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Absolute Sunset
What child could survive this? Hanka is six. There was a time when she was innocent. A time before the raven visited her dreams. When the raven came, he showed Hanka a secret. He showed her how each person in her family would die—one by one, violently and alone. But the raven also made a she can save them. All Hanka has to do is play the raven’s game. Visit her nightmares, again and again, to find the clues the raven has hidden there. Solve his riddles, and change her family’s fate. Just the tiniest nudge at the right time will save a phone call, even a single word. They’ll die if Hanka doesn’t help them. But the answers are there, waiting. And if she can’t solve the riddles, well... who can she blame but herself? A descent into madness and a collision with fate—for fans of dark psychological thrillers. “A chilling modern fairy tale ... caustic, bleak ... wrought with a terrible, fabulist beauty.” —Kirkus Reviews Absolute Sunset is an intense novel with serious themes. Not appropriate for young or sensitive readers.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2012
75 people are currently reading
973 people want to read
About the author
Kata Mlek
4 books67 followersI was born and raised in the south of Poland, but a big part of my family lives in the US and Canada. As a child, I always assumed that my English-speaking uncles and aunts must feel terribly lost in Poland, since speaking Polish is something of a superpower. So, I resolved early on to master English—the first word I learned was “teddy bear”.
I began my writing career in 2012, after leaving the IT industry. Several of my books were published in Polish, and were all successful and well-received. In 2015, I made the decision to switch to self-publishing and start my international career. This was a tough decision, but I assumed that since I can say much more now in English than just “teddy bear”, I might succeed.
My first book published in English was Absolute Sunset. I still wonder how I managed to complete this project—I think it was a matter of meeting the right people at the right time. I have always been lucky to meet people who are really committed to their work. When I saw my book on Amazon for the first time, I took a selfie with my computer screen in the background. I look at it almost every day. Working on Absolute Sunset was a lot of fun, so I decided to go ahead with translating and publishing all of my books in English.
And, of course, I continue to write. I am seriously considering switching to writing directly in English. I’ll probably give it a try, and my editor will likely go crazy. But I have a strong need to keep moving forward, to learn, to develop, to try things that at first glance seem impossible to accomplish.
This is probably why I love CrossFit and distance running. I’m short and thin, but I can lift heavy weights and finish a marathon with a pretty good time. I’m training to run a 100-miler next year, and I’ll probably also try a triathlon, and maybe something more extreme, like skydiving—I love to push the limits. Even better, all of my family members are willing to join me. Our motto is “Cool—let’s give it a try!”.
When I write I like to push the limits too. I don’t stick to one genre—I like to mix them to achieve the effect I want. I dare to do that because I have my lucky sweater that I always wear when I work, even in summer. It is blue and very thick. Whenever I leave the lucky sweater on a sofa or chair, my dog Rafa uses it as a blanket. He is a small pinscher and loves warmth, so most of the year he suffers and shakes—Poland is really cold. His favorite place at home is the floor in front of the fireplace. He also likes to step on my notes and sometimes drinks tea from my cup. And eats my chocolates. He is not a good assistant.
On the whole, I am a professional dreamer. What I want is to be able to write till the end of my life. And to win a few awards, of course. I think one should always dream big, it does no harm, and maybe one day the dream can be achieved. I am steadfast—I will keep on doing my job and keep on dreaming.
I began my writing career in 2012, after leaving the IT industry. Several of my books were published in Polish, and were all successful and well-received. In 2015, I made the decision to switch to self-publishing and start my international career. This was a tough decision, but I assumed that since I can say much more now in English than just “teddy bear”, I might succeed.
My first book published in English was Absolute Sunset. I still wonder how I managed to complete this project—I think it was a matter of meeting the right people at the right time. I have always been lucky to meet people who are really committed to their work. When I saw my book on Amazon for the first time, I took a selfie with my computer screen in the background. I look at it almost every day. Working on Absolute Sunset was a lot of fun, so I decided to go ahead with translating and publishing all of my books in English.
And, of course, I continue to write. I am seriously considering switching to writing directly in English. I’ll probably give it a try, and my editor will likely go crazy. But I have a strong need to keep moving forward, to learn, to develop, to try things that at first glance seem impossible to accomplish.
This is probably why I love CrossFit and distance running. I’m short and thin, but I can lift heavy weights and finish a marathon with a pretty good time. I’m training to run a 100-miler next year, and I’ll probably also try a triathlon, and maybe something more extreme, like skydiving—I love to push the limits. Even better, all of my family members are willing to join me. Our motto is “Cool—let’s give it a try!”.
When I write I like to push the limits too. I don’t stick to one genre—I like to mix them to achieve the effect I want. I dare to do that because I have my lucky sweater that I always wear when I work, even in summer. It is blue and very thick. Whenever I leave the lucky sweater on a sofa or chair, my dog Rafa uses it as a blanket. He is a small pinscher and loves warmth, so most of the year he suffers and shakes—Poland is really cold. His favorite place at home is the floor in front of the fireplace. He also likes to step on my notes and sometimes drinks tea from my cup. And eats my chocolates. He is not a good assistant.
On the whole, I am a professional dreamer. What I want is to be able to write till the end of my life. And to win a few awards, of course. I think one should always dream big, it does no harm, and maybe one day the dream can be achieved. I am steadfast—I will keep on doing my job and keep on dreaming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 18, 2016
**** 4 Cranky Stars ****
Absolute Sunset is rated a high four on the Twisty-Cranky scale.
