MY RATING:
Synopsis:
In the village of Vrakola, near Trun, extraordinary things are happening—several people have been murdered in a way never seen before, while others wake up with strange marks on their bodies. It is as if an inhuman evil has descended upon the village. Emil, a nursing home resident, joins forces with border police officer Bozhana Gorneva to investigate the mysterious incidents. Their search leads them to long-buried secrets from the past and to a monster from Bulgarian folklore that has come to life. In their battle against evil, they will also be aided by a resurrected man with unfinished business in this world…
- Pages: 670
- Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, Horror
- Publication date: First published December 11, 2021
- Format: Paperback, Hardcover, Audiobook
- Source: Owned
PURCHASE LINKS:
STORYTEL(AVAILABLE ONLY IN BULGARIAN)
REVIEW:
Oh, boy, where to start with this one? Unfortunately, this series is not yet translated into any other language as far as I know, but I really hope that at least one publishing house will do it in the near future.
I don’t usually read Bulgarian literature, and the only contemporary author I have read and enjoyed was Georgi Gospodinov. This book was recommended to me by two of my friends, and I must say that I am glad I picked it up.
Popov created an amazing, eerie atmosphere engulfed in Bulgarian folklore, mythology and traditions. I was hooked from the very beginning and fell in love with the characters and the story. Not going to lie, I learned so much of my own culture from this book. That’s why I think it would be wonderful if more people around the world could read it. It may be especially appealing to readers like me who enjoy learning about different cultures and traditions.
We follow Bozhana, Mitko, and Lazar in the small village of Vrakola, near the Serbian border. Bozhana and Mitko are border police officers investigating a series of mysterious deaths among both animals and villagers. As fear spreads through the community, rumours begin to circulate that a mamnik has returned to seek revenge…
The plot is great, the writing style is descriptive, captivating and easy to follow. There is character growth, flaws and so many emotions. I appreciated that the author wrote the dialogue of some of the people in their native dialect. It took me a bit to get used to it and understand what they actually mean, but eventually I got there. It felt authentic, which made the whole reading and listening experience so much better for me.
It kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. Although it’s marketed as horror, it’s not the kind of horror that will keep you awake at night. I’m not usually a fan of the genre, but this book was an exception. To me, it felt more like an eerie fantasy thriller, with a mysterious and unsettling atmosphere rather than outright scares.
Long story short, there is ancient magic, old curses, generational trauma, and a monster. But who’s really the monster, and what and why has created it! The answer might shock you, just like it did shock me and trust me, it is worth the ride!
Additionally, I am so happy they also made a TV series, which I started watching today, and I am 2 episodes in. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the Bulgarian movie production, as I don’t watch TV. They are following the book with some minor changes. So far so good 🙂
Lin's Perspective 
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