From Kazakhstan to Cosy Reads: How Books Built My Bridge to Fantasy
Hi, I’m Viktoria – and this is the story of how books carried me across borders, careers, and countless fictional worlds.
Childhood: Between Shelves and Steppes
Born in Kazakhstan with Russian roots, I moved to northern Germany at age 5. My first true home? The tiny local library in the little town in Schleswig-Holstein where I lived. But my journey into books truly began at 12, when my brother dragged me to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. By the credits, I was spellbound. I raced through every available book (only the first few were out in German then!), desperate to live in a world where magic was real.
Soon after, I discovered White Fang and Island of the Blue Dolphins – stories that proved books could be wild, wise, and utterly transformative. Historical novels about ancient Egypt followed, but it was fantasy that stuck with me. Why? Because magic isn’t just about wands or dragons. It’s about rewriting the rules of your own story and it taught me something: stories are passports to places we’ll never physically go.
Nursing, Wanderlust, and Lost Pages
After school, I became a nurse – a job I loved but one that left little room for escapism. In 2012, I traded scrubs for a backpack and flew to India for a volunteer year. The chaos, colors, and kindness of that country rewired my soul. I traveled for years, chasing that same thrill, until I settled in Berlin in 2015.
But between nursing shifts and university lectures, I lost touch with reading. Books became relics of my childhood – until late 2023, when two novels reignited the spark:
Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yarros): A fiery, flawed heroine and dragons that made me feel 12 again.
The Folk of the Air (Holly Black): Fae so cunning and cruel, I forgot to breathe.
Suddenly, I was staying up until 3 AM, chasing plot twists. And I realized: I needed to talk about these books – not just read them.
Why Cosmic Reads?
Most book clubs felt too broad. I wanted a space exclusively for fantasy – where we could obsess over dragon lore, debate morally grey faeries, and scream about cliffhangers without judgment.
For me, fantasy isn’t just escapism. It’s:
Courage in chaos (if Violet Sorrengail can survive Basgiath, I can survive Monday).
A mirror for the real world (because power struggles in the Seelie Court aren’t so different from office politics).
A language that connects us – whether you’re from Berlin, Kazakhstan, or the Night Court.
What You’ll Find Here
Unapologetically biased reviews (Spoiler: Team Jude Duarte forever).
Buddy reads for hyped releases (Onyx Storm, anyone?) and hidden gems.
Guides like “How to Survive Your First Romantasy Hangover” and “Fantasy Subgenres Decoded”.
Community polls, because your opinion on “Xaden vs. Cardan” matters.
Join the Adventure
Whether you’re a dragon rider, a faerie skeptic, or just curious – welcome. Follow me on Instagram for daily chaos, or subscribe below for cosmic book picks and updates.
“Stories are the wildest magic of all.” – Leigh Bardugo
What book reignited YOUR love for reading? Tell me below!
✨ Keep chasing stories,
– Viktoria, Your Cosmic Book Guide