I've described this book as beautifully strange and I mean that in the best possible way.
Set in post-communist Poland, a stultifying, bleak place, the story revolves around three main characters: Hanka (daughter), Janusz (father), and Sabina (mother), trapped in domestic horror where poverty and circumstances has reduced nearly all of their options.
As a child, Hanka is visited by the raven in her dreams. The raven is a malevolent presence bringing visions of horror that may, in fact, be prophetic.
Combined with cryptic messages of impending danger and doom, the raven is an omen, both a friend and tormenter, and an angel and a demon. He may also symbolize more than prophecy. Something grounded beyond the world of dreams and squarely in "this" one.
As tragedies unfold and the raven's prophecies increase, Hanka is sucked into the vortex. To play the games and try to gain her freedom.
This is a masterclass of theme and tone. Dark, bleak, and twisty. It's part psychological thriller, part suspense, and part horror. It has supernatural elements and is also, a meditation on domestic horror that happens behind closed doors and is covertly endorsed in the environment in which it takes place. Unhappiness is the default position, a constructed and accepted natural state.
The work is vivid and compelling. The plot, narrative, characters, and events push you along at a breakneck pace. The surreality of situations keeps you guessing.
Absolute Sunset missed being a five star read by "this" much. Primarily, for two reasons 1) I found the parenthesis included in the narrative distracting. It dragged me out of the story. I didn't want to be dragged out of this story. I wanted to be immersed in its languid prose of unfolding horror. 2) There is a bit of head hopping where you swap from one character's point of view in the same paragraph and into the other's in the next.
This writer has an enormous amount of talent and I will be certainly reading any more works from her. If you love suspense, thriller, mystery, and musings on the human social condition, pick this up. You won't be disappointed.
Absolute Sunset is rated a high four on the Twisty-Cranky scale.
I've described this book as beautifully strange and I mean that in the best possible way.
Set in post-communist Poland, a stultifying, bleak place, the story revolves around three main characters: Hanka (daughter), Janusz (father), and Sabina (mother), trapped in domestic horror where poverty and circumstances has reduced nearly all of their options.
As a child, Hanka is visited by the raven in her dreams. The raven is a malevolent presence bringing visions of horror that may, in fact, be prophetic.
Combined with cryptic messages of impending danger and doom, the raven is an omen, both a friend and tormenter, and an angel and a demon. He may also symbolize more than prophecy. Something grounded beyond the world of dreams and squarely in "this" one.
As tragedies unfold and the raven's prophecies increase, Hanka is sucked into the vortex. To play the games and try to gain her freedom.
This is a masterclass of theme and tone. Dark, bleak, and twisty. It's part psychological thriller, part suspense, and part horror. It has supernatural elements and is also, a meditation on domestic horror that happens behind closed doors and is covertly endorsed in the environment in which it takes place. Unhappiness is the default position, a constructed and accepted natural state.
The work is vivid and compelling. The plot, narrative, characters, and events push you along at a breakneck pace. The surreality of situations keeps you guessing.
Absolute Sunset missed being a five star read by "this" much. Primarily, for two reasons 1) I found the parenthesis included in the narrative distracting. It dragged me out of the story. I didn't want to be dragged out of this story. I wanted to be immersed in its languid prose of unfolding horror. 2) There is a bit of head hopping where you swap from one character's point of view in the same paragraph and into the other's in the next.
This writer has an enormous amount of talent and I will be certainly reading any more works from her. If you love suspense, thriller, mystery, and musings on the human social condition, pick this up. You won't be disappointed.
February 20, 2016
I do tend to read a lot of books, especially ones in the horror genre. This book was unlike many of those books that I've read. It is truly one of the darkest and most disturbing books that I've read in a while. That's not a bad thing. Actually, that's what made me like the book as much as I do.
Poor Hanka, such a young child, with such little love from one parent and although the other tried, it still didn't seem like enough. To make matters worse, she is constantly plagued by very lucid and horrifying nightmares, narrated by a raven. Riddles are thrown her way that she must try to solve, but they're in no way simple to understand. Deaths just keep piling up around this girl, from childhood to adulthood. I felt like I was there. Each chapter went even deeper in the macabre and I couldn't stop reading.
The thing that stood out the most about this book was the vivid images. I found myself literally wincing when I read some of the pages. Lots of blood and gore and pain.
I do recommend this book if you're looking for something intensely morbid. I enjoyed reading it and even like the way that it ended. A bit of a twist.
It really is not a book for sensitive readers, especially if you scare or are easily disgusted.
Poor Hanka, such a young child, with such little love from one parent and although the other tried, it still didn't seem like enough. To make matters worse, she is constantly plagued by very lucid and horrifying nightmares, narrated by a raven. Riddles are thrown her way that she must try to solve, but they're in no way simple to understand. Deaths just keep piling up around this girl, from childhood to adulthood. I felt like I was there. Each chapter went even deeper in the macabre and I couldn't stop reading.
The thing that stood out the most about this book was the vivid images. I found myself literally wincing when I read some of the pages. Lots of blood and gore and pain.
I do recommend this book if you're looking for something intensely morbid. I enjoyed reading it and even like the way that it ended. A bit of a twist.
It really is not a book for sensitive readers, especially if you scare or are easily disgusted.
