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krumanda's review
3.0
Very nice, would recommend to children and families. A middle grade book that will suit us for our daily bedtime story. As for me, I would always love more from a fantasy book. Different types of magic are discussed and I would love those to be explored. A main character has a great skill and never uses it, has a great goal and doesn’t attempt to achieve it. There is excellent foundation for a magical universe but it’s not very built up. Maybe because it is in fact meant for children and not me, a super fantasy reading nerd adult.
nabigoneaway's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
loved it super happy wifh the ending
erincataldi's review
4.0
Wow - this is definitely an unforgettable middle grade adventure set in the wilds of Siberia outside of a Soviet prison camp. Combining Russian folklore, history, adventure, and friendship; this unique story is instantly compelling. Twelve year old Lina was born in a Soviet prison camp. Her mother, her uncle, and her grandfather had been sent to live in the camp when her grandfather told "fairy tales" (forbidden) and criticized the great leader. Leaving in the camp is the only thing Lina has ever known. For years she was the only child until a boy her age was sent to the camp. Together along with some prison old timers they devise a plan to escape and try to get to Lina's grandmother who lives in Moscow. Almost immediately everything goes wrong. Ghost wolves, giant falcons, and shadow people are suddenly very real and more frightening then the prison guards ever were. Will Lina and Bogdan survive? Can she do some magic of her own? Lovely, magical, and compelling. Great for readers of all ages!
alongreader's review
4.0
Lina has grown up in a Russian forced labour camp. When a chance comes for her to escape, she seizes it. Now, however, she's out in the tundra, and out there fairytales are alive and well. There are worse things than Baba Yaga, but there are beautiful things as well. Can Lina find her way home?
This is a fabulous, magical story, steeped in folktales and magic. I really enjoyed every bit of it. Lina and Bogdan are wonderful characters, fierce and clever and determined. I'd love to read more of their adventures, but this isn't a cliffhanger; it ends really well, with the loose ends tied up.
The language is brilliant as well, really evocative; I found I was really cold as I was reading! I'll be looking out for Katharine Orton in future, as I'd really like to read more works by her.
This is a fabulous, magical story, steeped in folktales and magic. I really enjoyed every bit of it. Lina and Bogdan are wonderful characters, fierce and clever and determined. I'd love to read more of their adventures, but this isn't a cliffhanger; it ends really well, with the loose ends tied up.
The language is brilliant as well, really evocative; I found I was really cold as I was reading! I'll be looking out for Katharine Orton in future, as I'd really like to read more works by her.
lucycatten's review
4.0
‘Don’t trust your eyes…’
Oh my. That cover...!
Welcome to the freezing, harsh landscape of Siberia. Here we find a forced labour camp filled with prisoners arrested in the purges of the ‘Great Leader’, Joseph Stalin, and home to 12 year old Lina and her mother, Katya.
There are thousands in the camp – whole families - many arrested on minor charges. The vast majority are required to work in the mine. Lina however, who was born in the camp and has known no other way of life, has inherited her grandfather’s talent for gardening and as such, is allowed to work in the greenhouse under the strict gaze of Commandant Zima. Zima is preparing for the Officer’s Banquet in a week’s time and is hoping that the vegetables Lina grows will win him prestige amongst the officers. The word around the camp is that Zima is Lina’s father, which is why he gives her preferential treatment. Lina isn’t so sure...
At the very beginning of the book, we learn about an escape plan involving Lina, her mother, Vadim – a 16 year old prisoner who ‘already has the tattoos of the criminal underworld’, Alexei – described as ‘Vadim’s muscle – twice (his) age and double his size’ and old Gleb. An unlikely group to be working together but all selected for the individual skills they can bring to the attempt. At the last minute, Lina’s best friend – Bogdan Buyan – the only other person of her age in the camp – tags along. His parents are political prisoners in another camp. His father is a map maker and Bogdan brings along draft maps of Leningrad and Moscow; as such, he is allowed to stay.
Katya is known throughout the camp as playing ‘a ruthless game of poker’ and she sets up a game with the officers to serve as a distraction on the night of the escape. Before she leaves, Katya gives Lina a beaded necklace of her grandfather’s and tells Lina to make her way to her grandmother in Moscow – she was away when her husband, Katya and her son were arrested and is therefore still free. We learn that she has great power…
It isn’t long before they run into problems on the outside and Lina and Bogdan end up on their own. This is only the start of their problems as they are captured again – this time by the Sorceress, Svetlana, also known as ‘Man Hunter’ and her invisible wolves – humans who have been captured and wolfbound to serve her forever. How will they escape this time…?
’NEVER TELL CHILDREN ABOUT THINGS THEY CANNOT SEE…’
I devoured this book. I loved it from the beginning, but when the magical elements were introduced I couldn’t put it down. Children (and adults) will love accompanying Lina and Bogdan on their adventure!
Page count: 384
Age group: 9-12+
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my. That cover...!
Welcome to the freezing, harsh landscape of Siberia. Here we find a forced labour camp filled with prisoners arrested in the purges of the ‘Great Leader’, Joseph Stalin, and home to 12 year old Lina and her mother, Katya.
