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Jan 20, 2019goddessbeth rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is one of those lovely fantasy meets history meets magic type of novels. It puts me in mind of Juliet Marillier stories- sweeping, with a courageous and compassionate heroine, complicated mythical beings, and families that have...er..some issues. The setting is definitely Russia (north of Moscow), roughly 14th century. It's a retelling of Vasilisa the Beautiful, although with less Baba Yaga and spirits of hearth and wood instead of a creepy wooden doll. Arden has done an admirable job of taking a bizarre fairytale and turning it into something lyrical and lovely. Vasya's strength lies in her self-assuredness, her wildness (her belief in the natural world and its magic), and her loyalty. She performs heroic deeds and perseveres in the face of adversity- but all of that is communicated as if the story were being told over a fire by a master storyteller. From the first page, this novel drew me in and enchanted me. And can we talk about the velvety cover for a moment? Lovely. I want to see more or Morozka (of course- I need some god/mortal romance, apparently), and more of what Vasya will do next. I fully intend to continue the series, once book 2 is published. The title is a bit awkward, given it touches on the primary antagonist and a side character that is introduce in the final handful of chapters- unless it's an allusion to something that I'm not understanding? Anyway, other titles that would've worked: "Vasilisa Smashes the 14th Century Patriarchy", "You Say Witch, I Say Savior", "Vasilisa and the Hot Winter God", etc. I recommend this for fans of good fairytale retellings, lyrical (but not florid) prose, historic fantasy, and Russian folklore.