I am so very late with this review. However, every good story is worth being savored (pun intended). Before delving into the subject, I would like to mention that I have read up until chapter 5 and the following comments only pertain to these aforementioned chapters.
I must say that the three first chapters may be, without a doubt, the most satisfying chapters I read for a long time. Some readers haver called them exposure-heavy, and for people who have no interest, or no very basic knowledge, in Soviet history, these chapters may appear as arduous and long. To me, however, they truly illustrated the author's mastering of history. What transcended through these few chapters, and that according to me sets the tone for the whole story, is the fact that the author does not believe in extreme ideas. The concepts of perfect good or perfect evil do not seem to apply to this work. There is a constant search for equilibrium and empathy.
These few first chapters send such a strong message against discrimination, underline its nefarious effects on the development of societies and announce that the author wishes to underline the importance of food, yes food, as a source of growth, a source of development and a way to bridge our differences. And all of this, through a coming-of-age tale in the form of a cultivation story.
Writing Quality: I feel that the writing quality in English of this story does not do justice to the talent of the author. I believe he might be thinking in Russian when he writes, and often this translates to the Russian syntax being transposed into English. At times this might make it more difficult to grasp what the author wishes to convey if one does not have a pre-existing knowledge of Russian. However, my having some pre-existing knowledge of Russian, I can assure that this is an excellent writer. And as we say, practice makes perfect. The more this author will write in English, the more he will polish up his skill and one will have the chance to say that one knew him when he was just beignning his "career".
Story Development: As previously mentioned, the first three chapters were supremely interesting. They mixed actual postmodern historical facts and happenings with spiritual beliefs proper to, what I would believe, Central Asia. The beginning is so important in explaining how the main character came to be, to explain his thirst for discovery and knowledge that is at the basis of every good cultivation novel.
Character Design: I personally feel that we have discovered little about the main character's personality so to say. We know his backgrounds, we know how his quest began. There is a description of his personality, however there does not seems to be a transposition of what we know to be his personality into his thoughts and actions. The character seems to be accepting of certain things as facts, without questioning them, though said things might be surprising and destabilizing to normal people. However, I believe that this is actually the norm in cultivation novels and thus cannot go into depth. I believe that as the story progresses more of the main character's personality shall be uncovered.
World Background: What truly makes this story fascinating is how well the author blends realism with fantasy. He can make one believe that indeed all that is written that pertains to fantasy is true. This is the best type of fantasy, a sort that blends in organically with our own reality. It makes us belief that we can be the heroes of our own fantastical story. No vampires, werewolves and the likes here. Rather, one is invited to take part in a journey accompanied by spirit animals.
Overall, a read that promises a lot and delivers it quite well!
