Hardly Ever Otherwise by Maria Matios is a powerful family saga set in Western Ukraine under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Through intertwined lives and destinies, Matios examines the inevitability of human passions and choices against the backdrop of time and tradition.

In Hardly Ever Otherwise, Maria Matios crafts a richly layered narrative that explores the lives of several Western Ukrainian families during the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s twilight years. Matios’s storytelling combines intricate character portraits with philosophical musings on fate, honor, and human frailty.

Through an enigmatic and cyclical plot, she suggests that certain events are almost inevitable, shaped by forces beyond human control. Her characters, each with their own “unique truth” and conflicts between duty and desire, bring a profound depth to this historical drama. Matios’s evocative prose and timeless themes make this novel an unforgettable journey into the complexities of the human spirit.

Suzanne K. Milton

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