The Road to Magic (Путь Демона #1)

The world that Glushanovsky paints is wonderfully-saturated with elements from all over the fantasy genre—though this is not simply a tale of sword and sorcery. These classical fantasy figures are well-executed and have the sensibility of a seasoned Russian fantasy novel, especially since this is part of a tetralogy previously published in Russia. Readers of George R.R. Martin, Raymond Feist and Stephen R. Donaldson will adore THE ROAD TO MAGIC.

There are exciting parallel narratives at work in THE ROAD TO MAGIC. On one level we have the handsome playboy Oleg Davidov as a modern-day college student; on another level we have Oleg the demon savior of the princess; and on another level, Oleg the monster hunter. Like Harry Potter, Oleg was once a normal boy until he is magnificently transformed into something supernatural, which is later used as a commentary/comic relief tool once Oleg is a demon. That’s what you get when you dabble in magic with a demoness. Rarely does Oleg ever approach the world of fantasy as an outsider—in fact he feels right at home in that world. After Oleg resolves the princess’s plight, he then takes off to learn magic at the university—but not before Oleg can slay some monsters in a few Herculean feats on his way to becoming a student of magic. Readers will also learn a lot about Russian pop-culture from reading THE ROAD TO MAGIC. The complex story, moving along at a brisk pace, presents an intelligent take on the nature of fantasy gods and the human relationship to both gods and monsters.

Glushanovsky expertly draws raw, compelling characters with depth and surprising twists. No one is more real than Oleg, the multi-dimensional main character who is one of the most original and engaging characters you’ll encounter. Glushanovsky's references to pop-culture gives the book a fascinating window into the youth of today. It's one of the many things about THE ROAD TO MAGIC that sets the book apart from all the Tolkein and Robert Jordan clones that have flooded the fantasy market. This, plus the strong character of Oleg, gives the book a delightful and engrossing feel, making it a totally unique work of fantasy.