photo_library38
Ürünstar 5.0
Count Averin: The Russian Empire's Magician
Get ready to be spellbound by this captivating tale of magic and mystery set in 19th-century Russia, expertly woven by acclaimed author Viktor Dashkevich. This enchanting story will transport you to a world of wonder and awe, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and the magic of the Russian Empire comes alive.
chevron_right
Kuzya the Anarchist and Alexander Klyukvin's Narration Make This Book a Real Page-Turner - First in a Series, Gripping Investigations in Alternative Russia, and Lovable Characters - Best Book of the Year
summarizeEditor's Summary
I stumbled upon Graf Averin by Viktor Dashkevich initially, but it wasn't until I discovered the audiobook adaptation that I fell head over heels for the story. Alexander Klyukvin's narration is the real MVP – his inflection, tone, and voice make all the differences in the audiobook completely unnoticeable. The world of Graf Averin, set in an alternate Russian Empire of the 1980s, is a gripping blend of magic and technology that's got me hooked from the start. I'm eager to dive into the rest of the series and see where the story takes me. With Klyukvin's narration, this book is a total page-turner that I just can't put down.
settingsSpecifications
KararMükemmel
Konusu7/10
OyunKalitesi8/10
HikayeKalitesi9/10
I picked up Graf Averin by Viktor Dashkevich for the first time when it came out, and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I read it in print, and while it was okay, I didn't feel the urge to revisit it anytime soon. But then I discovered the world of audiobooks, fell in love with Alexander Klyukvin's narration, and I just couldn't resist the chance to hear his voice again.
The audiobook adaptation of the first book is something else entirely. I'm willing to forgive any flaws in the series just for the voice of the narrator, the way he uses inflection, and the changing tone – it's all just incredible. And you know what? The voice of Alexander Klyukvin makes all the differences in the audiobook completely unnoticeable.
*****
****
Graf Averin. Kol'dun Rossiyskoy Imperii. Viktor Dashkevich
Description
“Graf Averin. Kol'dun Rossiyskoy Imperii” by Viktor Dashkevich is a detective fantasy set in an alternate Russian Empire of the 1980s, where magic coexists with technology. The main character, Germes Averin, is a powerful wizard and private investigator who solves magical crimes in St. Petersburg with the help of a demonic div-cat named Kuzya.
Genre: fantasyRelease year: 2023Publisher: EksmoSeries: 2023Series number: 1Age rating: 12+Number of pages: 600+Number of pages in e-book: 1000+Where to buy/read: litres, Yandex Books, marketplaces
*****
****
Book formatting
I've got a physical book, and I bought the first two volumes back in 2023 because that's all that was out at the time. I had to wait for the rest to come out. Now I'll be picking up the remaining volumes to add to my collection. The overall design is pretty cool, but my favorite cover is definitely the one with Kuzya.
The first two volumes are thicker than the rest, with the first one having 600 pages and a little tail. The subsequent books get progressively thinner, which is a bit of a letdown.
I'm a big fan of hardcovers, and I try to buy them whenever possible. They're matte, which is nice to the touch. The first volume in the series has a picture of Graf Averin himself on the cover.
Inside, there's a detailed map on the flyleaf that shows the main characters' movements. They even drew Kuzya on the map. It's pretty adorable.
There's also another Kuzya picture that unfolds after the map. Overall, I really like both the interior and exterior design. They've definitely done a 5/5 job selling the book.
One thing that didn't really win me over is the paper color. The pages are dense, but they have a yellowish tint to them. It doesn't affect reading, but I'm used to better quality paper.
I remember when I first started reading books, I'd often hesitate to pick one up because of the paper quality. The font was fine, and the margins were okay too.
The back cover has a spoiler-free annotation for the first book. I think I skipped it when I bought it, mainly because all the book bloggers were raving about it.
There are some book reviews on the back cover too. I didn't read them, but I did notice one from Alexander Klyukvin. I actually listened to the audiobook in his voice and loved it. It's no surprise that many fans would want to leave a glowing review for the author.
One thing that really stood out to me was the chapter layout. Each chapter is relatively short, and when I listened to the audiobook, the longest chapter was around 33-35 minutes. The book is divided into three roughly equal parts, and each part is a new investigation, but the narrative flows linearly and each part picks up right where the previous one left off.
*****
***
Plot and storyline
The book is divided into three roughly equal parts, each around 200 pages or so. Each part is a new investigation by Count Averin, but there's a common thread that ties all three parts together. In the first investigation, Count Averin works alone, but it's here that he meets the enigmatic Kuzya, who plays a significant role in the subsequent parts and investigations.
