9780062350718
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Wildalone audiobook

  • By: Krassi Zourkova
  • Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
  • Category: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance
  • Length: 14 hours 6 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: January 06, 2015
  • Language: English
  • (3573 ratings)
(3573 ratings)
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Wildalone Audiobook Summary

In this enchanting and darkly imaginative debut novel full of myth, magic, romance, and mystery, a Princeton freshman is drawn into a love triangle with two enigmatic brothers, and discovers terrifying secrets about her family and herself–a bewitching blend of Twilight, The Secret History, Jane Eyre, and A Discovery of Witches.

Arriving at Princeton for her freshman year, Thea Slavin finds herself alone, a stranger in a strange land. Away from her family and her Eastern European homeland for the first time, she struggles to adapt to unfamiliar American ways and the challenges of college life–including an enigmatic young man whose brooding good looks and murky past intrigue her. Falling into a romantic entanglement with Rhys and his equally handsome and mysterious brother, Jake, soon draws Thea into a sensual mythic underworld as irresistible as it is dangerous.

In this shadow world that seems to mimic Greek mythology and the Bulgarian legends of the Samodivi or “wildalones”–forest witches who beguile and entrap men–she will discover a shocking secret that threatens everything she holds dear. And when the terrifying truth about her own family is revealed, it will transform her forever . . . if she falls under its spell.

Mesmerizing and addictive, The Wildalone is a thrilling blend of the modern and the fantastic. Krassi Zourkova creates an atmospheric world filled with rich characters as fascinating and compelling as those of Diana Gabaldon, Deborah Harkness, and Stephenie Meyer.

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Wildalone Audiobook Narrator

Barrie Kreinik is the narrator of Wildalone audiobook that was written by Krassi Zourkova

Krassi Zourkova grew up in Bulgaria and moved to the United States to study art history at Princeton. After college, she graduated from Harvard Law School, and she has practiced finance law in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, where she currently lives. Her poems have appeared in various literary journals, and her essay, "Book Collecting in the Absence of Books," about compiling a personal library under Communist censorship, won first prize in essay contests at Princeton and Harvard. Krassi is an accomplished musician, and her love of Chopin and her national folklore inspired Wildalone.

About the Author(s) of Wildalone

Krassi Zourkova is the author of Wildalone

More From the Same

Wildalone Full Details

Narrator Barrie Kreinik
Length 14 hours 6 minutes
Author Krassi Zourkova
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date January 06, 2015
ISBN 9780062350718

Subjects

The publisher of the Wildalone is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

Additional info

The publisher of the Wildalone is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062350718.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Nicole

November 28, 2014

This book is amazing guys, it really is. When I first read the tittle I was confused, because I didn’t know what it meant but as I read I understood. This book has a lot of Greek mythology and I just couldn’t stop reading. If you love Greek mythology, read this book. If you don’t like Greek mythology: still, read it. You’ll like it anway. Zourkova describes everything perfectly. Her way of writing is so rich, so pure and so open, I fell in love with it instantly. Zourkova has a wonderful story in her hands and she knows it. She made magic with it and she lures you right into it. The author creates a perfect balance with this book; it has just the right amount of everything, nothing more and nothing less. Sure it has a love triangle but it’s not a soppy one. Jake and Rhys complement one another. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do. You’ll love one brother more than the other (trust me, I do.) but you will still need them both. Thea is wise beyond her age, she doesn’t let anyone stop her and even though she isn’t American, she fits right in. And this 3 make a perfect team. Even though it seems disturbing this love triangle has its own way of working. Not many authors know how to work a love triangle, but Zourkova surely did.