May 26, 2016
The book was amazing. There are so many layers to it, that rereading it a second time would surely bring even more insights into the story. This was a very dark, surreal book, and if you are looking for a happy ending, then you may be disappointed. But I really enjoyed the book because it shows the truth about life, that you don’t always get a happy ending. In fact, sometimes your entire life may really suck.
We get to know the family slowly as Mlek pulls back their layers. While the mother is abusive, and I never feel sorry for her, the path to finding out why she is, takes lots of interesting twists and turns. The way Mlek shows the complexity of this character, and actually all of them is, is done so well, and I really love that the author didn’t pull any punches.
While this is mainly a psychological thriller, there are horror elements as well. They are graphic, but go perfectly with the story. Mlek didn’t write gore, just to write it. There is also a touch of the supernatural interweaved too. Although the raven is in the entire story, I would say it isn’t until the last third of the book that he really begins playing his game. And once he did, it pulled me even deeper into the story. I love a good mystery, and trying to figure out what was going to happen before it did, was entertaining.
I also really liked the Mlek told us about the various tragedies that she used in her book, at the end. Getting more insight into these events of death and destruction, added yet another layer to her book. I highly recommend this book, and know it will be one that will stay with me for a long time.
We get to know the family slowly as Mlek pulls back their layers. While the mother is abusive, and I never feel sorry for her, the path to finding out why she is, takes lots of interesting twists and turns. The way Mlek shows the complexity of this character, and actually all of them is, is done so well, and I really love that the author didn’t pull any punches.
While this is mainly a psychological thriller, there are horror elements as well. They are graphic, but go perfectly with the story. Mlek didn’t write gore, just to write it. There is also a touch of the supernatural interweaved too. Although the raven is in the entire story, I would say it isn’t until the last third of the book that he really begins playing his game. And once he did, it pulled me even deeper into the story. I love a good mystery, and trying to figure out what was going to happen before it did, was entertaining.
I also really liked the Mlek told us about the various tragedies that she used in her book, at the end. Getting more insight into these events of death and destruction, added yet another layer to her book. I highly recommend this book, and know it will be one that will stay with me for a long time.
January 23, 2016
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways.
This was a very dark, psychological story and there were many gory, vivid descriptions of disasters. I could definitely picture in my mind what the scene looked like.
The Raven in Hanka's dreams foretells upcoming events and she has to solve the riddles to prevent them from happening. The story was very sad and depressing to me, especially the way she was treated in childhood.
The author has a vivid imagination and can certainly create all kinds of events/tragedies. The story definitely kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next.
I am half polish and was very excited to receive an envelope from Poland (I kept it).
This was a very dark, psychological story and there were many gory, vivid descriptions of disasters. I could definitely picture in my mind what the scene looked like.
The Raven in Hanka's dreams foretells upcoming events and she has to solve the riddles to prevent them from happening. The story was very sad and depressing to me, especially the way she was treated in childhood.
The author has a vivid imagination and can certainly create all kinds of events/tragedies. The story definitely kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next.
I am half polish and was very excited to receive an envelope from Poland (I kept it).
August 14, 2016
Wow. This a book I won't be forgetting in a hurry. Absolute Sunset is a mix of fantasy and gritty reality that makes for a truly original read. It is a confronting and sad book- at times unbearably so- but the writing is very beautiful and makes you need to keep reading.
The first chapter felt a little disorienting, but I realised quickly this was the author's intention and once I was drawn into Hanka's world, I was unable to put the book down.
Highly original and definitely recommended!
The first chapter felt a little disorienting, but I realised quickly this was the author's intention and once I was drawn into Hanka's world, I was unable to put the book down.
Highly original and definitely recommended!
December 15, 2016
I picked up Absolute Sunset without much clue as to what I was getting myself into. It was a fascinating read. It opened my eyes to cultural and historical aspects of post-Communist Poland which would have made the book a good read on its own. But the interactions between Hanka and the raven - the dark, horrible, bone-chilling visions that she is given, the life-and-death riddles that she must solve - is intense. I swung between shock and horror often as I paged through the novel, but I didn't want to put it down. Very thought provoking read.
January 29, 2016
Writes with passion
Interesting insight into life in Poland for this US resident. Fantasy/paranoia elements are well written. From the description I expected this to be similar to Laymon's In The Dark, but I found it more similar to another favorite, Joyce's The Tooth Fairy.
Interesting insight into life in Poland for this US resident. Fantasy/paranoia elements are well written. From the description I expected this to be similar to Laymon's In The Dark, but I found it more similar to another favorite, Joyce's The Tooth Fairy.
February 5, 2016
A story of Poland was very vivid in gruesome details. Was not really my type of story.
November 1, 2016
Not what I expected. This is real-life horror!
From chapter to chapter the perspective of the tale changes, like in The Raven by Aderyn Wood which is a pleasant read.
The Raven here terrorizes Hanka in her nightmares. Terrible conditions in the family. Really depressing, absolutely nothing to laugh about.
The mother is drinking heavily and beating the daughter, otherwise she neglects her and the household. She has affairs with craftsmen. She doesn't want to keep the new baby (Bartek).
The father is actually quite nice but somehow helpless. Hanka is a bit too bright for her age, has to take much responsibility.
