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percival_whyborne's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-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
5.0
rheah's review
dark
mysterious
tense
4.75
I discovered Zakharuk with their transhumanist debut All Orbits Decay Homeward that I greatly appreciated, albeit a bit short. When they announced their full-length novel I closely followed updates. Imago is a dark academia gothic horror/dystopian story set in an arctic environment with a transmasc lesbian and deals with gender deviance, oppressive fascist government and surveillance, linguistic magic, and a mysterious monster.
Imago is a book that reminded me a lot of Babel in its the university setting, translation/language-based magic system, eugenics policies and anti-authoritarian politics but the story takes a turn halfway through to delve into horror, monsters and metarmophosis in a twist that set it apart and brings a new side to this story.
Our protagonist, Ada is judged deviant by an authoritarian society. She's gender-nonconforming, too masculine, too desiring of masculinity, and too autistic for the society she lives in. And most importantly the daughter of the wrong people. Unlike her sister, Ada refuses to bow to the government and pursues her study in a place she once called home. The town is an isolated polar city, hyper militarised, on edge from recent killings, and nothing is at it seems.
Coming home, carries the weight of memories, of Ada's parents but Ada also comes home to her sister, distant after all these years. Freedom is alluring as Ada meets the mysterious androgyne Nikola who helps Ada become herself.
I really enjoy reading books that have a distinct non-American feel to them whether it be in culture or politics. Imago is informed by Zakharuk's Ukrainian heritage in a way that feels fresh and deeply anti-imperialist.
Imago is a book that reminded me a lot of Babel in its the university setting, translation/language-based magic system, eugenics policies and anti-authoritarian politics but the story takes a turn halfway through to delve into horror, monsters and metarmophosis in a twist that set it apart and brings a new side to this story.
Our protagonist, Ada is judged deviant by an authoritarian society. She's gender-nonconforming, too masculine, too desiring of masculinity, and too autistic for the society she lives in. And most importantly the daughter of the wrong people. Unlike her sister, Ada refuses to bow to the government and pursues her study in a place she once called home. The town is an isolated polar city, hyper militarised, on edge from recent killings, and nothing is at it seems.
Coming home, carries the weight of memories, of Ada's parents but Ada also comes home to her sister, distant after all these years. Freedom is alluring as Ada meets the mysterious androgyne Nikola who helps Ada become herself.
I really enjoy reading books that have a distinct non-American feel to them whether it be in culture or politics. Imago is informed by Zakharuk's Ukrainian heritage in a way that feels fresh and deeply anti-imperialist.
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