7 fantasy novels inspired by Slavic folklore

First, let me explain my title: I like to use “folklores” in the plural, because there is no single, monolithic Slavic folklore. There are many different Slavic folklores, all drawing on different influences and borrowing from various neighbors, creating a rich tapestry stretching across Eastern Europe.

At the same time, despite all our differences, some things are common in Slavic stories. This is probably partly due to the fact that many Slavic countries found themselves stuck behind the Iron Curtain during their recent history, leading to many common experiences. Strict censorship during this period left a lasting impact on our literary traditions.

And it probably has to do with an ancient influence, something borrowed from old fairy tales. For example, have you noticed how often the heroines of Slavic fantasy books are practical women, echoing the stories we all grew up with, of brave young girls saving themselves from zmeys and witches who boil arrogant heroes in their cauldrons? We also seem to have a real love for really scary monsters: upirs, rusalkas and zmeys, which appear again and again in stories.

These are the Slavic influences that we find in my first duology, The Witch’s Monster Compendiumstarting with Foul days. Practical women, Slavic monsters and the shadow of the Iron Curtain, described in my book as a magical and impenetrable barrier, trapping our witch protagonist in a city full of horrors.

Here are seven other books that I love that borrow from various Slavic folklores.

Dark woods, deep waters by Jelena Dunato

Set in an Eastern Adriatic-inspired world where vengeful Slavic gods trap lost travelers in haunted, ruined castles hidden in snowy forests, this novel is atmospheric, frightening, both fast-paced and complex. It is told from the perspectives of three distinct narrators: a reluctant hero, a former assassin, a naive nobleman whose dreams of courtly romance land her in deep trouble, and a con artist with a secret heart of gold. The Conman, in particular, is such a fascinating female character: a flawed, interesting, cunning voice dripping from every page.

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Do you like monstrous sapphic girls? If so, this book is for you. The Midnight Girls stars two young women who, as part of a malicious plot by their sorcerer masters, compete for the heart of a prince at the glittering balls of the Karnawał season, but end up falling in love with one another. other. The main characters, Marynka and Zosia, are two of the novel’s many strengths: they are motivated, ambitious and willing to do anything to achieve their goal. Another strength is the atmosphere, which is alive, tangible and so distinctly Polish, from the food and clothing to the obvious elements.^th inspiration of the century.

The second bell by Gabriela Houston

The second bell is another story inspired by Polish folklore, which follows a young striga, a girl born with two hearts, one normal and the other “dark”, who is considered a demon and banished from her human village to live with d other strigas deep in the forest. . There, she is taught that she must control her dark heart, otherwise she risks becoming a monster. Except our protagonist soon finds herself in a life or death situation from which only her dark heart can save her. This is an intensely personal and atmospheric story about prejudice and learning about self-acceptance, the dark heart, and everything in between.

The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

A reimagining of Baba Yaga’s life as a young woman at the court of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Moscow, The Witch and the Tsar contains many of my favorite things: historical inspiration, folk magic and of course, Baba Yaga herself. Our protagonist quickly finds herself caught between a tsar who becomes more paranoid and unstable by the day and a queen who is probably poisoned – and she must navigate not only politics, but also ancient magic and young love. This story has so many fun little details that anyone familiar with the time period and the myth of Baba Yaga would recognize, which only adds to the atmosphere of the medieval Russian setting.

Where the darkness ends by AB Poranek

When a village girl who grew up believing that magic is evil develops a magical gift, she makes a deal with a Leszy, a forest spirit from Polish folklore, who offers her a deal: a year of servitude in his ruined mansion, in exchange. for a wish. Rich, complex, and beautifully written, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries, gothic settings, and a well-developed romance between characters you can’t help but care about. It reminded me of Naomi Novik’s Uprootedbut with a hint of Howl’s Moving Castlewhich is undoubtedly a winning combination.

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

Unlike previous titles on the list, this is a contemporary fantasy set in New Orleans, exploring immigration and life in the diaspora, which makes it particularly dear to my immigrant heart. Once again, we follow in Baba Yaga’s footsteps – or, in this case, the steps of her chicken leg house. After two siblings inherited it, they plan to use it to take their family theater on the road. Except it quickly becomes clear that they must outrun a truly nightmarish figure from the “old country” to preserve him and their family. their legacy, their new found peace and their lives. Thistlefoot skillfully weaves a story influenced by Jewish and Slavic myths, mixing the magical and the mundane.

One for my enemy by Olivia Blake

We are in the United States again, this time in New York. This Romeo and Juliet the tale is about two rival witch families, entangled in a complicated mess of love and betrayal. The book revolves around the youngest brother and sister of each family, who meet by chance and fall in love; as well as their older siblings, whose relationship ended badly several years before. The heads of both families, Baba Yaga and Koschei the Immortal, borrow their nicknames from Russian fairy tales, and there are all kinds of little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the story that fans of Slavic folklore would appreciate. Horrible magic, tragic love and complicated women: this book has it all.