The old spirits of Rus are strong in Vasilisa’s far-northern village. It is wild there and civilized society, including the Church, have so far only lightly touched it. A syncretic co-existence of Christian and traditional spirituality endured comfortably for generations until Vasya’s new stepmother-a pious and fearful young woman-and a zealous ( Read more... )

[[Re-read, originally read 2006-2007.]]I know these books have caught flack for being Tamora Pierce's white savior series (and by that I mean I recall seeing it brought up in some online discussions, but the Tortall online presence isn't exactly big), and that, I admit, is the first thing that jumps out at me upon examining the plot. It gives me ( Read more... )