The first investigation is a search for a missing boy named Daniil, who vanished under mysterious circumstances. I enjoyed this part of the story, although some of the details were a bit too graphic for my taste, and I generally don't like reading about animal cruelty or even hints of it.
5/5
Coming up next is the second investigation, which takes Averin to his family estate, where his grandmother is on her deathbed. Even in his own backyard, there's a mystery to be solved for Averin and his trusty sidekick Kuzya.
5/5
I have to say, the third case was the most complex and perilous of the bunch. It was also the bloodiest, but what I loved about it was the freedom Kuzya got to shine, and the chapters told from his perspective added a nice touch. Plus, there was some much-needed humor in this part, considering the circumstances.
And then there's the thrilling conclusion. I was literally holding my breath during the last hour or so, listening to it in audio format. There were so many twists and turns, I was afraid to miss a single detail.
5/5
*****
****
Characters
Kuzya's my favorite character, hands down. The div who first clashes with Averin in the first investigation, and later becomes his loyal sidekick. In the first part, Kuzya's a 2-level div, but as the story progresses, his magical potential grows, and he becomes a 1-level div - a big deal in this world.
I have to say, I really love how Kuzya contrasts with Avery's character. He's a total wild card, always pushing the boundaries and testing the limits, but at the same time, he's incredibly smart and perceptive for his age. And despite being a bit of a diva, he's surprisingly kind, understanding, and caring. It's clear that he's going to become more than just a loyal assistant to Avery - he's going to be a true friend and companion.
Avery himself was also a great character, but for different reasons. He's the brains and rationality to Kuzya's impulsiveness and intuition. He's like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, and it's clear that he's going to be a key player in the story. The contrast between the two of them is fantastic, especially given their age difference and vastly different personalities.
I also got a glimpse of Vladimir and Anonymous in this book, who I suspect will play a bigger role in the future and even get their own stories. Anonymous's backstory is particularly intriguing, and I'm looking forward to learning more about it.
He looked like a tall, middle-aged man with long hair, dressed in the latest youth fashion. If he'd had a pair of loafers on his feet, he would have looked like a total hipster.
*****
****
Humor/atmosphere/world-building
I just realized that I really enjoy the time period that the author is writing about. Yes, it's an alternate history, but I found myself wanting to read more about it, not just from Dashkevich's perspective. The atmosphere in the first book is really great.
I was really drawn into the world of the 1982 Russian Empire in this book. One of the things that stood out to me was the presence of magic and wizards, with an emperor on the throne, and this concept of a Pustosh, which seems to be the source of all demons and devils in this world. Each magical family has these fabled familiars that protect them and are passed down through generations.
The author's world-building is incredibly detailed, and I found myself vividly imagining the world they described.
This book falls into the fantasy genre with some detective elements, and there are even some humorous moments, mostly courtesy of the mischievous demon Kuzya.
******
****
Author's style
I'm really impressed with how Viktor Dashkevich writes, and despite this being my first book by him, I've already ordered the rest of the series and a collection of his short stories. I'm confident that I'll enjoy them just as much.
The author's writing style is easy to follow, and the text is very accessible, whether you're reading it or listening to the audiobook. The world of the Russian Empire is described in great detail, and it's easy to understand how everything fits together. New details are added with each new book, but they don't overwhelm you.
– What happened to Marina? Can you explain?
– She drowned! After you rejected her again, she went and drowned herself out of grief!
Averin took a deep breath. There are a lot of things in life that you can believe, but a drowned mermaid is a bit of a stretch – especially since she drowned herself.
*****
*****
Final Impressions
I'm not surprised I enjoyed the book about Count Averin, but what really blew me away was the narration by Alexander Klyukvin - he took it to a whole new level. I don't remember my first impressions, but I read the paperback back in 2023 and gave it a 4 out of 5. It was decent, but I'm not a fan of the mini-chapter format, and something was missing for me.
But with the second re-read, and Klyukvin's narration, the story came alive in new ways. Kudos to the narrator for bringing Hermes Arkadyevich and Kuzya to life with his voice, giving them more depth and emotional resonance. I especially loved the dialogue inserts from Kuzya the cat and Kuzya the human - the inflections, the tone shifts, and the vocal range were all spot on.
And that's not all - the characters really shine in this book. I could literally picture them in my head, especially Kuzya, who won me over. The banter between Kuzya and Averin had me giggling out loud and smiling for the entire 32 chapters. Kuzya's a unique character - it's easy to imagine him as a mischievous anarchist who pushes Averin's patience, but remains loyal and, in a way, a friend.
I asked him how to catch a cat, but I wasn't really expecting an answer, more like talking to myself.
However, I have to say that I enjoyed the character of Averin, especially when he started to give in to Kuzya's charm and made some concessions. At first, he seemed like a tough and very proper wizard who didn't put his demons above people or at least on the same level. But it was nice to see him change by the end of the third book, once he understood their nature and essence a bit better.
