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Fairy Tales #1
Firebird
A young nobleman glimpses the legendary Firebird as it steals cherries from his father's orchards, and he journeys through a fantastical version of Old Russia to find the Firebird and fall in love
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 27, 1996
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
473 books9,097 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
January 13, 2023
Delightful!! Charming!! Magical!!
Tied up neatly with a happy ending!
Tied up neatly with a happy ending!
October 14, 2016
Lots of people had a hard time reading this book because it doesn't have a lot of action, and because it doesn't follow a traditionally gripping narrative.
Both of those facts are true.
But there is an important note that needs to be made here:
Firebird is not a novel.
It is a fairy tale.
And it is a superb one.
Lackey incorporates many traditional fairy tale tropes in Firebird (I.E. the Fool) but does so in a way that does not bore me. Ilya was a captivating character in that he was flawed from the very beginning (his treatment of women) and yet he is still one of the more redeeming characters in the tale.
I found Lackey's animal characters to be the most wholesome and true -- which speaks to the true nature of our world in so many ways. None of the humans were blameless, as a nice foil to the humans.
The pacing was solid, the descriptions vivid, and the tale itself was vibrant and new.
All in all, this fairy tale comes highly recommended from me.
Both of those facts are true.
But there is an important note that needs to be made here:
Firebird is not a novel.
It is a fairy tale.
And it is a superb one.
Lackey incorporates many traditional fairy tale tropes in Firebird (I.E. the Fool) but does so in a way that does not bore me. Ilya was a captivating character in that he was flawed from the very beginning (his treatment of women) and yet he is still one of the more redeeming characters in the tale.
I found Lackey's animal characters to be the most wholesome and true -- which speaks to the true nature of our world in so many ways. None of the humans were blameless, as a nice foil to the humans.
The pacing was solid, the descriptions vivid, and the tale itself was vibrant and new.
All in all, this fairy tale comes highly recommended from me.
November 3, 2012
Mostly descriptive, as is often Lackey's tendancy. Very little action for the length. The Firebird appears for the first time around page 75 and is barely glimpsed, then does not reappear or speak till more than 200 pages in. I found Ilya uninteresting as a protagonist and have no idea what the bird saw in him. Weak, but mostly inoffensive, although there were a couple painfully stupid moments.
Read Brokedown Palace if you're interested in the violent-brothers aspect, Rusalka if you want vaguely historical fantasy with Russian mythos, or Magic's Pawn if you want something better but with similarities by the same author.
Read Brokedown Palace if you're interested in the violent-brothers aspect, Rusalka if you want vaguely historical fantasy with Russian mythos, or Magic's Pawn if you want something better but with similarities by the same author.
February 3, 2012
In Old Rus, people used to speak of the lands being filled with spirits bright, terrible, mischievous and kind. Oral folklore—passed along as part of what is now known as the byliny—also regaled its listeners with stories of plain men and women who overcame adversity. They tell of Olga’s heroism and cleverness in punishing those who killed her husband and of Ivan the Terrible’s stupid cruelty.
Unfortunately, this oral tradition is mostly lost to us. Rather than sit as a live storyteller brings rich folklore to life, we lounge in front of the television or curl up with a book, taking our literature in solitary doses. Yet the stories so rich in imagery and magic need not be lost as long as there are talented writers such as Mercedes Lackey to translate them to modern mediums.
Lackey’s Firebird is a beautiful narrative that combines many elements from many traditional Russian folklore. It is a book that is completely Russian, without ever mentioning the name of the land. It is the Russia of the folklore, where bannik inhabit bathhouses and the rusalka stalk the rivers. It is the Russia where the unloved middle son of a cruel and stupid tzar can use his cleverness and kindness to achieve great deeds and reap rich rewards.
Lackey shows immense talent in taking stock characters, traditional plots, and ancient spiritlore and making it into something creative and interesting. She accurately depicts the romanticized Russia of medieval times. She even accurately depicts the tension between pagan and Christian forces. The Christian and pagan priest disagree with one another, but live and work together toward the same goals. They both promote kindness and goodwill in an environment that is chilly to both sentiments. They work together because although they are theologically of opposite poles, they both believe in higher virtues than cruel stupidity.
Ilya, the hero, is the victim of beatings and practical jokes from his brothers. Firebird is the story of how he escapes his murderous brother and father and pursues a dream across many dangers. He must face many foes and seemingly insurmountable odds and defeat them with his cleverness, strength, and kindness. I will not give any more plot details for part of the wonder of the novel is to discover things as Ilya does and to wonder with him whether he will ever be able to change his life or escape his circumstances.
