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As she travels to Moscow, Yaga witnesses a sixteenth-century Russia on the brink of chaos. Tsar Ivan—soon to become Ivan the Terrible—grows more volatile and tyrannical by the day, and Yaga believes the tsaritsa is being poisoned by an unknown enemy. But what Yaga cannot know is that Ivan is being manipulated by powers far older and more fearsome than anyone can imagine. A fierce, historically rich reimagining of the story of Baba Yaga…full of complicated, three-dimensional women.” An utterly enchanting, wholly immersive debut that deftly reimagines the legend of Baba Yaga. This one is unmissable” - Alexis Henderson, author of THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING This epic tale brings both history and folklore to vivid life. It’s a fresh, exciting take sure to capture fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe and Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne.”– Publishers Weekly
Set in Russia in the 16th century, this sweeping tale begins deep in the Russian woods, where the reader meets Yaga, a half-goddess, half-mortal who desires to heal and help others with her spells and potions—not Baba Yaga, a vicious, decrepit hag who flies on a mortar and pestle and eats children. Tales from the perspective of a woman defined through one particular lens, that which makes her out to be a villain, inevitably fascinate me, so when I learned of this debut novel delving into the legend of Baba Yaga, I was certain I would be captivated. And I was right. Until now we have heard about Yaga only from those who vilified her, who deemed her a dangerous, vicious witch. Yet this is the reader’s opportunity to hear her story from the woman herself. And as is often the case with such stories, the truth is not as it may have seemed.
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Serena’s Rating 6: If you haven’t read much Russian fantasy folklore, this might appeal to you. But there are better examples out there that left this one feeling uncomfortably derivative at times.
Let’s talk about the importance of the historical setting. What made you choose the sixteenth century? There is even a bit of romance to counterbalance some of the considerable blood-letting. After I had witnessed my first birthing not ten years into my life, Mokosh had explained to me the intricacies of lovemaking and child making. “Though immortals can birth other gods and half gods,” she had said, gently, “it is not simple for us, with mortals above all. Most of the time, it happens not. It is even harder for half gods. If it happens, it does so for a reason. It is willed by the Universe.” I had known many men over the centuries, both mortal and immortal. Not once had my trysts ended in anything other than fleeting pleasure or pointless regret. I knew it would never happen for me.But then she meets Vasily Alekseyevich Adashev, studly warrior, but mortal, which is a problem. It gets complicated. He is probably in his 20s or 30s, she is several hundred. (Baba Cougar?) It is a delightful element.A) fierce, historically rich reimagining…full of complicated, three-dimensional women well beyond its titular heroine.” - Paste Magazine
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