The Scar

By: Sergey Dyachenko, Marina Dyachenko, Elinor Huntington - translator

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Reaching far beyond sword and sorcery, The Scar is a story of two people torn by disaster, their descent into despair, and their re-emergence through love and courage.

Sergey and Marina Dyachenko mix dramatic scenes with romance, action and wit, in a style both direct and lyrical. Written with a sure artistic hand, The Scar is the story of a man driven by his own feverish demons to find redemption and the woman who just might save him. Egert is a brash, confident member of the elite guards and an egotistical philanderer. But after he kills an innocent student in a duel, a mysterious man known as “The Wanderer” challenges Egert and slashes his face with his sword, leaving Egert with a scar that comes to symbolize his cowardice. Unable to end his suffering by his own hand, Egert embarks on an odyssey to undo the curse and the horrible damage he has caused, which can only be repaired by a painful journey down a long and harrowing path.

Plotted with the sureness of Robin Hobb and colored with the haunting and ominous imagination of Michael Moorcock, The Scar tells a story that cannot be forgotten.

©2012 Marina and Sergey Dyachenko (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Rich, vivid, tactile prose, with a solid yet unpredictable plot—and an extraordinary depth and intensity of character reminiscent of the finest Russian literature." (Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review)

Beautifully translated & narrated!

Download this book for the sheer beauty of listening to it-- it's such an aesthetic pleasure the story hardly matters. I suspect Jonathan Davis could narrate a dishwasher assembly manual and make it enthralling. Davis's exposition is like a gently flowing sylvan stream beckoning the listener to explore its charming bends. On the other hand, listening to his dialog is more like listening to a dramatic reading of a play than a book, the voices of the characters are so distinct and read with such drama. After listening to this book, I checked out samples of some of his other narrations and found them good, but not nearly as entrancing as the voice he takes on for this book. More, please! The only downside is that his dialog is SO dramatic it often goes from a shout to a murmur, sometimes quite quickly. While the performance is wonderful, the extreme volume changes can create a logistical headache. Some of the quieter conversations, particularly involving female characters, required me to dial the volume way up.

I also think I have literally never read a book translated from another language that flows so beautifully and has such a lovely and natural style of prose. Translator Elinor Huntington did a wonderful job, and I expect she took some significant translational liberties with the text to ensure that flow. The language and phrasing is an interesting blend of modern and archaic, but always apt and never stilted. I don't speak or read a word of Russian, but I'd give an eyetooth to know how much of the credit for this lyrical beauty should go the Dyachenkos and how much Huntington imposed.

Oh yes, you want to know if the story is any good. It's... fine. It's a simple, almost fable-like archaic tale of courage, cowardice, and redemption that is a perfect vehicle for Huntington's wonderful translation and Davis's marvelous narration. I felt the biggest weakness was that the main character, Egert Soll, is not particularly likeable at any point during the story, He goes from being an arrogant jackass to a sniveling self-loathing worm, and it is never easy to feel much sympathy for him or understand how the female lead could fall for him, particularly given their history. Despite this, I was reasonably engaged by the story until the very end, when I felt the final denouement was fundamentally unsatisfying.

The Bottom Line: Proof that an "okay" story, perfectly told, becomes something much more than just okay.

Ukranian Fantasy at it's finest...

What did you love best about The Scar?

The novel is ver distinct in it's approach to tell a modern fantasy tale. The authors' approach is psychological in nature and adds a lot to the suspense of the book. The entire read has a foreboding feel that things will not end well. I'm not saying that it doesn't end well, the authors just do a great job of creating a real sense of peril for our protagonist. Also, I like that we dislike (or possibly even loathe, depending on the reader) the protagonist. Egert is brash, egotisitcal, and dispassionate. So why read about him? At first this may be a problem for some readers, but the cockiness of Egert is the reason that his fall from grace is so very powerful. We learn to feel real sympathy for him and along the way even like the guy. That is the work of a true story teller. So, if you're preparing to read this, prepare ot be manipulated...and love every minute of it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Although the main Character, Egert is not my favorite character. I really like Toria. She is a strong female lead and not a stereotype, who is passionate. The hatred she holds for Egert when he arrives at the college is true and we (the reader) are pulled into her compassion when she actually forgives him. I also liked the Wanderer, but that is merely for the attraction I have for powerful, mysterious people in Fantasy fiction. (call it a short coming if you will...)

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Davis – was your favorite?

Jonathan Davis does a decent job. His job is made hard because of the text. You see, since this was originally written in Russian, the prose is different. There is much more telling here than there would be in any American book. This is the ONLY hiccup I had while listening. We are TOLD that Egert doesn't fear death. We are told a lot of things at times which almost makes it feel like an exposition, at least at first. I attribute this to the translation. (I typically don't enjoy translated books) The translator in this case, however, did a REMARKABLE job in maintaining the almost poetic prose. Still the odd way of telling the story does get in the way of the narration at times. But as the book progresses, the story is told so well that it all fades into the background. At first, however, you will definitely notice this exposition feel of which I'm referring. Still the narrator handles the book well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Come on this isn't fair question... If I say "YES" then the male reader disregard the book as melodrama. If I say "NO" then I'm implying that the emotions the author strived for are missing. I will be honest, then. No, I did not have an extreme reaction. I don't remember chuckling at any point, but it is possible I'm not remembering. I definitely did not cry, but the list of books that actually made me cry is VERY short indeed. (I could name them, but I won't) THe story does a good job of relaying emotion, regardless of my reaction.

