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The Raven High
In the year 2086, Earth is exhausted. The seas have been emptied, the bedrock and soil stripped of their resources, and the superheated atmosphere churns with terrible storms. Those who can afford to do so live in the limbo of virtual reality, and the billions who suffer in poverty have no work, no clean water, and no security from the chaos.
The only hope for those trapped on a dying Earth are the Changed—the seven bioengineered post-humans who work in their separate manufacturing facilities orbiting high above the planet. Raised from birth for their work and fully matured at ten years old, their genius provides the nanomaterials that have begun to cleanse Earth of the pollutants that have wiped out almost the entire ecosphere.
But for Olga Voronov, youngest of the Changed, the isolation and endless toil are not the greatest of her challenges. Down on Earth there are those who resent and fear her talents—and would prefer that humanity not be given the second chance that only she could make possible …
The only hope for those trapped on a dying Earth are the Changed—the seven bioengineered post-humans who work in their separate manufacturing facilities orbiting high above the planet. Raised from birth for their work and fully matured at ten years old, their genius provides the nanomaterials that have begun to cleanse Earth of the pollutants that have wiped out almost the entire ecosphere.
But for Olga Voronov, youngest of the Changed, the isolation and endless toil are not the greatest of her challenges. Down on Earth there are those who resent and fear her talents—and would prefer that humanity not be given the second chance that only she could make possible …
177 pages, Unknown Binding
Published February 28, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 10, 2018
This is a futuristic science fiction book written, I assume, by a Russian. In this, the Russians seem to be predominant in space, and have built major manufacturing facilities in space that are operated by a genetically engineered young girl Olga Voronov and an android Arina Rodionovna. The facility, High House 8 (and presumably there are at least seven others) makes a material that will purify water, which appears to be the major problem on Earth, which is run by corporations, with a few very rich and the bulk as impoverished and struggling to survive. The book is seemingly the first of a series, and devotes a lot of time to getting Olga up to the stage where she can control the facility. Things go wrong, and towards the end there are very well-written action sequences. There is also an interesting theme developed. Arina was made by a corporation, but is fully sentient. What are her rights? If she is owned, she is effectively a slave. But why should not an entity that made her to do a job not own her? This is not resolved in the book, but maybe in later volumes.
It is a little difficult to grade a book like this because so much depends on what follows. Olga is also called Raven, largely because Voron means raven in Russian, which is fair enough. However, I am unsure what should be deduced from the fact she is called Voronov when Rodionovna carried the feminine ending. There are editing issues, and given that Hamaganov is assumed to be Russian, that might be expected, but maybe some English speaker should read it and point out the flaws. The descriptions are very good, although in the first half, because they involve teaching Olga, they may be too much. One major flaw in the descriptions. At one point accidental damage to another ship trying to dock somewhere else sends lumps of material hitting High House at a very high speed. This flaw happened in the film "Gravity". All orbital objects are travelling more or less on the same orbit, and while there will be serious velocities, the relative velocity should not be as great as suggested here. (There would be almost none if they all launched from the equator, but few do.) Now one such lump punched a hole in High House, tore a pipe apart inside, some liquid escaped, and later this caught fire. Sorry, no. If there is a hole in the outer shell, all the air would flow out, and no air, no fire. However, overall, an interesting book.
It is a little difficult to grade a book like this because so much depends on what follows. Olga is also called Raven, largely because Voron means raven in Russian, which is fair enough. However, I am unsure what should be deduced from the fact she is called Voronov when Rodionovna carried the feminine ending. There are editing issues, and given that Hamaganov is assumed to be Russian, that might be expected, but maybe some English speaker should read it and point out the flaws. The descriptions are very good, although in the first half, because they involve teaching Olga, they may be too much. One major flaw in the descriptions. At one point accidental damage to another ship trying to dock somewhere else sends lumps of material hitting High House at a very high speed. This flaw happened in the film "Gravity". All orbital objects are travelling more or less on the same orbit, and while there will be serious velocities, the relative velocity should not be as great as suggested here. (There would be almost none if they all launched from the equator, but few do.) Now one such lump punched a hole in High House, tore a pipe apart inside, some liquid escaped, and later this caught fire. Sorry, no. If there is a hole in the outer shell, all the air would flow out, and no air, no fire. However, overall, an interesting book.
June 13, 2017
I received an ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think people who are more into the sci-fi genre will like this book. I have read a sci-fi series before (that was probably my first) and I loved it! Because of that, it made me try this book by Yuri Hamaganov as the blurb sounded very original and promising.
I started reading this in May (I made sure that I won't be too busy for this) and I spent almost a month finishing it. I was really looking forward to liking it, but I had a hard time grasping the situation at first. The basic introduction of Olga's situation and setting could've been explained in the first 20% of the book, instead of showing certain situations part by part/timeline by timeline which just makes it obvious that the story's just been fast-forwarded (next scene would be months after, and then a year later, and so on) because there's nothing really interesting if you look at Olga's everyday life. I reached the 40% mark and it still didn't pique my interest. Imagine, reading a story in the same environment, setting and with the same characters and spread out it in so many pages - it does get really boring. Is it because I'm used to reading books with 400+ pages with more details and engaging characters? Maybe. Because with more pages, there's more world-building and more chance to grow the protagonist and introduce more characters. With Grond, having one main protagonist, one guide, and one supporting character doesn't really convince me that there's something more that can be looked forward to. Yes, Olga is different and she's considered a superior being than humans and so at a very young age, it is impressive that she's able to know what's right from wrong and that she was able to foster this with the help of her nanny android (no other physical interactions with anyone else). She was able to make her own decisions and not be influenced by others. However, that really isn't enough for me to be fascinated as she's not a relatable character, and so her journey and adventures are very limited in my opinion.
On a side note, I have a feeling that I could've gotten an unedited copy of the book which has grammatical errors. Below are examples, so I hope that the final book doesn't contain them.
"Don't the heart beat too quickly."
"Today I outfit you for your debut into society. Of course I'm no fairy godmother, but I'll fit you out for a party in grand style."
"Let's began the inspection."
"Olga flickered her closed again,"
"If we're in Mexico where then are the cactuses?" (The plural of cactus is cacti.)
I also don't know why Olga's guardian's full name, Arina Rodionovna, mentioned all the time! Out of the three constant characters in the book, there's only one android and one Arina. So it would've been enough to direct her as an android, the nanny, or just with her first name Arina just like how we refer to people (or androids in this case).
I think people who are more into the sci-fi genre will like this book. I have read a sci-fi series before (that was probably my first) and I loved it! Because of that, it made me try this book by Yuri Hamaganov as the blurb sounded very original and promising.
I started reading this in May (I made sure that I won't be too busy for this) and I spent almost a month finishing it. I was really looking forward to liking it, but I had a hard time grasping the situation at first. The basic introduction of Olga's situation and setting could've been explained in the first 20% of the book, instead of showing certain situations part by part/timeline by timeline which just makes it obvious that the story's just been fast-forwarded (next scene would be months after, and then a year later, and so on) because there's nothing really interesting if you look at Olga's everyday life. I reached the 40% mark and it still didn't pique my interest. Imagine, reading a story in the same environment, setting and with the same characters and spread out it in so many pages - it does get really boring. Is it because I'm used to reading books with 400+ pages with more details and engaging characters? Maybe. Because with more pages, there's more world-building and more chance to grow the protagonist and introduce more characters. With Grond, having one main protagonist, one guide, and one supporting character doesn't really convince me that there's something more that can be looked forward to. Yes, Olga is different and she's considered a superior being than humans and so at a very young age, it is impressive that she's able to know what's right from wrong and that she was able to foster this with the help of her nanny android (no other physical interactions with anyone else). She was able to make her own decisions and not be influenced by others. However, that really isn't enough for me to be fascinated as she's not a relatable character, and so her journey and adventures are very limited in my opinion.
On a side note, I have a feeling that I could've gotten an unedited copy of the book which has grammatical errors. Below are examples, so I hope that the final book doesn't contain them.
"Don't the heart beat too quickly."
"Today I outfit you for your debut into society. Of course I'm no fairy godmother, but I'll fit you out for a party in grand style."
"Let's began the inspection."
