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A review by jodar
Assassin of Reality by Sergey Dyachenko
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found Assassin of Reality had a less visceral and shocking impact compared to the previous novel, Vita Nostra. Just as for the MC, doubtless the reader too is now anticipating some more of the earlier weirdness. To me the weirdness this time was more surreal, though, and less nightmarish and unhinged.
It is definitely a worthwhile read all the same and a good sequel to the first novel. I’m sure I’m not alone in not being entirely sure what actually occurs to the MC and the entire universe(!) at the end. A lot was unintelligible, I suspect intentionally so for us mere humans!
The novel poses some daunting questions: Can there be freedom without evil? If you were super-powerful but not all-powerful like the MC, how would you act for the good? Why would you act for the good, even? Is ultimate reality, or perhaps rather the goal of perfection, impersonal, inhuman logic? Or will allowing any personality within reality necessarily lead to imperfection? And at a more human level, do intimate relationships have a ‘purpose’? – or is that attitude narcissistic and undermining of true relationship?
There are echoes of Christian themes, such as creation by the Word, though it is an indirect influence, not overt. So too, elements of a destructive cult: intimidation by instructors and levels of enlightenment, whereby teachings at a lower levels are “necessary lies”.
The translation had a few American English words and expressions that are likely cryptic to other readers – a tony cocktail party; cry uncle; cockamamie – and more than once a non-standard plural aircrafts instead of aircraft.
CW: extramarital sex.
It is definitely a worthwhile read all the same and a good sequel to the first novel. I’m sure I’m not alone in not being entirely sure what actually occurs to the MC and the entire universe(!) at the end. A lot was unintelligible, I suspect intentionally so for us mere humans!
The novel poses some daunting questions: Can there be freedom without evil? If you were super-powerful but not all-powerful like the MC, how would you act for the good? Why would you act for the good, even? Is ultimate reality, or perhaps rather the goal of perfection, impersonal, inhuman logic? Or will allowing any personality within reality necessarily lead to imperfection? And at a more human level, do intimate relationships have a ‘purpose’? – or is that attitude narcissistic and undermining of true relationship?
There are echoes of Christian themes, such as creation by the Word, though it is an indirect influence, not overt. So too, elements of a destructive cult: intimidation by instructors and levels of enlightenment, whereby teachings at a lower levels are “necessary lies”.
The translation had a few American English words and expressions that are likely cryptic to other readers – a tony cocktail party; cry uncle; cockamamie – and more than once a non-standard plural aircrafts instead of aircraft.
CW: extramarital sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content and Gaslighting