I enjoyed this young adult historical fantasy novel. Mathison does a great job incorporating characters from Slavic mythology into this story of young teens in an early 20th century Pennsylvania steel town.

Kind and compassionate Vasilisa was easy to root for. I enjoyed seeing her relationships with her family and friends evolve, and I loved reading a fantasy where problems are solved with kindness and care rather than violence. There is a bit of chaste romance, but the emphasis is on the adventure.

The audiobook production was excellent, and I enjoyed the narration by Kimberly Gifford Olbrich. She was pleasant to listen to, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, distinctive voices to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.

I recommend this book for fans of portal fantasies, fairy tale retellings, and Slavic folklore. It’s intended for a young adult audience, but I still found it enjoyable as an adult, and I suspect that many middle grade readers might also enjoy it. It would be a lovely story to listen to together as a family and discuss.

I received a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

A nice retelling of folklore, the narration for the audiobook was really smooth to listen to, Kimberly (the narrator) has a really nice cadence, and her different tones and accents went down really well!

I was a bit hesitant at first because of the main characters age, but I really enjoyed everything :)


Thank you for the ARC!

You can take the girl out of Russia, but you can’t take Russia out of the girl. Especially her myths.


This one has The Bear and the Nightingale for Middle Schoolers vibes. I would categorize it as historical fiction meets fantasy.

This was a lot to throw into one book, but I can see how it keeps the story moving for its intended audience. That being said, it is a lovely gateway into the world of Russian myths and legends for teens. The heroine is relatable and likeable as she clings onto her goals and the love of her family. It is a fun quest with the FMC and MMC as they seek out the fabled (but very real) witch Baba Yaga. Throw in a little coming-of-age angst and young romance, and this one is destined to be a favorite of teens who love fantasy.

As for the narrator, she definitely hit the mark with the modern English meets Russian verbiage in this novel. She captured well the tone and persistence of a teenager.

I’m a huge fan of mythology and folktales; it’s probably one of the biggest genres that I read. I loved that this book was based in Russian folklore, because I feel like those are tales that don’t get told as often as tales from Western Europe. I’ve also always been fascinated by Baba Yaga, so I was super excited to see that this book featured her. Right away, I was drawn into the story. It’s so well-written that you become so immersed in Vasilisa’s world. In particular, her babka really came alive to me. I loved the relationship that she had with Vasilisa, there is something so special about the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. I loved the storytelling that happened between the two of them, it really showed how important the oral tradition of storytelling is- which ends up becoming a major plot point in the story. I loved how the author gives the reader time to know the characters before they move into their journey into Old Rus. It really helped to highlight the growth and changes that the characters experience while in Old Rus. This was a really wonderful story that chronicles the journey from childhood to young adult in a unique way that incorporates cultural knowledge and folklore. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes mythology/folklore/fairy tales, stories of friends on a journey together, stories with strong family connections and stories where the girl saves herself in the end.

"Vasilisa" was such a fun and enchanting read! It's a clever and accessible take on the classic Russian tales of Vasilisa and Baba Yaga, but you don't need any background in the folklore to enjoy it. The story stands solidly on its own, blending magic, mystery, and a sense of adventure that pulls you in right from the start.

Julie Mathison's writing is vivid and atmospheric, bringing the forest, the eerie hut on chicken legs, and Vasi's journey to life in a way that feels both whimsical and grounded. The characters were compelling, especially Vasilisa herself, who's smart, brave, and easy to root for.

Overall, it's a beautiful imagines tale that feels timeless but fresh. I'd recommend it to readers who love fairytales, coming-of-age stories, or a dash of folklore magic. A strong 4 stars!

I couldn't get into this one. I don't know if it was the slow plot or the uninteresting characters in the beginning, but I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters. Perhaps the myth system wasn't as interesting to me as I thought it would be. Perhaps someone with particular interest in Russian fairy tales would find this book worthwhile, but I'd say it's not for general interest.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for my copy of Vasilisa: Old Rus Tales, Book 1 by Julie Mathison Narrated by Kimberly Gifford in exchange for an honest review. It published May 19, 2025.
I really enjoyed Kimberly Gifford’s narration of this book.
I found this book to be a really fun read, all of the old Rus tales were so fun to be fleshed out. However, I think I would’ve also benefitted from a physical copy of this book to keep everyone and everything straight.

Yeah, I'm sorry, but this was a no from me. I think this book will find its audience, but I am not one of them. I found this book to be incredibly boring, without anything really happening to garner my interests.

Vasilisa is a beautifully woven tale that blends historical fiction with rich folklore in a way that feels both magical and grounded. Julie Mathison crafts a strong, courageous heroine in Vasilisa, whose journey through the shadows of pre-revolutionary Russia is filled with heart, danger, and resilience. The narration brings the atmosphere to life with vivid emotion and a perfect pacing that enhances the story’s fairy tale roots. A compelling listen for fans of strong female leads, Slavic mythology, and historical coming-of-age adventures.

This was a good book. It touches on concepts that could be bet useful for grade school students, whilst still having an interesting plot.