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Vodník
When Tomas was six, someone — something — tried to drown him. And burn him to a crisp. Tomas survived, but whatever was trying to kill him freaked out his parents enough to convince them to move from Slovakia to the United States.
Now sixteen-year-old Tomas and his family are back in Slovakia, and that something still lurks somewhere. Nearby. It wants to drown him again and put his soul in a teacup. And that’s not all. There’s also the fire víla, the water ghost, pitchfork-happy city folk, and Death herself who are after him.
If Tomas wants to survive, he'll have to embrace the meaning behind the Slovak proverb, So smrťou ešte nik zmluvu neurobil. With Death, nobody makes a pact.
Now sixteen-year-old Tomas and his family are back in Slovakia, and that something still lurks somewhere. Nearby. It wants to drown him again and put his soul in a teacup. And that’s not all. There’s also the fire víla, the water ghost, pitchfork-happy city folk, and Death herself who are after him.
If Tomas wants to survive, he'll have to embrace the meaning behind the Slovak proverb, So smrťou ešte nik zmluvu neurobil. With Death, nobody makes a pact.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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August 25, 2016
RECENZIA NA BLOGU
Každého asi zaujíma jedna krátka otázka a odpoveď na ňu je ÁNO. Áno, bolo to dobré. Oveľa lepšie, ako by ste čakali od príbehu, ktorého hlavný hrdina je americký Róm so slovenskými koreňmi, ktorý sa prisťahuje do Trenčína a tam sa ho snaží utopiť vodník zo Studne lásky.
Najväčší plus je autorov štýl - celé je to napísané takým svižným, jasným tempom, ktoré veľmi nerieši kultúrny šok alebo psychiku postáv, ale udalosť strieda udalosť a veľmi dobre sa to odsýpa.
A druhý veľký plus - humor. Och, Bože :D Nemôžem reprodukovať celé scény, lebo je to skôr situačné, ale áno - smiala som sa. Smiala som sa nahlas. A smiala som sa nahlas na miestach, kde to aj bolo myslené - takže... Bože, tie hlášky :D
Slovenské reálie dopadli prekvapivo dobre - najviac (v pozitívnom zmysle) to, že hlavný hrdina nie je to typické rozmaznané americké decko, čo proste v tom hnusnom komunistickom paneláku žiť nebude. Nie je to úplne ten prípad, kde by hrdina baštil všetko, čo mu Slovensko ponúkne, ale je to udržané v tej pozitívnejšej rovine s kopou dobrých postrehov a detailov.
Zápletka je pomerne jednoduchá a nie veľmi epická, slovenská mytológia dosť brzdí tú paranormálnu stránku (sú tam len víly, nápomocná starenka, Morena, varenie lektvarov s "Dubak mashroom" a samozrejme vodník) ale kompenzuje to neuveriteľne sympatický záporák, z ktorého vyjadrovania a zmýšľania som šla v poslednej tretine do kolien. Budem sa opakovať, ale - Bože, tie hlášky :D
Občas ma zamrzel preklep v nejakom slovenskom slove (Trenčín, časť Juch je môj top), ale väčšina slov je napísaná správne s mäkčeňmi a dĺžňami (len ň trochu absentuje). Och, mne sa to páčilo. Stále sa neviem rozhodnúť, či odporúčať ďalej, ale je to oveľa menej hlúpe, oveľa lepšie napísané a oveľa vtipnejšie, ako som čakala, takže zaslúžených 8/10.
Každého asi zaujíma jedna krátka otázka a odpoveď na ňu je ÁNO. Áno, bolo to dobré. Oveľa lepšie, ako by ste čakali od príbehu, ktorého hlavný hrdina je americký Róm so slovenskými koreňmi, ktorý sa prisťahuje do Trenčína a tam sa ho snaží utopiť vodník zo Studne lásky.
Najväčší plus je autorov štýl - celé je to napísané takým svižným, jasným tempom, ktoré veľmi nerieši kultúrny šok alebo psychiku postáv, ale udalosť strieda udalosť a veľmi dobre sa to odsýpa.
A druhý veľký plus - humor. Och, Bože :D Nemôžem reprodukovať celé scény, lebo je to skôr situačné, ale áno - smiala som sa. Smiala som sa nahlas. A smiala som sa nahlas na miestach, kde to aj bolo myslené - takže... Bože, tie hlášky :D
Slovenské reálie dopadli prekvapivo dobre - najviac (v pozitívnom zmysle) to, že hlavný hrdina nie je to typické rozmaznané americké decko, čo proste v tom hnusnom komunistickom paneláku žiť nebude. Nie je to úplne ten prípad, kde by hrdina baštil všetko, čo mu Slovensko ponúkne, ale je to udržané v tej pozitívnejšej rovine s kopou dobrých postrehov a detailov.
Zápletka je pomerne jednoduchá a nie veľmi epická, slovenská mytológia dosť brzdí tú paranormálnu stránku (sú tam len víly, nápomocná starenka, Morena, varenie lektvarov s "Dubak mashroom" a samozrejme vodník) ale kompenzuje to neuveriteľne sympatický záporák, z ktorého vyjadrovania a zmýšľania som šla v poslednej tretine do kolien. Budem sa opakovať, ale - Bože, tie hlášky :D
Občas ma zamrzel preklep v nejakom slovenskom slove (Trenčín, časť Juch je môj top), ale väčšina slov je napísaná správne s mäkčeňmi a dĺžňami (len ň trochu absentuje). Och, mne sa to páčilo. Stále sa neviem rozhodnúť, či odporúčať ďalej, ale je to oveľa menej hlúpe, oveľa lepšie napísané a oveľa vtipnejšie, ako som čakala, takže zaslúžených 8/10.
February 5, 2014
The book was fun as expected. What attracted me was the non-American setting and an underused mythology. The book delivered Slovakia and Slavic mythology. The mythology portion consisted of a fire spirit, a water spirit, a ghost, and a grim reaper. I admit it sounds generic. But as a big reader of urban fantasy, anything that isn’t vampires and werewolves, Greek/Roman mythos, Celtic mythos, or Norse mythos is a cheery break. Unfortunately, it was a shame that the basis for the Slovakian setting was flimsy.
+ bad parenting
In the beginning of the book, I didn’t think much of Tomas’s family moving back to his mother’s homeland. They moved back because they wanted to maintain their middle class-ish lifestyle. Their money would go further in Slovakia with what little they had left after their home burned down. I was skeptical about his mom becoming a teacher (and thus, the breadwinner) and his dad becoming a writer, but I didn’t think it was particularly impractical.
But as the story unfolded and I learned more about Slovakia, I learned it was a wonderful place to visit but a horrible place to live, especially if you’re Roma, a.k.a. Gypsy. Racism ahoy. Tomas was only a quarter Roma, but he looked Roma enough to be discriminated against. Pretty much, being Roma in modern Slovakia was like being black in the civil rights years of America. Not only that, he was also rejected by the Roma because he was too foreign.
In Slovakia, there is universal healthcare, which seems good... until the reader learns bribery is a way of life. I got eye sore from eyebugging hard at Tomas when he thought going into crippling debt to get healthcare in America was on the same level as needing to bribe unreliable, untrustworthy, racist doctors to get healthcare in Slovakia. As if!
Let me put everything on the table. Tomas was an outcast in school back in America because of his scars. (I believe the isolation had to do more with his being shy, but for the sake of argument let’s take Tomas on his words.) When he moved to Slovakia, he was still an outcast. Only this time instead of just being discriminated against for his scars, he was also being discriminated against for his race by everyone, including his own race. Police treated him like a crook; who gives a fuck if he’s the one needing help, no such thing as a good Roma. The local boys bullied him; just what a shy boy could ever want, being ignored back in America was boring~♫. The doctors would have to be bribed if he get hurt; money does go further in Slovakia, physically into other people’s pocket as bribes. Tell me again why his parents wanted to move back to Slovakia.
Let’s not forget the supernatural things that wanted Tomas dead. But I don’t blame his parents for that. Everything else I do blame on his parents. Oh my gawd, these parents! I don’t doubt they love him, but I seriously question their parenting. They knew these things, but they moved back willingly anyway, and for such flimsy reasons. Had the reason been that a high-paying job forced them to, I wouldn’t have been mad as hell. This leads me to think it’s not so much a case of poor parenting as it is a case of poor writing. To be specific, a poorly thought out reason for the hero to be in Slovakia.
+ the characters
On the bright side, there was no Disappearing Parent Syndrome. Tomas’s family played a big role, especially towards the end. Tomas’s cousin Katarina was kickass despite her illness. It was nice to have strong female sidekick that wasn’t the hero’s love interest. I chuckled when Tomas learned Katarina was his cousin.
I didn’t care much for Tomas in the beginning, but that’s because I don’t care much for self-pitying heroes. There were moments when I didn’t like him, and those were when he got bullied. Logically, I knew he couldn’t fight back, but emotionally, I wished he did, logic be damned. My sense of justice demands satisfaction! It took some while but I eventually liked Tomas as he shed his shell and unleashed his inner fire (figuratively). I liked how his strength came from his self-confidence and how he work hard to build it chapter by chapter. For all the abilities he discovered he always had, they were useless to him if he didn’t have self-confidence. I liked how he overcame his fears and turned them into his source of power, literally in the supernatural sense.
As for the antagonists, the supernatural characters were too wishy-washy for my liking. It was dizzying how one moment they wanted Tomas dead and the next moment they helped him. Good grief, make up your damn mind. There’s a limit to how much a character can be trotted out as a red herring.
Conclusion
I rate Vodnik 3-stars for I like it. The book concluded satisfactorily despite a few loose ends. While it doesn’t take a lot of effort for me to imagine how those loose ends might be resolved thereafter, a second book would be a joy to have. Not only was the book fun, it was meaty. It surprisingly covered a lot of issues: social, youth, health, and family. I really wish there was a second book.