"Olga flickered her closed again,"
"If we're in Mexico where then are the cactuses?" (The plural of cactus is cacti.)
I also don't know why Olga's guardian's full name, Arina Rodionovna, mentioned all the time! Out of the three constant characters in the book, there's only one android and one Arina. So it would've been enough to direct her as an android, the nanny, or just with her first name Arina just like how we refer to people (or androids in this case).
April 16, 2017
The premise of "Grond: The Raven High" by Yuri Hamaganov is simple: the world is in ruins and its resources exhausted because of humanity's abuse. Water is in very short supply. Seven bio-engineered humans called "the changed" are billions of people's only hope. One of the youngest of the "changed" is Olga who lives high above the Earth in a manufacturing facility that circles the Earth. She is young but far superior to an average human and lives with her "nanny" who is an android charged with training Olga for her purpose in life. Little does Olga know that there are others who do not wish her to succeed and will do anything to ensure that she fails.
I found the story intriguing and I grew to like Olga's character very much. There are a few times when the writing changes from past tense to present tense and back again and I found that it distracted me from the story itself. Mind you, I think the copy I read is not the final product so don't let that dissuade you from reading the book. As I said, the story is fascinating, original and worth a read. I am really hoping that there will be a book two as I really enjoyed the world that Yuri Hamaganov created.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
I found the story intriguing and I grew to like Olga's character very much. There are a few times when the writing changes from past tense to present tense and back again and I found that it distracted me from the story itself. Mind you, I think the copy I read is not the final product so don't let that dissuade you from reading the book. As I said, the story is fascinating, original and worth a read. I am really hoping that there will be a book two as I really enjoyed the world that Yuri Hamaganov created.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2017
Are you ready to save our planet? In Yuri Hamaganov’s GROND: The Raven High, the first installment in the GROND novella series, this YA dystopian/steampunk novella deals with one young girl’s exploration of space as an astronaut to save a dying earth.
In the year 2086, our world is dying with depleted and exhausted natural resources. In an Orbital Russia, we’re introduced to nine-year-old Olga Volonov as a super-bright space cadet as the ward of the Supernova Corporation. She’s been raised by an android nanny named Arina and her uncle Misha in High House Eight. Throughout the novella, Arina trains Olga to go through vigorously training until she’s twelve. After she loses her nanny in a battle, she’s now the captain of her own spaceship and has three androids named Nut and Bolt and Doc to help her and maintain her ship. Still, under contract by Supernova, she’s ready for anything, until someone called out for a rescue mission. Little did she know, she would have to fight for her spaceship in a battle that would mean life-and-death to her….
The story takes place in a dystopian world and centered at an Orbital Russian space station in the future. This storyline is ideal for everyone who loves YA dystopian science fiction. Since this novella is part of the series, this would be snatched up quick to follow Olga’s battles up in space. This author has a very vivid imagination on how our plant would be, seventy years from here, in the future. The ideal message it conveys to readers is about conserving our natural resources, and how we can save our planet’s waters, even from outer space. It’s well-written with a über-high concept since dystopian science fiction is the latest literary trend. I do like the feel of a cross-genre mix between steampunk and a bit of a space opera. I did enjoy those virtual reality scenes as well. This is well suited for the YA marketplace since this would appeal to both sexes from ages eight to fifteen to follow Olga’s new journeys in space.
Only a couple of minor details I wanted to point out: there’s a lot of passive/weak filter words that he could’ve shown more than to tell more like with the word felt. There should be more description on the characters and to show more emotional depth in some passages. I’m not sure how a nine-year-old girl would like the taste of coffee at age nine even in the future. Plus other than her raven-colored hair, there should be an explanation of why they call her “Raven”. There seems to be an inconsistency of Olga calling her uncle Misha and then Mikhail. I would also have to say that he needs to address what the acronym GROND stands for, or at least, mention it in the beginning.
Overall, this was a fantastic YA novella. I give it four stars out of five.
In the year 2086, our world is dying with depleted and exhausted natural resources. In an Orbital Russia, we’re introduced to nine-year-old Olga Volonov as a super-bright space cadet as the ward of the Supernova Corporation. She’s been raised by an android nanny named Arina and her uncle Misha in High House Eight. Throughout the novella, Arina trains Olga to go through vigorously training until she’s twelve. After she loses her nanny in a battle, she’s now the captain of her own spaceship and has three androids named Nut and Bolt and Doc to help her and maintain her ship. Still, under contract by Supernova, she’s ready for anything, until someone called out for a rescue mission. Little did she know, she would have to fight for her spaceship in a battle that would mean life-and-death to her….
The story takes place in a dystopian world and centered at an Orbital Russian space station in the future. This storyline is ideal for everyone who loves YA dystopian science fiction. Since this novella is part of the series, this would be snatched up quick to follow Olga’s battles up in space. This author has a very vivid imagination on how our plant would be, seventy years from here, in the future. The ideal message it conveys to readers is about conserving our natural resources, and how we can save our planet’s waters, even from outer space. It’s well-written with a über-high concept since dystopian science fiction is the latest literary trend. I do like the feel of a cross-genre mix between steampunk and a bit of a space opera. I did enjoy those virtual reality scenes as well. This is well suited for the YA marketplace since this would appeal to both sexes from ages eight to fifteen to follow Olga’s new journeys in space.
Only a couple of minor details I wanted to point out: there’s a lot of passive/weak filter words that he could’ve shown more than to tell more like with the word felt. There should be more description on the characters and to show more emotional depth in some passages. I’m not sure how a nine-year-old girl would like the taste of coffee at age nine even in the future. Plus other than her raven-colored hair, there should be an explanation of why they call her “Raven”. There seems to be an inconsistency of Olga calling her uncle Misha and then Mikhail. I would also have to say that he needs to address what the acronym GROND stands for, or at least, mention it in the beginning.
Overall, this was a fantastic YA novella. I give it four stars out of five.
June 21, 2017
GROND: The Raven High, book one in a series, is a futuristic coming-of-age story featuring a heroine like no other. Olga Voronov, Raven as she is known, is one of The Changed and living and thriving on her own alongside her android nanny and trainer, Arina Rodionovna, on High House Eight. Olga, a mere preteen, possesses skills and exceptionalities rendering her an integral part of the regeneration of Earth’s failing status as an inhabited planet. Yuri Hamaganov’s main character endures rigorous training simulations in a technologically superior time and is forced to make life-altering decisions in order to save herself.
I am, admittedly, not a science fiction fan. Yuri Hamaganov’s, GROND: The Raven High: (GROND Series Book 1) may have changed my mind. Book 1 of what promises to be an engaging series centered around Olga Voronov is set in the 2080s when Olga, the Raven, begins her journey as one of The Changed and, almost unknowingly, sets out to save the Earth. I am instantly intrigued when an author is able to vividly describe a main character. Hamaganov does just that on the first page as Olga is portrayed with both innocence and technological savvy. She may be “a chestnut-haired girl of around six in a light summer dress,” but she is processing information and making the calculations and decisions of a highly-developed computer. This combination is more than enough to draw the reader into the storyline from chapter one.
Olga lives alone on High House Eight with an amazingly capable android, Arina Rodionovna, who serves as her nanny, her trainer in all things technical, and her only parent. Arina’s emotionless love and devotion for Olga is touching but not tear-jerking. Her dedication to Olga’s success is strong and does not go unappreciated by the reader. High House Eight, a facility described in great detail throughout the book, is one of my favorite aspects of this book. The entire concept of the eight Houses orbiting the Earth at high rates intrigues me. Olga witnesses “sunrises and sunsets fifteen times in twenty-four hours.” By dropping such lines, Hamaganov succeeds in revealing perfectly-timed “aha” moments that paint a clear picture of Olga’s world.
The idea of the proverbial talking head is not lost on Hamaganov. The author manages to effectively incorporate a character, Mikhail Petrov, as a face on a screen. He is Olga’s “curator” and her contact with Earth. Petrov is an essential character and his appearances throughout the story are well-timed and further lend human emotions to the story though he, like Olga, is one of The Changed.
