Review: VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko

VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko

HarperCollins - 2018

Translated by Julia Meitov Hersey

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brilliantly unique. This conceptual fantasy is unlike anything I have read before!

Sasha and her mother spend their vacation at a sea-side village.  One day Sasha notices a strange man seems to stalking her.  This man seems to have a strange power over her.  He commands her to perform certain acts, which she feels powerless to disobey.  For each of the acts commanded, Sasha comes into the possession of gold coins. When she waivers, bad luck follows, and Sasha soon learns to do what is requested.

Ultimately the man tells her to use the coins to enrol at an unknown college - The Institute of Special Technologies, in a little known town. Sasha complies and starts to study and this secretive school, even though she doesn't really want to, and her mother begs her not to.   

Study at The Institute is gruelling, but the unspoken threats keep Sasha on track.  Soon she craves the exercises and assignments. Sasha puts her all into it and becomes the top student, and she is changing - undergoing a metamorphosis. The more she changes, the more she craves.

While reading this book, I became intensely aware of the mood of it.  There was a starkness and oppressive quality to the mood for the time at The Institute. I love it when the writing can so powerfully suggest a mood that enhances the story itself.

I would have to caution that although a fantasy, this is not a "light and airy read".  I took more time to read it than I had anticipated (I must say though, I was happy to take my time with it). It is original, and powerful, and intelligent. 

This book was one of most anticipated reads of 2018 and I was not disappointed!

Happy Reading,

Christine