I'm not a big fan of the format where the book is split into parts and stories, but I just couldn't put it down. Plus, each part is a self-contained unit that starts where the previous one left off, and the story flows linearly. This made it easy for me to take a break between parts and dive into a new investigation.
Cats are like liquid, they can seep into any crack.
"You can't drink, but if you do, make sure it's vodka."
I have to say, the investigations themselves were pretty engaging, and I remember getting stuck on the second part for a while. I thought the storytelling was stuck in neutral, and it was a bit of a snooze fest. But then I re-read it, and let me tell you, it's a doozy. The first book is 600 pages in print and 15.5 hours in audio, and I devoured the whole thing. I was doing chores while listening – washing dishes, vacuuming, cooking meals, and even getting up and going to bed on schedule.
This is the kind of situation where it's hard to tear yourself away. Normally, I'm a total procrastinator, getting sidetracked by social media, music, and YouTube videos. But for these two days, I completely forgot about all that and spent all my free time with Avery and Kuzye.
— Come on in, we don't have a dog. Just a cat, and he's almost harmless.
This time around, the book didn't feel slow or boring to me. Each investigation was super engaging and dynamic. I don't know which one I liked best, but the third one was probably my favorite, and the ending was amazing – I even got a little teary-eyed when it was over. It was over all too soon.
As for negatives, I didn't really find any this time. I'm not even sure I'd want to look for them. I don't know if the magic will wear off when I read the physical book, but the audio was perfect, thanks to the narrator. Even the music at the end of each chapter was spot on.
I'm really enjoying the series so far, the books are engaging, and Kuzya is hands down the main attraction - I'll keep reading even if the books get weaker with each installment. And the voice acting? The narrator's voice is amazing, now every time I hear Averin's voice, it's stuck in my head as Alexander Klyukvin's voice
But why do I need to dress up, anyway? I run around naked as a cat, and nobody seems to mind.
*******
*****
And here are some more book reviews:
The Border Witch. Wallis E. Kinnaird
The Unwanted Bride. The Black Dragon Heiress. Anna Jane
The Chestnut Man. Soren Sveistrup
Murders and Cupcakes. The Philanthropic Agency. Peter Boland
The Doorkeeper. Dead. Marina Surzhenskaya
The Book of Night. Holly Black
Mexican Gothic. Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Thirteenth Fairy Tale, Diana Setterfield
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is the audiobook a good representation of the print version?
While the print version was okay, the audiobook adaptation is a totally different experience. Alexander Klyukvin's narration brings the story to life in a way that the print version couldn't.
How does the world of Graf Averin compare to other fantasy series?
Graf Averin's unique blend of magic and technology sets it apart from other fantasy series. The world-building is rich and detailed, making it easy to get lost in the story.
Is the audiobook suitable for all audiences?
While Graf Averin is a great series for fans of fantasy and mystery, some readers might find the world-building a bit dense at times. However, the audiobook format makes it easy to follow along and get caught up in the story.
Can I listen to the audiobook on any device?
Yes, the audiobook is available on most popular platforms, including Audible, iTunes, and Google Play.
Is there a sequel to Graf Averin?
Yes, there are multiple books in the series, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment.
How long does the audiobook take to complete?
The audiobook is approximately 10 hours long, making it a great listen for a weekend or a road trip.
Is the audiobook worth the investment?
Absolutely – the narration, world-building, and storytelling all come together to create a truly immersive experience.
Can I purchase the audiobook separately from the print version?
Yes, the audiobook is available for purchase on its own or as part of a bundle with the print version.
check_circlePros
- •The audiobook adaptation brings a new level of immersion to the story
- •Alexander Klyukvin's narration is top-notch, with perfect inflection and tone
- •The world of Graf Averin is richly detailed and full of intrigue
- •The blend of magic and technology is unique and engaging
- •I love how the audiobook makes me feel like I'm part of the story
- •The pacing is well-balanced, keeping me on the edge of my seat
- •The characters are lovable and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their stories
- •The world-building is rich and detailed, making it easy to get lost in the story
cancelCons
- •The print version didn't grab me initially, but the audiobook changed everything
- •Some readers might find the world-building a bit dense at times
- •I wish there were more audiobooks in the series with Klyukvin's narration
- •The audiobook format makes it easy to get lost in the story, but I sometimes find myself wanting more
- •I'm not a huge fan of the ending, but it's minor compared to the rest of the book
- •I'd love to see more character development in the next books
- •The audiobook can be a bit slow-paced at times, but it's worth the investment
- •Some readers might find the magic system a bit confusing at first, but it's worth the effort to understand