+ bad parenting
In the beginning of the book, I didn’t think much of Tomas’s family moving back to his mother’s homeland. They moved back because they wanted to maintain their middle class-ish lifestyle. Their money would go further in Slovakia with what little they had left after their home burned down. I was skeptical about his mom becoming a teacher (and thus, the breadwinner) and his dad becoming a writer, but I didn’t think it was particularly impractical.
But as the story unfolded and I learned more about Slovakia, I learned it was a wonderful place to visit but a horrible place to live, especially if you’re Roma, a.k.a. Gypsy. Racism ahoy. Tomas was only a quarter Roma, but he looked Roma enough to be discriminated against. Pretty much, being Roma in modern Slovakia was like being black in the civil rights years of America. Not only that, he was also rejected by the Roma because he was too foreign.
In Slovakia, there is universal healthcare, which seems good... until the reader learns bribery is a way of life. I got eye sore from eyebugging hard at Tomas when he thought going into crippling debt to get healthcare in America was on the same level as needing to bribe unreliable, untrustworthy, racist doctors to get healthcare in Slovakia. As if!
Let me put everything on the table. Tomas was an outcast in school back in America because of his scars. (I believe the isolation had to do more with his being shy, but for the sake of argument let’s take Tomas on his words.) When he moved to Slovakia, he was still an outcast. Only this time instead of just being discriminated against for his scars, he was also being discriminated against for his race by everyone, including his own race. Police treated him like a crook; who gives a fuck if he’s the one needing help, no such thing as a good Roma. The local boys bullied him; just what a shy boy could ever want, being ignored back in America was boring~♫. The doctors would have to be bribed if he get hurt; money does go further in Slovakia, physically into other people’s pocket as bribes. Tell me again why his parents wanted to move back to Slovakia.
Let’s not forget the supernatural things that wanted Tomas dead. But I don’t blame his parents for that. Everything else I do blame on his parents. Oh my gawd, these parents! I don’t doubt they love him, but I seriously question their parenting. They knew these things, but they moved back willingly anyway, and for such flimsy reasons. Had the reason been that a high-paying job forced them to, I wouldn’t have been mad as hell. This leads me to think it’s not so much a case of poor parenting as it is a case of poor writing. To be specific, a poorly thought out reason for the hero to be in Slovakia.
+ the characters
On the bright side, there was no Disappearing Parent Syndrome. Tomas’s family played a big role, especially towards the end. Tomas’s cousin Katarina was kickass despite her illness. It was nice to have strong female sidekick that wasn’t the hero’s love interest. I chuckled when Tomas learned Katarina was his cousin.
I didn’t care much for Tomas in the beginning, but that’s because I don’t care much for self-pitying heroes. There were moments when I didn’t like him, and those were when he got bullied. Logically, I knew he couldn’t fight back, but emotionally, I wished he did, logic be damned. My sense of justice demands satisfaction! It took some while but I eventually liked Tomas as he shed his shell and unleashed his inner fire (figuratively). I liked how his strength came from his self-confidence and how he work hard to build it chapter by chapter. For all the abilities he discovered he always had, they were useless to him if he didn’t have self-confidence. I liked how he overcame his fears and turned them into his source of power, literally in the supernatural sense.
As for the antagonists, the supernatural characters were too wishy-washy for my liking. It was dizzying how one moment they wanted Tomas dead and the next moment they helped him. Good grief, make up your damn mind. There’s a limit to how much a character can be trotted out as a red herring.
Conclusion
I rate Vodnik 3-stars for I like it. The book concluded satisfactorily despite a few loose ends. While it doesn’t take a lot of effort for me to imagine how those loose ends might be resolved thereafter, a second book would be a joy to have. Not only was the book fun, it was meaty. It surprisingly covered a lot of issues: social, youth, health, and family. I really wish there was a second book.
February 28, 2012
Every once in a while, I read a book that ends up being the equivalent to a tall, icy glass of water. Or better yet, Sprite. Just refreshing. I can think of several in my own reading experience (just to name a few): Harry Potter, Fablehaven, and most recently, Vodnik by Bryce Moore. Now don't mistake me, I'm not comparing these books to each other, or even grouping them up under some category, I'm simply saying they all gave me the same sense of excitement; the feeling that I was reading something new. With Harry Potter I was blown away in part because it was one of the first true Urban Fantasies I had read (not to mention a million other things, love that series). Fablehaven was bursting with simple imagination and adventure, something I really needed at the time I read it. Vodnik smacked me in my face and showed me that true wit, sarcasm, earnest story-telling, multi-layered plotting, grit, and fairy tales can all inhabit the same book.
I was truly impressed with Vodnik. If I were to explain it to someone (which I suppose I am, right at this moment), I would say it's a mix of middle-grade teen lit, crossed with Urban Fantasy, crossed with some kind of Societal Awareness piece. While magic is prominent in the book (and quite cool by the way), the story stands on its own as a really interesting tale of a kid who gets plopped down in a far off country, with strange people, weird food, and unfamiliar fairy tales. To me, Urban Fantasy is all about learning to deal with sudden displacement or change, usually because of finding some magic world, getting cursed, or discovering a goblin living under your basement stairs, etc. Vodnik could do all of this without once bringing magic into play, so when it does, it's just icing on the already delicious cake.
One of the things that I most enjoyed was the fact that the book never shies from tough subjects. One of the main themes through the book is the racism aimed at a group of people in Slovakia known as Roma (what we here might know as "Gypsies") While written for a younger audience, it's best to be prepared for some relatively hardcore racism and hate focused at the protagonist, a young kid named Tomas, dished out in a way that most readers will find impactful without crossing the line to cringe-worthy. The way he deals with such a huge change from his (relatively bigotry free) experience as an American is pretty interesting.
Where Vodnik truly shines, however, is in its characters. If I were to bring up one bad thing about, say Fablehaven, it would be that the characters lack depth and interesting development. Not so with Vodnik. Because it's written in first person past-tense, its very important that the reader identify and recognize the narrator. From page one, I could hear Tomas loud and clear. The secondary characters of Katka, her father Lubos, and all the magical creatures are also well defined, realistic, and likable.
Unlike many Fantasy novels for younger readers, Bryce did a lot to keep everything moving at a good pace, infusing the story with a lot of details. He doesn't just rely on a simple premise to carry the book through, but places myriad obstacles, pieces of information, and riddles in front of his protagonist. An adult reader can very easily pick up this book and find themselves interested, the same as any 15 year old. The world needs more books like Vodnik, and I for one am glad that people like Bryce keep popping up.
I highly recommend this book, and pray to the book gods that there are more to come. Here's to a great entry in Urban Fantasy!
I was truly impressed with Vodnik. If I were to explain it to someone (which I suppose I am, right at this moment), I would say it's a mix of middle-grade teen lit, crossed with Urban Fantasy, crossed with some kind of Societal Awareness piece. While magic is prominent in the book (and quite cool by the way), the story stands on its own as a really interesting tale of a kid who gets plopped down in a far off country, with strange people, weird food, and unfamiliar fairy tales. To me, Urban Fantasy is all about learning to deal with sudden displacement or change, usually because of finding some magic world, getting cursed, or discovering a goblin living under your basement stairs, etc. Vodnik could do all of this without once bringing magic into play, so when it does, it's just icing on the already delicious cake.
One of the things that I most enjoyed was the fact that the book never shies from tough subjects. One of the main themes through the book is the racism aimed at a group of people in Slovakia known as Roma (what we here might know as "Gypsies") While written for a younger audience, it's best to be prepared for some relatively hardcore racism and hate focused at the protagonist, a young kid named Tomas, dished out in a way that most readers will find impactful without crossing the line to cringe-worthy. The way he deals with such a huge change from his (relatively bigotry free) experience as an American is pretty interesting.
Where Vodnik truly shines, however, is in its characters. If I were to bring up one bad thing about, say Fablehaven, it would be that the characters lack depth and interesting development. Not so with Vodnik. Because it's written in first person past-tense, its very important that the reader identify and recognize the narrator. From page one, I could hear Tomas loud and clear. The secondary characters of Katka, her father Lubos, and all the magical creatures are also well defined, realistic, and likable.
Unlike many Fantasy novels for younger readers, Bryce did a lot to keep everything moving at a good pace, infusing the story with a lot of details. He doesn't just rely on a simple premise to carry the book through, but places myriad obstacles, pieces of information, and riddles in front of his protagonist. An adult reader can very easily pick up this book and find themselves interested, the same as any 15 year old. The world needs more books like Vodnik, and I for one am glad that people like Bryce keep popping up.
I highly recommend this book, and pray to the book gods that there are more to come. Here's to a great entry in Urban Fantasy!
November 15, 2013
Vodnik might appeal to some of the same readers who enjoyed the Lockdown series by Alexander Gordon Smith;
but I don’t think its fans will cut such a broad swath. While it has its share of action and adventure, with a nice sprinkling of magic, its setting of Slovokia may lead fewer readers to pick it up and try. Those who do try it may find the characters a little flat, the dialogue a little old-fashioned, and the action dragging a bit in some sections. The chapter openers, formatted as section from a guidebook for a career in the magical realm of Slovakian folklore is chatty and attempts humor, but it never really worked for me. I’m far from the target, one I would describe as the superhero or maybe dragon book lover. It’s high geekdom, I think; and usually, I’m all over that. Not this time.
