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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There was a lot in the beginning and the end that I really enjoyed. But the middle dragged badly. I also wanted more from a baba yaga retelling - this really wasn’t that. It was as if the author chopped up the baba yaga story, and redistributed the pieces to too many characters and stretched over too much plot? Parts were lovely and fun, but overall not my favorite.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
I received an advance listening copy from HarperAudio and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a slow, immersive read with layered characters, rich prose, and a world that feels both grounded and strange. The big orange house on chicken legs (that skis!) somehow manages to be eerie and comforting at the same time. For a debut, the writing is confident and atmospheric, with a steady emotional undercurrent running throughout.
The story follows a woman fleeing a sleeping plague that has already taken her family. She finds shelter in the magical home of Baba Zima, a kaldunya living with her apprentices. At first, the house feels safe, sealed off, protected; but when one of the apprentices falls ill, that sense of safety begins to unravel. The pace builds gradually as the main character uncovers hidden truths about the plague, her family, and the woman who took her in.
I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but I found the worldbuilding strong, the magic intriguing, and the emotional arc satisfying. I especially liked the abstract dream sequences and the mysterious figure haunting Marisha’s sleep. Those strange, disjointed moments added tension and gave the story a sense of layered foreshadowing that kept me curious. The romance stays mostly in the background until the end, which felt right for the tone. A thoughtful, confident debut that stuck with me.
This is a slow, immersive read with layered characters, rich prose, and a world that feels both grounded and strange. The big orange house on chicken legs (that skis!) somehow manages to be eerie and comforting at the same time. For a debut, the writing is confident and atmospheric, with a steady emotional undercurrent running throughout.
The story follows a woman fleeing a sleeping plague that has already taken her family. She finds shelter in the magical home of Baba Zima, a kaldunya living with her apprentices. At first, the house feels safe, sealed off, protected; but when one of the apprentices falls ill, that sense of safety begins to unravel. The pace builds gradually as the main character uncovers hidden truths about the plague, her family, and the woman who took her in.
I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but I found the worldbuilding strong, the magic intriguing, and the emotional arc satisfying. I especially liked the abstract dream sequences and the mysterious figure haunting Marisha’s sleep. Those strange, disjointed moments added tension and gave the story a sense of layered foreshadowing that kept me curious. The romance stays mostly in the background until the end, which felt right for the tone. A thoughtful, confident debut that stuck with me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this up because of the comparison to The Bear and the Nightingale and you definitely will get that Slavic witchy folktale vibe.
Marisha is desperate for work as her parents were both hit with a plague that causes permanent sleep. With few choices she opts to be an assistant to the apprentice of Baba Zima.
Now the big drama is that Baba Zima is second in line of a trio of witches (or koldunya) who basically have no ability to communicate or trust. So yeah, that's going to cause issues.
Marisha is tasked with assisting the third witch in this line, Olena.
So there's a lot of sneaking around, concealing truth, and assumptions that make everything harder than it needs to be.
But there's also magic and character growth. So some wins in there.
Spoilery comment below.
I'm kind of disappointed it ends before Marisha reconnects with her parents as it seems her dad was hiding A LOT. Wondering if this is supposed to be part of a series or if we're just supposed to wonder.
Marisha is desperate for work as her parents were both hit with a plague that causes permanent sleep. With few choices she opts to be an assistant to the apprentice of Baba Zima.
Now the big drama is that Baba Zima is second in line of a trio of witches (or koldunya) who basically have no ability to communicate or trust. So yeah, that's going to cause issues.
Marisha is tasked with assisting the third witch in this line, Olena.
So there's a lot of sneaking around, concealing truth, and assumptions that make everything harder than it needs to be.
But there's also magic and character growth. So some wins in there.
Spoilery comment below.
I'm kind of disappointed it ends before Marisha reconnects with her parents as it seems her dad was hiding A LOT. Wondering if this is supposed to be part of a series or if we're just supposed to wonder.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-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:
Yes
My favorite no spoiler quote is an insult. "My dear buttered blin..."
I actually laughed out loud at that one. There needs to be more creativity in insults.
