Witch and the Tsar | 
@Marmie7 Thank you so much for my wonderful gifts! I love everything!! I‘ve already started Lolly Willowes and look forward to enjoying everything else soon! Thank you for a fabulous #MWS
Omg I had the best time opening this beautiful package from @Gissy which you can see how it looked when I opened it in the upper right corner. What a way to make Friday better! I love all the books, the book cozy, the candle smells divine and I cannot wait to use the new tumbler! I am a sucker for a new journal and list maker and love the small decor and bookmark you outdid yourself!!!! @BookwormAHN #mws
pick🎧 📚 A Baba Yaga retelling taken from Russian folklore & peppered with history. I found the history fascinating. I‘d prefer more from the characters.
The Slavic witch who lived in a hut with chicken legs. Tsarista Anastasia & Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The author is authentic & Russian born.
I‘ve read at least 1 other Baba Yaga retelling … so if you‘re interested try Thistlefoot for more Baba Yaga.
The author note boosts the rating to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4
so-soExcellent plot, but weak character-building. I felt like Yaga was telling us her developments more than experiencing them on the page in front of us. But I liked the dive into Russian history and the magical elements! #fantasy #historicalfantasy #folklore
Did I miss this one? It was delivered recently.
The end papers are the same sort of cute artwork & colors as the jacket and edges. A ribbon bookmark. Signed & numbered. Added this to my current 2023 TBR.
pickBased on Russian history an folklore and does an excellent job of splitting time between the 2. It was compelling, entertaining and beautiful a deftly plotted story, both delicate, complicated and with an understanding of motivation for the characters.
pickI picked this one up the other day when I realized I‘d forgotten to bring a book to work with me for my lunch break (Yeah I started the day without caffeine it went downhill from there). Thankfully I work in a bookstore so voila mistake fixed. This was really an absorbing read for me and since I love all thing Russian as far as history this was a solid choice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Joining in #12daysofchristmas hosted by @Andrew65
Listing my favourite books of the year over 12 days from my annual fiction and non-fiction reads.
Well, it's a wrap on an absolutely incredible year's reading. Happy 12th night to you all x
#12booksofChristmas
#Netgalley
I found this captivating novel hugely enjoyable. The story of Baba Yaga plays out amid the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The author provides an enchanting tale threaded with the characters of Russian folklore. I have read reviews that suggest the writing is 'chunky' but I would dispute that. I found the writing to be clear and concise. The story flowed well, the characters were relatable and likable.
I'm so excited to read a retelling of Baba Yaga. Russian mythology, folklore, history and witches. What's not to love, particularly at this time of year when it's freezing outside. Blankets, hot toddy and book at the ready. Here we go! ❄️🖤❄️
This image by Jan Pieńkowski is from my most favourite childhood book, The Kingdom under the sea by Joan Aiken
Not sure how to feel… this books been on my TBR since this spring and I finally picked up a copy from my library. But 2 pages in and the writing style is such a turn off for me. It feels clunky. I‘ll read the first 50 pages to give it a chance but right now I‘m feeling pretty disappointed.
pickI wasn't sure about this novel at first; its blend of Russian-flavored fairy tale and historical fiction took some getting used to. Yaga, demonized in folk tale as Baba Yaga, is the immortal daughter of the earth goddess Mokosh. She just wants to live in the woods with her animal friends and her chicken-legged hut, healing the occasional villager, but when she's drawn into mortal affairs, she must fight to save Russia from a blood-thirsty tsar.
pickOf all the books I‘ve read so far this year, I think this one is my favorite. It has all the elements that I absolutely love in a story: historical aspects, fantasy, woman empowerment, love and connection between characters, drama and tragedy, magic, and a strong yet flawed protagonist. I love Gilmore‘s rendition of Baba Yaga as a character, she‘s my favorite Baba Yaga and I‘ve loved getting to know her in this story. Kinda sad it‘s over…
“Hope dies last…”
“Perhaps marriage was not ownership so much as choice. To choose to define each other in terms of forever, even in times of darkness, even in death. Wasn‘t there a certain freedom in that? Freedom in certainty, and in love, which grounded someone like me in the face of life‘s chaos.”
Completed all assignments for my current courses last night, and this is the first weekend in a while where I get to mostly relax. Enjoying my new bedspread a little while longer while I slowly sip my coffee, journal, and read. I‘ve been really enjoying this book, and I think I‘ll be able to finish it this weekend 😊
pickSo torn on this one. The writing is beautiful with an engaging plot, but this is SO much like Katherine Arden‘s Winternight Trilogy. Similar plot, similar characters, similar folklore, even the same names in some instances. This felt like a prologue to Winternight except it is set after Arden‘s trilogy. Any thoughts on this, fellow readers?
Enjoying the cool weather (by Florida standards, anyway) after hurricane Ian. I‘m grateful we had minimal damage and we‘re safe. We have some work to do to fix up a few things around here and help out some neighbors, but for the moment, I‘m going to enjoy this book.
“Pride is an illusion and the path to conceit.”
Small book haul after a visit to B&N with my sister who‘s in town for a few days. Excited to spend time with my big sis, and excited for these two!
pickThis one is brilliant. The author takes Russian folk tales and mixes them with historical events circa Ivan the Terrible. She turns Baba Yaga into a feminist icon. It's lovely. I highly recommend it.
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
Pub date is 9/20/22
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