A couple themes seem to permeate the storyline. GROND: The Raven High, as it continues from book to book, will carry a theme of unabashed love for one’s roots if the author stays true to book one. Olga stops at nothing to save what she knows of her life, and that is a theme with which even the most hardcore science fiction opponent can relate. As the chapters progress with an excellent mix of action and reveals of backstories, another theme is evident. Humans have, sadly, destroyed Earth. Olga, placed with android Adrina and raised in space, is a crucial factor in Earth’s regeneration. Time and subsequent books will tell if she is successful. Hamaganov succeeds in ending Book 1 with an action sequence that leads nicely into a hook for GROND II: The Blitzkrieg.
On a scale of 1-5, I am giving The Raven High a solid 4. I would have found it helpful to see a glossary of the author’s own specific technology terms used throughout the book.
I am, admittedly, not a science fiction fan. Yuri Hamaganov’s, GROND: The Raven High: (GROND Series Book 1) may have changed my mind. Book 1 of what promises to be an engaging series centered around Olga Voronov is set in the 2080s when Olga, the Raven, begins her journey as one of The Changed and, almost unknowingly, sets out to save the Earth. I am instantly intrigued when an author is able to vividly describe a main character. Hamaganov does just that on the first page as Olga is portrayed with both innocence and technological savvy. She may be “a chestnut-haired girl of around six in a light summer dress,” but she is processing information and making the calculations and decisions of a highly-developed computer. This combination is more than enough to draw the reader into the storyline from chapter one.
Olga lives alone on High House Eight with an amazingly capable android, Arina Rodionovna, who serves as her nanny, her trainer in all things technical, and her only parent. Arina’s emotionless love and devotion for Olga is touching but not tear-jerking. Her dedication to Olga’s success is strong and does not go unappreciated by the reader. High House Eight, a facility described in great detail throughout the book, is one of my favorite aspects of this book. The entire concept of the eight Houses orbiting the Earth at high rates intrigues me. Olga witnesses “sunrises and sunsets fifteen times in twenty-four hours.” By dropping such lines, Hamaganov succeeds in revealing perfectly-timed “aha” moments that paint a clear picture of Olga’s world.
The idea of the proverbial talking head is not lost on Hamaganov. The author manages to effectively incorporate a character, Mikhail Petrov, as a face on a screen. He is Olga’s “curator” and her contact with Earth. Petrov is an essential character and his appearances throughout the story are well-timed and further lend human emotions to the story though he, like Olga, is one of The Changed.
A couple themes seem to permeate the storyline. GROND: The Raven High, as it continues from book to book, will carry a theme of unabashed love for one’s roots if the author stays true to book one. Olga stops at nothing to save what she knows of her life, and that is a theme with which even the most hardcore science fiction opponent can relate. As the chapters progress with an excellent mix of action and reveals of backstories, another theme is evident. Humans have, sadly, destroyed Earth. Olga, placed with android Adrina and raised in space, is a crucial factor in Earth’s regeneration. Time and subsequent books will tell if she is successful. Hamaganov succeeds in ending Book 1 with an action sequence that leads nicely into a hook for GROND II: The Blitzkrieg.
On a scale of 1-5, I am giving The Raven High a solid 4. I would have found it helpful to see a glossary of the author’s own specific technology terms used throughout the book.
June 15, 2017
Set in the not too distant future in the year 2086, GROND: The Raven High by Yuri Hamaganov weaves a tale of a weakened Earth, depleted of natural resources, that has turned to science and space for survival. The miserable souls trapped on the dying planet depend on an elite group of specially bioengineered humans, the Changed: only the Changed are able to develop and deliver the natural resources needed to sustain life. The youngest of the Changed, Olga Voronov, stars in Hamaganov’s first installment of the GROND Series. A plucky, youthful protagonist, Olga’s life is one of isolation as she toils for the good of the planet, while she herself floats high above in space. But little does she know of the desperation and division on Earth, and what those down on Earth think of her up above.
With an intriguing plot and unique setting, GROND: The Raven High is part science fiction and part coming of age. Set just a few generations ahead of the present day, GROND’s world is certainly far more advanced than that in which we live now, but it is not quite so advanced as to be completely unbelievable. GROND follows Olga from her adolescence to adulthood (though for the Changed, adulthood is reached at age ten) and details the intense training and trials she must undergo, but fails to develop her as a character. Though admittedly a bioengineered human, Olga lacks relatability and personal development. Intelligent and abstractly interesting, Olga largely lacks emotion and does not evoke empathy from the reader. The story follows her throughout her formative years, yet the author fails to develop a meaningful history or future for the budding astronaut.
Supporting Olga in her interstellar adventures is her android nanny, Arina Rodionovna. So advanced as to be almost indiscernible from a true human, Arina is perhaps the story’s most likable character due to her dedication to her young ward and her resourcefulness. Arina’s character forces readers to question not whether or not we will have robots in the future, but rather what those robots will be like. Somewhat ironically, the android Arina is the most well-developed character in the world of GROND. Readers will hope that when the day comes for highly developed androids that they will be so lucky as to have a companion like Arina, who is both intelligent and caring, not to mention a Michelin-grade chef.
The chapters of GROND move quickly and without tedious delay, making it easy and pleasant to read. Each chapter moves the plot forward with a purpose, but in moving through time so quickly, Hamaganov neglects to include some key details that readers would appreciate. There are many instances in which a reader is left in search of explanations that never come. The world of GROND: The Raven High has great potential thanks to its intricate space-age setting but similarity to our own modern world – and the fact that it is labeled the first in Hamaganov’s GROND series will cause readers left hanging at the end of the first book to rejoice. One flaw that will perturb attentive readers is the frequency of grammatical errors and misspellings that distract from the overall enjoyable plot. Full of high-tech gadgets and action-packed scenes, Olga’s universe has the potential to shine bright as a supernova.
With an intriguing plot and unique setting, GROND: The Raven High is part science fiction and part coming of age. Set just a few generations ahead of the present day, GROND’s world is certainly far more advanced than that in which we live now, but it is not quite so advanced as to be completely unbelievable. GROND follows Olga from her adolescence to adulthood (though for the Changed, adulthood is reached at age ten) and details the intense training and trials she must undergo, but fails to develop her as a character. Though admittedly a bioengineered human, Olga lacks relatability and personal development. Intelligent and abstractly interesting, Olga largely lacks emotion and does not evoke empathy from the reader. The story follows her throughout her formative years, yet the author fails to develop a meaningful history or future for the budding astronaut.
Supporting Olga in her interstellar adventures is her android nanny, Arina Rodionovna. So advanced as to be almost indiscernible from a true human, Arina is perhaps the story’s most likable character due to her dedication to her young ward and her resourcefulness. Arina’s character forces readers to question not whether or not we will have robots in the future, but rather what those robots will be like. Somewhat ironically, the android Arina is the most well-developed character in the world of GROND. Readers will hope that when the day comes for highly developed androids that they will be so lucky as to have a companion like Arina, who is both intelligent and caring, not to mention a Michelin-grade chef.
The chapters of GROND move quickly and without tedious delay, making it easy and pleasant to read. Each chapter moves the plot forward with a purpose, but in moving through time so quickly, Hamaganov neglects to include some key details that readers would appreciate. There are many instances in which a reader is left in search of explanations that never come. The world of GROND: The Raven High has great potential thanks to its intricate space-age setting but similarity to our own modern world – and the fact that it is labeled the first in Hamaganov’s GROND series will cause readers left hanging at the end of the first book to rejoice. One flaw that will perturb attentive readers is the frequency of grammatical errors and misspellings that distract from the overall enjoyable plot. Full of high-tech gadgets and action-packed scenes, Olga’s universe has the potential to shine bright as a supernova.
June 21, 2017
If you’re looking for a space-adventure that flies a bit outside what is usually expected, you’re going to find it in Yuri Hamaganov’s Grond: The Raven High: Grond Book 1. Our protagonist is a young girl, Olga, who is living on a space station far outside the realm of earth. Here, she is raised by an Android and begins preparing for work at the tender age of six. Olga, called Raven by her android nanny Arina and curator Mikhail Petrov, works tirelessly in her strange little bubble to be able to run a plant that produces water. We follow along her everyday life as she prepares for her occupation and demonstrates her higher than average aptitude. It will soon be clear to readers that Olga is not an ordinary six-year-old girl, at least by current standards. She is something more advanced that the human beings we are today. Where her life will take her is an interesting journey.