There are thousands in the camp – whole families - many arrested on minor charges. The vast majority are required to work in the mine. Lina however, who was born in the camp and has known no other way of life, has inherited her grandfather’s talent for gardening and as such, is allowed to work in the greenhouse under the strict gaze of Commandant Zima. Zima is preparing for the Officer’s Banquet in a week’s time and is hoping that the vegetables Lina grows will win him prestige amongst the officers. The word around the camp is that Zima is Lina’s father, which is why he gives her preferential treatment. Lina isn’t so sure...
At the very beginning of the book, we learn about an escape plan involving Lina, her mother, Vadim – a 16 year old prisoner who ‘already has the tattoos of the criminal underworld’, Alexei – described as ‘Vadim’s muscle – twice (his) age and double his size’ and old Gleb. An unlikely group to be working together but all selected for the individual skills they can bring to the attempt. At the last minute, Lina’s best friend – Bogdan Buyan – the only other person of her age in the camp – tags along. His parents are political prisoners in another camp. His father is a map maker and Bogdan brings along draft maps of Leningrad and Moscow; as such, he is allowed to stay.
Katya is known throughout the camp as playing ‘a ruthless game of poker’ and she sets up a game with the officers to serve as a distraction on the night of the escape. Before she leaves, Katya gives Lina a beaded necklace of her grandfather’s and tells Lina to make her way to her grandmother in Moscow – she was away when her husband, Katya and her son were arrested and is therefore still free. We learn that she has great power…
It isn’t long before they run into problems on the outside and Lina and Bogdan end up on their own. This is only the start of their problems as they are captured again – this time by the Sorceress, Svetlana, also known as ‘Man Hunter’ and her invisible wolves – humans who have been captured and wolfbound to serve her forever. How will they escape this time…?
’NEVER TELL CHILDREN ABOUT THINGS THEY CANNOT SEE…’
I devoured this book. I loved it from the beginning, but when the magical elements were introduced I couldn’t put it down. Children (and adults) will love accompanying Lina and Bogdan on their adventure!
Page count: 384
Age group: 9-12+
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
crypticspren's review
4.0
Overall, this got a 7.71, which is a 4 star!
Characters (8) - The characters in this were generally well rounded, and I enjoyed the arcs they underwent. Lina was a sweet and firey 11 year old, with a heart full of love and determination. The love she has for Bogdan and her general quick witted-ness was completely endearing! Similarly, Bogdan, although a little more mysterious, stuck me as a very honourable character. After reaching rock bottom when he ended up in Prison Camp 9, it seems that all that was left for him to do was the very best he could.
Svetlana's arc was simple, but very well rounded. I appreciated that it explained her reasoning and mindset so clearly, and it justified such a quick change in attitude. She was the embodiment of the manifestation of emotional trauma and I enjoyed reading her from start to finish.
Other minor characters, like Zima and Katya, were less well rounded, despite playing an important roll in Lina's own story, and the overall plot. Zima's behaviour is loosely 'excused' towards the end with a simple 'power can go to your head' line, and I was a tad disappointed by this. While the lack of development for Katya and Zima didn't necessarily take away from the book, it was definitely a missed opportunity to make Lina's emotional drive stronger.
Atmosphere (7) Overall the atmosphere was very well captured. Up in the wintry wastes of Siberia was Prison Camp 9, suitably dreary and cold. In parts, I almost found myself shivering along with Lina, and curling my toes into a blanket at the mention of her almost frost-bitten feet. The presents of ghost wolves was also suitably eerie, and the whole experience was very easily visualised. There were some bits that were a little jumpy, and I struggled with immersion. For example, the magical cloak travelling was too skimmed over the first time, and I had to flick back and reread because I thought I had missed something.. But there definitely was a strong whimsical, cold and magical atmosphere overall.
Writing (7) The writing style was enjoyable. Orton's descriptions made her world very vivid and true, and I enjoyed the exploration of heritage and emotions throughout this book. One thing I will say is that I very much enjoyed the magic sub-plot that takes place. The first time it was mentioned, I expected it to be a very in-your-face identity crisis that is such a common trope in fantasy books. However, it was delicately woven into the beginning, and slowly came to be more prevalent as the book went on.
Plot (8) The plot was very enjoyable. Not only was it a story about breaking out of a high security Siberian prison, it was a story about family and origin, and finding where you belong. It was a different story for everyone involved and it was beautifully connected. For Lina, it was a story about finding her Grandmother and rescuing her Mama. for Bogdan, it was a story about an exciting prison break with his best friend. For Svetlana, it was a story about emotional trauma and grief. The way these plot lines came together was so sweet and beautifully done.
Intrigue (8) The desire to keep reading this was so strong, almost entirely the whole way through. With such a gripping atmosphere and likeable characters, the short chapters made the 'just one more chapter' trap all the more dangerous. It took a great deal of will power to set the book down and go about the tasks in my day.
