A bold novel. It tackles a subject whose truthfulness people still both believe in and doubt about. It is an esoteric theme that poses the question of whether we truly feel connected to the past, to tradition, and to our own roots.
It is a very contemporary story about a family facing the problems of everyday life and of relationships within the family nucleus and also outside of it, as they relate to contemporary society. The difficulties that arise seem to divide the loved ones, but, against all logical expectations, they grow stronger in their union as they must shield themselves against life’s adversities.
The driving force of the narrative is the protagonist called Selene. She identifies with Lady Hestia: a modern representation of an ancient Greek deity whose task was to keep the sacred fire of the home alive, to guard the hearth. It is a duty that Selene/Hestia fulfills admirably.
The conflict of the novel, h
however, lies in the internal contradiction the leading character has. She is a woman who, having the gift of a medium, manages to stand on the threshold between today’s world and the one of four centuries ago, between the reality of the living and the one of souls suspended between life and death. These are presences that are not acknowledged except in the creative world (like literature and cinema) and in the Catholic Church when it speaks of exorcism.
Selene’s approach to the world that is inaccessible to most is not classical at all. But it is profoundly human. As a sensitive, Lady Hestia gives voice back to the souls of other times, recognizing their value and understanding the circumstances that had marked their destinies.
It is a most curious and constant dialogue between communicating worlds that meet and clash. One of them (the real one) denies existence to the unreal. But the unreal breaks in, victorious, and manifests itself, silencing all the pragmatists and the skeptics.
It is a novel worth reading at least to understand what is true in the story proposed by the author. And it will only be lived experiences that will lead readers to believe in it fully, to not believe in it, or to remain in the dimension of doubt.
The real world, here, is very tangible and dense with meaning. The unreal world is an infinity of silences and mysteries. Reading this work is recommended to all those passionate about esotericism, mystery, and a journey in which the soul reveals itself.
Review by Olga Matsyna