As the first book in an apparent series, it is up to the author to build their world. First installments set the stage for future books. They captivate the interest of readers and leave them wanting more.
Hamaganov does write quite eloquently and it is clear that some amount of research went into creating this novel. The world is not too far in the distant future and the layout is somewhat believable. Olga is isolated on a space station and has video communication with Petrov on a consistent basis. As we learn more about her origins and the type of work required of her, we begin to empathize with Olga’s predicament. When she faces the greatest struggle of her young life, readers will find themselves hoping that she will come out victorious.
There are areas for improvement, however. Several times throughout our story the voice changes from past to present in the middle of sentence. This is confusing for the readers as we’re not sure what’s supposed to be happening. Not a lot of detail is given about the state of Olga’s world, why she’s referred to as ‘Raven’, and how exactly it became okay to use child labour. We know that Olga is not the only one, as there is reference to other children in the same line of work as she. We also know that Olga is not quite an organic human being, but it’s never clearly stated if she was born with her advanced capabilities or if her parents simply sold her off to be implanted and sent to work. The only things that are clear is that the Earth is in trouble, there was a war in space, Olga works harder at the age of twelve than most people do in their thirties and that she is seen as a tool by those who employ her. There is mention of a resistance group that would help her achieve freedom, but when her very life is threatened there is no sign of this group. Perhaps these are all things that will be explored in future installments.
If you can manage to ignore the few shortfalls of this novel, most readers who love a good science-fiction piece will enjoy the adventures of Olga in Grond: The High Raven: Grond Book 1 by Yuri Hamaganov. The tidy epilogue at the end sparks curiosity in the reader and the sneak peek at the next installment will have most readers looking forward to book two.
As the first book in an apparent series, it is up to the author to build their world. First installments set the stage for future books. They captivate the interest of readers and leave them wanting more.
Hamaganov does write quite eloquently and it is clear that some amount of research went into creating this novel. The world is not too far in the distant future and the layout is somewhat believable. Olga is isolated on a space station and has video communication with Petrov on a consistent basis. As we learn more about her origins and the type of work required of her, we begin to empathize with Olga’s predicament. When she faces the greatest struggle of her young life, readers will find themselves hoping that she will come out victorious.
There are areas for improvement, however. Several times throughout our story the voice changes from past to present in the middle of sentence. This is confusing for the readers as we’re not sure what’s supposed to be happening. Not a lot of detail is given about the state of Olga’s world, why she’s referred to as ‘Raven’, and how exactly it became okay to use child labour. We know that Olga is not the only one, as there is reference to other children in the same line of work as she. We also know that Olga is not quite an organic human being, but it’s never clearly stated if she was born with her advanced capabilities or if her parents simply sold her off to be implanted and sent to work. The only things that are clear is that the Earth is in trouble, there was a war in space, Olga works harder at the age of twelve than most people do in their thirties and that she is seen as a tool by those who employ her. There is mention of a resistance group that would help her achieve freedom, but when her very life is threatened there is no sign of this group. Perhaps these are all things that will be explored in future installments.
If you can manage to ignore the few shortfalls of this novel, most readers who love a good science-fiction piece will enjoy the adventures of Olga in Grond: The High Raven: Grond Book 1 by Yuri Hamaganov. The tidy epilogue at the end sparks curiosity in the reader and the sneak peek at the next installment will have most readers looking forward to book two.
August 29, 2017
Enjoyable sci-fi ride
The Raven, as she is often referred to is the youngest of ‘The Changed’. In her hands lies the fate of what is left of the earth. Frequently displaying childlike excitement and enthusiasm, she possesses extraordinary talent. So talented that some people on earth are scared of her capabilities. Olga is well aware that the space industry might be to blame for part of what is happening on earth but she is not apologetic about it. She knows that it is imperative to adapt to progress or progress will run you over. The space industry is synonymous with high efficiency. ‘The Changed’ are the seven post humans whose blend of artificial intelligence and nanomachines gives them virtually unlimited capabilities. They are working to produce nanomaterials that will rid the earth of its pollution.
Set in 2086, Grond: The Raven High explores a world that is completely different from what we have now. A world that has a very high possibility of occurrence. Yuri Hamaganov potrays a world with dried up seas and an exhausted earth. The soil is flushed of resources and the only human that are able to survive are those with ample riches or those living in abject poverty. Hardly 10% of the population has jobs and people often queue for food rations. Olga Voronov, the lead character, is often called Raven, which may be symbolistic. Ravens may depict death or creation of the world. Both of which are things that Olga is capable of doing to the earth. Her human nature is apparent which makes the reader really identify with the struggles she goes through. She displays resilience during her training and curiosity. At a young age, she has the responsibility to give humanity a second chance. That a child and not an adult would be tasked with this responsibility is a perfect embodiment of this- we do not inherit the world from our parents, we borrow it from our children. Arina, who is Olga’s nanny and trainer, has genuine concern and love for Olga. This further humanizes the characters in the book and speaks to the reader’s parental instincts. Uncle Mikhail also acts as a father figure for Olga. His exchanges with Olga are interesting bordering on funny.
The text has many exchanges between the characters, which in my opinion transports the reader deeper into the story. Dialogue is excellently executed. There are a few sentences with the wrong structure and grammar but this does not adversely affect the reading experience. Grond: The Raven High has a fresh and gripping take on science fiction. It is not riddled with the usual extreme and tedious fantasy that is common with books in this genre.
This book brings home the shattering reality we are currently living. The need to change the course we are on is urgent and gets dire with each passing day. Using Olga, the youngest of the changed, is a symbol of who we would be doing it for. In addition to enjoying this book, it will elicit some in depth thinking about the environment.
The Raven, as she is often referred to is the youngest of ‘The Changed’. In her hands lies the fate of what is left of the earth. Frequently displaying childlike excitement and enthusiasm, she possesses extraordinary talent. So talented that some people on earth are scared of her capabilities. Olga is well aware that the space industry might be to blame for part of what is happening on earth but she is not apologetic about it. She knows that it is imperative to adapt to progress or progress will run you over. The space industry is synonymous with high efficiency. ‘The Changed’ are the seven post humans whose blend of artificial intelligence and nanomachines gives them virtually unlimited capabilities. They are working to produce nanomaterials that will rid the earth of its pollution.
Set in 2086, Grond: The Raven High explores a world that is completely different from what we have now. A world that has a very high possibility of occurrence. Yuri Hamaganov potrays a world with dried up seas and an exhausted earth. The soil is flushed of resources and the only human that are able to survive are those with ample riches or those living in abject poverty. Hardly 10% of the population has jobs and people often queue for food rations. Olga Voronov, the lead character, is often called Raven, which may be symbolistic. Ravens may depict death or creation of the world. Both of which are things that Olga is capable of doing to the earth. Her human nature is apparent which makes the reader really identify with the struggles she goes through. She displays resilience during her training and curiosity. At a young age, she has the responsibility to give humanity a second chance. That a child and not an adult would be tasked with this responsibility is a perfect embodiment of this- we do not inherit the world from our parents, we borrow it from our children. Arina, who is Olga’s nanny and trainer, has genuine concern and love for Olga. This further humanizes the characters in the book and speaks to the reader’s parental instincts. Uncle Mikhail also acts as a father figure for Olga. His exchanges with Olga are interesting bordering on funny.
The text has many exchanges between the characters, which in my opinion transports the reader deeper into the story. Dialogue is excellently executed. There are a few sentences with the wrong structure and grammar but this does not adversely affect the reading experience. Grond: The Raven High has a fresh and gripping take on science fiction. It is not riddled with the usual extreme and tedious fantasy that is common with books in this genre.
This book brings home the shattering reality we are currently living. The need to change the course we are on is urgent and gets dire with each passing day. Using Olga, the youngest of the changed, is a symbol of who we would be doing it for. In addition to enjoying this book, it will elicit some in depth thinking about the environment.
