Rant & Rave- Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko, Translated by Julia Meitov Hersey

 Hi All!

Here is the much-anticipated, spoiler free, Rant & Rave for Vita Nostra, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko, and translated by Julia Meitov Hersey.  

Vita Nostra centers around Sasha, a seemingly ordinary sixteen-year old Russian girl who is preparing to attend university.  During the summer break before her senior year, she meets a man who makes several strange requests of her.  When she doesn't comply, bad things happen to people she cares about.  As a reward for completing these strange requests, she receives special coins that later serve as the entrance fee to the Institute of Special Technologies, located in the small town of Torpa.  No one has ever heard of the school, and despite Sasha's objections, the man requests that she attend the school.  She does so, in order to protect her family, although they despise the idea.  The book follows Sasha's first two and a half years at the institute, where she quickly learns that the school is anything but normal.  The books can't be read, the lessons are obscure, and nothing can be memorized. She starts to notice changes in herself, and they aren't all for the better.  Vita Nostra is a dark fantasy novel, using psychological suspense and terror to both humanize and dehumanize Sasha in the eyes of the reader.

Let's get to the raving:

My favorite part of the book, by far, was the transcendental encounters Sasha experiences.  They are perfectly described so the reader can understand what's happening, but the experience is not relatable to real life.  Without giving too much away, there are multiple times when these encounters occur in the books, and each one is given a unique description.  

The prominent characters in the book are are well-written, with quirks and peculiarities that make sense for the character and the situation.  A common example is smoking, but pacing, going for walks or jogs, and cleaning are also used. There aren't many parts in the book that elicit a positive response, but hugging to show relief is utilized quite a bit.  I think the authors did an excellent job of pairing each main character's personality with an appropriate response to a situation.  For example, when Sasha gets into trouble with her teachers, the strict, unfeeling one smokes and yells at Sasha, while the calmer, more emotional one paces the room looking for a solution.   

This book felt almost timeless, as though it could exist in any time and place.  There are some things that restrict it to fairly modern times, such as the fact that cell phones exist or the clothing descriptions, but even these only restrict it to sometime in the last thirty years or so.  Much of the activities and classes are not bound by a specific time.  Torpa is still described as an old fashioned town, and the Institute, even more so.  I think this gives the school a certain amount of credence and mystery.  Overall, I think the timelessness adds to the darkness surrounding the book and ushers in the right psychological thriller vibe.

Finally, I think the translation is excellent.  It goes beyond merely words, to maintain the intended atmosphere throughout the book.  You can tell the book takes place in Russia, and see some Russian foods and customs, but nothing feels "out of place" as a reader from the USA.  This is an issue I've had with some other translated novels, where a custom is named but isn't explained, and therefore doesn't make sense to me without doing some outside research. Vita Nostra doesn't make many culture-specific references, but when it does, Julia Meitov Hersey explains or describes instead of merely translating the words.  

And the ranting:

I, personally, did not like the authors' voice in this novel.  This is 100% personal preference, and might have been influenced by the translation as well, but- It felt disjointed at the paragraph and section level.  Sometimes it would jump from one topic to another, seemingly randomly, or move between transcendental scenes and normal life within one sentence.  Occasionally, this was used well, such as to hint at causality, but most of the time it just felt like the reader is jumping around.  At the sentence level, I often found myself having to reread a sentence because my internal voice or tone didn't sync up with what was on the page.

Another problem I had with the book was that most of the time it felt like a "slice of life."  While this is fine in most cases, it's not what I look for in a fantasy book.  The plot was slow going and, at times, boring.  This was likely designed to build suspense, but I found it functioned in quite the opposite manner- it made me want to put the book down and do something else.  The only thing that kept me going was my own sense of curiosity.  

And, perhaps the biggest problem I had with the book, is that it didn't have much of a conclusion.  My curiosity kept me going for 400 pages, only to find out that there was no satisfying ending.  I was looking for answers, and found none.  

So my sum-up of this review is short and sweet: Do I think the book is interesting and am I glad I read it? Yes.  Am I pleased with the culmination of the book? No.  But on a more serious note- the writing of this book reminds me of The Vorrh by Brian Catling.  It is a type of fantasy that focuses more on spiritual and psychological growth than a well-planned plot.  Personally, I prefer an exciting story with a perfect conclusion.  However, I do see the value in books that focus more specifically on character growth, especially in a genre that is dominated by fanciful and ostentatious plots.  

Thanks for reading! Up next is Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley, from my witch-themed Owlcrate box.  Let me know what you think of Vita Nostra, or my review, in the comments!