What happens? Okay, little plot summary: a teen named Tomas wakes up in the hospital after a house fire that harmed him oddly almost not at all, even the smoke he inhaled. Because his parents were woefully under-insured, they decide to move back to the old country, Slovakia, hopeful that the strange events surrounding Tomas’s near drowning and seeing strange creatures of fire and water when just a boy of six will no longer haunt them. Tomas hates to leave his movies and American conveniences, but he’s not sorry to leave behind the bullies who scorn him for his burn scars from that childhood trauma. Trencin has a medieval castle and an uncle and cousin Tomas is pleased to know again. The quaint town also has some bullies, but this variety picks on him for his part-Roma (Gypsy) heritage, rather than his scars. Like in so many comic book tales, Tomas comes to realize his hero’s call to adventure in the otherworldly woman of flame, a man made of water who captures souls in teacups , and in conversations and a challenge from a personified Death. I liked his cousin and uncle, who plays a knight in some Medieval Times/Renaissance Fair type jousting shows at the castle, but I never really got into Tomas as a character, nor did I feel compelled to see what happens next. I think what I need to do is find a likely reader candidate and see what he thinks of the novel. Maybe it’s just an age and gender discrepancy.
but I don’t think its fans will cut such a broad swath. While it has its share of action and adventure, with a nice sprinkling of magic, its setting of Slovokia may lead fewer readers to pick it up and try. Those who do try it may find the characters a little flat, the dialogue a little old-fashioned, and the action dragging a bit in some sections. The chapter openers, formatted as section from a guidebook for a career in the magical realm of Slovakian folklore is chatty and attempts humor, but it never really worked for me. I’m far from the target, one I would describe as the superhero or maybe dragon book lover. It’s high geekdom, I think; and usually, I’m all over that. Not this time.What happens? Okay, little plot summary: a teen named Tomas wakes up in the hospital after a house fire that harmed him oddly almost not at all, even the smoke he inhaled. Because his parents were woefully under-insured, they decide to move back to the old country, Slovakia, hopeful that the strange events surrounding Tomas’s near drowning and seeing strange creatures of fire and water when just a boy of six will no longer haunt them. Tomas hates to leave his movies and American conveniences, but he’s not sorry to leave behind the bullies who scorn him for his burn scars from that childhood trauma. Trencin has a medieval castle and an uncle and cousin Tomas is pleased to know again. The quaint town also has some bullies, but this variety picks on him for his part-Roma (Gypsy) heritage, rather than his scars. Like in so many comic book tales, Tomas comes to realize his hero’s call to adventure in the otherworldly woman of flame, a man made of water who captures souls in teacups , and in conversations and a challenge from a personified Death. I liked his cousin and uncle, who plays a knight in some Medieval Times/Renaissance Fair type jousting shows at the castle, but I never really got into Tomas as a character, nor did I feel compelled to see what happens next. I think what I need to do is find a likely reader candidate and see what he thinks of the novel. Maybe it’s just an age and gender discrepancy.
May 16, 2012
Vodnik was a fabulous read, a rollicking fun adventure into the world of Slovak folklore. Having personally been to Slovakia, I felt that Moore did a great job in conveying the atmosphere of the country. I really felt like I was back there, walking in an old castle. The Slovakian folklore was a blast- it was like reading Percy Jackson without actually knowing any of the mythology beforehand. However, the absolute best thing about this book was Tomas’ voice and sense of humor. It was fresh, funny, and something you could realistically see a teenager saying. Moore has hit this one spot on.
November 2, 2016
Ak chcete zaujímavý a originálny príbeh, navyše zo slovenského prostredia, toto je tá správna voľba. Nebolo to dokonalé, ale rozhodne to na mňa zapôsobilo.
April 12, 2012
Vodnik is an immensely enjoyable journey to a place where old, strange, crazy magic fills the streets of a medieval city. It's part mystery, part the story of a boy finding magical powers (while dealing with culture shock), part an exploration of ancient stories, and altogether engrossing.
When Tomas was an ordinary American teenager of 16, his house burned down around him. Miraculously, he survived unhurt--not like the time when he was a child in Slovakia, when someone (or some thing) almost drowned him, and another someone/thing badly burned him. After that first accident, his parents whisked him away from Slovakia to the United States, and tried to pretend it had just been normal bad luck. After this second brush with death, however, they decide to return to Slovakia, for purely practical reasons, even though they fear that the strange events of Tomas' childhood aren't safely buried in the past.
And they have very good reason to be afraid. The city of Trenčín is a rather busy place, malevolent supernatural being-wise. There's the titular Vodnik, whose home is in the old castle high above the city, who imprisons (or lovingly preserves, depending on who you ask) the souls of its victims in teacups (the city has an unusually high rate of deaths by drowning). There's a watery ghost girl, who haunts Tomas' dreams, a fire víla, and Death herself (a practical person, busily going about her work).
Real life isn't more peaceful. The residents of Trenčín despise Tomas's people, the Roma (aka gypsies), and aren't exactly subtle in expressing this, and with his dark skin, it's impossible to blend in. But their bullying prejudice pales in comparison to the threat that hangs over the head of Tomas' cousin Katka. Unless Tomas and Katka can make a deal with Death, and outwit the water víla, there will be no happy ending...
It's a wild trip for Tomas as he unravels the mystery of what happened to him long ago, anxiously peruses his handy supernatural self-help book for those in the business of Death, tries to stay alive, and slowly finds out what he's really capable of. It's funny, with flashes of dry wit that made chuckle. It's gripping, with some truly spooky moments. It was a treat, as well, to spend time with the magical beings of Slovakian folklore--it was refreshing to have a somewhat blank supernatural slate, and there was real uncertainty about which of the various beings were allies, and which enemies.
Tomas is a great character to spend time with--I found him to be completely convincing and very likable. He has a lot on his plate. Not only must he deal with the standard angst of teenage life (made more angsty, in his case, by his badly scarred arm from the childhood fire), and the standard middle grade/YA fantasy angst of facing down supernatural creatures, but he's also faced with culture shock and racial prejudice for the first time. Plus his family's return to Slovakia forces them to confront buried family history-- lots secrets that were never told. And then on top of that, there's the fate awaiting his cousin; it's harsh that the first time he gets to form a close relationship within his extended family, it's threatened more than a little. And so there's a lot of depth to Tomas' experience, making it much more than a smack down with bad elemental spirits.
I highly recommend it. Though it's labeled YA, the lack of a romance sub-plot (Tomas thinks about girls, and there's hinting about a future romance, but it's not happening yet here), makes it very friendly to upper middle grade readers, boys in particular. Adding to its boy friendliness are references to Star Wars and the Princess Bride, some jousting, and self-defence lessons from medieval knight reenactors, a desperate fight with a water dragon, a little cartoon death dude (shown on the cover) that keeps popping up, and Tomas' convincingly young-teen attitude. In short, I'd give this to an 11 or 12 year old boy in a heartbeat, even faster if said boy was a Princess Bride fan (I know several 11 year old boys who are). Which isn't to say that older readers wouldn't enjoy it lots too--I know I did!
When Tomas was an ordinary American teenager of 16, his house burned down around him. Miraculously, he survived unhurt--not like the time when he was a child in Slovakia, when someone (or some thing) almost drowned him, and another someone/thing badly burned him. After that first accident, his parents whisked him away from Slovakia to the United States, and tried to pretend it had just been normal bad luck. After this second brush with death, however, they decide to return to Slovakia, for purely practical reasons, even though they fear that the strange events of Tomas' childhood aren't safely buried in the past.
And they have very good reason to be afraid. The city of Trenčín is a rather busy place, malevolent supernatural being-wise. There's the titular Vodnik, whose home is in the old castle high above the city, who imprisons (or lovingly preserves, depending on who you ask) the souls of its victims in teacups (the city has an unusually high rate of deaths by drowning). There's a watery ghost girl, who haunts Tomas' dreams, a fire víla, and Death herself (a practical person, busily going about her work).
Real life isn't more peaceful. The residents of Trenčín despise Tomas's people, the Roma (aka gypsies), and aren't exactly subtle in expressing this, and with his dark skin, it's impossible to blend in. But their bullying prejudice pales in comparison to the threat that hangs over the head of Tomas' cousin Katka. Unless Tomas and Katka can make a deal with Death, and outwit the water víla, there will be no happy ending...
It's a wild trip for Tomas as he unravels the mystery of what happened to him long ago, anxiously peruses his handy supernatural self-help book for those in the business of Death, tries to stay alive, and slowly finds out what he's really capable of. It's funny, with flashes of dry wit that made chuckle. It's gripping, with some truly spooky moments. It was a treat, as well, to spend time with the magical beings of Slovakian folklore--it was refreshing to have a somewhat blank supernatural slate, and there was real uncertainty about which of the various beings were allies, and which enemies.
Tomas is a great character to spend time with--I found him to be completely convincing and very likable. He has a lot on his plate. Not only must he deal with the standard angst of teenage life (made more angsty, in his case, by his badly scarred arm from the childhood fire), and the standard middle grade/YA fantasy angst of facing down supernatural creatures, but he's also faced with culture shock and racial prejudice for the first time. Plus his family's return to Slovakia forces them to confront buried family history-- lots secrets that were never told. And then on top of that, there's the fate awaiting his cousin; it's harsh that the first time he gets to form a close relationship within his extended family, it's threatened more than a little. And so there's a lot of depth to Tomas' experience, making it much more than a smack down with bad elemental spirits.
I highly recommend it. Though it's labeled YA, the lack of a romance sub-plot (Tomas thinks about girls, and there's hinting about a future romance, but it's not happening yet here), makes it very friendly to upper middle grade readers, boys in particular. Adding to its boy friendliness are references to Star Wars and the Princess Bride, some jousting, and self-defence lessons from medieval knight reenactors, a desperate fight with a water dragon, a little cartoon death dude (shown on the cover) that keeps popping up, and Tomas' convincingly young-teen attitude. In short, I'd give this to an 11 or 12 year old boy in a heartbeat, even faster if said boy was a Princess Bride fan (I know several 11 year old boys who are). Which isn't to say that older readers wouldn't enjoy it lots too--I know I did!