September 20, 2017
Experiencing life beyond our confined elements on Earth has always been the dream. By the way, we’re carrying on, that seems like a greater possibility to live in outer space. In “Grond”, author Yuri Hamaganov fasts forwards to the year 2086, allowing readers to get a sense of what the condition of living is like. Unfortunately, not looking good at all, Earth has been through a slow but exhaustive period that just seemed never-ending. Anyone would be surprised that Earth still exists at this time and can only hope that it can revitalize itself in hopes to prolong an extension of orbit. We are introduced to a character named Olga Voronov, also known as Raven, for her being smart and sometimes dangerous, who is assigned to save those inhabiting Earth.
It starts off a bit slow as you’re learning about various scientific elements and the way things are being handled in the High House, hovered above our planet. We’re accompanying Raven as she’s completing all her necessary training so that she may alter a possible inevitable in order to save everyone. A brilliant, selfless, and a willingness to learn are amongst many qualities she has, which makes her a suitable person for this task. She’s been training diligently alongside her nanny Arina Rodionovna, and curator Mikhail Petrov. For the most part, she has been ecstatic to work from simulations to real-life problems and is a true problem-solver who thinks quickly on her feet.
The relationship shared between these three characters were unbreakable, unless otherwise by death. Arina and Mikhail made the best safe environment for Raven while being her family and guides. The author provided enough details along with an encounter with her parents, giving a moment for Raven to learn even a bit about who she is, was one highlight of many. Even though there was no real connection with her biological family, it was nice that she may cherish that moment for the rest of her life. The bond of family was truly important as well as the survival of all Earth’s inhabitants and that was demonstrated several times throughout the book. There is one part that provided enough action to make the book more exciting, it definitely caught me off guard but was grateful for a shift in writing mode.
Although it was a bit of a rocky start to read in the beginning, it turned out to be a wonderful book to read. It gave me the outlook on what our current behaviors on Earth would develop in a couple decades if we don’t get a handle on it now. I like that despite others not having any faith in Raven and what she can do for them, they had to accept her help as their future relied on her abilities. The ending wrapped up this book in an unexpected way but also leaves you with a cliffhanger. I recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy learning about a great blast into the future life of our world, the main person we would have to put faith in and have high hopes it can be accomplished.
It starts off a bit slow as you’re learning about various scientific elements and the way things are being handled in the High House, hovered above our planet. We’re accompanying Raven as she’s completing all her necessary training so that she may alter a possible inevitable in order to save everyone. A brilliant, selfless, and a willingness to learn are amongst many qualities she has, which makes her a suitable person for this task. She’s been training diligently alongside her nanny Arina Rodionovna, and curator Mikhail Petrov. For the most part, she has been ecstatic to work from simulations to real-life problems and is a true problem-solver who thinks quickly on her feet.
The relationship shared between these three characters were unbreakable, unless otherwise by death. Arina and Mikhail made the best safe environment for Raven while being her family and guides. The author provided enough details along with an encounter with her parents, giving a moment for Raven to learn even a bit about who she is, was one highlight of many. Even though there was no real connection with her biological family, it was nice that she may cherish that moment for the rest of her life. The bond of family was truly important as well as the survival of all Earth’s inhabitants and that was demonstrated several times throughout the book. There is one part that provided enough action to make the book more exciting, it definitely caught me off guard but was grateful for a shift in writing mode.
Although it was a bit of a rocky start to read in the beginning, it turned out to be a wonderful book to read. It gave me the outlook on what our current behaviors on Earth would develop in a couple decades if we don’t get a handle on it now. I like that despite others not having any faith in Raven and what she can do for them, they had to accept her help as their future relied on her abilities. The ending wrapped up this book in an unexpected way but also leaves you with a cliffhanger. I recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy learning about a great blast into the future life of our world, the main person we would have to put faith in and have high hopes it can be accomplished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2017
GROND the Raven High by Yuri Hamaganov is a futuristic novella. The story is an intricate woven tale of Olga. The author takes the reader on a journey through space. The future is very different from the year 2017. Technology has advanced, the Earth is strange, and evolution has changed aspects of the Universe too. The story is political, corporations are bigger than our time, gaining more political power. As most breakdown of society tales go, the future is dark for most. It is filled with tales of the past and how the current state of the world came to be.
The book has an interesting concept. When I began reading it, I was captivated by the idea of the book. GROND the Raven High slowly builds an epic story. The beginning of the book sets up the storyline. The reader learns about the Earth's history, and how society has broken down. We learn about the remaining classes and how politics have evolved in the future. This history of Earth and how people and other evolutions of people have emerged is interesting. There are some original, unique ideas that the author has woven into the story, such as how people have ruined the Earth, the new life, and the new way of life. All of this was interesting. I just did not care for the way the author executed all of the ideas. Instead of having an action adventure side of the story with how the world came to fruition in the future, it was a slow, moving process of story-telling in the form of history lessons and conversations. However, I think that this is a setup for the sequel book, which is forgiving. Toward the end of the book, a lot of action does happen. It is riveting, exciting, and hard to put down. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was a bit frustrated because the last lines of the book made me want to read the next one to see what was going to happen.
If you like action, adventure, or science-fiction stories with a post-apocalyptic Earth, you will enjoy this book. While it is slow moving, it is a build up for the sequel. It slowly brings you into unfamiliar territory, akin to dipping your toe into the pool to test the water. You get a taste of the future as if you were the student rather than the main character. Then, suddenly, you are thrown into the action where you realize how fast Olga, and others like her, have to mature. This fast-paced maturity and the danger that young people are put in every day colorfully paints a picture of how dangerous the future has become. I like how the ending brings you further into the story wanting to know what happens next.
The book has an interesting concept. When I began reading it, I was captivated by the idea of the book. GROND the Raven High slowly builds an epic story. The beginning of the book sets up the storyline. The reader learns about the Earth's history, and how society has broken down. We learn about the remaining classes and how politics have evolved in the future. This history of Earth and how people and other evolutions of people have emerged is interesting. There are some original, unique ideas that the author has woven into the story, such as how people have ruined the Earth, the new life, and the new way of life. All of this was interesting. I just did not care for the way the author executed all of the ideas. Instead of having an action adventure side of the story with how the world came to fruition in the future, it was a slow, moving process of story-telling in the form of history lessons and conversations. However, I think that this is a setup for the sequel book, which is forgiving. Toward the end of the book, a lot of action does happen. It is riveting, exciting, and hard to put down. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was a bit frustrated because the last lines of the book made me want to read the next one to see what was going to happen.
If you like action, adventure, or science-fiction stories with a post-apocalyptic Earth, you will enjoy this book. While it is slow moving, it is a build up for the sequel. It slowly brings you into unfamiliar territory, akin to dipping your toe into the pool to test the water. You get a taste of the future as if you were the student rather than the main character. Then, suddenly, you are thrown into the action where you realize how fast Olga, and others like her, have to mature. This fast-paced maturity and the danger that young people are put in every day colorfully paints a picture of how dangerous the future has become. I like how the ending brings you further into the story wanting to know what happens next.
July 20, 2017
Olga has only ever known her solitary life on her space station. It is no secret that she is a highly-invested-in cog in the Corporation's money-making machine. She has been raised since birth to do her duty, and never answer the bigger picture.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was an odd one, not really what I was expecting; but after reading that this was Hamaganov's creation when he was 12 years old, it starts to make a bit more sense.
First of all, I will say that I had an unedited version (or at least, I hope I did). There's a lot of missing words, and the syntax is overly formal and awkward; I wouldn't be surprised if English wasn't the author's primary language.
The first chunk of the story surprised me with a lot of very detailed descriptions and explanations. It's less of a sci-fi adventure, or a multi-layered dystopian; instead, we were given a detailed training instruction for a six-year-old girl. We learn about every clip and button and neural interface, etc.
It was just too much, and too heavy for me, and I struggled to get through the first section.
This went on for at least 40% of the book, and then something strange happened.
I started to like Olga, Arina and Misha. There was something really cute about their family-esque dynamic. I started to forget that this was the middle of a sci-fi story, and I just wanted to follow what happens to Olga, as her little world is inevitably corrupted by outside influence.
There is a dystopian Earth in the background, that requires Olga to help in the production of clean water, which is the resource the damaged world is severely lacking. There are also past conflicts floating about, with promises of galactic battles, and wars with the androids that want freedom from humans.
