I loved the first book in the series and am curious how the story continues. The setting in old Russia gives this a fresh and interesting setting that most people have never explored before. I particularly love the winter environment. I grew up in the north woods of Minnesota and can relate to the scenes. It makes me miss the coziness of a long winter spent in a warm cabin. The magic very subtle and without much explanation, which leaves it as magic. I feel that too many stories go into too much detail explaining magic and end up taking the magic out of the magic, this story does not do that. I would recommend this a to anyone that likes fantasy stories with the wonder still sparkling. It's cold and lonely and magical outside.