There are times where the book seems a little trite, as it does draw on many stereotypes, but ultimately, it is the use of well-worn yarns that make the entire tapestry so lovely. It is also a story that is enhanced by a passing familiarity with Russian culture and history. Possibly the book would not be as enjoyable if you have no previous knowledge of Russian folklore or stories. I hesitate to say that though, for Lackey truly does tell a good story and makes an effort to explain each bit of folklore she weaves in without belaboring it.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read. It’s a feel-good novel that is as charming as it is entertaining.
Unfortunately, this oral tradition is mostly lost to us. Rather than sit as a live storyteller brings rich folklore to life, we lounge in front of the television or curl up with a book, taking our literature in solitary doses. Yet the stories so rich in imagery and magic need not be lost as long as there are talented writers such as Mercedes Lackey to translate them to modern mediums.
Lackey’s Firebird is a beautiful narrative that combines many elements from many traditional Russian folklore. It is a book that is completely Russian, without ever mentioning the name of the land. It is the Russia of the folklore, where bannik inhabit bathhouses and the rusalka stalk the rivers. It is the Russia where the unloved middle son of a cruel and stupid tzar can use his cleverness and kindness to achieve great deeds and reap rich rewards.
Lackey shows immense talent in taking stock characters, traditional plots, and ancient spiritlore and making it into something creative and interesting. She accurately depicts the romanticized Russia of medieval times. She even accurately depicts the tension between pagan and Christian forces. The Christian and pagan priest disagree with one another, but live and work together toward the same goals. They both promote kindness and goodwill in an environment that is chilly to both sentiments. They work together because although they are theologically of opposite poles, they both believe in higher virtues than cruel stupidity.
Ilya, the hero, is the victim of beatings and practical jokes from his brothers. Firebird is the story of how he escapes his murderous brother and father and pursues a dream across many dangers. He must face many foes and seemingly insurmountable odds and defeat them with his cleverness, strength, and kindness. I will not give any more plot details for part of the wonder of the novel is to discover things as Ilya does and to wonder with him whether he will ever be able to change his life or escape his circumstances.
There are times where the book seems a little trite, as it does draw on many stereotypes, but ultimately, it is the use of well-worn yarns that make the entire tapestry so lovely. It is also a story that is enhanced by a passing familiarity with Russian culture and history. Possibly the book would not be as enjoyable if you have no previous knowledge of Russian folklore or stories. I hesitate to say that though, for Lackey truly does tell a good story and makes an effort to explain each bit of folklore she weaves in without belaboring it.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read. It’s a feel-good novel that is as charming as it is entertaining.
January 15, 2011
Firebird introduces Ilya, the least favoured of Tzar Ivan’s sons. Upon first impression Ilya struck me as cheeky, arrogant, skirt-chasing idiot, an impression that lasted just as fervently all the way through.
Putting that aside, the plot in itself was purely nonsensical. As the story progresses, Ilya undertakes a supposedly reckless mission, involving the rescue of several very pretty “damsels in distress”, the gorgeous Tatiana, with whom he fell in love on first sight for the single virtue of her otherworldly beauty, among them.
On top of that, the book was unusually slow-paced, and much to my frustration, the author felt the need to elaborate on and analyze each of the character’s acts, words or feelings as if they weren’t laid bare in front of the reader’s eyes as it is.
Secondary characters were just as bad, their only redeeming virtue is the fact you don’t have to bear so much of them as of the main character.
Putting that aside, the plot in itself was purely nonsensical. As the story progresses, Ilya undertakes a supposedly reckless mission, involving the rescue of several very pretty “damsels in distress”, the gorgeous Tatiana, with whom he fell in love on first sight for the single virtue of her otherworldly beauty, among them.
On top of that, the book was unusually slow-paced, and much to my frustration, the author felt the need to elaborate on and analyze each of the character’s acts, words or feelings as if they weren’t laid bare in front of the reader’s eyes as it is.
Secondary characters were just as bad, their only redeeming virtue is the fact you don’t have to bear so much of them as of the main character.
May 15, 2009
It took me a couple of tries to get through The Firebird. I usually don't keep trying but I really enjoy Lackey's Thousand Kingdom books and the Firebird is a favorite fairy tale (and another retelling In the Forests of Serre is one of my all time favorite books). The beginning is sluggish and it takes a while to get into the meat of the story. Also, I felt Lackey missed in her attempt to create a loveable rogue, although the characterization itself is well drawn and the background history is logical and even poignant.
If you are expecting the fun, romantic romps of the Thousand Kingdom series, you won't find it here. As books go, it's okay, at least for me. I could easily see another reader picking this up and it becoming a favorite, but it just didn't work for me.