March 2, 2012
My husband won an ARC of this book, and we've both loved it. I won't include any spoilers for you, but I'll just let you know that I've never read anything like this. I don't give out 5 star reviews willy nilly. I 100% enjoyed this book! It was the complete package for me.
The simple fact that it's set in Slovakia, and revolves around Slovak folklore sets it apart from other books. The setting feels real because it IS real. The magic is exciting and new.
This book is COMPLEX; moreso than I was expecting. You're figuring new stuff out, making guesses as to who's the bad guy, what's going to happen, and getting clues all the way up until the climax. It's paced wonderfully, giving you just the right amounts of information to hook you at the right times. It's PACKED with stuff! I felt like I was reading much more book than there was, which was great because I loved the story.
The characters are developed nicely; I believe their motivations. One tricky thing the main character has to deal with is deciding how much to involve his parents in his troubles, which, I think, is exactly what happens in real life. Our parents seem to take the back seat when we're trying to deal with tough situations on our own. And the characters have a great blend of magical and real-world obstacles to overcome.
There's an underlying conflict where the main character deals with racism, and it is handled with the care it deserves at the same time as being frank and open about real life situations.
This book would be great for anyone 12 and up; It's not too simple as to feel like reading a Fablehaven book, but there's nothing so dark that a 12 year old couldn't handle it.
The simple fact that it's set in Slovakia, and revolves around Slovak folklore sets it apart from other books. The setting feels real because it IS real. The magic is exciting and new.
This book is COMPLEX; moreso than I was expecting. You're figuring new stuff out, making guesses as to who's the bad guy, what's going to happen, and getting clues all the way up until the climax. It's paced wonderfully, giving you just the right amounts of information to hook you at the right times. It's PACKED with stuff! I felt like I was reading much more book than there was, which was great because I loved the story.
The characters are developed nicely; I believe their motivations. One tricky thing the main character has to deal with is deciding how much to involve his parents in his troubles, which, I think, is exactly what happens in real life. Our parents seem to take the back seat when we're trying to deal with tough situations on our own. And the characters have a great blend of magical and real-world obstacles to overcome.
There's an underlying conflict where the main character deals with racism, and it is handled with the care it deserves at the same time as being frank and open about real life situations.
This book would be great for anyone 12 and up; It's not too simple as to feel like reading a Fablehaven book, but there's nothing so dark that a 12 year old couldn't handle it.
April 12, 2012
I read a lot of Young Adult fiction and I very much appreciated the uniqueness of this book. It's always amazing to learn about great cultures and histories that somehow I missed out on. What DID they teach us in our history classes back in the day?
I especially liked the mini book within the book, "Death in the Modern Day". Instructions for modern reapers include, "Robes are dry-clean only. We have a standing account with Paul's Dry Cleaning, a little place in New York over in Chinatown. Failure to use this union approved cleaning facility is punishable by Birth." This is a great book. I was sad to have it end.
I especially liked the mini book within the book, "Death in the Modern Day". Instructions for modern reapers include, "Robes are dry-clean only. We have a standing account with Paul's Dry Cleaning, a little place in New York over in Chinatown. Failure to use this union approved cleaning facility is punishable by Birth." This is a great book. I was sad to have it end.
April 28, 2012
4.5/5
With very little fuss and zero hype, Vodnik managed to make an impression of a unique, wry and clever story, which I absolutely loved!
There is just so many yummy parts in this book I don't know where to start...
First of all, for anyone interested in cultures beyond British/American this is a must read. Bryce's description of Slovakia and Slovaks' way of life is superb. I might not know anything of Slovakia, but I know Eastern Europe and I grew up in a very similar environment to the one described in Vodnik.
Tomas is a typical American teen who because of bad scarring on his arm is considered a bit of a weirdo and an outsider in his school. He doesn't have any friends despite all his attempts to make one, and he has a phobia of fire and water as a result of him nearly drowning and being burned when he was little, so all his time is spent watching movies and acquiring a massive collection of DVDs.
However miserable he feels in US, when his family moves back to Slovakia his life is turned completely upside down. In the beginning he is sulky and condescending thinking that his life before comparing to what he sees in this new and strange country was better, but then little things slowly start changing his mind.
He is still made to feel an outsider, because of his Gypsy blood, he acquires friends and enemies, but at least he is not ignored. Instead he becomes a part of this grand and dangerous adventure. You see, Tomas is one of rare people who can see and communicate with magical creatures, and when he comes back to Slovakia suddenly he has to admit that no, it wasn't a part of his imagination as a child, he really can see them.
His uncle Lubos works in Trencin's castle and he suggests that Tomas becomes an English guide for the tours in the castle. Tomas is befriended by Lubos beautiful daughter Katka, who helps him to adapt to his new life, so when he starts seeing vodnik, the fire vila and even death herself he can't help but share his dangerous encounters with his cousin, and she believes him.
Vodnik is delightfully unhinged and wants to put Tomas's soul in a teacup for his collection, Death (Morena) is lonely and fire vila can't be trusted. When Tomas accidentally prevents Morena from making her kill, she goes on a rant and lets him find out the date of death of his own cousin who suffers from a brain tumour. Horrified but determined t save Katka, Tomas strikes a deal that he will deliver a different soul to substitute Katka's, so the girl will live. Now he is on the deadline, and with the help of Death in The Modern Day, a hilarious manual for a new reaper left on his doorstep, Tomas goes on a quest to slay the dragons and save the girl.
There is so much more to this book than I can say - it's about adaptation and discovering yourself, it's in a lot of ways about racism towards Gypsies in Eastern Europe, which is tackled really well by Mr. Moore. I am not proud of it, but all he says is true - we are afraid of Gypsies - wild, barefoot, begging and stealing. There is fear, morbid fascination and frustration, and they despise us for our ways too, but perhaps if change went both ways -our perception of each other and our attitude to each other will also change? I had my own creepy story with a gypsy woman in my student days (so I'm talking from experience). However I've never seen the bullying and hostility experienced by Tomas towards Gypsies in my own hometown, more like fear and avoidance.
There are also family secrets and a water spirit who needs to be freed, flashes from medieval Slovakia and bizarre potions... and as an icing on the cake, each chapter begins with a passage from reaper's manual which creates a very humorous atmosphere despite serious problems that Tomas has to deal with.
The only drawback which prevented me from giving this book a higher mark was that Tomas's parents were conveniently absent most of the book through all of their son's ordeals. He gets beaten up and no mention of his parents reactions (do they even notice?). Their characters have potential but barely outlined, Lubos on the other hand plays a role of a father figure, which is good but surely there should have been more interactions with Tomas's own father? Also school is not mentioned at all (I understand that it's summer) but I hardly believe that it was so unimportant that Tomas's parents wouldn't mention the issue to him at all.
Overall, this is a magical, one of a kind book which i would recommend to anyone.
With very little fuss and zero hype, Vodnik managed to make an impression of a unique, wry and clever story, which I absolutely loved!
There is just so many yummy parts in this book I don't know where to start...
First of all, for anyone interested in cultures beyond British/American this is a must read. Bryce's description of Slovakia and Slovaks' way of life is superb. I might not know anything of Slovakia, but I know Eastern Europe and I grew up in a very similar environment to the one described in Vodnik.
Tomas is a typical American teen who because of bad scarring on his arm is considered a bit of a weirdo and an outsider in his school. He doesn't have any friends despite all his attempts to make one, and he has a phobia of fire and water as a result of him nearly drowning and being burned when he was little, so all his time is spent watching movies and acquiring a massive collection of DVDs.
However miserable he feels in US, when his family moves back to Slovakia his life is turned completely upside down. In the beginning he is sulky and condescending thinking that his life before comparing to what he sees in this new and strange country was better, but then little things slowly start changing his mind.
He is still made to feel an outsider, because of his Gypsy blood, he acquires friends and enemies, but at least he is not ignored. Instead he becomes a part of this grand and dangerous adventure. You see, Tomas is one of rare people who can see and communicate with magical creatures, and when he comes back to Slovakia suddenly he has to admit that no, it wasn't a part of his imagination as a child, he really can see them.
His uncle Lubos works in Trencin's castle and he suggests that Tomas becomes an English guide for the tours in the castle. Tomas is befriended by Lubos beautiful daughter Katka, who helps him to adapt to his new life, so when he starts seeing vodnik, the fire vila and even death herself he can't help but share his dangerous encounters with his cousin, and she believes him.
Vodnik is delightfully unhinged and wants to put Tomas's soul in a teacup for his collection, Death (Morena) is lonely and fire vila can't be trusted. When Tomas accidentally prevents Morena from making her kill, she goes on a rant and lets him find out the date of death of his own cousin who suffers from a brain tumour. Horrified but determined t save Katka, Tomas strikes a deal that he will deliver a different soul to substitute Katka's, so the girl will live. Now he is on the deadline, and with the help of Death in The Modern Day, a hilarious manual for a new reaper left on his doorstep, Tomas goes on a quest to slay the dragons and save the girl.
There is so much more to this book than I can say - it's about adaptation and discovering yourself, it's in a lot of ways about racism towards Gypsies in Eastern Europe, which is tackled really well by Mr. Moore. I am not proud of it, but all he says is true - we are afraid of Gypsies - wild, barefoot, begging and stealing. There is fear, morbid fascination and frustration, and they despise us for our ways too, but perhaps if change went both ways -our perception of each other and our attitude to each other will also change? I had my own creepy story with a gypsy woman in my student days (so I'm talking from experience). However I've never seen the bullying and hostility experienced by Tomas towards Gypsies in my own hometown, more like fear and avoidance.
There are also family secrets and a water spirit who needs to be freed, flashes from medieval Slovakia and bizarre potions... and as an icing on the cake, each chapter begins with a passage from reaper's manual which creates a very humorous atmosphere despite serious problems that Tomas has to deal with.