Any additional comments?

I really hesitated picking this up because of the fact that it was a translated piece of fiction. I rarely enjoy such books. For example, Battle Royale is supposed to be an awesome read, but I couldn't get into it due to the prose. (I tried reading it not listening to it) The wording just pulled me out of the fiction.

BUT, this is NOT the case here. THis book reads/listens well due to the skill of both the original authors as well as the translator. I couldn't believe some of the beautiful prose that was left in tact after translation. Still, there is a hiccup, especially at the begining when the narration feels more like expositions. (there is another rough section about 3/4 of the way through after a major plot point is reached, but it is over soon enough) I mention this here to explain my 4 star rating instead of 5. I also mention it becasue I want to let listeners know that the read gets better after a shakey start. I use the term shakey very loosely here to explain that the prose isn't perfect at first.

Overall, a GREAT read. I am very happy that I read it. So happy that I went out downloaded the only other translated piece of fiction that I could find from these authors (called the Burnt Tower and available on the Kindle for free last time I checked). Enjoy this!

worth your money

This story is slow to get started but worth the wait. I will be buying more novels from this author if I can.

Excellent book.

If you could sum up The Scar in three words, what would they be?

Very well written.

What other book might you compare The Scar to and why?

Tolstoy mixed with Solzhenitsyn
Bleakness and Hope

What about Jonathan Davis’s performance did you like?

Everything. A true story teller.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

A classic.

Good morality tale. Could have kept a better pace.

Where does The Scar rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the bottom, but I've gone though some amazing books before and after this.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Scar?

The ending was pretty satisfying.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but he's a great narrator.

Awesome new perspective on an old tale

Would you listen to The Scar again? Why?

No. I don't like to reread books. This book was so good that I immediately looked for another by these authors.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Scar?

There were many and I don't want to spoil it for you.

What does Jonathan Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is very dramatic and was good at putting forth rage, hatred, despair, and sadness

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An Epic tale of an arogant man that was brought low, below a coward, and crawled his way through hopeless despair to obtain a true and just life.

Any additional comments?

READ IT!!!

Among The Best

One of the ultimate goals for me in reading a novel is to be encouraged to think and reflect on various themes or occurrences and the messages behind these, and how they translate to real life circumstances. A standout element of The Scar is the story's realistic portrayal of human interaction and morality, in that there are very few (if any) of the "black and white" dichotomies often used in many stories, particularly in the fantasy genre.

The writers of The Scar have done a fantastic job of presenting this story in such a way that the reader's own prejudices and experiences will have a profound effect on the way he/she views the dynamic between the characters, as opposed to forcing the reader to distinguish between "the good guys and the bad guys" as is most often seen.

While reading through sequence of the protagonists fatal duel with the student for example, I was torn between disgust at his unnecessary killing of a less than equal opponent, and sympathy for the obligations bestowed upon him by his status, ego and temper which had, in a way, forced his hand. One question raised within the reader is whether it is the deed itself or the intention behind it which takes moral precedence, and whether or not he deserved the horrible punishment thrust upon him by the enigmatic Wanderer.

Johnathan Davis also does a fantastic job in narrating this story. His narration makes it very easy to loose oneself in the characters, events and imagery without any attention at all being drawn to the fact that the story is being read to them through an electronic device.

The Scar ranks among my personal all time favorites in any genre. I'm very much looking forward to reading the other two books in the series once they are translated and published in English.

So very Russian

This is a fine story with imagination. The plot develops reasonably at first then there is a lengthy period of deep suffering and humiliation that is reminiscent of Tolstoy. I am sure this is a matter of personal taste but I was bored by the lengthy crushing weight of the development of this singular point. Perhaps that is the authors' intention; the hero must undergo this tedious crushing experience. Much like going to law school!

Amazing and Epic

Would you listen to The Scar again? Why?

I would definitely listen it again, because the story has the kind of character where the reader thinks that they will discover more in the story the more they read/listen to it. The Scar also has a great moral to it and is brought across amazingly.

What did you like best about this story?

I love how there is magic in the story but it doesn't compete with the characters and the overal story.

Subtle Fantasy is a plus; plot is problematic

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book to my Ukrainian friends who are interested in what contemporary Ukrainian/Russian authors are writing and how they are getting translated. The translation is excellently written. Not sure it would be interesting to others, though. The plot is problematic in that the main character suffers from chronic cowardice. As a fairy tale, or a short story, the heavy-handed bravado of the main character and subsequent insurmountable fear he is cursed to experience can serve as the vehicle for a moral, certainly. For a novel, though, it's frustrating to experience such a conspicuous transformation, and one that leads the main character to always give into his cowardice. It's so much more interesting to watch someone fight fear. In THE SCAR, the main character is magically bound to be incapable of doing that.

Would you be willing to try another book from the authors? Why or why not?

I think I would try another book from the authors. It was well written, and more importantly, well translated. Although the themes were obvious, this fantasy world is subtly magical. Wizards with magical powers limited only by their moods aren't throwing fire balls at each other. Conversely, the world resembles more what I imagine the European Renaissance looked like. I would need to know a synopsis first.

What three words best describe Jonathan Davis’s voice?

Formal. Plain. Manufactured.

Was The Scar worth the listening time?

Sure.

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I listened to it. But probably won't again.