Review: "Voracity" by Geralt Petrovsky

Voracity: The Cognitive Age novel of youth and hardships in America.

The time period and the events that occur within is reflected back in this artist’s work. The 16th century had the famous William Shakespeare and his creatively crafted sonnets. The 20th century thrived on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s pieces, such as the renowned “The Great Gatsby”. Presently, in the 21st century, we have been blessed with the literary genius Geralt Petrovsky. An American born Polish author, Petovsky takes the next step in delivering a deeply-woven story that has the power to make you feel the realities of the backgrounds and hardships of each character in his imagined towns and cities.

In his recent novel “Voracity”, you dive feet first right into the life of Piotr Wennellewski, a man who feels much more like a boy than he should. He physically bloomed early but mentally bloomed late. He was a bright young man, but he had Asperger’s. Socializing for him is as hard as getting an Oscar is for Leonardo DiCaprio. Piotr had many an acquaintance but few friends that he could call his own.

This is where Geralt’s genius comes into play. For he himself is a man with Asperger’s it makes sense for him to be writing the story of a man who may have thought or lived as he had. Though Piotr felt alone he was merely a piece on the gameboard of Petrovsky’s master plan. He and three others make up the pieces to this game of life. Each with their own story and function. Entirely different backgrounds that set each other apart yet bring each other so close together.

An absolutely vivid novel that intertwines people of separate roads that seem so different yet so alike. In the first few chapters we quickly are taught the basics of Piotr and who he is but the deeper sides of him are hidden to us. It is not until later, close to the ever looming conclusion that he is united with the other three characters.

Each and every character has cultures that surround them. Whether it be the hobbies they enjoy, the hardships they endure, or the goals they dream of achieving. In a city full of happenings it mirrors many of the things we see in the world we live in today. Large bustling cities full of life, but amidst the busy working bees and the smoky industrial life are deeper turmoils. Issues that plague individuals rather than groups that divide people for there is not an immediately recognized pain that is shared. While many hurt, they feel as if they are the only ones to hurt, or that their hurt is different. They shy from help and people trying to conversate with them.

As a reviewer of books and other forms of media I feel glad to have a review on a pure form of art such as this for it truly allows me to delve deeper into things that relate to myself, my culture, and the people around me. It is not often that we get to experience art so grand as this.

Many writers or artists tend to lose quality because a lot of art mediums have turned to mere monetization, another topic touched on in this novel. They focus on the creation of many pieces of art rather than quality art. In movies and books we are given many cliches, hyped up problems and overly heroic characters that despite being put in such turmoil singlehandedly defeat something portrayed as the end game. However this is not the case with Geralt and his writing style. He is rather mysterious in his ways leaving many clues to be followed, or hides things from the reader saving them for the “grand opening” of a plot line or back story. The issues even in his much more fantasy fiction books still maintain realistic stories. Despite containing monsters, mythical beings, and the like, he maintains reasonably sized issues to be tackled that in some cases spiral off into entirely new problems that were not foreseen.

In Voracity this is displayed with a fine touch. Piotr had not had contact with anyone for a while and he slowly drifted away from his friend Michael on the path to graduating high school. While in his daily life he progresses as if in a stupor. He merely flows with the day and carries out metabolic necessities. ​

Overall I would have to give this book a 9.3/10. Geralt is not the type of writer to write sequels. He has always hit us with fresh new stories each and every time. The average rating on Rottenmangos.com is a 89/100 and the mega critic review is a 4.4 out of 5 star. If these statistics aren’t enough to convince you then ask around with the people you know. Chances are at least one of them has read this book and has positive things to say.

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