“Vita Nostra” — a cross between Lev Grossman’s “The Magicians” and Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Historian” […] is the anti-Harry Potter you didn’t know you wanted.” — The Washington Post“Vita Nostra has become a powerful influence on my own writing. It’s a book that has the potential to become a modern classic of its genre, and I couldn’t be more excited to see it get the global audience in … more excited to see it get the global audience in English it so richly deserves.” — Lev Grossman
Best Books of November 2018 — Paste Magazine
The definitive English language translation of the internationally acclaimed Russian novel—a brilliant dark fantasy combining psychological suspense, enchantment, and terror that makes us consider human existence in a fresh and provocative way.
Our life is brief . . .
Sasha Samokhina has been accepted to the Institute of Special Technologies.
Or, more precisely, she’s been chosen.
Situated in a tiny village, she finds the students are bizarre, and the curriculum even more so. The books are impossible to read, the lessons obscure to the point of maddening, and the work refuses memorization. Using terror and coercion to keep the students in line, the school does not punish them for their transgressions and failures; instead, it is their families that pay a terrible price. Yet despite her fear, Sasha undergoes changes that defy the dictates of matter and time; experiences which are nothing she has ever dreamed of . . . and suddenly all she could ever want.
A complex blend of adventure, magic, science, and philosophy that probes the mysteries of existence, filtered through a distinct Russian sensibility, this astonishing work of speculative fiction—brilliantly translated by Julia Meitov Hersey—is reminiscent of modern classics such as Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, Max Barry’s Lexicon, and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale, but will transport them to a place far beyond those fantastical worlds.
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A book that has the potential to become a modern classic of its genre.
I wonder if Lev Grossman ever read this book? It’s almost the Russian version of The Magicians, which is a compliment in my book! (Note: Looks like he did! He recommended it!!) I managed to make the most out of a winter storm that left me stuck at home with this book and devoured it in a day and a half. If I hadn’t had to do laundry and feed my family, I could have finished it faster! I really didn’t know what to expect here, there wasn’t a lot of information on the plot or characters when I researched this novel. I’m so happy I took a chance and picked this up!
The lead character, Sasha, resonated with me. Although her future was hijacked and she was forced to leave her family and skip out on the University life she had worked so hard for, she becomes fascinated, obsessed, with her new studies. Kicking and screaming the whole way, she rises to the top of her class. Failure is quite literally not an option if she wants to stay alive and keep those she loves safe. There is no way anyone can say they saw it coming. What “it” is, I can’t even begin to explain. You just need to read the book. Let me say that again. YOU JUST NEED TO READ THE BOOK! Really, what are you waiting for??
One of my favorite books of 2018, and of ALL TIME!!! This book is mind-blowing! I couldn’t stop reading it! I hope more of the authors’ books get translated into English!!!
Lev Grossman recommended so of course I wanted to read this and loved nearly every bit! Comparing it to Harry Potter is a grasp at name recognition to promote it when this is nothing like HP, nor is it for the young. It is closer to the Magicians without the outstanding character development, but the magic is more cerebral, dark and twisted. Yum! The main character is wonderful and the supporting characters and traumas offer contrast and support for her growth. Painful psychological processes give birth to new powers and insights so get on the roller coaster and enjoy!
I liked the entirely different perspective (it’s written by a pair of Ukrainians). The idea of a school of magic is definitely not new, but in this case, the students are recruited, not born to it. This isn’t a light and airy story, but I found myself wondering at several turns, exactly what was going on. That mystery was actually the same one the students were trying to figure out.
This isn’t probably the best of reviews, but this truly was a book different from many I’ve read lately. Different in a good way. I just wish more of the authors’ work was translated into English…
A strange and beautiful new novel by the Dyachenko powerhouse team.
I loved the originality of this book. It made me wish that I could have read the story in the language it was written, because I wonder how much might have been lost in translation. It felt, at times, like the language was overly simplistic and I struggled with the scene transitions.
Also, if you are someone who wants a firm close to an ending, this is not that book. I believe you are given enough to make your own decision as to what actually happened, but I found myself going to reader boards to see what others thought.
It’s a richly imagined story.
A lean, erudite narrative that turns the school-for-wizards trope inside out and wears its skin as a cape. The magic of Vita Nostra is terrifyingly realistic and existentially unsettling, drawing on threads from alchemy and the older, darker variety of folklore. This is a propulsive read that immerses you in a genuinely haunting world.
I didn’t know what to think about Vita Nostra when I first began it. It was, to be frank, odd. But something just kept drawing me back. The world that is built is totally original and intriguing. At times, the translation seems a little stilted in the dialogue, but that was pretty easy to ignore. Wholly different from anything else I’ve ever read.
I’m still trying to figure out what I think about this book, but I believe it’s going to have me thinking for a long time. It’s extremely provocative but in a very subtle way. I can’t even decide whether it’s tragic or happily ever after, or both. Somewhere between horror and fantasy, with undercurrent themes of letting go and accepting change and how one small word or action can pivot one’s destiny in unimaginable ways, this book will leave an impact on you.
One of the most original and fascinating fantasy novels I have ever read. It just drew me more and more as I read. It says it all that after I finished I said “wow!” out loud and then immediately bought the Kindle book (I borrowed it from the library originally). I expect to enjoy it and get more out of it each time I read it.
Quite an interesting read, translated from Russian and I understand that there are a few sequels. I can’t wait for those as this was a different take on the wizard school genre.
Vita Nostra is an interesting, thought provoking book. One marketing blurb said it was the anti Harry Potter that you didn’t know you wanted. Well, I did not find that to be true. It is an intellectual exercise; the characters never became people I cared about. Based on a truly original premise, the authors seemed to weave the story into the premise rather than having the story follow and expand upon the premise. I recommend this book for readers who are game for some heavy thinking while reading. At this point in time, I’m looking for Harry Potter.
Vita Nostra is sinister with style. Like a waltz that ends with beheadings.
I felt tethered to this book, having a hard time not listening to just one more chapter.
Admittedly, Vita Nostra is not for everyone. It’s quiet, slow-paced, building a story brick by brick that not everyone will understand.
I never truly grasped how the concepts worked. It was hard to visualize what the authors were speaking of.
However, I didn’t care. I was so in love with the sinister yet nurturing darkness of the characters that grasping the concept did not matter to me.
The ending will astound you. It was something I have never read or thought of before and I LOVE THAT.
I am not 100% sure what I just read, but I am 100% certain that I liked it! The science fiction ideas presented are difficult to understand. Just when I thought I might be getting it, I lost it just as quick. The first thing I said when I finished it was, what. The manner which the students are being forced to learn against their wills, and the danger that the young adults choices literally affect the lives of those they love most. I was so interested in Sasha’s learning and what she was learning to be distracted by my lack of understanding. I enjoyed the journey and experiencing the learning process as Sasha did. This is a weird but good book.
This book was a bit hard to get into. Imagine with that as it leads to a better story later on. However,I kept waiting .. andwheb I turned the last page, I left wondering where was the climax, the solid ending this whole journey was leading to? I missed it and went back thru and looked for it,thinking my kindle had messed up my place. It just wasn’t there.
That being said, this is a really good book to take the reader thru different states of being, focus, and metaphysics. Has a solid description to ponder. So if you like metaphysics and some of the deeper questions, then read this book! But don’t expect a typical ending.
Oustanding read, scary, clever, off-beat, totally engaging.
So beyond average thought processes! Just WOW. Loved it.
extremely engaging story
This book is weird, and odd, and crazy, and I don’t know how to write the review for it, but I liked it.