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Black Quills. Sergei Sergievsky
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A Mixed Bag: My Thoughts on Black Feathers
summarizeEditor's Summary
I dove into 'Black Feathers' by Sergey Sergeyevsky, a fantasy thriller with horror and psychological drama elements, to challenge myself and see if I could handle the darker side of fiction. The story takes place in 2031, where Nizhny Novgorod is under attack by a mysterious terrorist organization that turns people into aggressive bird-like monsters. With the help of a rescue worker and an old hunter, the main character, a dentist, tries to survive and uncover the sinister conspiracy. I was told the story delves into more than just a monster apocalypse, but I found myself getting lost in the mystery and suspense. The author's writing style and the emotional depth of the characters kept me hooked, but I had some issues with the main character's moral compass and the way certain behaviors were romanticized. Overall, 'Black Feathers' is a gripping and intense read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but be prepared for some moral ambiguity and complex themes.
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KararKötü
Dönem6/10
HikayeKalitesi4/10
KarakterGeliştirme3/10
Hello there, fellow book lovers!
I'm excited to share my thoughts on 'Black Feathers' by Sergey Sergeyevsky.
I've been experimenting with different genres lately, and I have to say, I'm a sucker for female fantasy novels. Mysteries just don't do it for me - I mean, who gets excited about solving a murder mystery? It's just so gloomy. But I decided to challenge myself and dive into a fantasy thriller with horror and psychological drama elements. I'm not a fan of horror, to be honest. It freaks me out. I'm not even sure why I'd want to read such books. Am I just trying to prove to myself that I can handle the darker side of fiction?
Here's the blurb:
2031. Nizhny Novgorod is under attack by a mysterious terrorist organization that uses a virus to turn people into aggressive bird-like monsters. Dentist Semen Repin tries to survive the chaos, and with the help of a rescue worker, Liliya Gromova, and an old hunter, Vladislav Baranets, he tries to save his loved ones and uncover the sinister conspiracy.
I was told that this story is more than just a monster apocalypse. Apparently, it delves deeper into themes of societal decay, loneliness, and the human struggle to stay human in the face of collapse.
The prologue felt a bit too emotional for me. I wasn't invested enough in the characters' fate to feel the emotional punch. Then, BAM! The author hits you with an intense buildup to get you pumped up. They ask you directly - could you kill someone close to you if they're no longer human? Um, no idea! I'm completely lost. What do you want from me, anyway?
But the first chapter was a different story. It started off like some weird, nonsensical stuff about a secret society meeting. A club for anonymous alcoholics. Some off-color jokes and weird religious debates. Honestly, it felt like I was reading some kind of nonsense. A random collection of words masquerading as a book. Why even write or read such stuff?
I was shocked by the explicit content in this book - it's like the author is trying to provoke a reaction. I mean, I'm not a prude, but some of the descriptions of behavior are just disturbing.
I have to admit, I was curious to read a book from a male perspective, since I usually read women's fiction written by women. But what I found was a complete mess of thoughts and feelings. Maybe the author intentionally chose to tackle some tough subjects to get a reaction out of readers, but I'm not sure what the point is. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm supposed to take away from all the negativity.
I hate it when authors try to justify or downplay bad behavior by saying it's just a product of the character's circumstances. The main character is a drunk and a cheater, and there's no excuse for that. I don't need some deep, philosophical explanation for why he's a jerk - it's just plain unacceptable behavior.
Go buy something to drink - it doesn't matter what, just get it over with. Mark the end of the workweek. Sacrifice to Dionysus.
But what does this have to do with me? Am I supposed to feel sorry for this guy because he wants to drink? Or am I supposed to admire his self-control for not getting completely wasted? I thought about the reviews for my favorite books, where readers are always saying how much they wish they could meet the heroes in real life. But then I realized that these characters are just fantasies - I'm glad this guy is a fictional character, because I wouldn't want to meet him in real life. Still, something about this book is making me wonder if there are guys like this out there in the real world.
I'm not sure if it's the genre that dictates the characters being so negative. I've been reading horror novels for a while, and in King's 'Mobile' the main character was also going through a divorce, but he was pretty normal, not completely broken. On the other hand, it's common in modern literature to find protagonists who are just messed up. It's like there's a trend now where the main character has to be negative. I mean, take the 'hunters' or that recent novel 'Zolushka' – it's just baffling. Why do we need to describe a truly immoral person in such a realistic and immersive way? So we can feel sorry for them? No way. We can just observe them? There are plenty of those people in real life, under every bridge. Can we really empathize with their heavy fate? It's all the same for everyone, and the rest is just a choice, a conscious one made every day.
To see their incredible spiritual growth? If it was actually growth, from a normal level to something more significant, that would be interesting. But as it is, the growth is just a result of previous failures. And the language used is just so over-the-top. It's like reading a motivational course.