If you are expecting the fun, romantic romps of the Thousand Kingdom series, you won't find it here. As books go, it's okay, at least for me. I could easily see another reader picking this up and it becoming a favorite, but it just didn't work for me.
June 17, 2023
For Ilya Ivanovitch life sucks, the middle son of the greedy and paranoid Tsar Ivan, he has spent most of his life in a competition with equally greedy, unbelievably stupid, incredibly violent brothers. A competition he never wanted any part of to begin with. And just as it seems his brothers are getting even more violent a thief turns up to make matters worse. Instead of being able to keep his head down and steer clear of his brutal family he is now stuck in another competition; catch the thief and become his father's heir, something he never wanted in the first place. However, Ilya's clever and curious mind is fascinated by this thief it is able to sneak past his father's guard and leave absolutely no traces of itself and so against his better judgement he sets out to catch the thief and ends up the main character in his own fairy tail full of spirits, evil sorcerers, and damsels in distress after he discovers the thief is no less than the beautiful and dreadful Firebird!
I genuinely don't believe Mercedes Lackey can write a bad story! Firebird was just a lot of fun, a wonderful retelling with a delightful cast of characters. Ilya especially was so much fun to read, as he finds clever ways to outwit all of the unbelievable situations he finds himself in. And, of course, since it is a fairy tale, the thing that serves him the best is his kindness. Although I must admit I enjoyed the Vixen the best. She's a very small character in the grand scheme of things but she's wonderfully conniving and Ilya would have never been able to save the day without her!
The pacing on this was well done as well, in some of Lackey's books I've found the story seems to kind of slow down right around the halfway point for no real reason, however, I didn't have that issue with this. It was perfectly engaging from beginning to end.
My only complaint is that we don't get to find out what happens to Father Mikhail, Ruslan, and Mother Galina, they are such a big portion of why Ilya is able to maintain his kindness in such an awful home so I would have liked to know that they were at the very least able to escape Tsar Ivan's household.
Overall, just a heartwarming story of a young man who grows up in a violent and paranoid home and is able to maintain his kindness because of the few, but important people, in his life that showed him love. Highly recommend for anyone who simply loves a good story.
I genuinely don't believe Mercedes Lackey can write a bad story! Firebird was just a lot of fun, a wonderful retelling with a delightful cast of characters. Ilya especially was so much fun to read, as he finds clever ways to outwit all of the unbelievable situations he finds himself in. And, of course, since it is a fairy tale, the thing that serves him the best is his kindness. Although I must admit I enjoyed the Vixen the best. She's a very small character in the grand scheme of things but she's wonderfully conniving and Ilya would have never been able to save the day without her!
The pacing on this was well done as well, in some of Lackey's books I've found the story seems to kind of slow down right around the halfway point for no real reason, however, I didn't have that issue with this. It was perfectly engaging from beginning to end.
My only complaint is that we don't get to find out what happens to Father Mikhail, Ruslan, and Mother Galina, they are such a big portion of why Ilya is able to maintain his kindness in such an awful home so I would have liked to know that they were at the very least able to escape Tsar Ivan's household.
Overall, just a heartwarming story of a young man who grows up in a violent and paranoid home and is able to maintain his kindness because of the few, but important people, in his life that showed him love. Highly recommend for anyone who simply loves a good story.
January 6, 2010
I wanted to like this book and parts of it were great, but about halfway through I realized that I just really didn't like the main character. He prided himself on being smarter than the rest of his family, but he couldn't seem to outsmart them. He was highly unimaginative in his solutions to problems, and spent a good bit of the first half of the book recovering from the poundings he received from his brothers. I didn't like the resolution to the final problem. It just seemed too easy. All in all - it wasn't the best.
January 19, 2011
This is a pretty bad book. It's not the worst thing I've ever read, but it really wasn't worth my time. The prose is clunky, it seems poorly edited, the characters are either boring or unbelievable, mostly both, and the plot is not even a very good re-imagining of the classic Russian fairy tale. The pacing moved along all right, I suppose. It was quick to read. But it's just a really unimaginative book, and I found myself groaning and rolling my eyes a lot at the main character.
December 29, 2010
Mercedes Lackey, we usually get along tolerably well if not like a house on fire. What was this drivel? Really, what? If it's not outright offensive, it's boring as hell, or it's boring and offensive at once.
Struggled through to the end out of sheer bloody mindedness. Book did not improve. Please can I have those hours back?
Struggled through to the end out of sheer bloody mindedness. Book did not improve. Please can I have those hours back?
