Valente's writing style remains entrancing, without mirroring the style of her Fairyland books. Where the Fairyland books are warm and bright and sweet, Deathless is cold, dark, painful. There are short moments of sweetness, but even those are tinged with something more sinister. Valente manages to capture the spirit of Russian folklore -- the fear and the ambiguity. Life is beautiful, but not sweet and good and easy. Baba Yaga may threaten to turn you into soup, but she may also help you gain your heart's desire. I loved that there weren't any wholly good or bad characters in this book. Everyone is capable of holding so much of both in them. 
 Rating: 5 Ivans 
 Favourite Quote: "Husbands lie, Masha. I should know; I've eaten my share. That's lesson number one. Lesson number two: among the topics about which a husband is most likely to lie are money, drink, black eyes, political affiliation, and women who squatted on his lap before and after your sweet self." 
 Recommend: Yes!