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joshsharp 's review for:
Vita Nostra
by Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko
4.5 stars. This was really up my alley. Another reviewer called this "Harry Potter as written by Kafka" and that's not a bad comparison actually. There is a pervading sense of unease here, a sense of hidden hands pulling strings and shadowy plots larger than human comprehension, a hopelessness and a futility in doing anything but acceding to plans made for you long in advance. I don't know if it's accurate, but I also think this book might fit "cosmic horror" too, especially in its descriptions of how the world "really is".
All of this kept me compelled to read and understand what was happening, who held the strings and what those plans really were, what it is exactly that our protagonist is learning. I enjoyed learning along with her, drinking in the descriptions of what was revealed, and sharing her struggles to come to terms with her situation. I wasn't completely sold on the ultimate reveal, and the very ending confused me (perhaps this was deliberate) but I forgive this just because it is an inventive story, well-told.
However, so much happens in vague metaphor and allusion, in our protagonist's mind, that I can see this being a frustrating and unsatisfying read for others. I'm not surprised at the divided reviews.
Still, I ate it up. Great stuff.
All of this kept me compelled to read and understand what was happening, who held the strings and what those plans really were, what it is exactly that our protagonist is learning. I enjoyed learning along with her, drinking in the descriptions of what was revealed, and sharing her struggles to come to terms with her situation. I wasn't completely sold on the ultimate reveal, and the very ending confused me (perhaps this was deliberate) but I forgive this just because it is an inventive story, well-told.
However, so much happens in vague metaphor and allusion, in our protagonist's mind, that I can see this being a frustrating and unsatisfying read for others. I'm not surprised at the divided reviews.
Still, I ate it up. Great stuff.