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couldbestephen's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
5.0
I'm struggling to write a cohesive review for this book that adequately contains the absolute love and admiration I have for it. I've never read a book that I loved so intensely that I know I'd never recommend to anyone. If the phrase "Franz Kafka meets Lev Grossman in this incredibly surrealist, mind-bending novel about a woman who attends the Russian Institute of Special Technologies to learn Speech" doesn't spark some sort of interest, then this isn't for you. To be honest, I don't think this book is for most people. But for the ones who make it through and <i> reverberate </i>, this will be amazing.
This story isn’t your classic magical school discovery story at all. It doesn't have a big bad. There is no Beast for the protagonist to defeat, there is no Voldemort lurking in every dark corner, and there is no governmental conspiracy for us to unravel. There is only education. The biggest hurdle Sasha, our main character, must overcome is her own mind. Alexandra is an incredibly powerful construct but is constantly kept in check by teachers who truly know more than her and only want to keep her alive as she grows into her power.
I can see how this could be a polarizing book. This isn't a flashy, magical adventure. I'm not even sure what we are reading is technically "magic." It's Language. It's Verbs, Pronouns, and Nouns. It's Creation. It's beautiful, it's bizarre, it's art. And it's not for a casual reader. Especially as you get near the end, the complexity and confusion is wild. The plot is slow and drags. I’m genuinely sorry for the people who thought they were getting into some HP story and were instead confronted with something that has the casual enjoyment factor of watching concrete dry. There’s also no denying that the uncomfortable tasks and lessons the students must endure can be over the top.
If you're looking for an easier read with a semi-similar vibe, I'd recommend A Deadly Education (Novik), An Unkindness of Magicians (Howard), and The Magicians Trilogy (Grossman). These are more classically paced magic novels that will engage a wider audience. I cannot stress enough how much of a slow burn novel this is that will fuck with your head. There is no "fun" here. But it is beautiful.
This story isn’t your classic magical school discovery story at all. It doesn't have a big bad. There is no Beast for the protagonist to defeat, there is no Voldemort lurking in every dark corner, and there is no governmental conspiracy for us to unravel. There is only education. The biggest hurdle Sasha, our main character, must overcome is her own mind. Alexandra is an incredibly powerful construct but is constantly kept in check by teachers who truly know more than her and only want to keep her alive as she grows into her power.
I can see how this could be a polarizing book. This isn't a flashy, magical adventure. I'm not even sure what we are reading is technically "magic." It's Language. It's Verbs, Pronouns, and Nouns. It's Creation. It's beautiful, it's bizarre, it's art. And it's not for a casual reader. Especially as you get near the end, the complexity and confusion is wild. The plot is slow and drags. I’m genuinely sorry for the people who thought they were getting into some HP story and were instead confronted with something that has the casual enjoyment factor of watching concrete dry. There’s also no denying that the uncomfortable tasks and lessons the students must endure can be over the top.
If you're looking for an easier read with a semi-similar vibe, I'd recommend A Deadly Education (Novik), An Unkindness of Magicians (Howard), and The Magicians Trilogy (Grossman). These are more classically paced magic novels that will engage a wider audience. I cannot stress enough how much of a slow burn novel this is that will fuck with your head. There is no "fun" here. But it is beautiful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Misogyny
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