriva alla fine senza avere chiaro e definito il nocciolo della storia. Non si tratta di un mondo fantastico ben determinato, ma è tutto un po’ confuso, a mio parere. Nonostante ciò, non posso dire che non mi sia piaciuto. Avrei solo voluto che con il terminarsi della storia, fossero più chiare certe dinamiche, che ci fossero delle spiegazioni.

sylda's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0