I've been on a folklore kick lately, so when I saw "Vasilisa" by Julie Mathison, I leapt to read it, having just finished several books featuring Vasilisa and Baba Yaga. Mathison's rendition of Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is not like any other I've read, which I appreciate.

Yes, there are some things that are 'very Baba Yaga,' that one may expect to see, like her chicken hut and mortar and pestle. But it really is neat to see different interpretations of the witch-woman.

* What I Liked

- The humor and wit is great

- It's clear the author loves language

- Evelyn: A complex, interesting and surprising character -- her story line was so surprising

- I love the lessons Vasilisa imparts to those around her, simply by being herself



* What Tripped Me Up

- This is probably my modern vantage point showing, but Vasilisa and Ivan seemed much older than their 14 years of age, when they spoke.

I do wonder if this has to do with the hardened realities they experienced, that made them grow more mature beyond their years, perhaps? I kept on having to remind myself that they were just teenagers, even though they spoke in a more mature way, and that briefly pulled me out of the story and into reality (perish the thought)!

* Stars: Four

* Other thoughts:

- Fast moving plot

- Interesting characters

- Plot twists and surprises

- Characters who grow and change over the course of the book

- And ... a promise that we, as readers, will be able to return to Old Rus again in the future, as the Old Rus series will consist of four volumes!

Thank you Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book. These are my honest thoughts.