Synopsis:
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.
My review:
I was interested in reading this story because Baba Yaga - who features in Slavic folklore - has always fascinated me. I am pretty
sure this fascination started after watching the children’s film Bartok when I
was little!
The Witch and the Tsar is set in 16th century Russia, Baba
Yaga, half immortal, and the daughter of a great Goddess, has been alive for
centuries. She lives in the forest in a hut on chicken legs ‘Little Hen’ with
her faithful owl Noch and wolf Dyen. She is a healer to those who seek her out,
but due to her powers she has been the victim of witch hunts in the past and is
now feared throughout Russia. She is vulnerable from the mortals around her now
that they worship the Christian god and Yaga’s roots are in paganism. Therefore,
Yaga chooses to live alone, with just her animal companions for company. However, when the Tsaritsa Anastasia arrives at little Hen asking for
help after being poisoned, Yaga agrees to help her due to the women’s past friendship.
Yaga later travels to the palace to help protect Anastasia when the poisonings
continue, where she witnesses for herself how Russia is in danger from the tyrannical Tsar,
and the old gods somehow have a hand in it. Yaga vows to find out who is behind
it and why. However, the Tsaritsa’s poisonings are just the very start of a
much bigger and more dangerous plot, from death itself.
I love that this story dispelled what we previous think of when Baba Yaga comes to mind: an old, crooked hag with iron teeth, who eats children and flies around in a mortar, wielding a pestle! In this book she is none of those things, the author has humanised her. She is fearlessly independent and strong willed, yet lonely and cut off. I enjoyed the mystery of the story and trying to figure out who was behind various parts of the plot. The Witch and the Tsar is set over several years, and we see the Tsar get more crazed and dangerous as time progresses. And despite living for hundreds of years all alone, Yaga finally finds her tribe and true happiness, she realises she doesn’t have to live alone to survive.
I was absolutely hooked by this story! As well as the exciting plot, I very much enjoyed learning more about the fascinating folklore that Yaga is part of, and I enjoyed trying to pronounce all the Russian names, which is easier said than done! There is an author’s note and glossary at the end of the book too, which was a bonus! This is a brilliant story, and if you like Russian history and folklore, you will enjoy it. Plus, the front cover is absolutely stunning!
Buy your copy Here (As always, please check your local independent bookshop first!)
Meet the author:
Olesya Salnikova Gilmore was born in Moscow, Russia, raised in the United States, and graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in English / political science, and from Northwestern University School of Law with a JD. She practiced litigation at a large law firm for several years before pursuing her dream of becoming an author. She is happiest writing historical fiction and fantasy inspired by Eastern European folklore. She lives in a wooded lakeside suburb of Chicago with her husband and daughter. The Witch and the Tsar is her debut novel.
The rest of the book tour:
Thanks for the blog tour support x
ReplyDeleteThank you as always Anne for inviting me on the tour!
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