Vita Nostra

A Novel

By: Marina & Sergey Dyachenko

Narrated by: Jessica Ball

The definitive English language translation of the internationally bestselling Russian novel—a brilliant dark fantasy with ""the potential to be a modern classic"" (Lev Grossman), combining psychological suspense, enchantment, and terror that makes us consider human existence in a fresh and provocative way.

Our life is brief . . .

While vacationing at the beach with her mother, Sasha Samokhina meets the mysterious Farit Kozhennikov under the most peculiar circumstances. The teenage girl is powerless to refuse when this strange and unusual man with an air of the sinister directs her to perform a task with potentially scandalous consequences. He rewards her effort with a strange golden coin.

As the days progress, Sasha carries out other acts for which she receives more coins from Kozhennikov. As summer ends, her domineering mentor directs her to move to a remote village and use her gold to enter the Institute of Special Technologies. Though she does not want to go to this unknown town or school, she also feels it’s the only place she should be. Against her mother’s wishes, Sasha leaves behind all that is familiar and begins her education.

As she quickly discovers, the institute’s ""special technologies"" are unlike anything she has ever encountered. 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, their families 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.

A great book.

Great character development with an amazing story. I hope there is another book they shows the progression of the main character.

Enjoy the ride

Just enjoy the ride of this story and don’t get too bogged down in what the heck happened at the end.

In the begining was the word

This is a brilliant fever dream of a novel. We meet Sasha as a 16 year old who lives with her Mum, loves swimming and wants to be a philologist when she grows up. Which is appropriate because fate, in the form of a man who wears dark glasses, seems impervious to time and will never ask her to do anything “impossible” takes her by the throat and shoves her toward her destiny, which is all about the words.

This intricate mind bending book is very well written and well read. Fair warning. There is a magical school, but it’s not Hogwarts by a long shot and a “grown up Harry Potter” this is not.

Somewhat enchanting, tedious at times

Overall, this book is okay. I do like the everyday life feel of it, even though Sasha’s life is anything but ordinary. At first, the plot of Sasha entering a mysterious school was intriguing. However the endless parts with Sasha doing impossible mental exercises got realllllly boring. I’m just meh about this book. The narrator was really nice; she has a beautiful voice and managed to make each male character’s voice distinct.

This book is astonishing!

I rarely write reviews but this book was very well narrated and it was deep and powerful. I enjoyed it immensely. The story is fascinating and will stay with you for a good long time. The lead character literally transforms herself in the story. My deepest thanks to the author and the narrator for a book well done!