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Vita Nostra

By Marina Dyachenko and Sergey Dyachenko
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko is a unique blend of fantasy and philosophy, following Sasha Samokhina, a young woman faced with bizarre and compelling challenges after being compelled to enter a mysterious university. As she navigates through its strange curriculum, Sasha discovers unsettling truths about reality, identity, and the power of human transformation. The story dives deeply into themes of personal evolution and existential dilemmas, weaving a narrative that defies conventional genre boundaries.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by dark, philosophical fantasy with a psychological twist. It offers a unique blend of magical realism and existential exploration, set within a mysterious and unsettling academic environment. If you appreciate narratives that challenge your perception of reality and delve into the complexities of human transformation, this story will likely captivate you.

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The definitive English language translation of the internationally bestselling Russian novel – a brilliant dark fantasy combining psychological suspense, enchantment, and terror that makes us consider human existence in a fresh and provocative way.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The definitive English language translation of the internationally bestselling Russian novel – a brilliant dark fantasy combining psychological suspense, enchantment, and terror that makes us consider human existence in a fresh and provocative way.

A book that has the potential to become a modern classic. – Lev Grossman, bestselling author of The Magicians

Our life is brief . . .

Sasha Samokhina has just met Farit Kozhenikov, and her life will never be the same again.

Whilst on holiday, Sasha is asked by the mysterious Farit to undertake a strange task for him. Reluctantly, she obliges and is rewarded with a shining golden coin. The more tasks she performs, the more coins Sasha receives until Farit instructs her – against the wishes of her family – to travel to a remote village and use her gold to gain entrance to the Institute of Special Technologies.

Sasha quickly discovers this is no ordinary school. The books are impossible to read, the lessons obscure to the point of maddening, and the knowledge itself refuses to be remembered. Despite this, Sasha undergoes changes that defy matter and time; with experiences that are nothing like what she could have dreamed of before… but which are suddenly all she could ever want.

But this learning comes at a cost. The school uses terror and coercion to keep students in line: should they transgress at all, their families pay a terrible price…

A complex blend of adventure, magic, science, and philosophy, expressed through a distinctly Russian voice, this astonishing story will transport the reader to a place far beyond imagining.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vita Nostra is praised for its display of Russian magical realism, earning accolades for its vivid and powerful translation by Julia Hersey. It's seen as a significant influence on other writers and is anticipated to become a modern classic in its genre. Critics appreciate its imaginative storytelling and the impact it has on readers and authors alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008272890

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 September 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HarperVoyager

Contributors:

  • Translated by Julia Meitov Hersey

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 416

Collections

2025 Best Sellers Best Sellers at Book Hero Fantasy Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction Marina Dyachenko New Release Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy Sergey Dyachenko Young Adult

About the Author

Marina and Sergey Dyachenko are Ukranian co-authors of over seventy fantasy novels, short fiction, plays and scripts. The recipient of eight literary prizes and much critical acclaim in Russia, Vita Nostra has been translated into several languages. The Dyachenkos hail from Kiev and currently reside in California. Vita Nostra is their first novel published by HarperVoyager. Marina and Sergey Dyachenko are Ukranian co-authors of over seventy fantasy novels, short fiction, plays and scripts. The recipient of eight literary prizes and much critical acclaim in Russia, Vita Nostra has been translated into several languages. The Dyachenkos hail from Kiev and currently reside in California. Vita Nostra is their first novel published by HarperVoyager. Julia Meitov Hersey was born in Moscow before moving to the United States in 1990 at the age of 19. Currently, she is at work on translation of other Russian to English projects. Julia originally began her translation of Vita Nostra because she wanted her non-Russian-speaking family to share her love for this striking novel.

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