The sleeping plague is this strange event that comes and takes with no way of knowing. Something that cannot be reasoned with and there is no protection against. Even so, life must go on. Society has just accepted that this is something that happens.
There are some who rely on old world medicines, charms and beliefs. Baba Zima and her strange walking house full of herbs and experiments travels around. Offering remedies and looking at all sorts of people who pass the house.
This is a mystical tale that is a slow build perfect for snowy reading by the fire. The characters are lovely, the terms are a bit hard to follow in the beginning, and the cover art is whimsical!
I actually laughed out loud at that one. There needs to be more creativity in insults.
The sleeping plague is this strange event that comes and takes with no way of knowing. Something that cannot be reasoned with and there is no protection against. Even so, life must go on. Society has just accepted that this is something that happens.
There are some who rely on old world medicines, charms and beliefs. Baba Zima and her strange walking house full of herbs and experiments travels around. Offering remedies and looking at all sorts of people who pass the house.
This is a mystical tale that is a slow build perfect for snowy reading by the fire. The characters are lovely, the terms are a bit hard to follow in the beginning, and the cover art is whimsical!
I was really excited to read this especially after seeing the comp to The Bear and the Nightingale. Unfortunately, that comp put me in the wrong mindset for this book. The only comparison I could make was the tie in to Slavic folklore. The writing itself though was well done, and I enjoyed the author’s overall writing style along with the general plot. I thought the characters in general were interesting if a little frustrating. This is also a slower paced character driven read which I wasn’t in the right mood to read. I read this via audiobook, which is the main reason I pushed through to finish this. I thought the audiobook was well narrated and interesting. Daphne Kouma’s narration style fit the vibe of the story well which helped keep me engaged.
✨
✨
ALC courtesy of Harper Audio
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I really wanted to love this book. I love Slavic folklore and the promise of this book being similar to Juniper & Thorn. Sadly, I couldn't even make it past the 10% mark. The story moves so slow and the constant description of what exactly is happening made me feel extremely separated from the story. It was like the author was trying to describe things to a kindergartner.
On top of that, the main character that we're following is 21, but seems to have the thought processes of an early teen. The early teens/pre-teens around her seem much more mature and developed than she is.
The atmosphere/setting created held so much promise. It definitely gave me Studio Ghibli vibes. But I honestly couldn't stay awake every time I sat down to read it. Good for insomnia, bad for wanting to experience a fantastical world.
I really wanted to love this book. I love Slavic folklore and the promise of this book being similar to Juniper & Thorn. Sadly, I couldn't even make it past the 10% mark. The story moves so slow and the constant description of what exactly is happening made me feel extremely separated from the story. It was like the author was trying to describe things to a kindergartner.
On top of that, the main character that we're following is 21, but seems to have the thought processes of an early teen. The early teens/pre-teens around her seem much more mature and developed than she is.
The atmosphere/setting created held so much promise. It definitely gave me Studio Ghibli vibes. But I honestly couldn't stay awake every time I sat down to read it. Good for insomnia, bad for wanting to experience a fantastical world.
Okay but I devoured this??? It was a great winter read, really reminded me a lot of Naomi Novik's work in the best way. Lots of intertwining relationships and unique bad guys who weren't bad guys and a plot that was both complicated and clearly explained. Just.. well done. I will absolutely be keeping an eye on this author!!
This was such a great read. Steeped in folklore and old stories, Marishka's story is one that will stay with me for a while. In search of a home, Marishka finds a home looking for people. She begs Baba Zima to take her in and teach her, but learning under Olena is what she will do.
Torn between a desire to learn and help, and the demand of duty, Marishka and Olena work to find a cure for the sleeping plague. But what if there isn't one? What if they can't find it before they're all asleep? Secrets can keep people alive, but in this case they may just cost that life instead.
Torn between a desire to learn and help, and the demand of duty, Marishka and Olena work to find a cure for the sleeping plague. But what if there isn't one? What if they can't find it before they're all asleep? Secrets can keep people alive, but in this case they may just cost that life instead.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No