Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Witch and the Tsar
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
21 posts | 14 read | 16 to read
"A delicate weaving of myth and history, The Witch and the Tsar breathes new life into stories you think you know."Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf In this stunning debut novel, the maligned and immortal witch of legend known as Baba Yaga will risk all to save her country and her people from Tsar Ivan the Terribleand the dangerous gods who seek to drive the twisted hearts of men. As a half-goddess possessing magic, Yaga is used to living on her own, her prior entanglements with mortals having led to heartbreak. She mostly keeps to her hut in the woods, where those in need of healing seek her out, even as they spread rumors about her supposed cruelty and wicked spells. But when her old friend Anastasianow the wife of the tsar, and suffering from a mysterious illnessarrives in her forest desperate for her protection, Yaga realizes the fate of all of Russia is tied to Anastasias. Yaga must step out of the shadows to protect the land she loves. As she travels to Moscow, Yaga witnesses a sixteenth century Russia on the brink of chaos. Tsar Ivansoon to become Ivan the Terriblegrows more volatile and tyrannical by the day, and Yaga believes the tsaritsa is being poisoned by an unknown enemy. But what Yaga cannot know is that Ivan is being manipulated by powers far older and more fearsome than anyone can imagine. Olesya Salnikova Gilmore weaves a rich tapestry of mythology and Russian history, reclaiming and reinventing the infamous Baba Yaga, and bringing to life a vibrant and tumultuous Russia, where old gods and new tyrants vie for power. This fierce and compelling novel draws from the timeless lore to create a heroine for the modern day, fighting to save her country and those she loves from oppression while also finding her true purpose as a goddess, a witch, and a woman.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
Readergrrl
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

@Marmie7 Thank you so much for my wonderful gifts! I love everything!! I‘ve already started Lolly Willowes and look forward to enjoying everything else soon! Thank you for a fabulous #MWS

BookwormAHN Nice 🐈‍⬛ 1mo
Karisa Ooh! Lovely! I‘m in the middle of Cackle right now and it‘s a lot of fun. I have no idea where it‘s going but enjoying the ride type of book. 😊 1mo
Marmie7 You're welcome! I'm glad you like it! 1mo
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
Bookgoil
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Omg I had the best time opening this beautiful package from @Gissy which you can see how it looked when I opened it in the upper right corner. What a way to make Friday better! I love all the books, the book cozy, the candle smells divine and I cannot wait to use the new tumbler! I am a sucker for a new journal and list maker and love the small decor and bookmark you outdid yourself!!!! @BookwormAHN #mws

BookwormAHN Fantastic 🐈‍⬛️ 13mo
Gissy I‘m glad you liked it but I think I own you something more witchy😔 13mo
Bookgoil @Gissy no it‘s all lovely 🥰 definitely witchy 13mo
31 likes3 comments
review
Twainy
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

🎧 📚 A Baba Yaga retelling taken from Russian folklore & peppered with history. I found the history fascinating. I‘d prefer more from the characters.

The Slavic witch who lived in a hut with chicken legs. Tsarista Anastasia & Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The author is authentic & Russian born.

I‘ve read at least 1 other Baba Yaga retelling … so if you‘re interested try Thistlefoot for more Baba Yaga.

The author note boosts the rating to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4

32 likes1 stack add
review
kissmehardy
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Mehso-so

Excellent plot, but weak character-building. I felt like Yaga was telling us her developments more than experiencing them on the page in front of us. But I liked the dive into Russian history and the magical elements! #fantasy #historicalfantasy #folklore

blurb
Twainy
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Did I miss this one? It was delivered recently.

The end papers are the same sort of cute artwork & colors as the jacket and edges. A ribbon bookmark. Signed & numbered. Added this to my current 2023 TBR.

review
5feet.of.fury
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

Based on Russian history an folklore and does an excellent job of splitting time between the 2. It was compelling, entertaining and beautiful a deftly plotted story, both delicate, complicated and with an understanding of motivation for the characters.

TheBookHippie Well. I need this. 2y
BriannaT I just picked this up at the library - will hopefully read it soon!! 2y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
KristiAhlers
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

I picked this one up the other day when I realized I‘d forgotten to bring a book to work with me for my lunch break (Yeah I started the day without caffeine it went downhill from there). Thankfully I work in a bookstore so voila mistake fixed. This was really an absorbing read for me and since I love all thing Russian as far as history this was a solid choice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

58 likes3 stack adds
blurb
AllDebooks
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Joining in #12daysofchristmas hosted by @Andrew65
Listing my favourite books of the year over 12 days from my annual fiction and non-fiction reads.

