Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Reimagining the legendary Baba Yaga as an immortal half-goddess healer, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s The Witch and the Tsar plunges readers into a spellbinding historical fantasy set in 16th-century Russia. Striking an unlikely alliance to save her land from the dark forces manipulating Ivan the Terrible, Yaga battles political intrigue and age-old tyrants. A richly atmospheric, captivating read that provides a refreshing exploration of early Russian history for high school collections.
This graphic novel adaptation of Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation offers fast paced mystery, reincarnation, and magic, though it loses some of the depth and character nuance found in the original novel. The reviewer notes that while the art conveys key moments, the story moves quickly and can be hard to follow. Featuring music based magic through instruments like the flute and guqin, it offers unique classroom connections and an engaging blend of fantasy, ghosts, and mystery.
Marta lives quietly in the attic of the Hotel Balzaar while her mother works as a maid. One day a mysterious countess arrives with a parrot she claims was once a general. She promises Marta seven stories, each told in order. As Marta listens, she begins to sense that the tales might be connected to her missing father. Each unfinished story leaves her wondering what is real and what is imagined as she searches for answers hidden within the countess’s words.