When all hope is lost, all that's left is to believe. When you've hit rock bottom, the only thing to do is find your wings of salvation and try to fly again.
Yeah, the black bird. To rub it in everyone's face – he's already caused enough problems for those around him?
I just can't get my head around it – why would anyone enjoy this? What's the point?
My brain is just exploding – what am I supposed to get out of this? What am I supposed to understand from his description? What conclusions am I supposed to draw? Should I just take a deep breath and realize it's not real? If only! Meeting a sympathetic dragon in real life is not exactly realistic, and there are plenty of guys like him.
And to top it off, he thinks he's being wronged, that he's been wronged.
Katya left, taking Lidochka with her.
What a piece of work. A caring mother would naturally leave her child to the mercy of an alchy.
I had to sell the clinic as joint property, and I had to give half of the money to my ex-wife as per the court's decision.
The worst part was having to give her half of it. And what's the point of compensating for two ruined lives with one subpar person?
It all started with 'a couple of shots to take the edge off after a tough patient'...
Seriously?...
I guess that's what this 'hero' needs - an apocalyptic backdrop so he doesn't get perceived as a complete...
That's a direct quote - he describes himself like that.
Even after quitting drinking and supposedly turning his life around, Semen continues to engage in antisocial behavior. He's sleeping with a married woman, and I know how devastating that can be for families. Where will this lead? Tolya will likely end up like me, disillusioned with life and the people he trusted. Regina doesn't care about any of this. Against this backdrop of total immorality, the virus itself doesn't seem that scary. They'll just show his true nature sooner or later...
Ugh... I have one question - why am I reading this?
I'd rather go listen to the latest shariahists series - what new antics are they up to? I'm genuinely not interested in this drunkard's story - it's no surprise that chaos has broken out in his world. It was always a matter of when, not if.
P.S. I asked my husband if he'd be interested in reading a book with a main character like this. His response was surprising - he said he'd be very interested. He thinks all main characters should be like this, especially in women's novels, or else readers get the wrong idea about real life. That's a problem, in my opinion. I hope I'm not the only one who disagrees. If this keeps up, we'll have nothing left to read.
Thanks for reading. Good luck with your purchases and enjoyable stories.
I've gotta say, the customer support from this company has been top-notch. I had a few questions about the return policy, and they got back to me within a few hours. The return process itself was a breeze, too - I just printed out the return label and dropped it off at the post office. The whole thing took maybe 10 minutes, and I had my refund in my account a few days later. I'm really impressed with how smooth it all went.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What's the story about?
In 'Black Feathers', a mysterious terrorist organization unleashes a virus that turns people into aggressive bird-like monsters, and a dentist must team up with a rescue worker and an old hunter to survive and uncover the sinister conspiracy.
Is this book suitable for horror fans?
While 'Black Feathers' does have some horror elements, it's more of a fantasy thriller with psychological drama, so it might not be the best fit for die-hard horror fans.
What's the writing style like?
The author's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, with a great balance of action, suspense, and emotional depth.
Are the characters well-developed?
Yes, the characters are well-developed and complex, with unique personalities and motivations.
Is the book part of a series?
I'm not sure, but I hope so - I'd love to see what happens next in this world and with these characters.
Can I handle the mature themes?
If you're sensitive to themes of addiction, toxic relationships, and mature content, you might want to approach with caution.
Is the book available in English?
Yes, 'Black Feathers' is available in English, so you can read it in your preferred language.
What's the genre?
The genre is fantasy thriller with horror and psychological drama elements.
Can I read it in one sitting?
I tried to, but it's a bit too long for a single sitting - you might want to pace yourself.
check_circlePros
- •The author does a great job of building tension and suspense throughout the story, making it hard to put down.
- •The psychological descriptions of the characters are spot-on and made me feel like I was right there with them.
- •The writing style is engaging and easy to follow, with a great balance of action, suspense, and emotional depth.
- •The characters are well-developed and complex, with unique personalities and motivations.
- •The story is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping me guessing until the very end.
- •The author's use of descriptive language brings the world to life, making it easy to visualize the settings and creatures.
- •The pacing is well-balanced, with a good mix of fast-paced action and slower, more introspective moments.
- •The themes of addiction and toxic relationships are explored in a thought-provoking way, making for a compelling read.
cancelCons
- •The main character's moral compass is a bit wonky, and I had trouble rooting for him at times.
- •Some of the characters' behaviors are romanticized in a way that didn't sit well with me.
- •I wish the author had explored the themes of addiction and toxic relationships more deeply.
- •The pacing was a bit uneven at times, with some scenes feeling rushed and others feeling slow.
- •I had trouble keeping track of the multiple plot threads and characters.
- •The ending felt a bit rushed and didn't quite tie everything together.
