THE WITCH AND THE TSAR Paperback

"The Witch and the Tsar" by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore is a captivating historical fantasy debut that reimagines the infamous Slavic witch, Baba Yaga, as an immortal half-goddess healer. Set in a tumultuous 16th-century Russia, the story sees Yaga, who normally keeps to her secluded hut, drawn into the dangerous world of Tsar Ivan the Terrible when her old friend, the Tsarina Anastasia, falls mysteriously ill. As Yaga travels to Moscow, she uncovers a web of political intrigue and ancient, malevolent forces manipulating the increasingly volatile Tsar, threatening to plunge Russia into chaos. This rich and atmospheric novel weaves together Russian history, folklore, and mythology, presenting a fierce and compelling heroine who must risk everything to protect her country and loved ones from tyranny, all while grappling with her own purpose as a goddess, a witch, and a woman.