House of Frost and Feathers - by Lauren Wiesebron (Paperback)

About the Book

"Marisha's time is running out. She's already lost her family to the sleeping plague, and she fears she'll be next. Penniless and desperate for protection, Marisha is forced to accept a job as apprentice to the notorious koldunya, the sorceress Baba Zima. But Baba Zima is renowned for being both clever and cruel. And most difficult of all is her current apprentice Olena, who wants nothing to do with Marisha. Despite her fears and Olena's cold demeanor, Marisha finds herself drawn into the magical world of koldunry and delves further into Olena's research--a cure for the sleeping plague"--

Book Synopsis

A touch of The Bear and the Nightingale, a bit of Juniper & Thorn, and a sense of wonder and adventure makes up this lyrical debut fantasy of a young woman in search of a home, and a home in search of people to make it feel lived in.

Marisha's time is running out. She's already lost her family to the sleeping plague, and she fears she'll be next. Penniless and desperate for protection, Marisha is forced to accept a job as apprentice to the notorious koldunya, the sorceress Baba Zima.

But Baba Zima is renowned for being both clever and cruel. And most difficult of all is her current apprentice, Olena, who wants nothing to do with Marisha. Despite her fears and Olena's cold demeanor, Marisha finds herself drawn into the magical world of koldunry and delves further into Olena's research--a cure for the sleeping plague.

Accompanying Olena on an increasingly dangerous, seemingly impossible search for a cure, she finds hidden connections between the sleeping plague, her own family's history, and her bizarre, recurring dreams: dreams of a masked ball where the deep sleepers are trapped endlessly dancing--and a monstrous beaked man who haunts her every step . . .

Review Quotes

"A dark enchantment with a beautiful heart. Its narrative spell is rich and poignant and will sweep you away like a chicken-legged house on skis." - M.A. Kuzniar, author of Midnight in Everwood
"An enchanting Slavic fairytale of dark whimsy, magic, and a touch of romance. Perfect for a cold winter's night." - Georgia Summers, author of The City of Stardust
"A sweeping debut that shimmers with romance and folklore. Marisha is a hardy heroine with much heart, and her journey is a lyrically layered fantasy that enchants from the first page." - Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes
"Wiesebron weaves together multiple Slavic folk stories to power a plot full of intricate interpersonal drama and fantastically earthy magic, led by a cast of clever, thorny women who never back down. It's an impressive feat." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Sweeping and lyrical, rich with folk magic, House of Frost and Feathers is an otherworldly dream of a read." - Jules Arbeaux, author of Lord of the Empty Isles