A perfect tale . . . A big and meaty novel, rich in both ideas and people, with the vastness of Tolkien and the empathy and joy in daily life of Le Guin.
The story follows multiple point-of-view characters, each with their own struggles and desires. At its heart is Miryem, the daughter of a moneylender who takes up her father's trade to save her family from poverty. Miryem's talents for turning silver into gold draw the attention of the Staryk, otherworldly creatures who thrive on cold and ice. She strikes a dangerous bargain with the Staryk king, inadvertently setting off a chain of events that will shape the fate of her kingdom.
As Miryem's story unfolds, it intertwines with those of Wanda, a poor village girl struggling to escape her abusive father; Irina, the daughter of a duke forced into marriage for political gain; and the tsar, whose kingdom is threatened by an endless winter and a vengeful spirit.
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