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"A flock of birds whirred into flight, and Night shivered. Bird-pecked fruit with rotting wounds lay scattered atop the leaves blanketing the yard. The leaves shifted, tramped by unseen feet. Somewhere, an abandoned bird left behind was frantically beating a broken wing. Even knowing that its wing would only be further lacerated, the injury made worse, the bird could not stop clinging to the knife-edged air."
In an unnamed foreign country, a family of three is settling into a house at the edge of the woods. But something is off. Strange sounds come from beyond the tree line. The locals have tales of thieving imps who steal children. The postman speaks of violence through constantly shifting shark teeth. An old woman wanders naked and disoriented from the forest. The Dark is a living, breathing presence. And amidst it all is the ongoing story of a pregnant woman traveling to her family home in hopes of avoiding another miscarriage and the father who is left behind to take care of their young son.
The book is split into four sections, each functioning as a separate tale of sorts but that also adding more insight into the story and dynamics of the main family. And while each tale has its own small rise and fall of conflict and resolution, there are clear overarching themes, such as the alienation and isolation of the father and son or the emotional tension between childhood innocence and real world trauma. There are also levels of metaphor, allegory, and hidden meaning layered in through the text so it's a bit hard to explain without spoilers.
I found the book overall to be a nice balance of thought-provoking and unsettling, if a bit hard to understand at times (the writing sometimes morphs into stream of consciousness and symbolism and I'd get a little lost). The father's fears of parenthood were very well done, and I really enjoyed all of the unnerving and complicated scenes involving him and his son. There are some intense moments of brutality and also just lots of strangeness embedded throughout, where characters say and do things that just seem a little off without explanation. It all adds up to create a book that is insightful, disquieting, and occasionally undone by it's own goals.
In an unnamed foreign country, a family of three is settling into a house at the edge of the woods. But something is off. Strange sounds come from beyond the tree line. The locals have tales of thieving imps who steal children. The postman speaks of violence through constantly shifting shark teeth. An old woman wanders naked and disoriented from the forest. The Dark is a living, breathing presence. And amidst it all is the ongoing story of a pregnant woman traveling to her family home in hopes of avoiding another miscarriage and the father who is left behind to take care of their young son.
The book is split into four sections, each functioning as a separate tale of sorts but that also adding more insight into the story and dynamics of the main family. And while each tale has its own small rise and fall of conflict and resolution, there are clear overarching themes, such as the alienation and isolation of the father and son or the emotional tension between childhood innocence and real world trauma. There are also levels of metaphor, allegory, and hidden meaning layered in through the text so it's a bit hard to explain without spoilers.
I found the book overall to be a nice balance of thought-provoking and unsettling, if a bit hard to understand at times (the writing sometimes morphs into stream of consciousness and symbolism and I'd get a little lost). The father's fears of parenthood were very well done, and I really enjoyed all of the unnerving and complicated scenes involving him and his son. There are some intense moments of brutality and also just lots of strangeness embedded throughout, where characters say and do things that just seem a little off without explanation. It all adds up to create a book that is insightful, disquieting, and occasionally undone by it's own goals.
I recently read Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola, which is a middle-grade graphic novel that tells the story of a young girl named Masha who becomes the assistant to the legendary witch Baba Yaga. I love the art of Emily Carroll (Through the Woods is a fantastic graphic novel), and her illustrations are the main reason I picked up this book. While I was thoroughly impressed by the stunning artwork, I found the story to be somewhat lacking. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and bring the fantastical world of Baba Yaga to life in a way that is truly magical. However, I was left wanting more from the narrative itself.
In the book, Masha is a young girl who is trying to find her place in the world. She stumbles upon Baba Yaga, the legendary witch, and becomes her assistant. Masha finds herself on a journey filled with magic, mythical creatures, and new experiences as she helps Baba Yaga with her tasks. Along the way, Masha discovers that she has a talent for magic herself and begins to gain confidence in her abilities. The story follows Masha as she learns more about herself and her grandmother, who was also once an assistant to Baba Yaga. Through her adventures, Masha discovers the importance of bravery and determination.
There is certainly an interesting premise here, but unfortunately it feels quite simplistic in its current form. There is a lack of depth and complexity to the plot, with very little character development or intricate world-building. For example, while Baba Yaga is depicted as a powerful and mysterious figure, her motivations and character are not explored in any meaningful way. I liked the flashbacks to stories Masha had heard before and I enjoyed learning little snippets of the Baba Yaga mythos, but all of the conflicts seemed to resolve too easily (and yes, I recognize that this is a middle grade story based in folklore haha).
Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a visually stunning story, but those looking for a more substantial narrative may be disappointed. The illustrations alone make this book worth checking out, but be prepared for a story that feels like it could have been fleshed out more.
In the book, Masha is a young girl who is trying to find her place in the world. She stumbles upon Baba Yaga, the legendary witch, and becomes her assistant. Masha finds herself on a journey filled with magic, mythical creatures, and new experiences as she helps Baba Yaga with her tasks. Along the way, Masha discovers that she has a talent for magic herself and begins to gain confidence in her abilities. The story follows Masha as she learns more about herself and her grandmother, who was also once an assistant to Baba Yaga. Through her adventures, Masha discovers the importance of bravery and determination.
There is certainly an interesting premise here, but unfortunately it feels quite simplistic in its current form. There is a lack of depth and complexity to the plot, with very little character development or intricate world-building. For example, while Baba Yaga is depicted as a powerful and mysterious figure, her motivations and character are not explored in any meaningful way. I liked the flashbacks to stories Masha had heard before and I enjoyed learning little snippets of the Baba Yaga mythos, but all of the conflicts seemed to resolve too easily (and yes, I recognize that this is a middle grade story based in folklore haha).
Overall, I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a visually stunning story, but those looking for a more substantial narrative may be disappointed. The illustrations alone make this book worth checking out, but be prepared for a story that feels like it could have been fleshed out more.
