pine_wulf's review
2.0
I don't really know what to think of this one. The Pied Piper is here and has taken an interest in Guy, the protagonist. The talk is interesting, but some of their conversations are confusing. Especially that of Guy's background. The lead up to the climax is good, but the outcome is lost on me.
Story would have been 3 stars if I'd properly understood the ending. Nothing wowed me, but it was good reading.
Spoiler
Guy is saying he forgives everyone but the Pied Piper tells him he has to mean it. He says it a couple more times and then everyone goes away. I didn't realize that was the curse being broken, but the conversation afterward implies that much. So, I guess he does forgive everyone, but I missed that. I thought he was still just saying it.Story would have been 3 stars if I'd properly understood the ending. Nothing wowed me, but it was good reading.
metaphorosis's review
3.0
reviews.metaphorosis.com
3.5 stars
Guy, driving through the forest to deliver caged animals, stops by the side of a road deep in the forest. There, against his better judgment, he picks up a passenger who has the look of the folkoric Piper he's been warned about. As he feared, the trip gets complicated.
There's no question this story is Russian. Translated by one of the authors, it has the sound and the feel of recent Russian SFF, which gives it a wordy, slightly exotic feel in English. It's a bit strange that a Russian story revolves around a Pied Piper figure, but it works nonetheless. It's well written, moves smoothly, and deals nicely with some weighty moral dilemmas - avoiding both superficiality and heavy-handedness.
The main flaw of the story is simply in its length. It would have been more effective as a shorter story, and not lost anything by it. Still, it's a pleasant sampler of what the Dyachenkos can produce, and worth picking up (free, by the way).
melniksuzuki's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
see_sadie_read's review
4.0
This is the second piece I've read by Maryna Dyachenko and Serhiy Dyachenko. The first being [b:Vita Nostra|3972188|Vita Nostra (Метаморфозы, #1)|Maryna Dyachenko|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332153037s/3972188.jpg|4017947], which I loved (or I did once I'd sat on it long enough to figure out what the heck was going on). The Burned Tower didn't disappoint either. It's a creepy, modern folk tale using familiar mythical creatures to tell a thought provoking story of redemption and forgiveness.
There is a fairly lyrical quality to the writing that only has a tendency to fall apart on occasion. However, I strongly suspect this lies at the feet of the translator or is simply a failure of two languages to smoothly transition from one to another. Either way, it's a pleasure to read.
My only real complaint is that a lot was left unsaid. The reader is given enough hints to suspect things, but not always enough to know things. No doubt, this is purposeful on the authors' part, but as a reader it can feel a little unsatisfying.
I'm fast becoming a committed fan of this duo. The only English translation of their work that I haven't read yet is [b:The Scar|12074910|The Scar|Maryna Dyachenko|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403429503s/12074910.jpg|17042622], but you can bet it's on my To Be Read list (toward the top even).
There is a fairly lyrical quality to the writing that only has a tendency to fall apart on occasion. However, I strongly suspect this lies at the feet of the translator or is simply a failure of two languages to smoothly transition from one to another. Either way, it's a pleasure to read.
My only real complaint is that a lot was left unsaid. The reader is given enough hints to suspect things, but not always enough to know things. No doubt, this is purposeful on the authors' part, but as a reader it can feel a little unsatisfying.
I'm fast becoming a committed fan of this duo. The only English translation of their work that I haven't read yet is [b:The Scar|12074910|The Scar|Maryna Dyachenko|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403429503s/12074910.jpg|17042622], but you can bet it's on my To Be Read list (toward the top even).
ekfmef's review
4.0
Turns out this short story is available for free on the website of the Dyachenkos. It was a lovely read but I think I wouldn't recommend it too people who have never read their work before.
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