This is a beautifully written book. The writer takes us to a
place that is her vision of the after-life and she describes this wondrous
place in great detail. Even though this is fiction, the tragic event of her
daughter becoming brain damaged mirrors the story of Charley the main
character. It is a very personal and emotional book when the writer wonders
what happened to her daughter’s spirit as the body remained. I found my mind
wander at times as we were introduced to a myriad of unusual characters who each
tried to explain to Charley what was going on. (At times quite funny, like when
she encounters a talking plant.) I think this book will be helpful and
enjoyable to people who question what happens to our spirit after we die. It is
also a book in the spirit of Alice in wonderland with its surreal and bizarre
characters. Not a quick and easy read but one for people who like well-crafted
prose.
I liked this fairy tale very much. From the get go you got a
sense of foreboding and doom. At one point one of the characters says ‘if you
go looking for trouble, trouble will find you.’ I love the way the writer
described the scenery, but I could have maybe done with a little more
explanation as to what the Voopyre and the beast-master are. Maybe if you’re
familiar with Russian folklore you will know what all the terms the writer uses
are, but I am not. That said, with a bit of imagination you can fill in the
blanks and enjoy this story. I certainly did.
