Description
Praise for Book One in the series, Tsarina Scholar Woodsman Thief from Kirkus Reviews:This fairy-tale-like story follows a pair of down-on-their-luck siblings as they try to outsmart a villainous duke. In this book set in the fantasy world of Talisfarne (which sometimes resembles a bygone Russia), Katrin and her younger brother, Cyril, live by themselves on a small island. They were orphaned after their mother died of an illness, and their father was murdered by marauders who broke the government's peace treaty not long after. Magic, or magia, abounds—alongside plenty of enchanted creatures like fey and even sirens: Her silver tail [splashed] a shower of dazzling brightness so that Cyril felt he'd been sprinkled with the shards of fallen stars. After losing their house (and everything in it) in a contest, Cyril makes a deal with Ilya, the contest's winner: Deliver a mysterious package to Ilya's father, and Ilya will return the property to Katrin. This seemingly simple task leads to wild twists and turns. Cyril winds up in jail, and Katrin discovers the power behind her exceptionally beautiful singing voice. Along the way, readers meet a colorful cast, including the Princess Astrid, Diogenes the woodsman, and an evil duke. Stuffed with traditional fairy-tale references, such as clever disguises and an old woman with mysterious gifts, the novel tackles multiple storylines and characters. Swanson ably juggles everything and everyone, delivering both an intriguing plot and lyrical prose that may remind some readers of Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea, from 2019. (Cyril huffed and grumbled and shrugged into his cloak. His gait looked stiffer than usual as he departed the cottage for tutors or prayers or whatever it was he did these days between sun-up and midnight.) The author conjures a vivid world where her characters discover themselves in endlessly surprising ways, melding ancient folklore with politics and enchantment. A charming tale brimming with magic, beauty, action, and memorable characters. -Kirkus ReviewsOur verdict: Get It
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