I love this! 

I have to get my own copy of it, since this one's going back to the library tomorrow. I'd seen it on the shelves there for ages, and I kept thinking "maybe I should give it a go" because it had an appealing cover and title, and I'm so glad that I did. It has a fantastic heroine, and it's clearly inspired by Russian folk tales, of which I know very few (Baba Yaga is about the extent of my knowledge and she didn't turn up here at all, so it was all new to me). I want to read more of them, though, because if they're all like this than they're lovely. Brutal, as some folk tales are, but lovely nonetheless. I guess if you live in such a harsh environment then some of your stories end up reflecting that. 

I understand this is the first in a trilogy - unsurprising, as I get the feeling that some of the minor characters in this book have been positioned to turn up again. I'm excited to read the next one.