Tag Archives: Fairy Tales

The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore – a Review

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The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore – a Review

 

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Description:
As a half-goddess possessing magic, Yaga is used to living on her own, her prior entanglements with mortals having led to heartbreak. She mostly keeps to her hut in the woods, where those in need of healing seek her out, even as they spread rumors about her supposed cruelty and wicked spells. But when her old friend Anastasia—now the wife of the tsar, and suffering from a mysterious illness—arrives in her forest desperate for her protection, Yaga realizes the fate of all of Russia is tied to Anastasia’s. Yaga must step out of the shadows to protect the land she loves.

As she travels to Moscow, Yaga witnesses a sixteenth century Russia on the brink of chaos. Tsar Ivan—soon to become Ivan the Terrible—grows more volatile and tyrannical by the day, and Yaga believes the tsaritsa is being poisoned by an unknown enemy. But what Yaga cannot know is that Ivan is being manipulated by powers far older and more fearsome than anyone can imagine.

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore weaves a rich tapestry of mythology and Russian history, reclaiming and reinventing the infamous Baba Yaga, and bringing to life a vibrant and tumultuous Russia, where old gods and new tyrants vie for power. This fierce and compelling novel draws from the timeless lore to create a heroine for the modern day, fighting to save her country and those she loves from oppression while also finding her true purpose as a goddess, a witch, and a woman.

 

 

Review:

The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore is a fantasy storyline. This is set in 16th century Russia, with the legendary Yaga (not the evil witch Baba Yaga), who is a half-goddess and half-mortal, and the main character throughout the story.  We meet Yaga, as she lives in the forest, and helps heal others with spells and potions; she is immortal, having lived hundreds of years, and always remaining young and beautiful.  Many years ago, she was friends with Anastasia, until she left Russia, due to how mortals perceived her as evil and cruel. Yaga is content to live in her solitude (only those in dire need of her help as a healer), with her wonderful faithful animal companions, Noch (her owl), Dyen (her wolf) and Little Hen (izbushka).

Many years later, Yaga is surprised to see her old friend, Anastasia come visit her in the forest; she is now the wife of the Tsar Ivan; and desperately hoping for Yaga to treat her mysterious illness.  She learns quickly that Anastasia has been poisoned, and Yaga will treat her. But who is poisoning her?   When a recuperated Anastasia leaves to go back to Russia, she begs Yaga to help find out who is doing this to her.  In a short time, Yaga will decide to go back to Russia and help watch over Anastasia. When she arrives in Moscow, she spends time with both Anastasia and Ivan, and begins to see the country border lining in chaos; especially with Ivan manipulated by others.

Over a couple of decades, Yaga will align with others to stop Tsar Ivan, who has become known as Ivan the Terrible, using his army to kill every one he considers traitors or enemies.  Destruction and chaos is all over Russia, destroying everything they held dear. 

What follows is an amazing, gripping story, with Yaga in the forefront, as she meets wonderful people who care about their country, and will do anything to fight and protect each other. There is a lot of action throughout, and to say too much more would ruin it for you. You really need to read this book. There is a surprising and sweet romance, which Yaga never thought she could ever have.  I absolutely loved how her animals, Dyen and Noch were always there for her. 

The Witch and the Tsar is mesmerizing story of Russian history and mythology; as well as reinventing Baba Yaga, who was a fabulous heroine, always fighting to save her country. This is a powerful story, filled with folklore, heartbreak, captivating, and an amazing story from start to finish.  THE WITCH AND THE TSAR was a wonderful story, so very well written by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore. If you enjoy history, folklore, with a bit of romance, I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross – a Review

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Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross – a Review

 

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Description:
A curse plagues the realm of Azenor—during each new moon, magic flows from the nearby mountain and brings nightmares to life. Only magicians, who serve as territory wardens, stand between people and their worst dreams.

Clementine Madigan is ready to take over as the warden of her small town, but when two magicians challenge her, she is unwittingly drawn into a century-old conflict. She seeks revenge, but as she secretly gets closer to Phelan, one of the handsome young magicians, secrets begin to rise. Clementine must unite with her rival to fight the realm’s curse, which seems to be haunting her every turn.

