Lackey has won many fans for her fantasy novels. Although some of her books have contemporary settings (most notably the Serrated Edge series), her real forte seems to be intricate, invented fantasy worlds. This talent is evident in the present novel. Using medieval Russia for a backdrop, she has built a world where the forests brood, wreathed in mist and magic. Little sprites may inhabit the same sites as humans—but then again, they may not. It all depends on one's angle of vision.

The nobles' landholdings function as small, self-sufficient cities. Despite "Tsar" Ivan's harsh rule, much of his estate's daily life goes on serenely beneath his notice, and it is there that Ilya finds succor and sustenance. From the dairy to the chapel to the wooden bathhouse, the author brings a large premodern farmstead to life in fascinating detail. The presentation of this small realm...