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turtle2queen's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sehalpin's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ashleybashley's review
3.0
when I tell you I hated the main character lmao
I almost dnf’d this bc I was so fed up with his actions like
I almost dnf’d this bc I was so fed up with his actions like
shoosha's review
2.0
Very interesting library shelf grab. Translated from Russian co-authors, it is a weird little story, centered on a young girl trying to save her brother and bring him back to their dimension. Sci-fi and fantasy in an urban city with characters all looking for redemption.
...
Can't say I'd recommend, recommend it. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. I was interested in it the whole time and don't regret reading it. For a last minute pandemic freakout library grab, I was down with it!
...
Can't say I'd recommend, recommend it. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. I was interested in it the whole time and don't regret reading it. For a last minute pandemic freakout library grab, I was down with it!
coriandercake's review
4.0
3.75-4
Not as good as Vita Nostra; has the same feel/sense of the universe, so it did not feel as unique or intriguing
Not as good as Vita Nostra; has the same feel/sense of the universe, so it did not feel as unique or intriguing
d4ditto's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
waclements7's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm
I honestly don’t know what to think. Well, okay, I think a lot of this just flew over my head. I am boggled.
I honestly don’t know what to think. Well, okay, I think a lot of this just flew over my head. I am boggled.
waywordxwitch's review
4.0
ARC provided by NetGalley for my honest opinion.
Wow...where do I begin. This book was strange and mind boggling. I loved how engaging it was, even when I was trying to figure it out (still haven't). It was like some kind of weird horror/fantasy fairytale story. With all the music and strangeness of Alyona it made me think of a modern day Pied Piper. Definitely recommend if you like the strange and compelling, it definitely wasn't what I expected and strangely fulfilling.
Wow...where do I begin. This book was strange and mind boggling. I loved how engaging it was, even when I was trying to figure it out (still haven't). It was like some kind of weird horror/fantasy fairytale story. With all the music and strangeness of Alyona it made me think of a modern day Pied Piper. Definitely recommend if you like the strange and compelling, it definitely wasn't what I expected and strangely fulfilling.
serinde4books's review
2.0
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
This is a translated work from a Ukrainian husband and wife team. I will admit up front that I think due to cultural differences, some of the book really was baffling to me. There are social graces or norms, that are probably normal in the Ukrain, but are odd to a US reader. For example the interaction with the teenagers in the first chapter had a lot of cultural nuances I felt I was missing.
Aspirin is a DJ and he finds a 10 year old girl, Alyona, on his doorstep. She says someone is looking for her. She won’t talk to him though and he leaves her, then he runs into some teenagers about a block away, who chase him with their dog. He goes back for the girl, as they flee she tosses her teddy bear back into the alley and it kills the dog. Aspirin takes her home, he really doesn’t know what is happening or what else to do with her. In the morning she refuses to leave. Claiming that she is a musical prodigy, Alyona insists she must play a complicated violin piece to find her brother. And her is where it gets a bit more confusing. I think she is an Angel, but who she is, is never fully explained.
Be aware there is a lot of cursing, like every other word. Also there are very violent scenes when Alyona’s teddy bear defends her.
This book took me a long time to read. I put it down and came back to finish it almost 4 months after I started it. I really couldn’t relate to the characters in the story line wasn’t as enthralling as it sounded in the description. I don’t think that it’s because of the authors, I think that it had to do with the translation. I feel like there was some sort of heart missing from the story. It was an OK story plot wise, and I like some of the interesting factors.
This is a translated work from a Ukrainian husband and wife team. I will admit up front that I think due to cultural differences, some of the book really was baffling to me. There are social graces or norms, that are probably normal in the Ukrain, but are odd to a US reader. For example the interaction with the teenagers in the first chapter had a lot of cultural nuances I felt I was missing.
Aspirin is a DJ and he finds a 10 year old girl, Alyona, on his doorstep. She says someone is looking for her. She won’t talk to him though and he leaves her, then he runs into some teenagers about a block away, who chase him with their dog. He goes back for the girl, as they flee she tosses her teddy bear back into the alley and it kills the dog. Aspirin takes her home, he really doesn’t know what is happening or what else to do with her. In the morning she refuses to leave. Claiming that she is a musical prodigy, Alyona insists she must play a complicated violin piece to find her brother. And her is where it gets a bit more confusing. I think she is an Angel, but who she is, is never fully explained.
Be aware there is a lot of cursing, like every other word. Also there are very violent scenes when Alyona’s teddy bear defends her.
This book took me a long time to read. I put it down and came back to finish it almost 4 months after I started it. I really couldn’t relate to the characters in the story line wasn’t as enthralling as it sounded in the description. I don’t think that it’s because of the authors, I think that it had to do with the translation. I feel like there was some sort of heart missing from the story. It was an OK story plot wise, and I like some of the interesting factors.