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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
this was absolutely insane and one of the weirdest most magical most confusing most complex books i’ve ever read. Wow
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
No idea what happened most of the time or at the end. Somehow still a great story. Didn't love the part where Lisa's task was to prostitute herself-- enough of brutalizing women as a plot device.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
REALLY WEIRD BUT IN A REALLY GOOD WAY
sasha is one of the funniest book characters ive encountered in a while... she truly has some banger moments like: “‘Are you a pervert?’ Sasha asked hopefully.”
personal favorite thematic discussions in this were: the growing pains of maturing into adulthood; varying expressions of love and care, including those that encroach ethically dubious territory and how ppl will try to rationalize it; destiny as being preordained vs shaped by the individual
also the pacing of this book is so unique in that there are no clear climaxes and rising/falling action sequences (possibly bc it is ukrainian?) but felt incredibly gripping all the same... really really good!!
sasha is one of the funniest book characters ive encountered in a while... she truly has some banger moments like: “‘Are you a pervert?’ Sasha asked hopefully.”
personal favorite thematic discussions in this were: the growing pains of maturing into adulthood; varying expressions of love and care, including those that encroach ethically dubious territory and how ppl will try to rationalize it; destiny as being preordained vs shaped by the individual
also the pacing of this book is so unique in that there are no clear climaxes and rising/falling action sequences (possibly bc it is ukrainian?) but felt incredibly gripping all the same... really really good!!
This book is so deep and mystical that sometimes I had to stand back and think about what I just read. It has notes of philosophy, russian sensibility, and magic that can exist within mundane parts of everyday life. The plot was quite interesting, but I do truly believe Sasha and Kostya’s romance was useless and did not serve anything. I would have loved to learn more about the teachers and advisors as well. Overall really good book, sometimes a bit confusing. Worth the read imo.
Ainda em dúvida sobre o que achei... diferente, arrastado em alguns pontos, confuso...
Um 3,5 acho, talvez 4...
Com certeza nada do que eu esperava
Um 3,5 acho, talvez 4...
Com certeza nada do que eu esperava
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!
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!
A fun and fresh entry in the magic school genre.
Sasha is a young girl on when a mysterious man makes her perform odd tasks which make her throw up gold coins. If she doesn't comply, horrific consequences come to pass on her family. Eventually, enough tasks are performed that the man announces she is accepted to a magical university which she must attend. It quickly becomes apparent to Sasha that learning this schools's "Applied Science" will change her, both in body and mind, but to refuse means disaster for her mother. I wouldn't say that magic school is one of my favorite tropes, but this was a fun entry as it mixes the misery and rigor of The Magicians with a more eldritch vibe. I didn't love the beginning, as the pre-university tasks are (intentionally) deeply demeaning, but once those are over it became a lot more palatable. You won't get a ton of answers about what exactly is happening, but I certainly felt like I got enough and the thematic questions were answered. I especially appreciated a Misery Magic School TM book that took seriously the students' struggles and potentially rejects the entire premise.
Recommended if you want a light of details, heavy on vibes and confusion magic school book.
Thank you to everyone who pushed me to read this book, despite being a long-ish one, it was totally worth it. It sat on my TBR for almost 1 year, but I’ve finally done it and it is now my number one book in the ‘most confusing, but absolutely brilliant’ category. I find it difficult to describe it and place within a genre because it’s got a bit of everything - it’s a coming of age story with amazing character (and world) build, mixing reality with fantasy, but in a way that even though you can’t exactly relate to the metamorphosis element of the story, the characters’ struggles, wishes, thoughts feel very real. I’ve definitely felt SEEN in the way Sasha struggles with her mother and the initial relationship they have turns into complete avoidance and lies (her mother was actually the only character I truly disliked).
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I don’t want to give away from the actual plot, not only because I’d butcher any attempt of taking you through the plot, but also because it’s so worth discovering it yourself; I knew almost nothing about it and it was a great feeling to go through the plot twists and everything.
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I’m also off to read the second one which is much shorter and hopefully it gives a bit more clarity to the whole world, buttttt let’s see.
.
I don’t want to give away from the actual plot, not only because I’d butcher any attempt of taking you through the plot, but also because it’s so worth discovering it yourself; I knew almost nothing about it and it was a great feeling to go through the plot twists and everything.
.
I’m also off to read the second one which is much shorter and hopefully it gives a bit more clarity to the whole world, buttttt let’s see.