"that kind of sacrifice creates a debt, and there's nothing magic likes better then the great hollow of a debt."
Look at that cover! How could I have possibly skipped this?
But also… folklore based books are a weakness of mine, and this one in steeped
in Slavic stories which brings it that much closer to home.
Dymitr comes from a long-line of hunters who put their souls
at risk to rid the world of monsters. But his newest task isn’t an easy one-
find, and kill, the head witch, Baba Jaga. Dymitr works with a pair of unlikely
allies, Ala and Niko, to seek out the witch, who each have their own reasons
for seeking out Baba Jaga. I loved the mystery and the slow reveal of it all,
truly engrossing.
Following an unlikely crew of three very different
characters who carry three different family burdens, this is a gorgeous and
captivating urban fantasy tale about regret, repentance, and responsibility. I
was not prepared for the deep commentary in this book about immigration,
cultural ties, and Christian imperialism.
It's richly layered magic in the fabric of Chicago's mundane
realities. I loved Roth's take on Baba Jaga and the different side seldom
seen in American depictions of her. All the characters felt real despite
not getting to spend a lot of time with them. I was thoroughly hooked on
everything going on as we moved from event to event over the 36 or so hours
that take place in the story.
I wish this was longer. Not because it felt incomplete or
because it suffered from world building or character development due to the
length, but because I just want... more. I want more in this world. I want more
with these characters - and thankfully, there's a sequel coming out later in the year.
