Marisha’s time is running out. She’s already lost her family to the sleeping plague, and she fears she’ll be next. Penniless and desperate for protection, Marisha is forced to accept a job as apprentice to the notorious koldunya, the sorceress Baba Zima.

But Baba Zima is renowned for being both clever and cruel. And most difficult of all is her current apprentice, Olena, who wants nothing to do with Marisha. Despite her fears and Olena’s cold demeanor, Marisha finds herself drawn into the magical world of koldunry and delves further into Olena’s research—a cure for the sleeping plague.

Accompanying Olena on an increasingly dangerous, seemingly impossible search for a cure, she finds hidden connections between the sleeping plague, her own family’s history, and her bizarre, recurring dreams: dreams of a masked ball where the deep sleepers are trapped endlessly dancing—and a monstrous beaked man who haunts her every step . . .

House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiesebron is a beautiful, lyrical fantasy that explores Russian mythology and witches, while also highlighting the journey of self exploration both Marisha and Olena take on as they delve into the cure for the sleeping plague and the magical world of koldruny. The narrative weaves deftly between Marisha, skeptical at first, and Olena, cold and harsh. But as the pair engage, they learn from each other and learn about the hidden truths that Baba Zima and others have kept from them. 

I love the way the story explores the personalities of both Marisha and Olena, both their strengths but also their weaknesses. The relationship between Olena and Baba Zima is intriguing as well. There is a subtle romance running through the story but the primary relationship is between Olena and Marisha as they learn to trust each other. I love how the mythology and koldruny is explored in the novel as well. 

If you like novels about magic, with a touch of Baba Yaga in the telling, you will love this novel. It combines Russian mythology and self exploration to create an intriguing mystery and a lyrical fantasy that makes for an impactful and creative story. It is an exciting and magical read. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 chicken legs

Harper Collins

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