Sabina, the mother neglects the baby boy, when she finally goes to hospital for vaccine he has pneumonia. Sabina intentionally lets him fall from a bridge, he dies, she gets a 5 years prison sentence for child murder. They have to put her in isolation otherwise the other inmates (who have "only" killed their husbands) would lynch her. The Raven appears in her dreams, she cannot solve his riddles and as punishment for the failure he demands that she hurts herself severly, finally to hang herself in the shower. - I think it's her insanity, the self-hurting perhaps a substitute technique for her alcohol-abuse. At her mother's funeral Hanka ist fourteen. Her mother had a Raven Tattoo.
In the next chapter Hanka ist twenty five and has studied. She works as an accountant. Her friend Agata who lives next door is married and has two children and a dog. Hanka thinks that Agata is very lucky but then the whole family dies in a gas accident.
Hanka and her father get a visit from his cousin, who has emigrated to Canada, and his daughter who becomes friends with Hanka. They decide leave everything behind and go to Canada too with their relatives' help. But Janusz gets killed in a train accident (Hanka misinterpreted a foretelling dream with the Raven), and their friends in Canada get killed when they visit a film premiere where a madman shoots around.
Hanka goes mad after these events, she tries to kill herself in burning her flat, but the old neighbour saves her and she is put in a mental hospital. To get out of there she tells the psychatrist what he wants to hear: The story of abuse by her father is invented.
The next dream is about people who are mistreated in a old peoples' home. Hanka finds out where, but she is too slow to do anything about it.
Then a Jack-the-Ripper like killer is around. Hanka finds the prostitute of the dream with the Raven and takes her customer away to save her, kills the man whom she holds for the devil with a kitchen knife. But later the prostitute is killed anyway.
Next is another train accident. Hanka gets on the train and is able to slow it down by using the emergency break, but it crashes anyway, the damage lessend because of Hankas deed. But she is severly injured, falls into coma. Later back in the mental hospital she thinks she is a child again with her parents in a happy family with her brother Bartek who is represented by a mickey mouse toy. Hanka is happy... So this is the end.
It was interesting to read (real events behind most of the dramas), the writing style pleased me. But too many victims. All of Hankas relatives died and the ending didn't satisfy me. Certainly good for horror fans. Too dark for me.
From chapter to chapter the perspective of the tale changes, like in The Raven by Aderyn Wood which is a pleasant read.
The Raven here terrorizes Hanka in her nightmares. Terrible conditions in the family. Really depressing, absolutely nothing to laugh about.
The mother is drinking heavily and beating the daughter, otherwise she neglects her and the household. She has affairs with craftsmen. She doesn't want to keep the new baby (Bartek).
The father is actually quite nice but somehow helpless. Hanka is a bit too bright for her age, has to take much responsibility.
Sabina, the mother neglects the baby boy, when she finally goes to hospital for vaccine he has pneumonia. Sabina intentionally lets him fall from a bridge, he dies, she gets a 5 years prison sentence for child murder. They have to put her in isolation otherwise the other inmates (who have "only" killed their husbands) would lynch her. The Raven appears in her dreams, she cannot solve his riddles and as punishment for the failure he demands that she hurts herself severly, finally to hang herself in the shower. - I think it's her insanity, the self-hurting perhaps a substitute technique for her alcohol-abuse. At her mother's funeral Hanka ist fourteen. Her mother had a Raven Tattoo.
In the next chapter Hanka ist twenty five and has studied. She works as an accountant. Her friend Agata who lives next door is married and has two children and a dog. Hanka thinks that Agata is very lucky but then the whole family dies in a gas accident.
Hanka and her father get a visit from his cousin, who has emigrated to Canada, and his daughter who becomes friends with Hanka. They decide leave everything behind and go to Canada too with their relatives' help. But Janusz gets killed in a train accident (Hanka misinterpreted a foretelling dream with the Raven), and their friends in Canada get killed when they visit a film premiere where a madman shoots around.
Hanka goes mad after these events, she tries to kill herself in burning her flat, but the old neighbour saves her and she is put in a mental hospital. To get out of there she tells the psychatrist what he wants to hear: The story of abuse by her father is invented.
The next dream is about people who are mistreated in a old peoples' home. Hanka finds out where, but she is too slow to do anything about it.
Then a Jack-the-Ripper like killer is around. Hanka finds the prostitute of the dream with the Raven and takes her customer away to save her, kills the man whom she holds for the devil with a kitchen knife. But later the prostitute is killed anyway.
Next is another train accident. Hanka gets on the train and is able to slow it down by using the emergency break, but it crashes anyway, the damage lessend because of Hankas deed. But she is severly injured, falls into coma. Later back in the mental hospital she thinks she is a child again with her parents in a happy family with her brother Bartek who is represented by a mickey mouse toy. Hanka is happy... So this is the end.
It was interesting to read (real events behind most of the dramas), the writing style pleased me. But too many victims. All of Hankas relatives died and the ending didn't satisfy me. Certainly good for horror fans. Too dark for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 1, 2016"... The passages concerning the raven are wrought with a terrible, fabulist beauty, and readers will wish there were more of them, particularly in the novel’s first half. The daytime villain, Sabina, is just as fantastic in her own way. ... In Mlek's hands, night and day are equally nightmarish. A chilling modern fairy tale of post-Communist Poland." —Kirkus Reviews
July 22, 2016
**SPOILER FREE**
WOW!!! Talk about a book that will have you up all night reading! This is the one that will do just that! On the edge nail biting ride you won't expect to happen! Great characters and amazing story plot! Well written and easy to follow! A great read!