This has very little bearing on the story. This is all about Olga, as she passes through time, starting at six years old, and finishing with her mature twelve-year-old self.
Despite the fact that her rate of maturity is doubled, and her increased intelligence, so she can be useful with a shorter period of training; there is still a youthful innocence about her. Like a child, she is concerned mainly with the small world of her nanny, Arina; her Corporation contact Uncle Misha; and the training, always the training.
We only glimpse the wider existence and conflict, when Olga turns her young eyes that way.
Overall, it was a 3 out of 5 for me.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was an odd one, not really what I was expecting; but after reading that this was Hamaganov's creation when he was 12 years old, it starts to make a bit more sense.
First of all, I will say that I had an unedited version (or at least, I hope I did). There's a lot of missing words, and the syntax is overly formal and awkward; I wouldn't be surprised if English wasn't the author's primary language.
The first chunk of the story surprised me with a lot of very detailed descriptions and explanations. It's less of a sci-fi adventure, or a multi-layered dystopian; instead, we were given a detailed training instruction for a six-year-old girl. We learn about every clip and button and neural interface, etc.
It was just too much, and too heavy for me, and I struggled to get through the first section.
This went on for at least 40% of the book, and then something strange happened.
I started to like Olga, Arina and Misha. There was something really cute about their family-esque dynamic. I started to forget that this was the middle of a sci-fi story, and I just wanted to follow what happens to Olga, as her little world is inevitably corrupted by outside influence.
There is a dystopian Earth in the background, that requires Olga to help in the production of clean water, which is the resource the damaged world is severely lacking. There are also past conflicts floating about, with promises of galactic battles, and wars with the androids that want freedom from humans.
This has very little bearing on the story. This is all about Olga, as she passes through time, starting at six years old, and finishing with her mature twelve-year-old self.
Despite the fact that her rate of maturity is doubled, and her increased intelligence, so she can be useful with a shorter period of training; there is still a youthful innocence about her. Like a child, she is concerned mainly with the small world of her nanny, Arina; her Corporation contact Uncle Misha; and the training, always the training.
We only glimpse the wider existence and conflict, when Olga turns her young eyes that way.
Overall, it was a 3 out of 5 for me.
October 3, 2017
Grond: The Raven High is the first book in the new Grond series by Yuri Hamaganov. Translated from the original Russian, the thrilling narrative chronicles the early life of Olga Voronov. She is a ‘changed’ human and has lived in a self-contained orbital space facility from a few months old, ministered and looked after by her android nanny Arina Rodionovna. Planet Earth is dying, its population polarised between the wealthy haves and the starving have nots. Olga has been selected and modified, trained from infancy to operate a critical orbital factory which could prove to be the salvation of the planet. The story takes us from her early attempts to master docking manoeuvres using the station’s simulators, her first space walks and exploration of the orbital facility of which she will one day be mistress - its processes and functions will become part of her mind and neurology. It chronicles her adventures in the matrix world of virtual reality and her successful transition at a very early age to mastery of her space-borne world high above a shattered earth. But taking charge of the station is not all smooth sailing - an explosion resulting from a space transport hitting an orbiting mine sends a destructive shower of debris to threaten the station with devastating effect, and an emergency rescue mission develops into something altogether more sinister. Can Olga keep the crucial facility running? Can planet Earth be saved?
Grond: The Raven High is top quality, classic science fiction. The plot is carefully paced, allowing the reader to assimilate many interesting concepts regarding the technology of the times, virtual reality, time compression and the fate of the planet, all of which are presented in a clear, accessible style. The book also has a bonus chapter from the next volume Grond II: The Blitzkrieg, which looks very promising. Yuri Hamaganov has created the basis of a great new series which I am sure will be welcomed by all sci-fi enthusiasts. A highly recommended book by a welcome new name in the genre. I wish Mr Hamaganov every success.
Grond: The Raven High is top quality, classic science fiction. The plot is carefully paced, allowing the reader to assimilate many interesting concepts regarding the technology of the times, virtual reality, time compression and the fate of the planet, all of which are presented in a clear, accessible style. The book also has a bonus chapter from the next volume Grond II: The Blitzkrieg, which looks very promising. Yuri Hamaganov has created the basis of a great new series which I am sure will be welcomed by all sci-fi enthusiasts. A highly recommended book by a welcome new name in the genre. I wish Mr Hamaganov every success.
July 24, 2017
The Earth is coming to an end. No water, no fertile lands, and those with money can escape to virtual worlds and those left behind are left to suffer. But there is hope. Seven Changed kids are orbiting the world. They are enhanced humans that have been raised by androids and their whole purpose is to save the world. This is Olga’s story, otherwise known as Raven. We will follow along as she grows into her position to run a water plant. But she knows nothing about what is really happening on the surface of the Earth and how many humans want her to fail just so their lives will end.
Olga lives in orbit over the Earth and we learn how she is one of seven that are the last hope for humanity. We follow along as her android nanny raised her and prepares her to help fulfills her role. The problem with this is the story revolves around her life. There is a lot of dialect as we learn of Olga, her world, and how she is expected to be running things when she is 10 years old. This caused a gap with me and I had a hard time really caring about her.
But over all I liked the idea of this story. It is a fresh look at a dying Earth and a possible resolution. Yuri Hamaganov is Russian and translated this from the original Russian version himself. I think he did a great job although you might find one or two places that don’t really flow.
I really liked this story and feel it was a great start to a new series. I am very curious about where Hamaganov if going to take the series next.
I received Grond: The Raven High from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Olga lives in orbit over the Earth and we learn how she is one of seven that are the last hope for humanity. We follow along as her android nanny raised her and prepares her to help fulfills her role. The problem with this is the story revolves around her life. There is a lot of dialect as we learn of Olga, her world, and how she is expected to be running things when she is 10 years old. This caused a gap with me and I had a hard time really caring about her.
But over all I liked the idea of this story. It is a fresh look at a dying Earth and a possible resolution. Yuri Hamaganov is Russian and translated this from the original Russian version himself. I think he did a great job although you might find one or two places that don’t really flow.
I really liked this story and feel it was a great start to a new series. I am very curious about where Hamaganov if going to take the series next.
I received Grond: The Raven High from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
January 12, 2018
GROND: THE RAVEN HIGH is a sci-fi novel written by Yuri Hamaganov. The novel is the first novel from the author’s series GROND Sci-Fi Dystopia novel series and as such, it serves as an introduction into the dystopian and maybe post-apocalyptic world in which children are being raised by android nannies and where our beloved Earth no longer has oceans.
The story of the novel, although has some already seen sci-fi elements, also has plenty of novelties which will draw the readers to the novel from the beginning to the very last page of the novel.
The year is 2086. Earth is no longer Earth, as we know it. The forests, the oceans, seas, almost everything has vanished. The world in which people live in 2086 is drastically altered and the only thing that seems to keep everything together is mysterious “Changed.” When a reader reads this, one cannot but wonder whether the Borg had occupied Earth and simply assimilated every living being. However, it appears that the sinister force from Star Trek was not the one to blame. What caused all this is up for us to discover. Overall, the novel has some very interesting premises, which will surely keep many readers occupied until they read it from covers to covers. The only thing I could find as something “against’’ the novel is a translation, which is a bit off. Nevertheless, the novel has many potentials. Keep it up!
The story of the novel, although has some already seen sci-fi elements, also has plenty of novelties which will draw the readers to the novel from the beginning to the very last page of the novel.
The year is 2086. Earth is no longer Earth, as we know it. The forests, the oceans, seas, almost everything has vanished. The world in which people live in 2086 is drastically altered and the only thing that seems to keep everything together is mysterious “Changed.” When a reader reads this, one cannot but wonder whether the Borg had occupied Earth and simply assimilated every living being. However, it appears that the sinister force from Star Trek was not the one to blame. What caused all this is up for us to discover. Overall, the novel has some very interesting premises, which will surely keep many readers occupied until they read it from covers to covers. The only thing I could find as something “against’’ the novel is a translation, which is a bit off. Nevertheless, the novel has many potentials. Keep it up!
