I put this book on my TBR shelf because of some Buzzfeed-esque listicle claiming that it was a fantastic tale of magic and Russian folklore, and managed to be one of the first people at the library to request it. When it came in, I put it on my nightstand and never worked up the enthusiasm to read it because 1- recently most of the books recommended by these listicles have been terrible to average and 2- I'm currently working my way through Anna Karenina, and I was a little hesitant about overloading my brain with Russian works. Yesterday, I got a helpful reminder that the book was due back by tonight (procrastination is my forte), so I shrugged and started reading. And couldn't stop. 
 The book takes place during medieval Russia, and follows Vasya, our protagonist. It's established very early that she's the only one of her siblings who takes after their mother's side of the family, in that she can see and converse with different spirits. She's an untamable kind of girl, but also very attached to her family. She's very endearing, and I really enjoyed watching her grow from a child to a young adult. She has a fierce spirit, and wants to see the world- not exactly the norm for a girl of those times- its a more modern theme, but it's incorporated well into Vasya's character. Her options in life are either to marry or to spend life in a convent, a sentiment expressed often by the people around her, always accompanied by a feeling of sadness that a free spirit must be tamed (there are a lot of comparisons to a hawk being locked in a cage, or a horse that needs to be broken in). 
 The story is a little slow at first, introducing you to the characters, before the action picks up towards the last third of the book. Vasya's early childhood is somewhat idyllic as she learns that she's the only one who can see spirits in her family, and to keep her ability a secret. When her father remarries, she learns that her young stepmother can also see the creatures, but while Vasya interacts with them and sometimes befriends them, Anna is more devout and believes that she's seeing demons. The contrast between the two only heightens as a young priest arrives- he is simultaneously disgusted at what he considers Vasya's lack of proper femininity but also (very begrudgingly) intrigued by her. Anna becomes increasingly enraged by Father Konstantin's attention towards her stepdaughter, as Anna herself seems enthralled by him. It all comes to a head against a backdrop of a merciless winter and warring supernatural beings, and the action ramps up. 
 I enjoyed the plot and the characters, but the best thing about this book was definitely the setting. Ms. Arden has a gift for setting the scene and creating a very compelling atmosphere. Her writing is beautiful, but not overly stylized or bombastic. She composes a story with elements of fairy-tales and folklore, against the historical backdrop of not-yet-unified Russia, and pulls it together seamlessly. The clash between Christianity and the native customs propels the plot along- Konstantin's rigid adherence to religion is eventually what leads to the biggest action scene of the book. The rising tensions between the Russian princedoms and the Golden Horde seem to foreshadow the setting for the next book, which already sounds incredible! I'm eagerly waiting for the sequel. 
 All in all, a fantastic debut and already one of my favorite books of 2017!