*Received for an honest review*
WOW!!! Talk about a book that will have you up all night reading! This is the one that will do just that! On the edge nail biting ride you won't expect to happen! Great characters and amazing story plot! Well written and easy to follow! A great read!
*Received for an honest review*
August 8, 2016
Great read!
I was extremely impressed with how this book went. It kept all of your emotions in check. I truly enjoyed it and I plan on reading more by this author. I love the fact of mixing real tragedies in with other tragedies that I am sure happen in real life as well, just not dwelled upon. Very well written.
I was extremely impressed with how this book went. It kept all of your emotions in check. I truly enjoyed it and I plan on reading more by this author. I love the fact of mixing real tragedies in with other tragedies that I am sure happen in real life as well, just not dwelled upon. Very well written.
November 13, 2016
Great
I'm not sure I could call this an easy or enjoyable read, but that was never it's intent. What I can guarantee is you read through the end, hoping against hope that things will end well for poor Hanka...
I'm not sure I could call this an easy or enjoyable read, but that was never it's intent. What I can guarantee is you read through the end, hoping against hope that things will end well for poor Hanka...
December 20, 2016
Although it started off slow, this book picked up the pace rather quickly. The author was a master of balancing an incredibly sad story while keeping it thoroughly entertaining. I'll be looking for more from her in the future.
June 16, 2016
I loved the book!!!! Kept my attention from beginning to end. Can't wait to read more books by her !
October 6, 2016
A disturbing, well written, engaging story with a unique eastern European perspective.
August 17, 2020
I was asked to review this book, way back in 2016, I think? Shortly after that, my life got a little crazy and this book, along with several others, was put aside and forgotten about. Long story short... wow. This book was horribly good. Here's what I mean...
Plot: An abused child (yeah, it starts out that deep & dark), living with her parents in modern-day Poland, is haunted by a raven in her dreams, which only leads to trouble and heartache further on as the story progresses.
Characters: We get to see Hanka grow up from a seven-year-old to an adult. I hate her story, but only because so much of it is familiar in so many ways. Her parents remind me of my parents but in reverse. For Hanka, the alcoholic abuser is her mother, the enabler- her father. The story pretty much revolves around these three (and the raven) and I can say that each character was fleshed out & believable even if unlikeable.
The Writing: The story itself was easy to read cadence/prose-wise. There is a bit of syntax difference due to Ms. Mlek being a native Polish speaker and a few spelling mistakes... but nothing that got in the way of enjoying this dark story told in 3rd person POV.
In case you wanted to know: Dude. This is NOT a happy, feel-good story. It is dark and upsetting. There is child abuse (physical & neglect) and it is written in a normalized way. If reading this type of story offends you- you'll want to skip it. If you think it might trigger you- skip it. If however, you were raised in & survived an abusive upbringing, & have mostly healed/overcame all that comes from being abused as a child AND also (forgot to mention) can relate to a mental break & mental issues without wanting to self-harm- then you might be okay to read this. For anyone/everyone else- also know that there is infanticide, general poverty, alcoholism, infidelity, and lots of death.
Overall: So why would I rate this a 4.5/5 star? Because I wasn't expecting it. I wasn't expecting to feel so much for a character as I did for Hanka. And although this didn't leave me feeling all sweet & mushy- it DID leave a memorable mark on my damaged brain. I would recommend to anyone who is willing to go dark.
Plot: An abused child (yeah, it starts out that deep & dark), living with her parents in modern-day Poland, is haunted by a raven in her dreams, which only leads to trouble and heartache further on as the story progresses.
Characters: We get to see Hanka grow up from a seven-year-old to an adult. I hate her story, but only because so much of it is familiar in so many ways. Her parents remind me of my parents but in reverse. For Hanka, the alcoholic abuser is her mother, the enabler- her father. The story pretty much revolves around these three (and the raven) and I can say that each character was fleshed out & believable even if unlikeable.
The Writing: The story itself was easy to read cadence/prose-wise. There is a bit of syntax difference due to Ms. Mlek being a native Polish speaker and a few spelling mistakes... but nothing that got in the way of enjoying this dark story told in 3rd person POV.
In case you wanted to know: Dude. This is NOT a happy, feel-good story. It is dark and upsetting. There is child abuse (physical & neglect) and it is written in a normalized way. If reading this type of story offends you- you'll want to skip it. If you think it might trigger you- skip it. If however, you were raised in & survived an abusive upbringing, & have mostly healed/overcame all that comes from being abused as a child AND also (forgot to mention) can relate to a mental break & mental issues without wanting to self-harm- then you might be okay to read this. For anyone/everyone else- also know that there is infanticide, general poverty, alcoholism, infidelity, and lots of death.
Overall: So why would I rate this a 4.5/5 star? Because I wasn't expecting it. I wasn't expecting to feel so much for a character as I did for Hanka. And although this didn't leave me feeling all sweet & mushy- it DID leave a memorable mark on my damaged brain. I would recommend to anyone who is willing to go dark.
March 5, 2017
Absolute Sunset begins with the heroine Hanka at 6, growing up with a grimly dysfunctional family on a bleak and brutality post-Communist estate of concrete blocks. Actually, there can be similar inner-city sink estates of the same type in Western Europe too, where hopeless also abounds. But the writer wishes to make it clear that it is a collective post-traumatic syndrome after WW2 that accounts for much of the violence, alcoholism and lack of love that Hanka grows up in.