June 26, 2017
Set in the nearby future, the year, 2086, GROND: The Raven high by Yuri Hamaganov tells the story of a young protagonist Olga. Her world is more technologically advanced, the Earth is nothing like we’ve seen before, and neither is the Universe.
It shows how the past, (our present) affected the future. Natural resources are depleted and the planet is dying. The poor human now have to look to space ands science to survive and depend on bioengineered superhuman to develop and deliver natural resources to sustain human life.
The concept of GROND was interesting and realistic. It is easy to imagine this future when we are beginning to lose natural resources today and climate change is a consequence. Society is broken and the novel describes how present day leaders and governments evolved the future. The story is going off a general idea of what can happen and made it unique. What frustrated me a bit was that it was a slow paced novel that gives an idea of an action packed thriller. Although the story moved slower than I wanted, it had a great base and sets up for a bigger story. The end made me want to think more about how the story would go.
It shows how the past, (our present) affected the future. Natural resources are depleted and the planet is dying. The poor human now have to look to space ands science to survive and depend on bioengineered superhuman to develop and deliver natural resources to sustain human life.
The concept of GROND was interesting and realistic. It is easy to imagine this future when we are beginning to lose natural resources today and climate change is a consequence. Society is broken and the novel describes how present day leaders and governments evolved the future. The story is going off a general idea of what can happen and made it unique. What frustrated me a bit was that it was a slow paced novel that gives an idea of an action packed thriller. Although the story moved slower than I wanted, it had a great base and sets up for a bigger story. The end made me want to think more about how the story would go.
January 16, 2018
Against a youth, futuristic cyberpunk period, Olga Voronov trains from a very young age to be a captain and pilot of a space ship transporting supplies. By the time she is ten she is expected to be experienced and on her own as a bioengineered superior human. Her android nanny, Arina Rodionovna, has been a teacher, mother, and companion from the very start of her existence on The High House. The High House was a space station that trained several for unique missions to solve some of Earth’s polluted state. Olga’s greatest achievement was the ability to manufacture and ship back to the earth a product that cleaned up the water supply. With the clean water came the abundance of life again, much to the elites’ dismay.
This is the first book of Yuri Hamaganov’s Grond Dystopia Seriers. It is very interesting as you learn about the training Olga must endure at such a young age and if I didn’t know it was a series I would probably consider it slow at first, but the training was important as she progresses with her destiny. Later you will see how this training saved her life and ultimately the lives of many on earth.
This is the first book of Yuri Hamaganov’s Grond Dystopia Seriers. It is very interesting as you learn about the training Olga must endure at such a young age and if I didn’t know it was a series I would probably consider it slow at first, but the training was important as she progresses with her destiny. Later you will see how this training saved her life and ultimately the lives of many on earth.
January 7, 2018
In “Grond: The Raven High” we are exposed to the sci-fi way of living in 2086. There are High Houses out on other planets that deliver precious supplies like water to devastated planets including Earth. One High House is mastered by an 11-year-old Russian girl Olga who is also called Raven. Raven is well trained and advanced for her age – more like a 25-year-old and she commands her ship to fight, defend and provide necessary supplies.
If you believe that the future is in the hands of the young then Grond will confirm your belief as Raven handles her command with strength, strategy and skills. The diction seems like that of a non-English person which I am not sure if it is deliberate as Olga is Russian and the author lives in Moscow. Some more editing is needed as there are a few misspellings, incorrect change in gender in relation to Olga, and the switching from 1st person to 3rd person is not very clear.
Overall a very good story that is the first of a series that can only get more exciting.
If you believe that the future is in the hands of the young then Grond will confirm your belief as Raven handles her command with strength, strategy and skills. The diction seems like that of a non-English person which I am not sure if it is deliberate as Olga is Russian and the author lives in Moscow. Some more editing is needed as there are a few misspellings, incorrect change in gender in relation to Olga, and the switching from 1st person to 3rd person is not very clear.
Overall a very good story that is the first of a series that can only get more exciting.
January 24, 2018
Engaging dystopian story. Olga is one is of the Changed, a child unlike any other who can save the Earth from total extinction. High up in space, she has been raised by her nanny and tutor Arina, an android who means the world to Olga in her work and her leisure. This book is very interesting to read. Even though the characters and setting is primarily Russian, it does not go over the heads of any other nationality. The author has created a multifaceted dystopia with well developed characters and an engaging storyline.
July 23, 2017
There is not a lack of imagination used by Yuri Hamaganov in writing this story. I was blown away by the sheer detail used in bringing the reader into the magical world he has created.
I loved the pacing in this story. It felt very believable and steady. The characters were plenty and well developed.
This is the first in a series and sets up the world and characters very well. I will be interested to see whats in store next!
I loved the pacing in this story. It felt very believable and steady. The characters were plenty and well developed.
This is the first in a series and sets up the world and characters very well. I will be interested to see whats in store next!
July 28, 2017
Yuri Hamaganov has a real talent for bringing to life characters that a reader just connects with and roots for from the very beginning.
The journey of Olga was very fun to read about.
Hamaganov has done a great job of bringing something new to the YA Sci-Fi. The plot is very well written and keeps the reader flipping pages.
The journey of Olga was very fun to read about.
Hamaganov has done a great job of bringing something new to the YA Sci-Fi. The plot is very well written and keeps the reader flipping pages.
July 31, 2017
Beautiful Book Cover, Beautiful Storyline, and Beautiful Characters. Yuri Hamaganov has really done an amazing job of bringing to life a Young Adult Sci-Fi story that is unique.
I loved the way he had plenty of Sci-Fi elements and action.
Hamaganov is a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more from him.
I loved the way he had plenty of Sci-Fi elements and action.
Hamaganov is a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more from him.
August 7, 2017
A wonderfully written Sci-Fi ride. It is a very well written and easy to follow and become immersed in. Yuri Hamaganov has created a action packed Young Adult Sci-Fi series that will keep the reader engaged and furiously flipping pages. You will without a doubt be ready for the next installment upon completion.
August 21, 2017
This novel really starts off with a bang and doesnt let up. Olga is a very strong lead and while I didn't always agree with her decisions, I did like her overall as a character.
She has a lot to deal with over the course of this novel.
I loved the way Yuri Hamaganov told the story. It was very well thought out and this really showed through the characters and setting.
She has a lot to deal with over the course of this novel.
I loved the way Yuri Hamaganov told the story. It was very well thought out and this really showed through the characters and setting.
September 8, 2017
I truly enjoyed this Dystopian world. I'm not going to lie, it took me a bit to get into this one and I was a bit confused about where the author was going with the story in the beginning, but once it started to unfold, I was in.
Olga was both naive and strong. I think she grew into herself during the course of the novel.
I liked the flow of the novel overall once it got moving.
Olga was both naive and strong. I think she grew into herself during the course of the novel.
I liked the flow of the novel overall once it got moving.
June 15, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a average story which could have been so much better.
The end really is a let down and leaves you hanging on so many story lines.
A second book is a must although whether I would bother reading, I don't know.
This is a average story which could have been so much better.
The end really is a let down and leaves you hanging on so many story lines.
A second book is a must although whether I would bother reading, I don't know.
November 18, 2017
Set in a future high above Planet Earth, “Grond: Raven High” stories Olga Voronov, a special worker ordered by her company to serve in outer space. It is written as science fiction based on the setting and time a lifetime into the post-apocalyptic future. However, the character’s internal and external themes could be understood as a diary of a present-day teen with a setting in post-Soviet Russia.
Olga Voronov is property of the Corporation, both internally and externally. As a child she was sold by her birth parents, a practice brought back due to extreme scarcity of goods and geopolitical uncertainty on Earth. She was raised by the company via an android named Arina Rodionovna, a strict headmaster imparting a skill set not commonly found in humans. Her prepubescence is spent away from her family, and much of the story takes place abroad the factory called High Ground, one of eight space stations (presumably Russian) orbiting above the Earth.
