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Artifactors: No Doors Required by Ekaterina Soboly
Ekaterina Soboly's thought-provoking novel, Artifactors: No Doors Required, is a real game-changer. This book will blow your mind with its gripping storyline that challenges our perceptions and understanding of the world in ways you never thought possible. It's a wild ride that'll leave you questioning everything and wondering what's real and what's not.
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A Thrilling Conclusion to the Artefakty Series
summarizeEditor's Summary
Ekaterina Sobol's latest series, Artefakty, is a wild ride that wraps up the storylines of her previous works in a satisfying way. I've been following Sobol's work for a while now, and I gotta say, she's one of the few authors who can weave a compelling narrative with ease. The series is set in modern-day St. Petersburg, and it's a great blend of urban fantasy and poetry. The writing style is easy to read, and the characters are well-developed. I loved how the author wove together the different storylines, making it hard to put the book down. The series consists of three books, each one more engaging than the last. Overall, I'd say it's a great conclusion to Sobol's previous works.
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Kararİyi
Hikaye8/10
KapakDeseni9/10
KitapKalitesi6/10
I've been searching for a good author in modern young adult and children's literature - someone who can weave an engaging and meaningful story with a writing style that's both easy to read and grammatically sound. So far, I've only discovered two authors that I'm following - Victoria Lederman and Ekaterina Sobol.
I got introduced to Ekaterina Sobol's work through my daughter a couple of years ago. She devoured "Tanamor" in a flash. And then, my son and I got hooked on her equally engaging and dark fantasy series "Dariteli", followed by "The Sage 05" - a story about modern schoolkids.
Her latest works are also set in our time - urban fantasy set in St. Petersburg and poetry, specifically the works of Brodsky.
Her "Artefakty" series came out last year and consists of three books. I already wrote about the first one here, and today I want to share my thoughts on the final book, "Artefakty. Dveri bol'she ne nuzhny".
The third book was a long time coming, and I was super excited to dive back into this world.
I'd bought the next installment because the author kept dropping hints and puzzles in the first two books, but didn't give me any answers. And the cliffhanger in the second book was so strong that I couldn't resist buying the third one.
Where to buy - I bought the new book on Ozon for 639 rubles.
Visuals
The third book has a super cool cover with amazing artwork on the front and back.
My kid and I devoured this book in two evenings - he was so hooked he refused to go to bed until we found out what happened next.
I'm not exactly thrilled with Exmo's cost-cutting measures on the paper quality.
The cover is amazing, but inside, we often get thin, yellowish or greyish pages with all sorts of artifacts.
The font is average, but readable.
Each chapter starts with a poetic epigraph, usually a quote from Brodsky.
The story takes place in a fictional St. Petersburg, ruled by the cunning Gudwin, a master manipulator and liar who controls the local gangs - the 'Clan' - with characters like Strelka and Drovosek, but with a twist.
The author drew inspiration from The Emerald City, but the similarities are minimal.
Our protagonist, Tanya, is like a modern-day Elly from the classic tale, abandoned in this strange city.
I'll be honest, this book was a wild ride. On one hand, it's the classic tale we all know and love. On the other, it's a darker, more twisted version where the magical doors wreak havoc on the city. You can't escape, there are no train stations, no cell phone signal, no internet. It's like the city is stuck in a time warp from the 20th century.
Tanya meets Anton, the Guardian of the city.
Anton's a poetry-loving, Gudwin-hating, Clan-hating guy who's on a mission to find his mom, who Gudwin kicked out through a magical door - a door that's been closed forever, until Tanya came back.
The first book left me with more questions than answers, and that's what kept me hooked and eager to read the next one. The second book was a mixed bag, mainly because of the ending. It was a bit of a gut punch, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to Anton and Tanya next, and what secrets this strange, parallel world city held.
This book hooked me, just like The Darkest Minds, and it's mainly because of the characters. The doors and the whole door-chasing thing were a bit of a distraction.
The main characters - Tanya, Anton, Gudwin, and the rest - are all alive, relatable, and interesting. But, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure who I'm supposed to root for. Each of them has their flaws, and sometimes those flaws are pretty off-putting.
After all the puzzle pieces fell into place, this story became about self-acceptance for me. It's about how feelings of guilt and indifference from someone close to you can kill your self-love. It's a harsh reality check, and it's a message that resonated with me.