Hanka also has a dream 'friend' - black raven seemingly gifted with precognition. Of her family member's deaths. And of several disasters and murders that take place in Poland: real ones,victuals. One by one by one. The raven claims to be engaging Hanka in a game where she can stop these terrible events if she can predict them in time - which she doesn't.
Not surprisingly, it all gets too much for Hanka in the end.
In a way, Absolute Sunset follows the logic of dreams,in a surrealistic kind of way, and the tragedies in Hanka's terrible life as a series of experiences that need to be processed, before inner wisdom can be gained.
That is a message that may be of comfort to some. Absolute Sunset is sparsely and beautifully written, though it may well prove to be a little too bleak for some.
Hanka also has a dream 'friend' - black raven seemingly gifted with precognition. Of her family member's deaths. And of several disasters and murders that take place in Poland: real ones,victuals. One by one by one. The raven claims to be engaging Hanka in a game where she can stop these terrible events if she can predict them in time - which she doesn't.
Not surprisingly, it all gets too much for Hanka in the end.
In a way, Absolute Sunset follows the logic of dreams,in a surrealistic kind of way, and the tragedies in Hanka's terrible life as a series of experiences that need to be processed, before inner wisdom can be gained.
That is a message that may be of comfort to some. Absolute Sunset is sparsely and beautifully written, though it may well prove to be a little too bleak for some.
June 1, 2017
Wow I felt so entirely depressed reading this book. There's so much despair and heartache for all the characters. It seemed nothing was good enough to settle a already disturbed mind. Hanka was physically and emotionally abused most of her younger life, so to have these vivid dreams with an animal spirit at anytime of day or night just like her mother showed early signs of schizophrenic or paranoid delusion. I just can't put into anymore words how deeply I am affected after reading Absolute Sunset. I probably will never forget these characters or the authors detailed biography of how this story is close to her own heart and truths.
September 16, 2017
This book is full of real life horrifying tragic events as well as all the emotions that come with it. It seems the author was in a bad place in her life and poured it all out in her book. You will love some of the characters and develop a great dislike for others.
It is based in Poland where child abuse runs rapid. Here in America, our government takes child abuse seriously. In the book, it seems like it's just another ordinary way of life.
This is a very harrowing book, but I gave it five stars. It gives new meaning to the word horror.
It is based in Poland where child abuse runs rapid. Here in America, our government takes child abuse seriously. In the book, it seems like it's just another ordinary way of life.
This is a very harrowing book, but I gave it five stars. It gives new meaning to the word horror.
May 27, 2017
It has an interesting tone and I liked Sabina and Hanka-interesting characters, and I liked that Sabina was an unlikeable female narrator. But after a while it felt like it was trying too hard to be grim, and by two thirds of the way through the plot just felt like "rocks fall and everyone dies, but with fortune telling ravens." I needed a more coherent and satisfying plot for me to really recommend it.
January 8, 2017
This book kept you interested but I guess I didn't
get the jist of the raven involved. Will have to read it
again later, to see if I can figure it out.
get the jist of the raven involved. Will have to read it
again later, to see if I can figure it out.
September 28, 2017
Perhaps a bit different from my "usual" but I recommend it. It's a good story.
July 25, 2022
Interesting post - communist Poland tale. Very trippy but with a heart too.
February 23, 2016
See more at: BusyBrunettesBookshelf.blogspot.com
This book seriously messed with my head. There were many times while reading that I wanted to slam the book shut… but I couldn't tear myself away. It was the darkest and most disturbing thing I have ever read and I'm still not really sure how I feel about that.
The author of Absolute Sunset, Kata Mlek, reached out to me requesting a book review when she saw I enjoyed Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Always in the mood for a good suspense novel, I eagerly agreed. When I first began this story, I hadn't really read or heard much about it. But, if you are familiar with Sharp Objects at all, you know how gory and twisted it was. Within the first chapter of this novel, however, I soon realized that this book was much, much darker.
The summary of this book states that the main character, Hanka, just a child in the beginning, is chased in her dreams by a raven. This ominous bird doesn't simply give her nightmares, but rather gives her premonitions of violent and tragic events that will take place. It is up to her to solve the raven’s riddles and try to prevent them. There is SO much more to the story than this though so please don't be fooled into thinking this will be a happy-go-lucky mystery with a neat plot and ending.
The story essentially follows Hanka throughout her life and shows some of the horrible things she has to deal with, whether it be an alcoholic, abusive mother or a kind father who cares but doesn't do enough. Dark and morbid situations unfold one right after the other and you never quite get ahead of them enough to be able to predict them. They are extremely descriptive and horrifying and will haunt you long after you stop reading. This book is not for the sensitive or the easily disgusted.
As an American reader (and of Polish heritage), I found all of the information about Poland to be extremely interesting. Throughout the book there are Polish places, customs, sayings, etc. that are then explained to the reader. While it did slightly make you lose your frame of mind, it was helpful and intriguing to have that added explanation. The author also includes fictional events based off of true happenings in Poland which made the whole thing that much more real. I felt like this element of true events mixed well with the whole concept of never quite knowing whether things were dreams or reality.
Overall, this was dark and morbid fiction. I can best describe my reading of this thriller the same as witnessing a car crash; I desperately know it's wrong to look but my curiosity keeps me glued. Mlek’s vivid and powerful writing will leave you simultaneously wanting to stop and yet begging for more. One thing I can guarantee- if you are brave enough to enter the world of Hanka and the Raven, you won't be able to leave it anytime soon.