Dana

Rant & Rave- The Prophesy by Phil Asmundson

 Hi Everyone!

I'm here with my spoiler-free Rant & Rave for The Prophesy by Phil Asmundson.  This is the first book in the Tuar Tums Trilogy, and the first book I'm Reviewing for Paper Raven Books!

The Tuar Tums trilogy combines mystery, fantasy, and science fiction. With a basis in southwestern Native American myths, the book follows Alexa and her friends as they attempt to discover what happened to her father.  Jeff, Alexa's father, was a treasure hunter who went missing exploring the desert for treasure twelve years ago.  Early in the book, her father returns, with some notable medical anomalies, prompting Alexa, her best friend Sharon, and her boyfriend Jack, to solve the mystery of where her father has been the last 12 years.

Lets get to the raving:

I think this book had a good balance between time spent on information that is pertinent to the plot, and time spent on parts that are intended for character development or relationship-building.  The book starts out slower, with the reader getting to know Alexa's private life and her unique voice.  This beginning has just enough mystery to keep the reader interested in getting answers.  After this, the book shifts into solving the mystery with a longer plot-heavy section.  Finally, the book jumps into an ending of self discovery and recognition of the antagonists for the trilogy, with an excellent balance between plot-driven and character-driven parts.  Like all stories, the author is tasked with fitting in both plot and character development.  Phil Asmundson does a great job of making sure neither outweighs the other.   Additionally, he ensures that there is more development of both types to be done in the rest of the trilogy.  

Normally, I don't like when a book switches between perspectives with no discernable pattern.  However, The Prophesy utilizes this technique well, ensuring that the reader has just the right amount of information, even when the characters individually don't. That being said, there are parts where it took a few sentences to pick up on which perspective you were reading from, forcing the reader to restart the section after discovering the point of view.  This is particularly common through the last hundred pages or so, when all the characters are in different parts of the desert and scenery differs very little (at least to a northerner like me).

I find that some books in a series end at a point where there is either a concrete conclusion or no conclusion at all.  The Prophesy does an excellent job of concluding in a manner that is both satisfying in a small way, and unsatisfying enough for the reader to want to continue the series.  This is hard to explain without spoilers, but I'm sure other series-readers will understand what I mean by that. 

I love that the book uses real Native American legends as its basis, and the respect it shows for Native American characters, often portraying them as wise and noble! The Tuar Tums are the Hill People in Native American lore, and this book revamps their story, giving it a science fiction twist in addition to its fantastical one. I do wish the original lore was included in the story, perhaps as a poem in the beginning of the book or in parts as a chapter heading. 

This is a short one- the language is easy-to-read and the story doesn't involve too much thinking.  There is very little multilayer plot introduced in this book, although there might be more in the following two novels as it digs deeper into the science fiction side of things.   

Now to the ranting:

By far, the most frustrating thing about this book was how unrealistic the relationships seem.  This may very well be just me and my experiences, but there seems to be a lot of gestures and behaviors that don't seem authentic in The Prophesy.  Some spoiler-free examples include Alexa blowing kisses at everyone and anyone, Jack kissing an old woman he barely knows on the cheek, and Alexa and Jack's entire relationship.  Alexa and Jack get together, after a few brief conversations, with no history, and instantly move into the comfortable stage of a relationship that typically comes much later.  It feels completely rushed and unnatural.  While Alexa's relationship with Sharon is more on point, it still feels abnormal at points throughout the book. 

Another thing I disliked in this book was that there were some grammatical errors.  I understand that things sometimes get missed in the editing stage, and I would only mention this if there were several errors.  The nature of the errors in The Prophesy ranged from missing periods to missing entire words. While I realize that this is a little nitpicky, I felt like some of the errors were significant enough to slow the reader down, and therefore are worthy of mention.

Finally (and again, I'm being nitpicky), the book describes the Richter Scale as ending at ten.  While it's true that the most powerful earthquake has only clocked in at about an 8.9, the scale is logarithmic with no end. I understand not wanting to go into elaborate scientific details as it would take away from the story, but I firmly believe that, at the very least, the information given needs to be true.  Plus, in this case, one additional sentence or even a restructure of the current sentence could give the same dire sense using information that is actually accurate. 

So those ae my thoughts on the first book of the Tuar Tums Trilogy, The Prophesy, by Phil Asmundson.  Up next will be Vita Nostra, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko, translated by Julia Meitov Hersey.  So far its been interesting and mysterious, so I can't wait to share it with everyone!

As always, feel free to read along and to share your thoughts in the comments!

Dana

A Quick Post About Me (and an update on my reading list)

 Hi all! 

