This is probably the best written of any fairytale-esque book that I've come across the last few years. There are magical elements, but it's also very grounded in reality, which makes it much more compelling. The characters are entrancing, especially our main heroine Vasya, and the atmosphere is magical. It moved at a slow pace, but in a good way that immerses you in the world and lets the characters grow and breathe. You kind of know what's going to happen, though there are some twists and surprises along the way - I suppose it's like any good telling of a fairytale in that way. I'll definitely have to pick up the second and third in the trilogy.

It’s been a hot sec since I picked up the first one. I thought I made a mistake not rereading book 1, but after about 10%, I was fully immersed back into the world. There’s more action and adventure in this book, but it was just as magical and still has the winter vibes of the first one. Vasya is such a fierce character. I loved how she grew and developed in this story, and enjoyed her arc hiding as Vasilii the Brave. It was also good to see more of Sasha and Olga - even though part of Olga’s story crushed me. And the parts with Vasya’s niece and grandmother were great too. I will definitely pick up the third book!

This book holds up to the first two! What a great series. This one feels even more magical and dreamy than the first two. There's also more action in this one. But the characters are the highlight! I enjoyed Vasya's journey so much and how she's grown and become her own woman. And I love her relationship with her siblings. This one also had some interesting dynamics with the brothers Morocco and Medved. And Konstantin was a great villain. What a fantastic series all around!