I’ve never read anything quite like this book, and can’t imagine I ever will again. This book was EVERYTHING I didn’t know I wanted or needed in a novel and my life.
This book has spurred me to search for more books published elsewhere and translated into English. Books like this are a reminder to everyone that the English speaking world does not have a monopoly on incredible stories, and that we need to look to other cultures and explore as far and wide as we can when looking for new books.
This book has everything: magic, coming of age, dark academia, mysterious professors and mentors, ominous undertones, and even some philosophy. I can’t get more specific, I really can’t, you’ll just have to read it and contact me immediately because I need to discuss it with EVERYONE. I simply do not have the Words to describe this book (that’s like, a really funny joke if you’ve read it).
Originally published in Russian, this trilogy is being translated by Julia Meitov Hersey and the second book, Assassin of Reality, was published in English in March 2023! I have been lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of Assassin of Reality and absolutely loved reading it.
Marina & Sergey Dyachenko are incredible story tellers, and I can’t wait for more of their work to be translated into English. Sergey passed away in 2022, but Marina has assured readers that she will finish the English version of the trilogy with Sergey’s specifications.