Since it's been a couple years since I first started this blog, I figured I'd give a personal update along with information about my next couple books.  

I still work in a lab as a certified asphalt binder technician, and I am in training to become a laboratory manager in the next couple years. On the home front, I have a wonderful boyfriend (who leaves supportive comments on here without realizing I know it's him), a superb group of friends, and of course my two favorite kitties, Magpie and Calley.  

In my free time, besides reading, I enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons, MTG and Legends of Runeterra (when I'm in the right mood), and cooperative board games.  I also appreciate a weekly yoga class and jog a couple times a week, although I'm not sure I would say that I "enjoy" jogging.  Streaming services and the occasional video game are another way I spend my free time.  This past year I coached a youth cheer and dance team as well, and that was exciting because it gave me an opportunity to do something I love- choreographing dance routines- as well as help teach values and self-worth to promising young women. 

 But, back to the topic at hand- reading.  I am currently reading a book I will be reviewing for Paper Raven Books called The Prophesy.  It is the first book in the Tuar Tums Trilogy by Phil Asmundson. It is a cross between sci-fi, mystery, and fantasy.  You can expect to see a Rant & Rave about it in the next week or so. After that, I will be reading Vita Nostra by Mariana and Sergey Dyachenko, and translated (from Russian) by Julia Meitov Hersey.  This book has excellent reviews, and has been described as "dark Harry Potter on steroids with a hefty dose of metaphysics."  Honestly, with that description, who wouldn't want to read it?  That Rant & Rave will be further out, and the book may even inspire a full analysis post.

As always, feel free to read along with me if you think a book sounds interesting and share your thoughts in the comments! 

Dana

Rant & Rave- The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

 Hi Everyone!

This is the promised, spoiler-free, Rant & Rave for The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna.

I got this book in my March 2021 Owlcrate box, along with some other sweet goodies. (I can't wait to see what April's box brings!) It is a young adult book centered around the adventures of Deka, a young woman coming of age in a patriarchal society called Otera.  She, like all other women, must endure a purity ritual, where she is cut open to see the color of her blood.  Women of pure blood bleed red, while those of impure blood bleed gold. Not surprisingly, the purity ritual doesn't go according to plan, and  Deka finds herself recruited to an army of the impure gathered to fight off deathshrieks, monsters that increasingly plague Otera. Her only other option is to be another victim of the death mandate, the law that allows priests to kill the impure. She has a difficult road ahead to become a fearsome warrior, a road that might make her wish she had succumbed to the death mandate instead.  

So lets start with the raving:

I think the plot of this novel is intriguing- simultaneously unique and a classic of the fantasy genre. By this, I mean that Deka's struggle is one seen by many main characters- fighting against a patriarchy to prove one's worth to be equal to that of a man.  However, the plot of this book goes beyond that to try to change society with an entire cast of strong female leads, whose contributions can't be disputed.  I won't elaborate because I promised to be spoiler-free, but just trust me when I say that this novel goes above and beyond the classic fantasy trope. 

In terms of character development, I love that this book doesn't shy away from character flaws.  Even though Deka doesn't always have the knowledge she needs or wants, she is forced to make decisions she isn't intellectually prepared for, often making what she eventually considers the wrong choice.  Instead of always justifying these incorrect decisions or having them be "for the best" in the long run, like many books, the novel sometimes allows Deka to (realistically) stew on her poor choices.  She readily admits that she is not the most talented or powerful warrior (with the exception of her special gift).   While I love Deka as a character, I hope that future books focus on other characters that are just as great.  I feel like this novel is a good summation of Deka's story, but that she has fulfilled her purpose in the history of Otera. 

The world building in this book was great! I think it accurately portrayed an early patriarchal society, but also showed cultural diversity in different regions.  The complexity of the world is sufficient, but not so complex as to add confusion.  I do hope that, should Namina Forna write other books in this world, they will focus more on other parts of Otera, or even Otera's relationships with other kingdoms.

I absolutely love how this book flirts with dark and horrible topics without sliding into a horrifying novel itself.  The message is always one of hope and betterment, but it never shies away from the terrible things that can, in this scenario, lead to growth and empowerment.  Whenever a dark topic comes up, the bright side is always the focus, even when it seems like there shouldn't be a bright side.  

 

And now the ranting:

I do wish that the book went into more detail about other characters besides Deka. We get a very basic history for most of the female leads, but it would be interesting to know more about their strengths and weaknesses as warriors, and to get more information about the male characters as well. I think in future novels, more time should be dedicated to developing side characters and their relationships to the main character, and potentially less time in the main character's own head as they process every small detail and overanalyze every situation.  I think the relationship the reader has with the main character is important, but after a few chapters, once the reader is able to "get in their head," we no longer need to read through their processing of everyday situations that don't really add to the plot.  That time could be utilized helping the reader build a similar relationship to other important characters.  

