Do you read Russian Literature ?? Any favorite authors ?? Russian authors excel at storytelling that is introspective and emotionally intense. Their narratives unfold through psychological depth rather than spectacle, focusing on moral conflict, existential questions, and human suffering. Each story feels layered, contemplative, and profoundly human, demanding patience while rewarding readers with lasting insight.
Name of Book: The Village at the Edge of Noon
Author: Darya Bobyleva
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Publication Date: Dec 2, 2025
No. of Hours: 13 Hours 42 Minutes
Narrator: Paige Reisenfeld
Format: Netgalley Audio
What if summer never ends?
The residents of a village outside Moscow wake up to discover that the road out to the motorway has disappeared without a trace and the usual paths into the woods somehow lead back into the village. And the woods? Overnight their weedy and rubbish-strewn copse has become a dark and overgrown forest inhabited by something mysterious and unfriendly. Anyone who makes it into the trees either vanishes into thin air or returns, not quite themselves . . . And, of course, the Internet, radio, and TV have stopped working and the weather never changes. And time seems to loop seamlessly from one crop of apples and cabbages into the next.
There are strange noises, and strange visitations. The villagers are plagued by odd thoughts and desires, and quiet but pervasive voices call from the river. Objects mutate; phones and radios emit strange mutterings; people disappear. What begins as a one-sided manifestation of the weird, becomes weirder still as the villagers split into factions and odd alliances with the new "neighbors" are formed. Meanwhile the forest looms closer every day.
Is Katya, a solitary young woman, the only one beginning to glimpse what is going on?
My Opinion
The Village at the Edge of Noon by Darya Bobyleva is an intriguing blend of science fiction and horror, distinguished by its unconventional storytelling approach. What stood out most to me was the way each character experiences and interprets horror differently, making every haunting feel distinct rather than repetitive. This layered perspective adds depth to the narrative and keeps the sense of unease constantly shifting. The atmosphere of the village—isolated, eerie, and overshadowed by an unknown presence—is effectively established and maintained throughout the story. However, I did feel that several incidents were stretched longer than necessary, often without providing a clear or satisfying explanation, which affected the pacing. Despite this, the characters were well-written and served their roles convincingly within the plot. The audiobook narration deserves special mention, as the narrator’s voice significantly enhances the tension, amplifying the terror and immersing the listener in the chilling mood of the haunted village.
- Characters ------------------ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Atmosphere ---------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Writing Style -------------- ⭐⭐⭐
- Plot ------------------------- ⭐⭐⭐
- Intrigue -------------------- ⭐⭐⭐
- Logic ---------------------- ⭐⭐⭐
- Enjoyment ---------------- ⭐⭐⭐
- Narrator ------------------- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
0 Comments
Comment :