Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell's Reviews > Daughter from the Dark
Daughter from the Dark
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DAUGHTER FROM THE DARK isn't the type of book I normally gravitate to, but I loved the authors' other work, VITA NOSTRA, so much that I resolved that I was going to read whatever else they wrote that was translated into English. It was one of my favorite books that I've read within the last year or so, quickly topping my list of "best fantasy books." So important note for those of you in a similar position: if you've read VITA NOSTRA, don't be fooled by the similar covers: the two books are nothing alike.
VITA NOSTRA is a dark magic school story imbued in metaphysics and suspense. DAUGHTER FROM THE DARK is one of those fantasy horror stories grounded in realism, like Joe Hill and Stephen King's works. The main character is a radio DJ named Aspirin who finds a young girl in an alley. Initially, he's going to leave her, but he goes back and takes her with him to spend the night at his apartment. It all ends up going horribly wrong. The girl might or might not be human and the teddy bear she has might or might not be a monster.
It isn't possible to say much more about this book without major spoilers, but Alyona, as we later learn she's called, is creepy and manipulative AF. But Aspirin is also bad in some ways, too. He's cowardly and he hits Alyona at least once, and he's so used to living his life like a selfish, callous bachelor that he isn't at all equipped to take care of a child, human or no. At one point, when she gets a fever, he's literally just like, "Oh well, so what do I do now?" and goes to the neighbor for help who's shocked that he never even considered aspirin (ironic, considering his stage name LOL). There really isn't much of a plot, either. The story is entirely character driven and moved by the suspense of whether what's happening is real or not and what will happen with the two main characters.
I really liked the beginning of the book but I began to get bored by the end. VITA NOSTRA was really long and I'm glad that this book was shorter, because if they were the same length, I probably would have DNF-ed. The ending was weird and unsatisfying, and a bit of a let-down after spending so much time with these characters. I liked the story and thought it was interesting, but it's not something I would read again, like VITA NOSTRA, and I would be unlikely to tear after someone in the streets, screaming, "YOU NEED TO READ THIS! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!" the way some books make me feel. This one is just kind of meh, and that's okay, but considering how much I love-love-loved their other effort, it's a bit disappointing.
That said, I am pretty amazed by how different all their works seem to be. VITA NOSTRA is a book that reminds me of SCHOLOMANCE and POPPY WAR-- an epic fantasy with an academic setting that features an unlikable, and incredibly flawed MC. Their other English-translated work, THE SCAR, appears to be high fantasy-- also featuring a morally grey protagonist. This is urban horror meets suspense, with a dash of magic-realism. It makes me really want to read all of their other works, because they don't seem to be derivative of each other at all, and that makes me want to read more and find out what I'm missing.
3 stars
by
Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell's review
bookshelves: horror, magic-and-sparkles-and-shit
Dec 28, 2019
bookshelves: horror, magic-and-sparkles-and-shit
Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest
DAUGHTER FROM THE DARK isn't the type of book I normally gravitate to, but I loved the authors' other work, VITA NOSTRA, so much that I resolved that I was going to read whatever else they wrote that was translated into English. It was one of my favorite books that I've read within the last year or so, quickly topping my list of "best fantasy books." So important note for those of you in a similar position: if you've read VITA NOSTRA, don't be fooled by the similar covers: the two books are nothing alike.
VITA NOSTRA is a dark magic school story imbued in metaphysics and suspense. DAUGHTER FROM THE DARK is one of those fantasy horror stories grounded in realism, like Joe Hill and Stephen King's works. The main character is a radio DJ named Aspirin who finds a young girl in an alley. Initially, he's going to leave her, but he goes back and takes her with him to spend the night at his apartment. It all ends up going horribly wrong. The girl might or might not be human and the teddy bear she has might or might not be a monster.