I feel like I should preface this paragraph by mentioning that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, Western sub-Saharan Africa, so that is where a lot of my experience with Africa comes from.  Otera is based on West Africa, but a lot of the regions and main characters seem more like westerners.  In fact, the only characters that seem to be African are shrouded in mystery for almost the entire book.  This might be because of Namina Forna's experience living in the United States, as opposed to Africa, or minimal/poor research on her part. Alternatively, this could just be an effort to appeal more to a younger and primarily western audience. This is definitely not a criticism, but I feel like claiming that Otera is based on West Africa could be misconstrued.  The southern part of Otera is heavily based on West Africa, and I support that claim wholeheartedly.  However, only a couple of the main characters are from the southern regions, and even Deka herself, though ethnically southern, was raised in the north.  The southern regions of Otera are not very well-known in the book, and it is even said that priests don't really live there and the people are kind of secretive.  In addition, what little details we do get about southern Otera are vague and could apply to many parts of the world, not specifically Africa. I do hope that another book will reveal more about this region of Otera, since there was so little about it in this novel. 

Lastly, like many young adult fantasy novels, I think this book introduces unnecessary love interests.  We are following Deka, a badass female lead that is beautiful, wise, curious, an outsider, and on top of all that, she emerges early as a leader and a fighter. She fights her naivety, the patriarchy, deathshrieks, and her own insecurities. She has more important things to think about than boys.  Namina Forna does eventually include the love interest in the plot, instead of their love just being a side story, which is commendable, but I still think that there is one too many love interests in this book. 

So overall, I really enjoyed this book.  Although I had a few issues with it, I definitely hope to see more of Namina Forna's work, and learn more about Oteran culture.  As I previously mentioned, the things I'm looking for in the next book are: 

• A different perspective- While Deka's story is interesting and captivating, I feel like the most significant part of her story has been told, and anything else will be overshadowed by what is already written.
• More worldbuilding- So far, I think the nation of Otera is sufficiently complex for a first book, but if more books are released, I would expect readers to be interested in learning the intricacies of the country.  This book rightfully focused on the details necessary for the plot, but another book will need more information, especially as the nation is re-shaped and reformed after the events of this novel.  
• A strong female lead WITHOUT a love interest- Or, alternatively, a strong female lead with a strong female love interest.
• A more concrete relationship to West Africa- While there is a small correlation to West Africa in this novel, I think a future book should cement the relationship by being more direct and clear about the details that make West Africa a unique and interesting culture. 

So there you have it!  Those are my, admittedly harsh, judgements of Namina Forna's The Gilded Ones.  Despite how negative this review sounds, (I know, I've read through it a couple times) I can't give this book enough credit for the things it does right (at least not without giving away the plot).  It is a great example of noblebright fantasy, with positive messages imbued throughout the story, even when things and characters seem at their darkest.  I hope this Rant & Rave was interesting, useful, and fun for everyone.  Let me know what you think of the Rant & Rave and/or the book in the comments. I can't wait to hear what others liked and disliked about the book! Until next time!

Dana

I'm Back! (Hopefully for good this time!)

 Hey all! 

I wanted to check in (a couple years late, I know).  I have some big news: I've been chosen as an amateur book reviewer by Paper Raven Books.  A few days ago, my grandmother and I were talking about my latest book (The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, if anyone is wondering), and she told me that I should be a book reviewer.  This was, I'm sure, a polite way of saying that she doesn't need to hear from me every time I finish a book, or at least not for the ones she wouldn't also enjoy.  Anyway, that got me thinking- I am a pretty opinionated person, an avid reader, and a fan of getting free books.  So I applied to be a book reviewer for Paper Raven Books Review Team.  I just found out that I've been accepted!  

So what does that have to do with this blog?

Well, the primary platform for my reviews will be the Amazon Kindle webpage.  However, I've decided to revamp this blog as well.  In addition to the in-depth analyses I've been writing, I will also be writing a short and sweet new segment called "Rant & Rave," where I will discuss what I loved and hated about each book I read.  These segments will be spoiler free- so no need to read the book before you read them.  For most books, the Rant & Rave review will be enough coverage, but if I feel like a book needs (or deserves) more detailed coverage, I'll also write a detailed analysis for the book. As always, the detailed analyses will have spoilers.

That being said, my first Rant & Rave will be The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. Expect to see that in the next week or so (potentially as early as tonight). Talk to you soon! 

Dana