Logic (7) I am always in awe at the prospect of eleven year olds surviving so many ordeals, but in general, these were well done. It took a while for certain bits to make sense, such as the cloak travelling which was very skimmed over the first time, but all in all the story flowed quite well. I also felt the 'power goes to your head' justification for Zima was a bit of a cop out, but other than those two things, it was a well written, well rounded story.
Enjoyment (9) I adored reading this book! From the little illustrations at the beginning of the chapters, to the deep emotional pain of grief that was a big theme of this book... The whole experience was beautiful, with historical and whimsical vibes that made cuddling under a blanket, listening to the rain, and reading the PERFECT way to spend my evening.
Characters (8) - The characters in this were generally well rounded, and I enjoyed the arcs they underwent. Lina was a sweet and firey 11 year old, with a heart full of love and determination. The love she has for Bogdan and her general quick witted-ness was completely endearing! Similarly, Bogdan, although a little more mysterious, stuck me as a very honourable character. After reaching rock bottom when he ended up in Prison Camp 9, it seems that all that was left for him to do was the very best he could.
Svetlana's arc was simple, but very well rounded. I appreciated that it explained her reasoning and mindset so clearly, and it justified such a quick change in attitude. She was the embodiment of the manifestation of emotional trauma and I enjoyed reading her from start to finish.
Other minor characters, like Zima and Katya, were less well rounded, despite playing an important roll in Lina's own story, and the overall plot. Zima's behaviour is loosely 'excused' towards the end with a simple 'power can go to your head' line, and I was a tad disappointed by this. While the lack of development for Katya and Zima didn't necessarily take away from the book, it was definitely a missed opportunity to make Lina's emotional drive stronger.
Atmosphere (7) Overall the atmosphere was very well captured. Up in the wintry wastes of Siberia was Prison Camp 9, suitably dreary and cold. In parts, I almost found myself shivering along with Lina, and curling my toes into a blanket at the mention of her almost frost-bitten feet. The presents of ghost wolves was also suitably eerie, and the whole experience was very easily visualised. There were some bits that were a little jumpy, and I struggled with immersion. For example, the magical cloak travelling was too skimmed over the first time, and I had to flick back and reread because I thought I had missed something.. But there definitely was a strong whimsical, cold and magical atmosphere overall.
Writing (7) The writing style was enjoyable. Orton's descriptions made her world very vivid and true, and I enjoyed the exploration of heritage and emotions throughout this book. One thing I will say is that I very much enjoyed the magic sub-plot that takes place. The first time it was mentioned, I expected it to be a very in-your-face identity crisis that is such a common trope in fantasy books. However, it was delicately woven into the beginning, and slowly came to be more prevalent as the book went on.
Plot (8) The plot was very enjoyable. Not only was it a story about breaking out of a high security Siberian prison, it was a story about family and origin, and finding where you belong. It was a different story for everyone involved and it was beautifully connected. For Lina, it was a story about finding her Grandmother and rescuing her Mama. for Bogdan, it was a story about an exciting prison break with his best friend. For Svetlana, it was a story about emotional trauma and grief. The way these plot lines came together was so sweet and beautifully done.
Intrigue (8) The desire to keep reading this was so strong, almost entirely the whole way through. With such a gripping atmosphere and likeable characters, the short chapters made the 'just one more chapter' trap all the more dangerous. It took a great deal of will power to set the book down and go about the tasks in my day.
Logic (7) I am always in awe at the prospect of eleven year olds surviving so many ordeals, but in general, these were well done. It took a while for certain bits to make sense, such as the cloak travelling which was very skimmed over the first time, but all in all the story flowed quite well. I also felt the 'power goes to your head' justification for Zima was a bit of a cop out, but other than those two things, it was a well written, well rounded story.
Enjoyment (9) I adored reading this book! From the little illustrations at the beginning of the chapters, to the deep emotional pain of grief that was a big theme of this book... The whole experience was beautiful, with historical and whimsical vibes that made cuddling under a blanket, listening to the rain, and reading the PERFECT way to spend my evening.
daniella84's review
3.0
The cover art and chapter headers in this book are beautiful! A nice middle grade about hope in Stalin's Russia, believing in magic and your own power to make the world a better place. I liked the confrontation with the Commandant at the end, and the setting was beautiful!
pinkalpaca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
johanna_b's review
3.0
I can say that I enjoyed this book. I could tell that it was definitely geared towards a younger audience but it was a pretty sweet book. I enjoyed the beginning and the author did a really good job showing the life inside the prison camp from Lina's perspective. I really liked Lina and Bogdan. They were such great friends and it was really nice the way that they trusted and looked out for each other. The world was a little confusing and it was hard for me to follow where they were between the prison camp, ice palace and different places in Russia as well as the past. I gave this 3 stars because, as I said above, this was meant for a middle grade audience and, though it was a good story, I found the dialogue a little slow. I would recommend this book for an 8-10 year old and think that I would have really loved this book at that age. I know that books take a lot of time and effort so I would like to shout out to Katharine Orton and everyone who made this possible.