Olga is no ordinary human being; she is a Changed, but she is a creature perfecting her part. She is psychically as well as physically in operational command of High Ground as a result of her training. However, she is expected to perform under constant duress. In particular, the android introduces Olga to a series of difficult tests and equal amounts of criticism. The acceptance of such ultra-competitive pressure is unique in a readership where an individual is only prized by the proper demonstration of her talents. But her acceptance of such critique and her subsequent appeal to Arina’s authority is not typical of Western characters. Instead of responding with skepticism and interjection, Olga, who is not yet an adult, desires to conform and become the system’s best. This is most telling of a culture where success means not going her own way with or against a prevailing societal order. It is incalcitrance coming from the main character or author who is aware that her gift is tribute to a society (the androids abroad the High Ground) or culture (the Corporation that owns all High Grounds) that raised her.
Olga’s portrayal, however, leaves more to be desired. The author Yuri Hamaganov rightly discusses her relationship with the android Arina throughout the book, as it connects the reader to her emotions with minor characters in this science fiction. However, the chapters of focusing on those familial relationships are better spent talking about the High Ground or the Corporation. We learn that her relationship with her birth parents are fractured, but her loyalty to the factory is unbroken as she defends her from an attack, even at the cost of her life. The author makes well the point that more is expected of an elevated person like Olga. But what is more interesting is her emotional connection to the High Ground and the Corporation to the point where she values it more than her family, her uncle or even her android Arina. That is yet to be seen in the next serial volume.
Olga Voronov is property of the Corporation, both internally and externally. As a child she was sold by her birth parents, a practice brought back due to extreme scarcity of goods and geopolitical uncertainty on Earth. She was raised by the company via an android named Arina Rodionovna, a strict headmaster imparting a skill set not commonly found in humans. Her prepubescence is spent away from her family, and much of the story takes place abroad the factory called High Ground, one of eight space stations (presumably Russian) orbiting above the Earth.
Olga is no ordinary human being; she is a Changed, but she is a creature perfecting her part. She is psychically as well as physically in operational command of High Ground as a result of her training. However, she is expected to perform under constant duress. In particular, the android introduces Olga to a series of difficult tests and equal amounts of criticism. The acceptance of such ultra-competitive pressure is unique in a readership where an individual is only prized by the proper demonstration of her talents. But her acceptance of such critique and her subsequent appeal to Arina’s authority is not typical of Western characters. Instead of responding with skepticism and interjection, Olga, who is not yet an adult, desires to conform and become the system’s best. This is most telling of a culture where success means not going her own way with or against a prevailing societal order. It is incalcitrance coming from the main character or author who is aware that her gift is tribute to a society (the androids abroad the High Ground) or culture (the Corporation that owns all High Grounds) that raised her.
Olga’s portrayal, however, leaves more to be desired. The author Yuri Hamaganov rightly discusses her relationship with the android Arina throughout the book, as it connects the reader to her emotions with minor characters in this science fiction. However, the chapters of focusing on those familial relationships are better spent talking about the High Ground or the Corporation. We learn that her relationship with her birth parents are fractured, but her loyalty to the factory is unbroken as she defends her from an attack, even at the cost of her life. The author makes well the point that more is expected of an elevated person like Olga. But what is more interesting is her emotional connection to the High Ground and the Corporation to the point where she values it more than her family, her uncle or even her android Arina. That is yet to be seen in the next serial volume.
March 27, 2017
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/03/2...
Publisher: Yuri Hamaganov
Publishing Date: February 2017
ISBN: 9783452740812
Genre: SciFi / YA
Rating: 3.7/5
Publishers Description: In the year 2086, Earth is exhausted. The seas have been emptied, the bedrock and soil stripped of their resources, and the superheated atmosphere churns with terrible storms. Those who can afford to do so live in the limbo of virtual reality, and the billions who suffer in poverty have no work, no clean water, and no security from the chaos.
Review: Olga is super smart, super hot, super athletic and soon to be super rich. She is so fine that she nearly blew my mind (hey Mickey) and all this at the age of 10. An advanced human trained from an early age to run a manufacturing plant in Earth orbit, Olga is everything that you want to be but couldn’t because you suck comparatively. At the ripe old age of 10, Olga has the body of a young 20-something as they grow em fast in space.
So why do I like this novel so much? Refreshing SciFi, like a spring breeze blowing across your body while drinking in the scents of life. Yeah, like that. And dammit, I liked Olga. She was made speshul but those were just circumstances out of her control and behaves accordingly. She has no feeling for her birth family but loves the cyborg that raised her in space.
I had a good time reading this and wouldn’t hesitate to catch the next in series. Because you just can’t end a novel like that.
Publisher: Yuri Hamaganov
Publishing Date: February 2017
ISBN: 9783452740812
Genre: SciFi / YA
Rating: 3.7/5
Publishers Description: In the year 2086, Earth is exhausted. The seas have been emptied, the bedrock and soil stripped of their resources, and the superheated atmosphere churns with terrible storms. Those who can afford to do so live in the limbo of virtual reality, and the billions who suffer in poverty have no work, no clean water, and no security from the chaos.
Review: Olga is super smart, super hot, super athletic and soon to be super rich. She is so fine that she nearly blew my mind (hey Mickey) and all this at the age of 10. An advanced human trained from an early age to run a manufacturing plant in Earth orbit, Olga is everything that you want to be but couldn’t because you suck comparatively. At the ripe old age of 10, Olga has the body of a young 20-something as they grow em fast in space.
So why do I like this novel so much? Refreshing SciFi, like a spring breeze blowing across your body while drinking in the scents of life. Yeah, like that. And dammit, I liked Olga. She was made speshul but those were just circumstances out of her control and behaves accordingly. She has no feeling for her birth family but loves the cyborg that raised her in space.
I had a good time reading this and wouldn’t hesitate to catch the next in series. Because you just can’t end a novel like that.
April 1, 2017
For a book with a completely unrelatable protaganist where nothing happens and everything is just unrelatably perfect for the first 2/3rds of the book, it's pretty good. It's a sci-fi dystopia complete with space travel, loving androids, explosions, mutants, and conspiracies (a.k.a. everything you want in a novel). The final third of the book makes it worth the wait.
April 14, 2017
*ebook given through netgalley which doesn't have effect on my opinion*
I enjoyed trough whole book! I loved the charachters and all the feeling I get from the book. I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone who likes a dystopian novels.
I enjoyed trough whole book! I loved the charachters and all the feeling I get from the book. I would deffinately recommend this book to anyone who likes a dystopian novels.
April 18, 2017
Voto: 3*** e 1/2
Quando ho letto la trama di questo romanzo non ho potuto far altro che aderire al blog tour ed esplorare i meandri di “Grond. The Raven High” primo volume di una cospicua serie (8 nell’idea dell’autore) ambientata nell’anno 2086 in un mondo che ha esaurito tutte le sue risorse, la cui unica possibilità di sopravvivere è affidata ai Changed, sette bio ingegneri solo in parte umana. Il loro compito è quello di studiare nanomateriali in grado di ripulire la terra da tutte le sostanze inquinanti che hanno distrutto l’atmosfera.
In “Grond” faremo la conoscenza di Olga Voronov, la più giovane di questi geni, la più ribelle ma anche l’unica che può trovare la soluzione definitiva. Ma non tutti sono d’accordo che salvare l’umanità sia una buona idea.
Ecco la mia impressione su questo romanzo che ha messo a dura prova le mie capacità di lettura in lingua inglese: https://wonderfulmonsterbook.wordpres...
Quando ho letto la trama di questo romanzo non ho potuto far altro che aderire al blog tour ed esplorare i meandri di “Grond. The Raven High” primo volume di una cospicua serie (8 nell’idea dell’autore) ambientata nell’anno 2086 in un mondo che ha esaurito tutte le sue risorse, la cui unica possibilità di sopravvivere è affidata ai Changed, sette bio ingegneri solo in parte umana. Il loro compito è quello di studiare nanomateriali in grado di ripulire la terra da tutte le sostanze inquinanti che hanno distrutto l’atmosfera.
In “Grond” faremo la conoscenza di Olga Voronov, la più giovane di questi geni, la più ribelle ma anche l’unica che può trovare la soluzione definitiva. Ma non tutti sono d’accordo che salvare l’umanità sia una buona idea.
Ecco la mia impressione su questo romanzo che ha messo a dura prova le mie capacità di lettura in lingua inglese: https://wonderfulmonsterbook.wordpres...
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