The only drawback which prevented me from giving this book a higher mark was that Tomas's parents were conveniently absent most of the book through all of their son's ordeals. He gets beaten up and no mention of his parents reactions (do they even notice?). Their characters have potential but barely outlined, Lubos on the other hand plays a role of a father figure, which is good but surely there should have been more interactions with Tomas's own father? Also school is not mentioned at all (I understand that it's summer) but I hardly believe that it was so unimportant that Tomas's parents wouldn't mention the issue to him at all.
Overall, this is a magical, one of a kind book which i would recommend to anyone.
April 28, 2012
When I first read the synopsis of Vodnik I thought well this is something new and immediately I wanted to read it. The Plot was original using Slovakian legends to tie in a fish out of water slash self discovery story of the main character Tomas. As a young child after a horrific accident Tomas leaves Slovakia to live in America. In America Tomas is a fish out of water he doesn’t fit in, and when he returns to his native country of Slovakia at age 16, after his family loses their home in a terrible fire. He discovers he doesn’t fit there as well. Not to mention the culture shock Tomas encounters when he first arrives. The plot also includes a deal with death, social issues like racism, unemployment, refugee like conditions for the Roma (gypsies) is touched upon as a tie to the racism arc. They live denied of opportunities many degenerate into a life of crime while some crawl in a bottle and drink themselves into oblivion. Which just re-enforces the Slovaks low opinion of Roma which is addressed quite often.
I loved the format of the book— at the beginning of each chapter there is an excerpt from from the guide book of the dead. Giving the reader a little detail about magical creatures in Slovakia. I enjoyed Vodnik immensely the bridge between the old world and new set against the backdrop of a medieval castle. I liked the conflict “the bigget gang” added, after Tomas has a horrible encounter with them. That made me so angry, he’s forced to learn to protect himself thus becoming stronger, and has the has the added benefit of making Tomas better equipped to face the Vodnik. I thought the story was original, the setting was amazingly quaint and old world. I was introduced to Slovakian legends which I thought was cool. The pacing was ok there were moments when the story stalled for me but overall I enjoyed the experience.
I don’t have much negative things to say my issues are minor and don’t affect your enjoyment of the book. Just moments I found personally I didn’t like. For one thing the pacing overall was good except for those moments when the story lulled. The constant mention of the racism the Roma experienced was annoying after a while, show don’t tell and tell. The instances where the writer shows how the Roma are poorly treated conveys the point. I’m not saying he shouldn’t tell but not so much that Tomas comes off as a whiner or an angry kid. He mentions the racism element in almost every chapter. I would recommend this book for fantasy buffs the Slovakian legends will be something new compared to our legends here in the United States. Or anyone looking for something original to read—age group 12 and up. Since there is no cursing or mature scenes in the book. I gave Vodnik a four out of five.
http://sonythebooklover.com/2012/04/v...
I loved the format of the book— at the beginning of each chapter there is an excerpt from from the guide book of the dead. Giving the reader a little detail about magical creatures in Slovakia. I enjoyed Vodnik immensely the bridge between the old world and new set against the backdrop of a medieval castle. I liked the conflict “the bigget gang” added, after Tomas has a horrible encounter with them. That made me so angry, he’s forced to learn to protect himself thus becoming stronger, and has the has the added benefit of making Tomas better equipped to face the Vodnik. I thought the story was original, the setting was amazingly quaint and old world. I was introduced to Slovakian legends which I thought was cool. The pacing was ok there were moments when the story stalled for me but overall I enjoyed the experience.
I don’t have much negative things to say my issues are minor and don’t affect your enjoyment of the book. Just moments I found personally I didn’t like. For one thing the pacing overall was good except for those moments when the story lulled. The constant mention of the racism the Roma experienced was annoying after a while, show don’t tell and tell. The instances where the writer shows how the Roma are poorly treated conveys the point. I’m not saying he shouldn’t tell but not so much that Tomas comes off as a whiner or an angry kid. He mentions the racism element in almost every chapter. I would recommend this book for fantasy buffs the Slovakian legends will be something new compared to our legends here in the United States. Or anyone looking for something original to read—age group 12 and up. Since there is no cursing or mature scenes in the book. I gave Vodnik a four out of five.
http://sonythebooklover.com/2012/04/v...
July 19, 2012
I was looking for something different to read, with adventure and magic. That is exactly what I got here.
Characters: Tomas has burn scars down the side of his body. He has never had much luck keeping friends. More of a homebody that enjoys playing video games and watching movies. When moving home to Slovakia he encounters his families gypsy blood line, and several fantastical creatures. The Vodnik being my favorite character, then Tomas.
Plot: When a fire burns down their house. His parents decide that it’s financially better for them to move back home to Slovakia than stay in the U.S. The insurance money will go further there. Tomas, who has never had much luck keeping friends discovers he has even more problems in Slovakia. He is bullied and tormented and pulled into a world of magic and folklore that has plagued his family and the country of Slovakia for years. When the two begin to mix and it’s his family that is at stake. He steps up and faces his nightmares head on.
Originality: There are not any stories out there that I have read that is a fantasy adventure in Slovakia. It was a brilliant idea, and it’s history and atmosphere brings about a perfect setting for a quest. Tomas gets a job as a tour guide in a castle. He has experiences with prejudices against his gypsy family and is bullied for just being who he is. There is an amazing fantasy world built on Slovak folklores and mythologies with fairies, dragons, water and fire magic.
Writing: I enjoyed getting lost in this story. The mixture of cultures, history and magic with mystery really made for a great adventure. There were so many layers to this story that as the plot unravels the pacing escalates. If this were a song I would state the author has “perfect pitch” it was very well put together.
Krista’s Rating: I have been reading so many books with paranormal romance in it that my summer reading stack was screaming for something different. This book was put on my radar at the perfect time. It had magic, adventure, a new setting and history of a country that is overlooked and under appreciated (in my opinion of course) A character that had a lot of heart and care for others. But constantly having to fight to overcome prejudices. The creatures that he runs into during this story are at times funny, sometimes scary. But always interesting, unique and make for an amazing adventure.
Post written for and posted on http://yabookreads.com/blog/2012/07/0...
Characters: Tomas has burn scars down the side of his body. He has never had much luck keeping friends. More of a homebody that enjoys playing video games and watching movies. When moving home to Slovakia he encounters his families gypsy blood line, and several fantastical creatures. The Vodnik being my favorite character, then Tomas.
Plot: When a fire burns down their house. His parents decide that it’s financially better for them to move back home to Slovakia than stay in the U.S. The insurance money will go further there. Tomas, who has never had much luck keeping friends discovers he has even more problems in Slovakia. He is bullied and tormented and pulled into a world of magic and folklore that has plagued his family and the country of Slovakia for years. When the two begin to mix and it’s his family that is at stake. He steps up and faces his nightmares head on.
Originality: There are not any stories out there that I have read that is a fantasy adventure in Slovakia. It was a brilliant idea, and it’s history and atmosphere brings about a perfect setting for a quest. Tomas gets a job as a tour guide in a castle. He has experiences with prejudices against his gypsy family and is bullied for just being who he is. There is an amazing fantasy world built on Slovak folklores and mythologies with fairies, dragons, water and fire magic.
Writing: I enjoyed getting lost in this story. The mixture of cultures, history and magic with mystery really made for a great adventure. There were so many layers to this story that as the plot unravels the pacing escalates. If this were a song I would state the author has “perfect pitch” it was very well put together.
Krista’s Rating: I have been reading so many books with paranormal romance in it that my summer reading stack was screaming for something different. This book was put on my radar at the perfect time. It had magic, adventure, a new setting and history of a country that is overlooked and under appreciated (in my opinion of course) A character that had a lot of heart and care for others. But constantly having to fight to overcome prejudices. The creatures that he runs into during this story are at times funny, sometimes scary. But always interesting, unique and make for an amazing adventure.
Post written for and posted on http://yabookreads.com/blog/2012/07/0...
July 17, 2014
4.5 stars
My sister recommended Bryce Moore's Vodnik to me, and I'm very glad she did. This young adult urban fantasy was a refreshing and fun blend of mythology and contemporary culture, set in Slovakia (Trencin, to be exact).
Tomas isn't sure what to think when his family moves back to Slovakia. He still harbors terrible scars from a fire when he was five (and remembers almost nothing about how he got them), but he's open to a new adventure, particularly when he meets his pretty new cousin, Katka. But he does not expect to find a mythological world come to life: the dapper-yet-creepy Vodnik who lives in the castle well (a Slovak take on a vampire, who drowns victims instead of--usually--biting them), Morena, the female version of Death, a fire vila who claims to have saved his life, an old crone, and a mysteriously disappeared Grandmother whom his mother refuses to discuss.
All of this would be more than enough for the average teen boy to absorb, but Tomas is part Gypsy. And what was only a mildly interesting ethnic background in America makes him the target of bullies and a span of racist prejudice that shocks Tomas. Add to this the fact that his cousin Katka is dying, and the only way to save her might be a bizarre agreement with Morena (the agent of Death), and you have the basic ingredients for this delightful story.
The story started a little slow and it took a little while for me to get into it, but once I did, I tore through the rest of the book quickly. I loved the funny quirks belonging to the mythological creatures--I also loved that they were nothing like the usual span of paranormal creatures in urban fantasy. I also liked the many different unexpected twists: that the pretty girl he meets turns out to be his cousin, not his love interest and that we never quite know which of the supernatural creatures to trust, as they all tell different stories. Refreshingly, Tomas has a mostly functional family, and I loved the vivid Eastern European setting. I lived for a year and a half in Hungary, which neighbors Slovakia, and this book transported me back there.
Really, though, all I need to say about this book is that Brandon Sanderson wrote an awesome blurb for it. Given how much I've loved all Sanderson's books (that I've read), his endorsement is all I really need to say.
