Will dark magic claim their home?
Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her fathers too kind-hearted to collect his debts. They face poverty, until Miryem hardens her own heart and takes up his work in their village. Her success creates rumours she can turn silver into gold, which attract the fairy king of winter himself. He sets her an impossible challenge and if she fails, shell die. Yet if she triumphs, it may mean a fate worse than death. And in her desperate efforts to succeed, Miryem unwittingly spins a web which draws in the unhappy daughter of a lord.
Irinas father schemes to wed her to the tsar he will pay any price to achieve this goal. However, the dashing tsar is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of mortals and winter alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and Irina embark on a quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power and love.
As with her standalone novel Uprooted, Naomi Novik has once again been influenced by classic folktales. Here, she's woven a rich, multi-layered tapestry that is a joy to read.