This book seriously messed with my head. There were many times while reading that I wanted to slam the book shut… but I couldn't tear myself away. It was the darkest and most disturbing thing I have ever read and I'm still not really sure how I feel about that.
The author of Absolute Sunset, Kata Mlek, reached out to me requesting a book review when she saw I enjoyed Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Always in the mood for a good suspense novel, I eagerly agreed. When I first began this story, I hadn't really read or heard much about it. But, if you are familiar with Sharp Objects at all, you know how gory and twisted it was. Within the first chapter of this novel, however, I soon realized that this book was much, much darker.
The summary of this book states that the main character, Hanka, just a child in the beginning, is chased in her dreams by a raven. This ominous bird doesn't simply give her nightmares, but rather gives her premonitions of violent and tragic events that will take place. It is up to her to solve the raven’s riddles and try to prevent them. There is SO much more to the story than this though so please don't be fooled into thinking this will be a happy-go-lucky mystery with a neat plot and ending.
The story essentially follows Hanka throughout her life and shows some of the horrible things she has to deal with, whether it be an alcoholic, abusive mother or a kind father who cares but doesn't do enough. Dark and morbid situations unfold one right after the other and you never quite get ahead of them enough to be able to predict them. They are extremely descriptive and horrifying and will haunt you long after you stop reading. This book is not for the sensitive or the easily disgusted.
As an American reader (and of Polish heritage), I found all of the information about Poland to be extremely interesting. Throughout the book there are Polish places, customs, sayings, etc. that are then explained to the reader. While it did slightly make you lose your frame of mind, it was helpful and intriguing to have that added explanation. The author also includes fictional events based off of true happenings in Poland which made the whole thing that much more real. I felt like this element of true events mixed well with the whole concept of never quite knowing whether things were dreams or reality.
Overall, this was dark and morbid fiction. I can best describe my reading of this thriller the same as witnessing a car crash; I desperately know it's wrong to look but my curiosity keeps me glued. Mlek’s vivid and powerful writing will leave you simultaneously wanting to stop and yet begging for more. One thing I can guarantee- if you are brave enough to enter the world of Hanka and the Raven, you won't be able to leave it anytime soon.
February 26, 2016
Let me start out by qualifying my review with the fact that I love the stories about the dark, twisted, disturbing and indecent side of human nature. Violence, language, taboo... none of it phases me. If I'm affected emotionally by the book, I feel like my time was well spent. I open books wanted to be affected. I crave that interaction. When "Absolute Sunset" was recommended to me, I expected shock value. I'm not easily phased so I wasn't worried. The book was not originally written in English, so I was nervous about the translation.
I had no idea what I was in for. I was blindsided with the experience.
There is a certain level of shock value with the book, but it's not for novelty's sake. The book is disturbing and difficult to read, but to great effect. I don't believe I've ever read a book that sucked me in this quickly and then twisted my heart into knots. Sitting down and reading a book in one sitting isn't unheard of for me. As much as I wanted to with "Absolute Sunset" there is no way I could have. I was compelled to keep reading but the story was so taxing on my nerves that I would eventually force myself to put it down for no other reason than to give my mind a respite. This story played with me at a subconscious level, working me back and forth with a total disregard for my state of unrest.
I hesitate to even touch on the plot as I want as many readers as possible to go into the story as I did. There are no spoilers beyond this point, but if you want a roller coaster ride you'll never forget, just stop here and open the book. For those I haven't already convinced…
"Absolute Sunset" follows Hanka as she navigates poverty stricken post-communist Poland. She is visited throughout childhood by dreams of a raven that bring with it prophetic visions of destruction and doom. As the prophecies build and the tragedies amplify, Hanka is forced to play the raven's games where she will hopefully be able to unlock the mystery of the premonitions and warn everyone before it's too late.
Knowing English was not the original language "Absolute Sunset" was released in, I'm even more intrigued with this novel. The book was well written and to the point, at times bordering on simple. This actually added to the overall appeal for me. It could have been heavy handed but the simplicity gave the story a realistic sense of urgency. I'm assuming some of this was due to the translation. I loved this book from beginning to end because it affected me so deeply. I will be recommending this book for years to come.
I had no idea what I was in for. I was blindsided with the experience.
There is a certain level of shock value with the book, but it's not for novelty's sake. The book is disturbing and difficult to read, but to great effect. I don't believe I've ever read a book that sucked me in this quickly and then twisted my heart into knots. Sitting down and reading a book in one sitting isn't unheard of for me. As much as I wanted to with "Absolute Sunset" there is no way I could have. I was compelled to keep reading but the story was so taxing on my nerves that I would eventually force myself to put it down for no other reason than to give my mind a respite. This story played with me at a subconscious level, working me back and forth with a total disregard for my state of unrest.
I hesitate to even touch on the plot as I want as many readers as possible to go into the story as I did. There are no spoilers beyond this point, but if you want a roller coaster ride you'll never forget, just stop here and open the book. For those I haven't already convinced…
"Absolute Sunset" follows Hanka as she navigates poverty stricken post-communist Poland. She is visited throughout childhood by dreams of a raven that bring with it prophetic visions of destruction and doom. As the prophecies build and the tragedies amplify, Hanka is forced to play the raven's games where she will hopefully be able to unlock the mystery of the premonitions and warn everyone before it's too late.
