A review by chrissy_1010
Chimera by Rob Thurman
5.0
One of a kind, mind-blowing and heart-warming story about dedication, duty, guilt, loyalty, love… and hope; about what makes us human and what makes us monsters; about family and blood and about a bond that is stronger than anything else in the world. Rob Thurman’s unique, bold and witty style of writing will captivate you, the fast-paced, action packed plot won’t allow you to catch your breath and the expression “one more chapter” will take on a whole new meaning while you join the Korsak brothers on their journey. Their adventure (while they are on the run from the Institute and the Russian Mafia) will bring a smile on your face and you won’t see the tears coming once you reach the very last pages.
Stefan Korsak’s life shattered into piece when he lost his younger brother while riding horses on the beach, nearby their family home. Even though ever since that fateful moment he’s been trying to put them back together, he’s never been able to do so because the most important piece has been missing for ten years – his brother Lukas. With a sheer determination and unshakable belief that Lukas is still out there, Stefan never gives up on searching for him even when their father – Anatoly Korsak - abandons both of them. Once one of the most powerful figures in the Russian mob and now only a fading memory of greatness, Anatoly is in hiding not only from the authorities, but from his own flesh and blood as well.
Despite the fact that Stefan had never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, he realises that being a part of the Russian mob benefits his search for Lukas financially. Tirelessly he puts all of his effort, resources and energy into getting his brother back despite the years that have passed since Lukas’ abduction on the beach. When he finally finds him, however, Stefan is forced to face the fact that Lukas is not the same person that he remembers – different name, different personality, different memories… But there is one thing that is familiar about this seventeen-year-old boy that Stefan saves – his eyes, one green, one blue - the same eyes his brother had.
Even though Michael tries to tell him that there is a very simple explanation about his bicolour eyes, Stefan refuses to listen because this is the only thing that he has left from Lukas and he clutches to it like a drowning man at a straw. Even though Michael is adamant that this is one big misunderstanding and he is not the long-lost brother that Stefan is so desperate to find, Stefan never stops believing that he has finally, after all those years, found Lukas. He gives him the nickname Misha, which symbolises Michael’s freedom to create his own personality and to find out who he really is while Stefan teaches him to embrace the world that he has been denied the right to live in for so long.
Told from Stefan’s POV, it is impossible not to feel the pain of his loss while reading through the lines, the guilt that suffocates him and the hope that gives his life meaning when he is eventually able to break Misha out of Institute. The connection that he builds with Misha while on the road is deep, emotional and real. There is no doubt how easy it is to relate to Stefan’s feelings and before you know it, they are your own; and before you know it, you are in love with that kid, who has ‘theoretical’ knowledge about everything and demolishes junk food like there is a black hole in his stomach. And before you know it, you reach the ending, which makes a perfect sense (of course), but you wish it didn’t and you don’t want to believe it, and just like Stefan you choose to accept what you know is true in your heart, not in your head.
Chimera was the first book, written by Rob Thurman, which I stumbled across quite some time ago and the only book in my personal library, which I have re-read over and over and over again (and which I will keep going back to). There is something about it that gets me every single time and this is why I love it so much. Personally, I like the fact that the sci-fi element is not overwhelming and does not take down the brothers’ relationship from the pedestal, which I believe is the core element and the heart of Chimera. I completely respect the balance, which Thurman has created and for me it works incredibly well.
Stefan Korsak’s life shattered into piece when he lost his younger brother while riding horses on the beach, nearby their family home. Even though ever since that fateful moment he’s been trying to put them back together, he’s never been able to do so because the most important piece has been missing for ten years – his brother Lukas. With a sheer determination and unshakable belief that Lukas is still out there, Stefan never gives up on searching for him even when their father – Anatoly Korsak - abandons both of them. Once one of the most powerful figures in the Russian mob and now only a fading memory of greatness, Anatoly is in hiding not only from the authorities, but from his own flesh and blood as well.
Despite the fact that Stefan had never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, he realises that being a part of the Russian mob benefits his search for Lukas financially. Tirelessly he puts all of his effort, resources and energy into getting his brother back despite the years that have passed since Lukas’ abduction on the beach. When he finally finds him, however, Stefan is forced to face the fact that Lukas is not the same person that he remembers – different name, different personality, different memories… But there is one thing that is familiar about this seventeen-year-old boy that Stefan saves – his eyes, one green, one blue - the same eyes his brother had.
Even though Michael tries to tell him that there is a very simple explanation about his bicolour eyes, Stefan refuses to listen because this is the only thing that he has left from Lukas and he clutches to it like a drowning man at a straw. Even though Michael is adamant that this is one big misunderstanding and he is not the long-lost brother that Stefan is so desperate to find, Stefan never stops believing that he has finally, after all those years, found Lukas. He gives him the nickname Misha, which symbolises Michael’s freedom to create his own personality and to find out who he really is while Stefan teaches him to embrace the world that he has been denied the right to live in for so long.
Told from Stefan’s POV, it is impossible not to feel the pain of his loss while reading through the lines, the guilt that suffocates him and the hope that gives his life meaning when he is eventually able to break Misha out of Institute. The connection that he builds with Misha while on the road is deep, emotional and real. There is no doubt how easy it is to relate to Stefan’s feelings and before you know it, they are your own; and before you know it, you are in love with that kid, who has ‘theoretical’ knowledge about everything and demolishes junk food like there is a black hole in his stomach. And before you know it, you reach the ending, which makes a perfect sense (of course), but you wish it didn’t and you don’t want to believe it, and just like Stefan you choose to accept what you know is true in your heart, not in your head.
Chimera was the first book, written by Rob Thurman, which I stumbled across quite some time ago and the only book in my personal library, which I have re-read over and over and over again (and which I will keep going back to). There is something about it that gets me every single time and this is why I love it so much. Personally, I like the fact that the sci-fi element is not overwhelming and does not take down the brothers’ relationship from the pedestal, which I believe is the core element and the heart of Chimera. I completely respect the balance, which Thurman has created and for me it works incredibly well.