This fiction novel, the second part of the trilogy from Predrag Šiđanin did not disappoint.

The multi-layered reality setting means the book requires lateral steps from the reader to follow two or more stories of the protagonists who were mostly introduced in the first book, "Surprise Mode" - but not all.

Ema, the narrator of the story within, is an invisible whisperer to the main girl character, whose love with the main male character started in novel one and continues here. In this novel, she finds her origins and a close relative who, no surprise there, also featured in book 1 as one of the mystical and surreal characters there. It makes sense to read the novels in the order they were written, and Ema reminds us of this. If I can erase memory, I'd be interested to read them in reverse, though.

In its original version in the Serbian language, the work from Šiđanin uses both modern phrases/slang and great literary language and brings to attention lesser-known and forgotten phrases. I'd hope that translations give this aspect justice. The rich and full-bodied text is more engaging as the book progresses.

Although some parts are set in well-known world cities and places, it's up to the reader to root the story in any country or city, giving an international reader space to imagine and invent.

I thoroughly recommend this read whose surreal elements are taking the multi-layered reality to the next level, with VR sets being marginalized and set aside but crazy intuition and interesting vivid events still happen.

Finally the book gives a wonderful overtire to the third novel in the trilogy, that a keen reader will be compelled to take on next.. I cant wait to get it and start reading it.

                                                                                                             Bojan Vukasinovic, London, GB