My sister recommended Bryce Moore's Vodnik to me, and I'm very glad she did. This young adult urban fantasy was a refreshing and fun blend of mythology and contemporary culture, set in Slovakia (Trencin, to be exact).
Tomas isn't sure what to think when his family moves back to Slovakia. He still harbors terrible scars from a fire when he was five (and remembers almost nothing about how he got them), but he's open to a new adventure, particularly when he meets his pretty new cousin, Katka. But he does not expect to find a mythological world come to life: the dapper-yet-creepy Vodnik who lives in the castle well (a Slovak take on a vampire, who drowns victims instead of--usually--biting them), Morena, the female version of Death, a fire vila who claims to have saved his life, an old crone, and a mysteriously disappeared Grandmother whom his mother refuses to discuss.
All of this would be more than enough for the average teen boy to absorb, but Tomas is part Gypsy. And what was only a mildly interesting ethnic background in America makes him the target of bullies and a span of racist prejudice that shocks Tomas. Add to this the fact that his cousin Katka is dying, and the only way to save her might be a bizarre agreement with Morena (the agent of Death), and you have the basic ingredients for this delightful story.
The story started a little slow and it took a little while for me to get into it, but once I did, I tore through the rest of the book quickly. I loved the funny quirks belonging to the mythological creatures--I also loved that they were nothing like the usual span of paranormal creatures in urban fantasy. I also liked the many different unexpected twists: that the pretty girl he meets turns out to be his cousin, not his love interest and that we never quite know which of the supernatural creatures to trust, as they all tell different stories. Refreshingly, Tomas has a mostly functional family, and I loved the vivid Eastern European setting. I lived for a year and a half in Hungary, which neighbors Slovakia, and this book transported me back there.
Really, though, all I need to say about this book is that Brandon Sanderson wrote an awesome blurb for it. Given how much I've loved all Sanderson's books (that I've read), his endorsement is all I really need to say.
October 16, 2012
I wish there were a half-star rating system, because this book is easily 3 1/2 stars for me. It's a solid read with some fairly minor issues, enjoyable characters, and a mythology that really makes it feel like a fantastical quest to achieve an insurmountable goal and maybe pick up some cool abilities along the way--which, truthfully, it is. Perhaps my favorite part of the book lies in the characters and how they're handled; the kids act like kids, the adults act like adults, and the non-humans act like they're supernatural beings with only tangential concern for human life (my favorite type). Everyone who got page-time had a character, and Tomas' voice flavored the text quite enjoyably, also making it fun to see how his opinions of various people came out in his descriptions of them (although it could've used fewer pop culture references). The plot was solid as well--avoiding spoilers, so I'll just leave it at what the summary says--and the tiny town that makes up the setting felt perfect for such a magical cast, without becoming too claustrophobic. The pervading theme of dealing with racism also made the place and characters all the more real. My only complaints lie in the writing style itself; much of the time it feels rushed, like the author wanted to keep up a breakneck pace, which worked during the climactic last third of the book...but when you're talking about touring a medieval castle on a scenic afternoon, not so much. It also jarred when several large timeskips occurred with the wave of a hand, like the weeks going by during Tomas' first month in a new country weren't of any importance. I even considered putting down the book once because it kept throwing me out of the flow, but am so glad I continued. A very solid read that I'd recommend to lovers of mythology and YA.
April 5, 2012
Ten years ago, something bad happened to Tomas in Slovakia. Something he doesn't quite remember, but that left horrible burns on his body and prompted his parents to move the family to America. But a house fire leaves the family in a poor financial situation and they move back to Slovakia with Tomas, now 16, who sees things that could not, should not be. Tomas is a reclusive American boy, who wants nothing more than to watch his movies. He is not at all prepared for fire vilas, water demons, or the prejudice against his own Roma heritage.
But none of that is willing to leave him alone. Least of all Death herself who offers him a bargain he cannot help but take.
Vodnik is an excellent read for those who are looking for fantasy with a spark of something new. I had a lot of fun reading a mythology less common than the usual fantasy/urban fantasy fare, and that newness made up for the slight pacing and predictability issues that snuck in and out of the chapters. Tomas is a reluctant hero that many a young reader will be able to relate to- and he deals with some hard issues like racial prejudice and bullying that are important for folks to read and think about. It is a book about growing up, as many young adult books are, but it avoids being preachy and remains pleasant. It is a book about family and love and everything that draws one person to another.
If you are looking for an enjoyable read, give Vodnik a shot. You won't look at a tea cup the same way again.
But none of that is willing to leave him alone. Least of all Death herself who offers him a bargain he cannot help but take.
Vodnik is an excellent read for those who are looking for fantasy with a spark of something new. I had a lot of fun reading a mythology less common than the usual fantasy/urban fantasy fare, and that newness made up for the slight pacing and predictability issues that snuck in and out of the chapters. Tomas is a reluctant hero that many a young reader will be able to relate to- and he deals with some hard issues like racial prejudice and bullying that are important for folks to read and think about. It is a book about growing up, as many young adult books are, but it avoids being preachy and remains pleasant. It is a book about family and love and everything that draws one person to another.
If you are looking for an enjoyable read, give Vodnik a shot. You won't look at a tea cup the same way again.
March 31, 2012
This is a fantastic young adult fantasy book! It has mythical creatures (including Death and a Slovakian version of the vampire), interesting characters, teenage angst, and plenty of pop culture references. The storyline was very gripping (I read the 300+ page book in two days), the climax was exciting, and the resolution was completely satisfying. Bryce has a very witty, slightly sarcastic writing style that I really relate to; I was grinning as I finished the book.
Synopsis: 16-year-old Tomas and his family have moved back to Slovakia after living in the United States for 11 years. Tomas doesn't remember much of his first five years, or the reason they left Slovakia in the first place, but a severe burn on his right arm and chest and scarring in his lungs from nearly drowning hint at something sinister (no one can tell him how he both almost drowned and almost burned to death at the same time). On the day that he returns to Slovakia he starts seeing things that nobody else can see. He has to rediscover what happened to him 11 years ago and prevent it from happening again. Meanwhile, he also has to deal with being a target of racism (he is one-quarter Roma [Gypsy]).
P.S. I love Bryce's names for the bullies. Why come up with new names when there are such great generic-bad-guy names already out there?
Synopsis: 16-year-old Tomas and his family have moved back to Slovakia after living in the United States for 11 years. Tomas doesn't remember much of his first five years, or the reason they left Slovakia in the first place, but a severe burn on his right arm and chest and scarring in his lungs from nearly drowning hint at something sinister (no one can tell him how he both almost drowned and almost burned to death at the same time). On the day that he returns to Slovakia he starts seeing things that nobody else can see. He has to rediscover what happened to him 11 years ago and prevent it from happening again. Meanwhile, he also has to deal with being a target of racism (he is one-quarter Roma [Gypsy]).
P.S. I love Bryce's names for the bullies. Why come up with new names when there are such great generic-bad-guy names already out there?
April 15, 2012
I was hesitant to try this one, afraid it might just be a vampire book in disguise. What a dark and delightful surprise it was to step between these pages, and to follow Tomas, our mysterious hero, on a series of adventures we never would have expected. Tomas is Romany, and as a storyteller, he does a pretty fine job. Because he's our narrator, it takes a while to understand that he has survived a drowning. And that it left him with terrible burn scars... That's where the story starts to get interesting. It almost feels as if this contrast, this dichotomy, echoes throughout the book in other polar opposites ; water vs. fire, life vs. death, good vs. evil. But not vampires. Thankfully, not vampires. There is wonderful characterization, wonderful dialogue which feels true, whether it's Tomas and his cousin, or Tomas and the mythological beings who turn up in the story too. The blend of contemporary and ancient is skillful ,and one is drawn into Tomas' reality, as different from normal as could be. Add to this engaging story the layers and undercurrent of tensions between the Romany people and the Slovaks who share Tomas' new home in Slovakia, and you have a real winner. This is a great MG and YA offering with twists to keep it fresh.
April 20, 2012
This book is a very interesting read. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect with Vodnik. It's a YA fantasy set in Slovakia dealing with Slovakian legends. Since I've never been to Slovakia and I don't know anything about Slovakian folk tales, I was worried I wouldn't able to relate. In actuality, Vodnik tackles a search for identity, acceptance, racism, culture shock, teenage angst, and even, love. These are all universal concepts. The story has a very unique set of monsters and magic that I believe you will not find anywhere else. The story is well written. The author keeps you guessing as to who the villains truly are. There is not too much detail where you get bogged down yet nothing is glossed over such that you get confused. The action sequences are face-paced. The story is very funny at times. The pop culture references throughout are a nice touch. In short, I thoroughly enjoyed Vodnik. You will not be disappointed with this book!
April 28, 2012
The best part about Vodnik is that it's set within a country and culture I've never read about before. There is much cool new (to me) folklore in the story, far beyond the typical vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter memes. The story is fast-paced, the humor is laugh-out-loud funny, and it's just creepy enough that at least one night I had some pretty whacked-out dreams as a consequence of reading it so late. If you want an exciting, adventurous book that's completely out of the ordinary, you gotta read this book.
April 24, 2012
I really liked this book. It's an urban fantasy set in Slovakia, using folklore from the area. The city and locations are real, and make me wish I could visit myself (especially the castle). I also thought the depiction of Roma discrimination was well done. The ending is set up for an eventual sequel, which I am anxiously looking forward to.
October 24, 2016
I loved this book so much. It has been a long time since I have read a book I couldn't put down. I was the one shushing my husband when he tried to talk to me, usually the other way around.
April 14, 2012
Fantastic! Unique setting, a character I could care about, and quote-out-loud humor mixed in with the drama and adventure.
