Cinder

Cinder by Robin Murarka is a surreal and atmospheric blend of cosmic horror, science fiction, and literary fiction.

The story creates a haunting sense of isolation and unease, with strong emotional undertones and striking imagery.

Overall, it’s an intriguing read for fans of experimental, mood driven speculative fiction.

I felt everything…

…I really did. Nothing could prepare me for the intensity of emotions and feelings this novel would uncover in me. I did not know I was able to fully immerse myself so intimately with a piece of literature, not just the storyline, the humanity, the environment - I WAS the character, the emotions, the hidden dark corners of my brain, and more.

While it is one of the shorter novels Robin has birthed, this did not compromise the quality, intensity or completeness in any respect. In fact, it is one of the things I appreciate most when I look back on it, as it signifies to me how carefully curated and considered every aspect of the reading experience is and was - no stone is left unturned and the reader is considered, respected and taken care of every step of the way. It was neither too short, nor too long, and at no point do I look back with any lack of resolve.

Some of you may have read a previous review of mine on one of Robin’s other novels ‘The Pedophile’ stating that I have not really written reviews for a very long time - one of the reasons being because there just is just so much poor quality literature out there, and I often feel quite disrespected as a reader, that I wish to put no further investment towards it, and instead wish to look for and remain hopeful towards good quality gems that I can more willingly credit and experience. On the other hand as well, when I do stumble across something worthwhile, I like to keep it close to my heart and treasure and experience it as much as possible, greedy to keep the ‘treasure’ to myself as a means of ‘protecting’ it I guess. Anyway, as per my review on ‘The Pedophile’, these recent releases of Robin’s have pushed me further, realizing that I need to say something or do something more to thank and give credit where credit is due, as keeping it to myself is making me ‘burst at the seams’ a little as I do want other readers, like myself to be encouraged to remain hopeful and invested towards giving certain authors the benefit of the doubt, no matter how burned out you might feel from being exposed to the lack of substance and literary merit out there.

So, as said earlier, Robin’s writing, especially in this novel, I feel respected as a reader, as I am given safety and ‘permission’ to fully embrace the characters’ experiences and my own. I was allowed to react. To gasp. To panic. To hold my breath. To feel. I was so unbelievably immersed, that I actually fully felt the pain, the claustrophobia, the isolation, the turmoil beyond anything any novel or literature I recall before it has. There was no reprieve to the intensity of the experience, which usually is a horrible thing as often this is done very poorly, but this brings me back to what I said earlier - I was respected as a reader, as the presentation, including the length of the novel and the ‘resolution’ of sorts, was masterfully done. I was given permission to fully embrace and experience everything. I didn’t need to run away. I didn’t need to stop. And I wasn’t left hanging.

How is that possible if it is such a short novel? I have no idea - it is just art. This is, I believe, storytelling in its truest form - it doesn’t shy away from what might be uncomfortable or ‘ugly’.

So yes, it is intense. Yes it is highly uncomfortable. But you are supported while you immerse yourself in it, or at least I felt I was - which is the strongest point I wish to credit the author and the writing for as it is so incredibly hard to find and I believe it is very hard to do well, as often times, we first have to navigate a lot of unnecessary waste and weeds to find it.

I find it hard to comment on things like literary techniques or specific parts or plot points etc, as I do not want to inhibit or guide any future readers’ interpretation or experience and I just simply wanted to share my honest and unfiltered experience wherever I could. I also want people to know that I personally believe it is worth it. It is worth letting yourself be guided and immersed. While it was uncomfortable, I learned a lot about myself and have become further enthralled by what well-written literature can unveil. I will be reading it again

It is rare today to encounter such eloquent prose as leaps from the pages of this alluring book. Robin celebrates the mastery of language, as the opening passage demonstrates: ‘She’s having a nightmare. How do you know? I can feel it. It doesn’t make sense. There is terror. She will awaken, and nothing will be there. No figure in the black. She does not know that. It could be real. There could be. There is. He is there. He is staring at her. Silently. I tell you, he is there. Watching her. Silently. I tell you, he is there. Watching her. She must open her eyes and look. She must check. Check. Check. Check, Cinder. Check.’

Murarka invites us into the mesmerizing world of Cinder and her husband Absul, binding concepts such as entropy ( a system’s degree of disorder or randomness, intrinsically linked to the inevitability of energy dissipation), science, perception, vision, and variations of reality in a story that enters the mind and becomes the core of endless other tales. This is magic – or is it? Read and consider…

This gripped me from the first chapter, you just have to know more. Pick this up if you like weird mystery combined with existential commentary which equals a delightful prose. Robin's writing is something to look out for, it is immersive, raw and captures the human train of thought perfectly, but you do not know if the line of reasoning is always real of imaginative. That is to say we spend a lot of time in Cinder's thoughts and ,at first, you don't always know what is real but it's depicted in a beautifully erratic way, intense and uncomfortable. This reminded me of "Die ,my love", they deal with very different topics but it did make me think of it. I will definitely pick up more from this author.

I devoured this book… I ran myself a bath. I opened the first page. I stayed in that bath until the water went cold. I just COULD NOT put this book down.

I loved this story. It was heartbreaking, horrific, hauntingly beautiful and so, so tender. I loved the chaos and entropy contrasted against the absolute meticulous order and restriction of Cinder’s world. There is one scene near the start of the book, which I absolutely adored- where Cinder takes the most precious and restricted resource, water, and diligently goes around her courtyard and waters her artificial plants. It’s just sublime. Murarka seems to have such a knack with nuance.

In her tiny, cubed, restricted world, the chaos of Cinder’s thoughts and struggles are so poignant and beautifully described. Some of the scenes are horrific and violent, so jarring and shocking, that it took my breath away.

And all of this is set against the love Cinder has with her husband, which is described in such detail, with such nuance in their intimate actions that I would almost think this was based on a real relationship. This was a beautiful story, and one that I will read again, as there is so much depth that I feel sure that there is still more for me to uncover and explore.

This author.. this author!! I don't know what to say exactly. I can't feel one definitive description of this book. Long after reading Cinder you will be asking: "What exactly was that about? It leaves you thinking.... re-examining...

As Robin Murarka notes at the end: "What a magnificent time, to be able to freely write what the creative mind manifests, both tantalizing and frightening, and even sometimes dangerous".

Agreed.