Tabitha

April 21, 2020

[2nd Reading] Five years after, I still agree with my first impressions of this ultra-cool novel, but found myself irritated with Thea this time around. Seriously reed-in-the-wind: grow a backbone! Other than that, what a great novel. Rhys is still the best part. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a modern Gothic (in a contemporary setting) as enthralling as Wildalone. Reminiscent of novels such as The Secret History and Lake of Dead Languages, Wildalone is a flawless blend of myth, fated love, and Gothic suspense. Among the many things that I loved about this novel was the way in which Zourkova interweaves Greek and Bulgarian myth, finding the commonalities between the two and creating her own, unique brand of myth. It was wild and harsh and carried the story through its entirety. One of my favorite chapters in the book involved Thea’s memory of visiting her estranged family in far-away town in Bulgaria; it had beautiful, subtle elements of suspense. I also loved the way in which the mysterious, vanished sister ultimately factors into the conflict. Elsa’s story is relayed to the reader in a gentle unfolding that leaves you just enough time to wish that it weren’t so, but to be horrifically fascinated when you realize that it is (I’m being vague here as to avoid too many spoilers). The other truly defining element of this story (for me) was Rhys. He is a resplendent, emotional-roller coaster of a character. Part “Alpha Male”, part tortured soul; his story (like Elsa’s) was executed brilliantly, showing just enough of what we needed to know at just the right moments. I loved the fact that I was enraged with him one moment and saying “…….Ooooh” the next. I also enjoyed the exploration into the triangular relationship between Rhys, Jake, and Thea. Upon reading the book’s blurb, I falsely assumed that it would be a consensual relationship and was surprised when it wasn’t. I struggled with the validity of Thea’s feelings towards Jake; in fact, I could make a really good argument for why Thea’s feelings for Jake are ri-donk-ulous. However, I enjoyed being so caught up in my feelings over a character, or group of characters. And the side-lining conflict of Rhys/Thea/ and (insert spoiler here): aching, devastating, and so well rendered. If there was anything dissatisfying about Wildalone, it was my desire for more when it ended. I appreciated the ambiguity of the end, though I would L-O-V-E a sequel or even a prequel; I think a prequel which focused on-ahem-“other” characters would be super!Regardless, this was a spectacular first effort by Zourkova and I impatiently await her next novel.

Carrie-Anne

January 01, 2015

I have some good news and bad news for readers of Wildalone by Krassi Zourkova. The good news is that I cannot tell you clearly enough how unique and refreshing this book is! The bad news is that I am not sure how many reasons to give you without spoiling the plot. As an author and avid reader myself I wasn't expecting the contents of this story. What truly blows me away is that this is Zourkova's debut novel. It's beautifully written and the plot is well executed. She is a written illustrator of unparalleled talent. Seriously. You don't just see red poppies. You smell them. You can feel the warmth of the petals between your fingers after you pluck one from the sunny fields. It's incredible. On to the plot. How many times have you read a book with the tired dynamic of "girl loves one boy and his brother too?" I can think of five titles with that general plot without trying. However, throw in the mystical Bulgarian folklore waifs called "samodivi" and the dynamic changes. Just like that. Add in a god from Greek mythology and the dynamic turns again. For good measure, lets throw in an older sister of our main character who died on an elite college campus fifteen years prior but was never talked about. Interested yet? You should be. In a tragic tale of death/disappearance, carnal longing for one brother you cannot have, and a sense of obligation to the brother who reached you first. You cannot tell which direction Thea, our Bulgarian piano prodigy, will choose to lean until the very last page. Knowing her older sister, Elza, was found dead on campus, Thea already feels that there are facts she must know. Thrown headfirst into a professional concert atmosphere she sees a shadow drop a rose and nothing more. A short time later she gets her first assignment and meets the mystery shadow in another dark corner. No name. Not even a good look at him. He promises to find her. Instead his equally attractive brother Rhys finds in a morning fog. By the time she realizes her mistake it's too late to change it. Now Thea is torn between tragic Rhys and his self sacrificing younger brother, Jake. Both men have good qualities but she feels pulled toward both and cannot decide. Then, the shoe drops. To go into more detail would be to spoil your reading pleasure so I'll stop there. Suffice it to say that have never read a book with this story line. Zourkova gives fabulous descriptions of her native Bulgaria without spending long periods of time there. She introduces and explains her countries folklore and the stunning differences to our own. She then seamlessly weaves them into a tale in America in a way that makes the reader why they hadn't looked at these things before. It's truly engrossing. This is an absolute five star read and I highly recommend it to readers of all genres. There is something in here for everyone. I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

Branimira

February 12, 2015

"Wildalone" by Krassi Zourkova- a book, which barely left my hands as I submerged in an unexpected journey through the magical labyrinths of mythology and folk tale, all crowned by lush poetic language and mind-invigorating details bearing the breath of hypnotic suspense. My encounter with it occurred in the most unexpected place ever-one of Boston Logan Airport's newsstands. It was a drop of mystery but as soon as I spot it, I was stuck to the title and moreover, the words about the author...a Bulgarian woman who studied art history in Princeton and thereafter graduated Harvard Law School...One gets stuck to the pages like dew to fresh green grass on a crispy spring morning. I have devoured the novel with inexplicable hunger and anticipation. The story evolves around a legend: one of Bulgaria's most enchanting and most beautiful tales...the one about "samodivi" or wildalones (I love this word!). This, intricately blended with the main character's (a girl from Bulgaria, her name being Thea Slavin) puzzling experience as a freshman at Princeton...What more can I say...? Dare take the journey yourself!

