Loved every second of it.
This novel was so magical I could nearly feel the frost forming on the pages as I read. The atmosphere takes you far away into an ancient forest where nothing is as it seems.
The story of Vasya begins with her birth, which is quickly followed by the death of her mother, leaving Vasya in the care of her father, a nursemaid, and her siblings. We follow Vasya as she tries desperately to navigate a life and expectations that are ill-suited for her. She is wild and free and full of joy, but that is not acceptable.
Desperate to find someone to guide Vasya, her father travels to find a wife, but his trip goes awry. He ends up promising his eldest daughter off, accepting a curse for his youngest, and taking on a high-strung wife who sees demons in every corner.
In time, Vasya grows into a young woman whom her stepmother sees as a threat to her own daughter. Her hatred towards Vasya intensifies and opens the door to a great deal of cruelty and mistreatment, and all the while the nursemaid shields Vasya from a curse that may commit her to the Frost King.
It is heartbreaking, but only the woodland creatures and eventually Morozko, the Frost King, see Vasya for what she truly is—a girl so brave she would give her life to save her family.
The characters in this novel are incredibly rich. There is a misguided priest, an evil stepmother, a clueless father, a Frost King, two magical horses, and a crew of forest spirits, both good and evil, and all of them are the backdrop to a beautiful story of love and devotion.
This novel is perfect for the cold winter months and will settle into your bones like an icy rain.
I will definitely be reading the other books in the series, though I have about 12 novels on my TBR that need to be tackled first.
Hope you love it as much as I did.