It isn't possible to say much more about this book without major spoilers, but Alyona, as we later learn she's called, is creepy and manipulative AF. But Aspirin is also bad in some ways, too. He's cowardly and he hits Alyona at least once, and he's so used to living his life like a selfish, callous bachelor that he isn't at all equipped to take care of a child, human or no. At one point, when she gets a fever, he's literally just like, "Oh well, so what do I do now?" and goes to the neighbor for help who's shocked that he never even considered aspirin (ironic, considering his stage name LOL). There really isn't much of a plot, either. The story is entirely character driven and moved by the suspense of whether what's happening is real or not and what will happen with the two main characters.
I really liked the beginning of the book but I began to get bored by the end. VITA NOSTRA was really long and I'm glad that this book was shorter, because if they were the same length, I probably would have DNF-ed. The ending was weird and unsatisfying, and a bit of a let-down after spending so much time with these characters. I liked the story and thought it was interesting, but it's not something I would read again, like VITA NOSTRA, and I would be unlikely to tear after someone in the streets, screaming, "YOU NEED TO READ THIS! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!" the way some books make me feel. This one is just kind of meh, and that's okay, but considering how much I love-love-loved their other effort, it's a bit disappointing.
That said, I am pretty amazed by how different all their works seem to be. VITA NOSTRA is a book that reminds me of SCHOLOMANCE and POPPY WAR-- an epic fantasy with an academic setting that features an unlikable, and incredibly flawed MC. Their other English-translated work, THE SCAR, appears to be high fantasy-- also featuring a morally grey protagonist. This is urban horror meets suspense, with a dash of magic-realism. It makes me really want to read all of their other works, because they don't seem to be derivative of each other at all, and that makes me want to read more and find out what I'm missing.
3 stars
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Reading Progress
December 28, 2019
– Shelved
December 28, 2019
– Shelved as:
wishlist
October 7, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 8, 2020
–
19.0%
"Honestly, this is one of the most bizarre horror fantasy premises I've ever encountered but it's REALLY good. VITA NOSTRA was like this too. I opened that book being like, "Well, this is really weird. Where are the authors going with this?" And ended up bingeing through that weirdness like an addict. Soooo..."
October 9, 2020
–
35.0%
"Ok so I'm at the point where I know this is going to disturb me...... but I'm trying to decide whether I'll be more or less traumatized if I go to bed without knowing what happens o_o"
October 9, 2020
–
59.0%
"I ended up devouring a HUGE chunk of this in a single sitting and I will never look at middle grade-age children or teddy bears the same way again *shivers*"
October 9, 2020
–
75.0%
"I thought I knew what was going on. Ha-- Thirty Minutes Ago Me was so naive."
October 9, 2020
– Shelved as:
horror
October 9, 2020
– Shelved as:
magic-and-sparkles-and-shit
October 9, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-12 of 12 (12 new)
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Deidra (ShadeTreeReads)
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Feb 11, 2020 10:43AM
It’s out!!
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Deidra (ShadeTreeReads) wrote: "It’s out!!"
That's great news!! $12.99 is a bit out of my budget but I'd be down to BR this when it goes on sale! :D
That's great news!! $12.99 is a bit out of my budget but I'd be down to BR this when it goes on sale! :D
Stuti wrote: "Have you read VITA NOSTRA? I looooved it, the Dyachenkos are so good at creepiness"
YES. I loved VITA NOSTRA. It was amazing. 😻
I keep looking for dark magic schools like that.
YES. I loved VITA NOSTRA. It was amazing. 😻
I keep looking for dark magic schools like that.
Stuti wrote: "I need them to translate the rest of the series, like, yesterday!"
YES!!!! And all the rest of their books too. :D
YES!!!! And all the rest of their books too. :D
Brigid wrote: "oh was the first halloween vibes and such? I have the first on my shelf."
Kind of yeah. It's set in a dark magic school that's super creepy. It's more psychological than horror, which I appreciated. I hate gore. :D
Kind of yeah. It's set in a dark magic school that's super creepy. It's more psychological than horror, which I appreciated. I hate gore. :D
Stuti wrote: "Sometimes I'm like, what if I learned Russian so I could read their entire bibliography"
Hahahaha I love this because same.
Hahahaha I love this because same.
Great review, Nenia! And I absolutely want to check out Vita Nostra, as you've pointed out here as well!