 

 

Review:

Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross is a magnificent Fantasy standalone novel. I have read Ross’s previous series, and really enjoyed it.  Dreams Lie Beneath was a fantastic read that had me unable to put the book down.  Rebecca Ross has now risen up as an author I must read, as I was totally enthralled.

In the realm of Azenor, there is a curse that has been around for a century, which brings nightmares to life. During each new moon, magic flows from the mountain where the curse began, and wardens (magicians) are assigned to territories to help the people and stop the nightmares.  We meet Clementine (Clem) Madigan, who works with her father as magicians in their small town of Hereswith.  Clem has been training for years, to take over for her father, with she very close to rising up as the warden, but for now, together they team up to fight off those dreams to protect the town residents.

Things will change when two young men challenge the father to take over as warden in Hereswith. Clem does everything in her power to help her father fight off the challengers, and to her dismay they lose.  Clem is devastated, as she her father, Imonie (close member of household that takes care of them) are forced to leave their house and town.  It was amazing to see how Clem gets help from a troll to glamour up a different look, which no one can see behind the disguise.  In her quest for vengeance, she finds a way to become a partner to one of the men who took away their home; Clem is determined find out why they wanted their town. Of the two brothers who defeated them, Clem accepts a job to partner with Phelan, as he did not stay in Hereswith, with his brother taking that town over. 

What follows was an amazing, fantastic adventure in a world filled with magic, curses, dreams, dangerous nightmares, betrayals and a slow burn romance.  Ross blew me away with her wonderful writing, great characters and grabbing on to me from the start to finish.  Clem, our heroine, was simply an amazing heroine, who you couldn’t help but love her; she was strong, independent, determined, savvy and fierce. I also loved how under her disguise, she still managed to win over friends, as well as falling for Phelan. 

Dreams Lie Beneath was a wild, unique, tense, non-stop action filled story that was very enjoyable. To say too much more would ruin it for you, as you really do need to read this fantastic book.  Rebecca Ross created a wonderful must-read Fantasy that is not to be missed, especially if you enjoy fantasy.  I suggest wholly suggest you read Dreams Lie Beneath, and anything written by Rebecca Ross, as I cannot wait for her next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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The Girl in Red by Christina Henry – Review & Giveaway

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The Girl in Red by Christina Henry – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
It’s not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn’t look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there’s something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.

Red doesn’t like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn’t about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods…

 

 

Review:

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry is a Sci-Fi/Horror story that is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in a Dystopian world.  Henry has written a number of novels of dark retellings of various fairy tales

Three months ago life was normal for Cordelia (Red), and her family, until a terrible Plague has decimated the world’s population.  When her mother starts getting sick, Red’s parents tell her to take her brother Adam and leave for a long trek to her grandmother’s house.  The storyline is in two POV’s; Before and After.  Red has a prosthetic leg (she lost her leg at 8 years old when hit by a car), which makes the walking slow; but she is tough and a survivor, not to mention she carries an ax with her.  She also has to put up with her brother’s constant nagging that they should not be walking so far, instead to go to the quarantine camps, which Red refuses, since more than likely they would die there.

 What follows in a dark and intense story, where we follow Red during her adventure to reach her grandmother’s cabin.  Along the way there are many evils that might represent wolves, but in this world even darker; such as the cough which is the start of the plague and death; the evil men who look for woman and children; and the unknown horror (creature?) that is out there threatening the lives of others.  For Red its all about survival, and she has no qualms to use her ax or whatever to save herself.

The Before covers the beginning before she left, with her mother, father, as well as her trek with Adam.   The After is when she no longer has Adam, and takes upon the responsibility to help two very young children to come with her to her grandmother’s cabin. The daily gruesome trek is filled with horrible dangers, besides the normal dangers of the woods, such as snakes, coyotes, wolves, etc.

Christina Henry wrote an interesting and dark story that was intense, but well written.  I did not really like the open ended way the story left off.  Is there a 2nd book, I do not know, but I suspect there will not be, therefore leaving us a bit open.  If you like Dystopian Sci-Fi Horror retellings of fairy tales, you should be reading The Girl In Red.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Christina Henry’s publisher is offering a paper copy  THE GIRL IN RED to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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