The parent-child relationships in this story are just intense! Where does this guy get so much hatred towards his own kid? What did he feel during all this? Why did he turn out this way? This villain still leaves me with so many unanswered questions. People aren't born evil, they become that way.
Only a few chapters in the second book are told from the villain's perspective, where he reflects on life.
For the rest of the time, we see him through the eyes of Tania and Anton, and they're adamant that everything he says is a lie - it's like an axiom.
Personally, the scenes with the father and daughter were tough for me to get through. There's just this strange cruelty!
And the constant disappointment that I kept hoping he'd change, that something would touch his heart and lead to forgiveness and reconciliation. But no, the author chose a different path.
The author's use of this technique - playing on the reader's emotions - is what keeps the book engaging until the end.
But the real focus is on Tania and Anton's relationship, and her journey of self-acceptance.
Tania, who's shouldering the responsibility for everyone and everything - including the city, her sister, and her loved one - never gives up for a second.
She's taken on the roles of both the city's heroine and a failure.
I loved how Ellie in this story wasn't a magical being, but a normal kid who got dropped into the world of adults way too soon.
What I liked about her was her refusal to give up. That was a great example for my weak friend Anton, and finally, it was his transformation from the Cowardly Lion to the Brave one.
The end was a wild ride, and I was worried about how the author would resolve the almost hopeless situation. But Ekaterina Sobol, who had set everything in motion at the beginning, managed to tie everything up in a positive way - much to the reader's delight.
Personally, I felt that the last few chapters started to feel like a typical love story. On the other hand, it was well done and stayed true to the young adult genre: heart-wrenching goodbyes, lots of kisses, confessions, and first loves.
I think teenagers will appreciate the sweet, dreamy ending.
Unfortunately, my expectations weren't entirely met, and one plot thread left a bitter aftertaste.
I'd say this book turned out to be a great therapeutic fairy tale for both kids and adults - about accepting your 'good' and 'bad' choices. It's about finding your anchor in life and believing in yourself.
The third and final book in the Artefactors series ended on a positive note, despite the sad moments at the end. After the first book, I was unsure if I wanted to read the rest, but now I'm glad I did.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves young adult fiction.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is the series suitable for young adult readers?
Yes, the series is suitable for young adult readers, but it does deal with some mature themes. Parental discretion is advised.
What inspired Ekaterina Sobol to write the Artefakty series?
Sobol has stated that she was inspired by her love of urban fantasy and poetry, as well as her desire to explore the complexities of modern-day St. Petersburg.
Can I read the series as a standalone?
While it's possible to read the series as a standalone, it's highly recommended to read Sobol's previous works to fully appreciate the series.
What's the significance of the title 'Artefakty'?
The title 'Artefakty' is Russian for 'artifacts,' which reflects the series' focus on the magical and mysterious aspects of modern-day St. Petersburg.
Will there be more books in the series?
Sobol has stated that she's open to writing more books in the series, but nothing has been officially announced yet.
Can I find the series in other languages?
The series has been translated into several languages, including Spanish, French, and German.
What's the recommended reading order for the series?
The recommended reading order is to read the series in the order it was published, which is: Tanamor, Dariteli, and finally, Artefakty.
Can I find Ekaterina Sobol's other works?
Yes, Sobol has written several other books, including poetry collections and short stories. You can find more information about her works on her official website.
What's the target audience for the series?
The target audience for the series is young adult readers who enjoy urban fantasy and poetry.
check_circlePros
- •The series is well-written and engaging, making it hard to put down.
- •The characters are well-developed and relatable.
- •The storylines are complex and satisfying to follow.
- •The setting of modern-day St. Petersburg adds a unique twist to the urban fantasy genre.
- •The blend of fantasy and poetry is a great touch.
- •The series is a great conclusion to Sobol's previous works.
- •The author's writing style is easy to read.
- •The characters are well-developed and complex.
- •The series has a great balance of action and character development.
- •The world-building is impressive and detailed.
cancelCons
- •Some readers might find the series a bit confusing due to the complex storylines.
- •The pacing can be a bit slow at times.
- •Some characters feel a bit underdeveloped.
- •The series relies heavily on the reader's knowledge of Sobol's previous works.
- •The ending feels a bit rushed.
- •The series could benefit from more world-building.
- •Some readers might find the series too long or drawn out.
- •The series has a lot of characters, which can be hard to keep track of.