Knowing English was not the original language "Absolute Sunset" was released in, I'm even more intrigued with this novel. The book was well written and to the point, at times bordering on simple. This actually added to the overall appeal for me. It could have been heavy handed but the simplicity gave the story a realistic sense of urgency. I'm assuming some of this was due to the translation. I loved this book from beginning to end because it affected me so deeply. I will be recommending this book for years to come.
April 21, 2016
Psychologically gripping
In this tale, we meet Hanka at a young age and follow her and her family through the years. This family is plagued by things such as addiction, anger, violence, and possibly insanity on top of very bad dreams. Hanka dreams of a Raven who tells her nonsensical rhymes and sometimes even takes her places; he is not always very nice to the young girl. As Hanka grows up the Raven comes and goes, but always has an impact on her. Eventually and oddly enough but critical to the plot, the Raven also visits with Hanka’s mother when she is in a bad place in her life. Some people are definitely stronger mentally than others. Another person who is not very nice to poor young Hanka is her own mother, Sabina. Sabina has some major issues and brings plenty of drama to the whole family. Throughout this story, I felt a wide range of emotions for and through Hanka; anger, misunderstanding, and plenty of sadness just to name a couple. I was unsure about a few words and phrases, because the family is Polish, but google helped me and it made the story even better.
I ended up reading this in just one day; I think the emotional roller coaster helped, I really just had to see what fate had in store for poor Hanka. Following her story you will enter the lives of Hanka, her father, her mother, her brother, and even a couple of neighbors and friends.
This was a gripping tale that I would call a psychological drama with some suspense and even a touch of mystery. It was very entertaining and I would recommend it to others.
In this tale, we meet Hanka at a young age and follow her and her family through the years. This family is plagued by things such as addiction, anger, violence, and possibly insanity on top of very bad dreams. Hanka dreams of a Raven who tells her nonsensical rhymes and sometimes even takes her places; he is not always very nice to the young girl. As Hanka grows up the Raven comes and goes, but always has an impact on her. Eventually and oddly enough but critical to the plot, the Raven also visits with Hanka’s mother when she is in a bad place in her life. Some people are definitely stronger mentally than others. Another person who is not very nice to poor young Hanka is her own mother, Sabina. Sabina has some major issues and brings plenty of drama to the whole family. Throughout this story, I felt a wide range of emotions for and through Hanka; anger, misunderstanding, and plenty of sadness just to name a couple. I was unsure about a few words and phrases, because the family is Polish, but google helped me and it made the story even better.
I ended up reading this in just one day; I think the emotional roller coaster helped, I really just had to see what fate had in store for poor Hanka. Following her story you will enter the lives of Hanka, her father, her mother, her brother, and even a couple of neighbors and friends.
This was a gripping tale that I would call a psychological drama with some suspense and even a touch of mystery. It was very entertaining and I would recommend it to others.
August 8, 2016
“Absolute Sunset” is probably one of the most intriguing and enigmatic books I’ve read this year, and I know that I will definitely be re-reading it again in the future. I always appreciate sharp, psychological stories, which almost bleed uncomfortable truths and make you face your own fears, and this brilliant novel embodies all of that.
I loved how the setting was presented, and how the reader gets immediately immersed into a typical small Polish city, post-war, post-communism, where the gloomy atmosphere predominates, and dreams and hopes of a small child are shuttered by the bleak daily reality. The protagonist Hanka would be a typical little girl, only if she didn’t see the mysterious raven visit her from time to time, always bringing some haunting, foreboding dreams, which Hanka first thinks to be just ordinary nightmares, but which start making more and more sense as she starts growing up and seeing a pattern in them, always connected to some disastrous event in the future…
What is also important about this work is that it deals with such social issues as child abuse, post-natal depression, which created a monster out of Sabina, Hanka’s mother, infidelity, and many more. I really don’t have enough words to say how much I loved this novel! Beautiful work.
I loved how the setting was presented, and how the reader gets immediately immersed into a typical small Polish city, post-war, post-communism, where the gloomy atmosphere predominates, and dreams and hopes of a small child are shuttered by the bleak daily reality. The protagonist Hanka would be a typical little girl, only if she didn’t see the mysterious raven visit her from time to time, always bringing some haunting, foreboding dreams, which Hanka first thinks to be just ordinary nightmares, but which start making more and more sense as she starts growing up and seeing a pattern in them, always connected to some disastrous event in the future…
What is also important about this work is that it deals with such social issues as child abuse, post-natal depression, which created a monster out of Sabina, Hanka’s mother, infidelity, and many more. I really don’t have enough words to say how much I loved this novel! Beautiful work.
August 1, 2017
This book was so close to getting 5 stars. Intriguing story and I liked the way the author tied real events into the story.
I didn't like the fact that she would jump from one characters POV to another in the same chapter. Sometimes the same chapter or page. It left me disoriented at times and then I would have to go back a reread to make sure I knew what was going on.
Overall, good story.
I didn't like the fact that she would jump from one characters POV to another in the same chapter. Sometimes the same chapter or page. It left me disoriented at times and then I would have to go back a reread to make sure I knew what was going on.
Overall, good story.
July 7, 2016
I like this read! It made me get a little glimpse into other lives... lives you might not give a lot of thought to, in your day to day. People in circumstances unlike your own. And it had a little bit of the supernatural in it... enough to give me the chills.
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