July 4, 2012
Excellent story! Along the lines of hold me close necromancer and the chronicles of nick. Great lead character and a story based on slovakian mythology rather than the usual.
August 22, 2020
While I don't usually enjoy books written in first-person, I found this book to be quite the exception. It was refreshing to pick up a book and find a Rom as the main character - finally some representation! And even further, I was pleasantly surprised at how it was handled, which is often a problem within media.
Not to mention, the book's story itself was captivating. I found myself making more and more excuses to stay to myself and read, as well as talking about it to anyone I held a conversation with while I was reading it.
Not to mention, the book's story itself was captivating. I found myself making more and more excuses to stay to myself and read, as well as talking about it to anyone I held a conversation with while I was reading it.
July 31, 2025
Entertaining, and progressively confusing. The protagonists don't really know what they're fighting against; and the reader is very much in the dark until the last few pages of the book.
April 16, 2012
Originally featured on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole
Tomas doesn’t remember his parents’ reason for leaving Slovakia when he was six, so he thinks his biggest challenges when his family moves back might include culture shock and getting to know his long-lost cousin. And he hopes that his badly scarred arm won’t be a cause for teasing, as it was in the States.
Slovakia, however, holds far more dangerous challenges for Tomas, as he discovers when a vodnik straight out of Slovak fairy tales tries to drown him and add him to his teacup collection. Between the vodnik’s drownings in town- for which Roma like Tomas are blamed- a water ghost’s threats, and a fire vila’s mysterious warnings, this adventure turns out to be a lot more than Tomas had bargained for. And then there’s his cousin’s big secret, which leads to a dangerous race against time and Death herself. When peril closes in, can Tomas’s newfound magical skills help them defeat the vodnik and even cheat Death?
Tomas is no ordinary teenager. He has scars coating his arm and chest, has no friends whatsoever, and lives in his room all day watching classic movies. All of this changes on the day his house catches on fire, and he miraculously survives even while flames beat at his body for who knows how long. Coming away with no injuries, Tomas’s parents decide to move to back to Slovakia, where Tomas was born.
Once Tomas arrives in Slovakia he soon becomes close friends with his long lost cousin, Katka. Together, they host tour guides at the local castle, trying to lead normal lives. Soon, though, Tomas and Katka realize that there is much more to Slovakia than they once thought. It soon becomes apparent that Slovak fairy tales are coming to life, and only Tomas can see them. Tomas and Katka must fight to defeat the vodnik, a fairy tale who drowns people to collect their souls for his teacup collection. Things are not as simple as they may seem, though. On a long and treacherous journey, Tomas and Katka must fight for what is important, and save the souls of their fellow Slovaks.
When I first started Vodnik I was pleasantly impressed. It just seemed like a book that I was going to love. Tomas’s character was a little strange, but I appreciated the overall feel of the novel. I was fascinated that a character could be immune to both fire and water damage, and I was curious about how Bryce Moore would play off of that.
My fascination only lasted so long, though. Within the first hundred pages the novel started to become rather cheesy. The story focused on a specific fairy tale, the vodnik, who drowned people to put their souls in his teacup collection. The vodnik’s teacups were his pride and joy, and I could not help but feel that that idea took away from the novel. It almost seemed as if this novel would be great for teenage boys. However, I am not sure if this book would appeal to anyone above the age of sixteen.
Throughout every book I always analyze the characters. That is the biggest thing for me. My favorite books have brilliant characters with unique personalities and their own perks and flaws. For me, Vodnik failed to bring amazing characters to the table. For one, I could not stand Tomas. Now, it is going to be difficult for anyone to get into a book when they dislike the main character. But it did not end there. Thinking back on it, I cannot recall a character that I fell in love with. In fact, for the most part, I did not really like any of the characters. The only character that stood out at all was the vodnik, as he had a humorous and spunky personality.
One thing I did notice was that this book has the same feel as Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Now, I absolutely hated the Percy Jackson series, so there could potentially be a lot of fans of this novel. I would recommend that any young teenager give this book a chance. There should be nothing in this novel that would concern parents or teachers. There is some magic in the book, but I really do not think that that was a huge part of it. Overall, though, I do not believe that this novel would appeal to anyone over the age of sixteen. This book has a silly feel to it that the younger generation, and fans of the Percy Jackson series, would greatly appreciate.
Tomas doesn’t remember his parents’ reason for leaving Slovakia when he was six, so he thinks his biggest challenges when his family moves back might include culture shock and getting to know his long-lost cousin. And he hopes that his badly scarred arm won’t be a cause for teasing, as it was in the States.
Slovakia, however, holds far more dangerous challenges for Tomas, as he discovers when a vodnik straight out of Slovak fairy tales tries to drown him and add him to his teacup collection. Between the vodnik’s drownings in town- for which Roma like Tomas are blamed- a water ghost’s threats, and a fire vila’s mysterious warnings, this adventure turns out to be a lot more than Tomas had bargained for. And then there’s his cousin’s big secret, which leads to a dangerous race against time and Death herself. When peril closes in, can Tomas’s newfound magical skills help them defeat the vodnik and even cheat Death?
Tomas is no ordinary teenager. He has scars coating his arm and chest, has no friends whatsoever, and lives in his room all day watching classic movies. All of this changes on the day his house catches on fire, and he miraculously survives even while flames beat at his body for who knows how long. Coming away with no injuries, Tomas’s parents decide to move to back to Slovakia, where Tomas was born.
Once Tomas arrives in Slovakia he soon becomes close friends with his long lost cousin, Katka. Together, they host tour guides at the local castle, trying to lead normal lives. Soon, though, Tomas and Katka realize that there is much more to Slovakia than they once thought. It soon becomes apparent that Slovak fairy tales are coming to life, and only Tomas can see them. Tomas and Katka must fight to defeat the vodnik, a fairy tale who drowns people to collect their souls for his teacup collection. Things are not as simple as they may seem, though. On a long and treacherous journey, Tomas and Katka must fight for what is important, and save the souls of their fellow Slovaks.
When I first started Vodnik I was pleasantly impressed. It just seemed like a book that I was going to love. Tomas’s character was a little strange, but I appreciated the overall feel of the novel. I was fascinated that a character could be immune to both fire and water damage, and I was curious about how Bryce Moore would play off of that.
My fascination only lasted so long, though. Within the first hundred pages the novel started to become rather cheesy. The story focused on a specific fairy tale, the vodnik, who drowned people to put their souls in his teacup collection. The vodnik’s teacups were his pride and joy, and I could not help but feel that that idea took away from the novel. It almost seemed as if this novel would be great for teenage boys. However, I am not sure if this book would appeal to anyone above the age of sixteen.
Throughout every book I always analyze the characters. That is the biggest thing for me. My favorite books have brilliant characters with unique personalities and their own perks and flaws. For me, Vodnik failed to bring amazing characters to the table. For one, I could not stand Tomas. Now, it is going to be difficult for anyone to get into a book when they dislike the main character. But it did not end there. Thinking back on it, I cannot recall a character that I fell in love with. In fact, for the most part, I did not really like any of the characters. The only character that stood out at all was the vodnik, as he had a humorous and spunky personality.
One thing I did notice was that this book has the same feel as Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Now, I absolutely hated the Percy Jackson series, so there could potentially be a lot of fans of this novel. I would recommend that any young teenager give this book a chance. There should be nothing in this novel that would concern parents or teachers. There is some magic in the book, but I really do not think that that was a huge part of it. Overall, though, I do not believe that this novel would appeal to anyone over the age of sixteen. This book has a silly feel to it that the younger generation, and fans of the Percy Jackson series, would greatly appreciate.
April 23, 2018
This book is really good so far
Amazing book, you could always make a second book.
Amazing book, you could always make a second book.
February 19, 2014
Tomas' family is moving back to Slovakia because they just don't have enough money to make it in America after the house fire. But they are grateful Tomas survived the fire. Actually, they're grateful he's survived multiple fires and a drowning. Yeah, Tomas has had a bit of a rough life. Moving back to Slovakia isn't all fun and games either. The country is still recovering from being under Communism for decades, and being of Roma decent doesn't make Tomas the most popular person in town, but then there's his cousin Katka (best friend he's had in ages) and working in a castle (seriously, what teen wouldn't want to work in a castle). And then there's the strange ability to see creatures from Slovak mythology no one else can see. Normally, that might be somewhat cool (after you get over the stage of trying to figure out whether or not you're hallucinating), but these mythical creatures aren't exactly fluffy bunnies or rainbow fairies. First, there's the vodnik, who may or may not have tried to kill Tomas when 5 and would love to finish the job. Then there's Ohnica the fire vila, who claims she saved Tomas from the vodnik all those years ago, but others say it was just the opposite. There's also Lesana, a water spirit who is either working with the vodnik or is his prisoner. And then there's Death, who turns out to get super duper miffed if you make her miss an appointment. But when Tomas discovers that Katka just has weeks to live, he must try to find a way to make a deal with Death and maneuver his way around all the "help" the others give to try and save his cousin (and possibly himself) without getting burned, drowned, or stuck in a tea cup for all of eternity.
I really was not familiar with Slovak mythology before, so I found the different fantasy creatures Moore introduces readers to here interesting and fresh. It is definitely a unique flavor in present day YA fantasy. And while the story could have been quite dark and depressing, Moore did a good job of working in just the right amount of quirky humor to make it an enjoyable read. And though I wasn't familiar with Slovak mythology, I have been to Eastern Europe and must say, Moore captures the essence of it quite well (...and he isn't lying about klabasa, it tastes SO much better there, especially freshly roasted over a bonfire). I found the social justice issues of the way the Slovaks treat Roma a very interesting thing for Moore to work into the story. I think it's also a good reminder for today's comfortable teens to be reminded that injustices are still very much present around the world even in the modern day. I also liked how Tomas was such a dynamic character. He's got plenty of issues, but Moore doesn't fix all of them all at once in this book. And as one final comment, I loved the way the quotes from the handbook for mythological creatures Death in the Modern Day were worked into the story. They provide much comic relief and some important background information in a rather cunning method. On the whole, if you know a teen (or adult) who needs a fresh flavor in their fantasy reading, you might want to recommend they give this a try.