Edward

October 23, 2014

Krassi Zourkova’s genial first novel “Wildalone” seamlessly fuses several genres of fiction, both popular and academic. If your tastes run to either or both you’re in for a bonanza of deep and delicious references. Without great effort, her work paves a crossroads between the separate universes of young adult, female erotica, mythology, crime/mystery, fantasy and memoir. I could easily see her material making the jump to television or the big screen. It just has that feel, with deep plot lines that lead the imagination in many directions.Her writing maintains an intelligence and vulnerability that conjures Anaïs Nin and the deftly interwoven mysticism of Mikhail Bulgakov. It is at once seductive and inspiring. I found myself peeling away layers of reality in my mind’s eye to see the fantastic potentials in the everyday. I can't wait to see what she conjures next!

Makenna

January 07, 2016

Intoxicating characters and beautiful prose. Absolutely one of my new favorites!

Sara

February 04, 2015

Sometimes being a book reviewer is really difficult. On one hand, you will inevitably get really terrible books and you have to write about them, being fully honest on what you didn't like, but word it carefully so that a person wouldn't automatically dismiss it, maybe try it for themselves and form their own opinion. On the other hand, sometimes you get books that are so incredibly great that you aren't sure you can even make a convincing argument why a person should read this book other than, "it's so great and it'll move you". Because ultimately, as a book reviewer, you hope that what you write convinces someone to go purchase the book, get it from the library, do something with it beyond adding it the to "to-read" list we all have and likely will never finish in our lifetime. Because some books? Some books are worth bumping to the top.This is absolutely one of them.I feel so unequipped to give this a worthy review, but I'm going to really try. After reading the book it really is a mix of Twilight (Jake and Rhys both vying for Thea is very much like Edward and Jacob), it's so very much like Discovery of Witches (lots of Greek mythology, art history, magic, witchery, etc), but I also felt it was a little like Angelology (with Thea uncovering a mystery in her past and the ending... the ending is so much like the ending of Angelology that I had a little gasp). This book is the absolute perfect blend of thriller, mystery, paranormal, romance, magic and even a little chick lit because you can't help but be endeared by Thea, a Bulgarian trying to make it in America and understand culture here. But what sets this book apart is that no matter how you feel about Greek mythology, whether you have no idea about much of it and could care less (me), or you are an avid fan, you find yourself interested and learning. Your heart hurts for Thea who lost her sister (literally) at Princeton 15 years earlier under mysterious circumstances. She died and her body was found... but then disappeared from the funeral home and nobody has any clue why or where it went. And that's not good enough for Thea, who can't help but feel like there was far more to her sister's mystery than what meets the eye. It doesn't help that seemingly everyone who knew her sister Elza speaks to Thea in riddles and she's having to figure it all out on her own. It feels like her death is somehow connected to strange rituals thought long forgotten but that surely doesn't make sense, does it? Enter Rhys. Mysterious, definitely brooding, enigmatic, alluring, everything you want in a bad boy. Something is very off with him though Thea can't place it and she's not even sure she wants to because what she does know is that she can't be without him. Thoughts of him consume her and though her friends think he's a bit much, a little over bearing and definitely possessive, she doesn't care. Then she meets Jake, his almost identical looking brother who she finds out is who she thought Rhys was (sounds weird, but I can't explain it further otherwise it ruins a good part of the book for you) and here we begin the battle between brothers. One is the safe choice, one is definitely not but she doesn't know why. She doesn't know the strings that comes with the one brother, until the end, and when she makes a decision- it's almost too late. Because with every great book comes an ending. And the ending isn't always what it should be. What you want it to be. Angelology is one of my favorite books because I felt all of the torment and the struggle the main character had once she learned what she really was. And she had to make a choice at the end and I don't think she made the right one. Not at all. But in Wildalone, as we're getting to the end, and I feel my heartbreak coming on because one of the brothers loves Thea so much that he is willing to die for her, Thea makes a desperate visit to the Underworld and... we learn so much while she's there. She does as well. We learn how flawed her sister was, how nothing was really as it seemed and.. we cut to her seemingly on her way to a decision. But that's it. So it's almost like... a build your own ending but not really. I don't always say this and I might regret it as I did with Angelology because the sequel to that books was TERRIBLE and made me hate everything I loved about the first one, but I kind of hope Wildalone has a sequel. Just to indulge me, not because one is needed. This is the type of book I don't want to part with the characters, I feel like I know too much of the story and I still want more. Does that make sense? But I'll leave you with this- it is my absolute hope that the unsaid ending is not like Orpheus essentially giving up and letting the maenads kill him because he lost the love of his life, Eurydice. (Which is the Greek myth heavily referenced in this book, so stay with me, I'm not talking crazy.) I hope the brother, the one so madly in love with Thea, doesn't end this way because I don't know if I could bear it. I just couldn't. Because what Thea feels for the safe brother isn't the kind of thing that lasts a lifetime, or even beyond. It's not. It's safe and secure. But the other brother... that's happiness beyond what she could hope for. Even with the strings attached. And with that, I leave you. Please add this to your to-read list, go and buy the book (Amazon or Barnes & Noble) and then let me know what you think. I said it last night on Facebook that though this is only January, this is a contender for book of the year for me. I cannot get enough of the writing, the characters, the cover (God this cover is gorgeous and now I want a bouquet of poppies. I need a guy to give me a vase of poppies, and my husband said poppies are stupid.), just the amount of research that goes into putting such a great novel together blows my mind and truly. It's so great. I can't say how great this is enough.

