Blog

Title.

Author.

Genre: fantasy

Publisher: "Orange"

Rating (1 to 6): 5

"Krehar" by Blagoy Ivanov is pure pioneering in Bulgarian literature. The book brings to life a lost Bulgarian legend - the monster Zhaleika, who, like the monster from Loknes, lives in a lake in the Lviv reserve "Krehar".

An ancient secret is hidden at the foot of the Pre-Balkan...

On a warm August weekend, Lyuben Dishliev's family will face an amazing and terrifying mystery. In the Lviv reserve "Krekhar", declared a protected area, lies the bed of a seemingly calm lake. The scenery is beautiful and the area is a true paradise on earth. However, local legends warn any visitor to stay away and not to test their luck.

Rumour has it that a mysterious creature lurks in these territories, unlike any modern animal - like a dragon that leaves its lair at night, wrapped in a glowing halo. People call the predator Jaleika because it sings a sad song as it attacks and carries off its victims.

Is it possible, however, that there is any truth to these fantastic stories... or are they entirely the product of silly superstition?

A young scientist is tasked with unraveling the mystery, and what he discovers will change his life forever.

I reached for Blagoy Ivanov's latest book with enthusiasm, but also frankly with one thing on my mind. I've read some great reviews, but that hasn't always guaranteed pleasant results for me - especially when it comes to Bulgarian fantasy. And "Krehar" counts in that group.

So, on January 1, after the 3rd coffee, I read Jaleika's story. I closed the book with my mouth gaping open on the evening of that date. And that's unusual for me. I'm far from the kind of reader who makes lists of 500 titles to read during the year, and I can't boast that I "eat books with covers" in two days. If I had to define myself, I'd call myself more of a leisurely reader - I read moderately fast, giving myself time to digest things. I make sure to leave myself time to reflect.

This way I guarantee that the book is really interesting, I quickly flipped through the pages to follow the events and get to the ending that Blagoy hints at the very beginning of the story. And it, the story, is built on two layers - the first is on behalf of the story's narrator, a young paleontologist who is entrusted with making sense of things. The second layer is the story itself that led to his telling - that of the Dishliews. And it, their story, is complex, tangled, and gets more tangled with each passing hour of their stay near Karlukovo.

The two stories intertwine, resembling a crime novel, which gives the novel an extra mood and the reader an extra impatience.

The story of the Dishliev family, as tangled as it seemed to me, is painfully familiar. A father with sick ambitions for his children based on his unfulfilled potential. A mother willing to do anything for her sons but not fight for herself. Two children growing up in openly unhealthy conditions, yet with the love of both parents.

The only downside, for me, to the story is the ending. Not because it's not a happy ending (and that's not a spoiler, since you know in the first few lines what you're in for, at least somewhat), but because I thought it was a bit far-fetched for the characters' story. Their relationship escalates faster than suits them. But then again, I guarantee you'll come to that escalation with great interest and curiosity.