Notes on content: A handful of minor swear words appear throughout the book. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are a couple deaths in the book, mostly drownings. Some hateful teens in the town beat up a Roma boy. There's a battle between a water dragon and a fire vila, which is more steamy and wet than anything.
I really was not familiar with Slovak mythology before, so I found the different fantasy creatures Moore introduces readers to here interesting and fresh. It is definitely a unique flavor in present day YA fantasy. And while the story could have been quite dark and depressing, Moore did a good job of working in just the right amount of quirky humor to make it an enjoyable read. And though I wasn't familiar with Slovak mythology, I have been to Eastern Europe and must say, Moore captures the essence of it quite well (...and he isn't lying about klabasa, it tastes SO much better there, especially freshly roasted over a bonfire). I found the social justice issues of the way the Slovaks treat Roma a very interesting thing for Moore to work into the story. I think it's also a good reminder for today's comfortable teens to be reminded that injustices are still very much present around the world even in the modern day. I also liked how Tomas was such a dynamic character. He's got plenty of issues, but Moore doesn't fix all of them all at once in this book. And as one final comment, I loved the way the quotes from the handbook for mythological creatures Death in the Modern Day were worked into the story. They provide much comic relief and some important background information in a rather cunning method. On the whole, if you know a teen (or adult) who needs a fresh flavor in their fantasy reading, you might want to recommend they give this a try.
Notes on content: A handful of minor swear words appear throughout the book. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are a couple deaths in the book, mostly drownings. Some hateful teens in the town beat up a Roma boy. There's a battle between a water dragon and a fire vila, which is more steamy and wet than anything.
December 31, 2012
It's set in Slovakia! There is little to no romance! There is an emphasis on family loyalty (but not TOO much family loyalty)! There are many mysteries that weave in and out of the story only to be RESOLVED at the end! It's a standalone!
Those are a few reasons of why Vodnik stood out as a special book, and of why I loved it.
Vodnik is about a boy, Tomas, and his parents who move to Slovakia after losing everything in a house fire. Tomas is scarred, not from the house fire but from a fire from when he was small. His mother was originally from Slovakia, but they moved for reasons that Tomas is unclear on, involving his long-gone grandmother, and his traumatic almost-burning-to-death. Tomas starts seeing people made out of water and fire and old women with scythes and it's all very strange, but he is more concerned with his family's many secrets and refusal to talk about anything, as well as Katka, a girl he meets and befriends immediately. Tomas discovers that his ability to see the fantastical inhabitants of Slovakia may help him deal with his "real-world Slovakia" problems.
There's a small cast of characters, Tomas and Katka being the most important. I loved how both of them are really smart and capable but still seem like TEENAGERS, because they ARE. They have quirks and immature moments. The various related family members were cool too. There was a gang of bullies who were incredibly one-dimensional: they may be my one complaint with this book.
DID I MENTION I LOVED THE SETTING? Not only Slovakia in general, but having a run-down castle (Katka's father owns it and runs tours) as base of operations for the characters was totally great. I liked that we didn't spend too much time on Tomas' reasonable aversion to moving to a completely different country, and that he grows to like it fairly quickly. Because even with its problems, it's obviously an interesting place to live.
The fantastical bits, eg all those water and fire people and the creature known as the vodnik (who becomes very important very quickly in the story), were crazy and scary and great. They were all three-dimensional characters, too, with different sides to them and complex histories of their own. That was refreshing.
And, like I mentioned, lots of mysteries in this book. There was a good balance between giving us hints and connections without spelling everything out for us. Many of the twists and explanations were unexpected, but not without foundation in preceding chapters.
I gave Vodnik five out five stars for being a well-crafted, fleshed out story with loveable characters (even the murderous ones).
(review also posted on my blog, bahnree.blogspot.com)
Those are a few reasons of why Vodnik stood out as a special book, and of why I loved it.
Vodnik is about a boy, Tomas, and his parents who move to Slovakia after losing everything in a house fire. Tomas is scarred, not from the house fire but from a fire from when he was small. His mother was originally from Slovakia, but they moved for reasons that Tomas is unclear on, involving his long-gone grandmother, and his traumatic almost-burning-to-death. Tomas starts seeing people made out of water and fire and old women with scythes and it's all very strange, but he is more concerned with his family's many secrets and refusal to talk about anything, as well as Katka, a girl he meets and befriends immediately. Tomas discovers that his ability to see the fantastical inhabitants of Slovakia may help him deal with his "real-world Slovakia" problems.
There's a small cast of characters, Tomas and Katka being the most important. I loved how both of them are really smart and capable but still seem like TEENAGERS, because they ARE. They have quirks and immature moments. The various related family members were cool too. There was a gang of bullies who were incredibly one-dimensional: they may be my one complaint with this book.
DID I MENTION I LOVED THE SETTING? Not only Slovakia in general, but having a run-down castle (Katka's father owns it and runs tours) as base of operations for the characters was totally great. I liked that we didn't spend too much time on Tomas' reasonable aversion to moving to a completely different country, and that he grows to like it fairly quickly. Because even with its problems, it's obviously an interesting place to live.
The fantastical bits, eg all those water and fire people and the creature known as the vodnik (who becomes very important very quickly in the story), were crazy and scary and great. They were all three-dimensional characters, too, with different sides to them and complex histories of their own. That was refreshing.
And, like I mentioned, lots of mysteries in this book. There was a good balance between giving us hints and connections without spelling everything out for us. Many of the twists and explanations were unexpected, but not without foundation in preceding chapters.
I gave Vodnik five out five stars for being a well-crafted, fleshed out story with loveable characters (even the murderous ones).
(review also posted on my blog, bahnree.blogspot.com)
November 22, 2014
Why isn't this book more popular? How come I never heard of it before?!? People! go read this book and make it a thing!
Vodnik is basically teen fiction based on Slovak mythology. That might sound really random, and the teacups and Death thing might sound cheesy, but when the author does a really good job of pulling it off! Loved the plot, character arc, zillions of movie references (which all -- for once -- happen to be movies I actually know about), Uncle Lubos, the castle setting (fancy), the joy of discovering new unfamiliar mythological creatures, the librarian dad, and the deep complex themes artfully tied into teen fiction. Issues of racism, the way humans can treat other humans so cruelly, what's really good and what's not, what it means to be brave and stand up for yourself, facing fears, facing death, family problems, communication, and the complexity of the good-guy/bad-guy spectrum. This last one especially was wonderfully done. Throughout the book, we keep looking at all these mythological characters and trying to figure out which ones are good and which ones are bad, and towards the end of the book we realize we just can't do that. All of them are good in some ways and all of them are bad in some ways. All these characters are just doing their duties and it just depends on what role you play in their duty whether or not that character is deemed bad or good.
Then there was that wonderful character arc! I don't mean that sarcastically at all. I could see Tomas really grow throughout the book. He goes from being a hermit nerdball who likes to stay indoors, doesn't have any friends, and watches movies all the time (sounds suspiciously like me, but with books) to being an active, brave character with a new best friend (his cousin, Katka), learning to fight and defend himself, making potions, going on crazy adventures and just gah! Wonderful.
I also loved that this book exemplifies Joseph Campbell's "Hero Cycle" concept (which I absolutely LOVE!) very well. I don't know if the author knew about the classic hero story line and was just going along with it, or if it was just another coincidence, but Vodnik is definitely a Hero tale. In any case, it's been a while since I read a book that so clearly shows the hero tale, so yaay!
Did I like the book? What are you kidding me? Of course I like it!!! Only drawback I could see is that the book is a little slow in the beginning, but besides that I absolutely love it! go! read it now! read it!! read it!!!
Vodnik is basically teen fiction based on Slovak mythology. That might sound really random, and the teacups and Death thing might sound cheesy, but when the author does a really good job of pulling it off! Loved the plot, character arc, zillions of movie references (which all -- for once -- happen to be movies I actually know about), Uncle Lubos, the castle setting (fancy), the joy of discovering new unfamiliar mythological creatures, the librarian dad, and the deep complex themes artfully tied into teen fiction. Issues of racism, the way humans can treat other humans so cruelly, what's really good and what's not, what it means to be brave and stand up for yourself, facing fears, facing death, family problems, communication, and the complexity of the good-guy/bad-guy spectrum. This last one especially was wonderfully done. Throughout the book, we keep looking at all these mythological characters and trying to figure out which ones are good and which ones are bad, and towards the end of the book we realize we just can't do that. All of them are good in some ways and all of them are bad in some ways. All these characters are just doing their duties and it just depends on what role you play in their duty whether or not that character is deemed bad or good.
Then there was that wonderful character arc! I don't mean that sarcastically at all. I could see Tomas really grow throughout the book. He goes from being a hermit nerdball who likes to stay indoors, doesn't have any friends, and watches movies all the time (sounds suspiciously like me, but with books) to being an active, brave character with a new best friend (his cousin, Katka), learning to fight and defend himself, making potions, going on crazy adventures and just gah! Wonderful.
I also loved that this book exemplifies Joseph Campbell's "Hero Cycle" concept (which I absolutely LOVE!) very well. I don't know if the author knew about the classic hero story line and was just going along with it, or if it was just another coincidence, but Vodnik is definitely a Hero tale. In any case, it's been a while since I read a book that so clearly shows the hero tale, so yaay!
Did I like the book? What are you kidding me? Of course I like it!!! Only drawback I could see is that the book is a little slow in the beginning, but besides that I absolutely love it! go! read it now! read it!! read it!!!
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