Alice

October 11, 2014

This is a remarkable first novel, beautifully written and insightful. The initial chapters read true and are -- largely autobiographical. Krassi Zourkova immigrated to the USA to enter Princeton on scholarship. The story of her experience is both highly personal and also a jolting inside view of the culture at this Ivy League college and its eating clubs and academic experience. The main character is a brilliant musician, we follow her to Carnegie Hall while only a freshman, catapulted by the immediate deep appreciation of her talent by well connected Princeton faculty. Interlaced is an engaging mystery that leads her to delve into witchcraft in an identity search for her sister who died under mysterious circumstances, also at Princeton.

Lydia

January 30, 2015

From the very beginning, Krassi Zourkova draws you into a world that is at once vivid and dreamy, stunning and mysterious. With a beautiful writing style that I liken to painting with words, she introduces us to places and characters that we can see as clearly as if we were watching a movie. We're introduced to ancient myths and creatures against the backdrop of present day. There's romance, intrigue, and elements of the supernatural - an incredible read from start to finish. I highly recommend this book!!!

BORYANA

October 05, 2014

This stunning debut novel is the embodiment of what every "good reader" wants - page-turning mystery, dark romance, Greek mythology, a bit of history about parts of the world few know much about, all set on the campus of the prestigious Princeton University. This hypnotic tale centers around the love (and loss) triangle of two privileged but deeply conflicted brothers and a talented Bulgarian freshman and the journey the three protagonists embark on would not let you put the book down. Or want to leave their world for that matter. I can't wait for the sequel!

Mateo13

February 22, 2015

Much deeper book than I expected. Must say, it's refreshing to see so much achieved with such sparingness of expression - the book is 384 pages, but doesn't feel long and the writing has a poetic immediacy I rarely find in fiction. I loved everything about Wildalone: the mystery, the interwoven myths, the mystic feel, the paranormal elements, the doomed love story... Out of curiosity, I did check out some of the 1-star reviews and now am a bit vexed. Stalking and rape? Really?? I think that's an absurd (not to mention simplistic) reading of this beautifully complex story. But I'll skip the spoilers and let others read Wildalone and judge for themselves. For me, the book was a welcome reminder just how profoundly nuanced human relationships can be. If you want formulaic and simple, don't read this one.

Vikki

November 13, 2014

Wildalone, brilliant, beautifully written novel by talented Krassi Zourkova is by far my top favourite read. I can't wait for her next clever, intelligent masterpiece.

Yaritza

March 12, 2015

Very sad I am done reading this book, left me wanting for more. This book deserves more than five stars. Absolutely enchanting from the very begginning. Each character left me wild, untamed and trapped. This book had urban/Greek myth. I finished this book in about three days straight couldn't take my eyes away from it. Each character had there own secret which made it very interesting. As you read you assumme that certain characters were involve with Elza's disappearance. The love that Thea has for Jake and Rhys is unexplainable. Too love a man who you don't know, other then seeing him from afar and then start dating a man you assume is the same person would make any person confused and frustrated. Rhys is a character who rubbed off the wrong way. Felt like he was the man I would stay away from because he could harm me. Jake is smart, quiet and loyal to his brother even when he was taking his happiness away. I was in complete shock when I discovered who Rhys was and what acutually happened to Elza. I grew frustrated as I read because I really felt that Jake is her one true love and a future life couldn't be dealt with Rhys because of his commitment. Krassi did an amazing job in writing a book that kept me interested from the beginning, had mystery and secrets to be told. This story was written naturally just as a pianist touches each key without thought but with passion. Can't wait to see what Thea decides for her future on the next novel. Thanks so much for letting me read such an amazing book. I highly recommend you read it.

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