Well, it's a wrap on an absolutely incredible year's reading. Happy 12th night to you all x

#12booksofChristmas

LeeRHarry I can‘t wait to read The Witch and the Tsar 😊 2y
AllDebooks @LeeRHarry I think you'll really enjoy it. It's an amazing story 😊 2y
Aimeesue The Slater is one of my favorites. This year I listened to the first season of his podcast which is excerpts from the book. I think they recorded some of it at his home because the opening has a crow cawing in it 🥰 2y
See All 7 Comments
Andrew65 Excellent choices. Thanks for playing along, it‘s been a good way to review the year. 2y
AllDebooks @Andrew65 It really has, I've really enjoyed it. Thank you for hosting 😊 2y
Andrew65 @AllDebooks Loved doing it, and thanks. 2y
40 likes2 stack adds7 comments
blurb
AllDebooks
Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

#Netgalley

I found this captivating novel hugely enjoyable. The story of Baba Yaga plays out amid the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The author provides an enchanting tale threaded with the characters of Russian folklore. I have read reviews that suggest the writing is 'chunky' but I would dispute that. I found the writing to be clear and concise. The story flowed well, the characters were relatable and likable.

AllDebooks and the plot was well thought out, holding your interest.
I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of Baba Yaga as a younger woman rather than the old hag we usually see.
I shall bookmark the author and look forward to reading more of her work.
2y
27 likes1 comment
blurb
AllDebooks
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

I'm so excited to read a retelling of Baba Yaga. Russian mythology, folklore, history and witches. What's not to love, particularly at this time of year when it's freezing outside. Blankets, hot toddy and book at the ready. Here we go! ❄️🖤❄️

This image by Jan Pieńkowski is from my most favourite childhood book, The Kingdom under the sea by Joan Aiken

bnp Have you heard about Thistlefoot, the novel about two siblings who inherit a house on chicken feet? This is one I hope to read next year. Review here https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gennarose-nethercott/thistlefoot/ 2y
AllDebooks @bnp I had not, but it's stacked now. Thank you 😊 2y
35 likes2 comments
blurb
CollapsingLibrary
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Not sure how to feel… this books been on my TBR since this spring and I finally picked up a copy from my library. But 2 pages in and the writing style is such a turn off for me. It feels clunky. I‘ll read the first 50 pages to give it a chance but right now I‘m feeling pretty disappointed.

Suet624 Well that‘s a bummer. 2y
49 likes1 comment
review
Decalino
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

I wasn't sure about this novel at first; its blend of Russian-flavored fairy tale and historical fiction took some getting used to. Yaga, demonized in folk tale as Baba Yaga, is the immortal daughter of the earth goddess Mokosh. She just wants to live in the woods with her animal friends and her chicken-legged hut, healing the occasional villager, but when she's drawn into mortal affairs, she must fight to save Russia from a blood-thirsty tsar.

review
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

Of all the books I‘ve read so far this year, I think this one is my favorite. It has all the elements that I absolutely love in a story: historical aspects, fantasy, woman empowerment, love and connection between characters, drama and tragedy, magic, and a strong yet flawed protagonist. I love Gilmore‘s rendition of Baba Yaga as a character, she‘s my favorite Baba Yaga and I‘ve loved getting to know her in this story. Kinda sad it‘s over…

quote
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

“Hope dies last…”

Trashcanman Hope can't die if it never existed 2y
jen_the_scribe @Trashcanman There‘s always hope… sometimes you have to dig a little deeper ❤️ 2y
7 likes2 comments
quote
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

“Perhaps marriage was not ownership so much as choice. To choose to define each other in terms of forever, even in times of darkness, even in death. Wasn‘t there a certain freedom in that? Freedom in certainty, and in love, which grounded someone like me in the face of life‘s chaos.”

blurb
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Completed all assignments for my current courses last night, and this is the first weekend in a while where I get to mostly relax. Enjoying my new bedspread a little while longer while I slowly sip my coffee, journal, and read. I‘ve been really enjoying this book, and I think I‘ll be able to finish it this weekend 😊

review
PatriciaU
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

So torn on this one. The writing is beautiful with an engaging plot, but this is SO much like Katherine Arden‘s Winternight Trilogy. Similar plot, similar characters, similar folklore, even the same names in some instances. This felt like a prologue to Winternight except it is set after Arden‘s trilogy. Any thoughts on this, fellow readers?

blurb
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Enjoying the cool weather (by Florida standards, anyway) after hurricane Ian. I‘m grateful we had minimal damage and we‘re safe. We have some work to do to fix up a few things around here and help out some neighbors, but for the moment, I‘m going to enjoy this book.

Pruzy Glad your were only minimally affected by the hurricane! Great reading area! 2y
18 likes1 comment
quote
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

“Pride is an illusion and the path to conceit.”

8 likes1 stack add
blurb
jen_the_scribe
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image

Small book haul after a visit to B&N with my sister who‘s in town for a few days. Excited to spend time with my big sis, and excited for these two!

20 likes1 stack add
review
vlwelser
The Witch and the Tsar | Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
post image
Pickpick

This one is brilliant. The author takes Russian folk tales and mixes them with historical events circa Ivan the Terrible. She turns Baba Yaga into a feminist icon. It's lovely. I highly recommend it.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 9/20/22
#ARC #Netgalley

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
39 likes1 stack add1 comment