This is even better than the first book! And I absolutely adored the first book. The opening launched me back into this series so fast, it's so good at setting up an atmosphere immediately, so deep in winter. I love getting to know more about her family, and how they're faring, and then how they collided, at last - it was so satisfyingly done, because the whole series is about the clash of worlds - old and new, wild and civilization - so that had to be done well to levy real stakes in. Vasilisa is probably one of my favorite heroines ever, fervently wild and committing to the decisions she makes, and committing to what her soul calls for, while not callously abandoning her family and village. Immensely sympathetic and someone to cheer for.