April 29, 2013
I rate this book so highly because at 14, when I first read it, it was incredible. Adults looking for accurate historical/fantasy fiction should look elsewhere as this book is best appreciated with an adolescent naïveté. However, I recently reread it (at 28) and enjoyed it tremendously for the classic mythic storytelling and characters.
June 20, 2021
When cherries are stolen from the tsar's garden, Ilya's life becomes a whole lot complicated.
Spoilers ahead.
Plot and Pacing
Oh god. This book took me an embarrassingly long time to finish and not just because I got vaccinated and felt woozy for a few days (friendly reminder to please get vaccinated, everyone!). During each chapter, I constantly entertained the notion of DNFing the book. Only two things kept me going: 1) the fact that it would help me knock off another one of the r/fantasy bingo squares and 2) the circumstances Ilya found himself in felt parallel to my present situation.
Firebird is, at its core, a Russian fairytale and it spares no fantastical element. Spirits, talking animals, beautiful love interests, the hero being smarter than everyone else and having to play the Fool--like I said, it spares nothing! With some reworking, I think this would have made for a really good book. I was enamoured by the talking animals. It was devastating to read about Ilya's gelding dying because he was such a witty horse. Even the vixen and the nightingale and the hounds of the palace were hilarious to read about. What put me off was the insane amount of description about things that had no significant bearing towards the story and the weird pacing. When something happens, the action is quick and the pace gallops forward like a horse set loose from the stables. However, the majority of this book was like a horse collapsing on hay out of sheer exhaustion and choosing to idle around. I enjoy slice of life books but Firebird wasn't even that during the slow bits! So, overall, I didn't enjoy this book and I do wish I had selected another one to fill out the "blacklist" square on bingo.
With that being said, there were some important messages scattered in the book. Ilya is proof that brains are just as important as brawn and you should aim for a nice balance between the two. I loved the debate around traditions and why it was important to maintain them. Yasha (the old man Ilya finds) discussed this in great detail:
I'm not sure where I stand on this. I understand that traditions are important and I'll be the first to admit that some Indian traditions do make me feel better connected and like I'm not as insignificant as I thought. However, so many traditions are SO outdated and I wish I could untether them. It's also so hard to figure out why said traditions were started in the first place so it's even harder to "edit" them.
There was some discussion about masculinity too. When Ilya is engaged to Tatiana, he does his best to see to her complaints even going so far as to anticipate them. In doing so, he's seen as being a pushover whereas Tatiana wanted a man who would beat her and not be a "milksop" which, in and of itself, is a bit sdfjlksdjf and antiquated. But I wish the world would remove this pressure for men to be super macho. As Ilya said,
I knew Ilya and the Firebird were endgame. I mean, come on, this was a fairytale! Of course they were going to end up together! Yet the last few pages were so abrupt. Ilya agrees to travel to the Firebird's home and that's it. I would have liked to see them interact more to show they were compatible. And perhaps more hints about the Firebirds feelings for Ilya.
Characters
Ilya was a heavily flawed character. He's sexist and has a pretty big ego. I think one of the reasons I was so compelled by Ilya was because he felt so trapped in his life. He knows that life could be so much worse away from the palace but that doesn't stop him from wishing. Ilya hates how every one of his actions has to be carefully thought through to avoid drawing attention. He hates how there's no room for making mistakes. And he hates that there's really nothing he can do about it.
All that resonated with me a lot. I always feel I have to carefully select every word I say because it will be abused and twisted and used against me. And with the pandemic still raging on and potential career options being obliterated due to my citizenship, it's hard not to feel trapped here. Things could be a lot worse but it still hurts when I dwell too long on it.
I admired Ilya's drive and determination to keep going. He kept forging through despite all the setbacks. He tried to make the most of each situation. Yes, he had his low points (he contemplates suicide), Ilya kept going. That takes serious guts.
Ilya's squad was also the most wholesome group of people ever. I loved how Mother Galina, Father Mikhail and Ruslan took Ilya under their wings and listened to him. Though he didn't tell them everything (again, relatable), it was nice that there were people who cared for him within the palace no strings attached.
Writing Style
I know for a fact that I won't be reading any more of Mercedes Lackey's books. That isn't to say she's a terrible writer. Her writing just isn't for me. I didn't like the humungous descriptive paragraphs and I would have preferred more fleshing out of the side characters.
Spoilers ahead.
Plot and Pacing
Oh god. This book took me an embarrassingly long time to finish and not just because I got vaccinated and felt woozy for a few days (friendly reminder to please get vaccinated, everyone!). During each chapter, I constantly entertained the notion of DNFing the book. Only two things kept me going: 1) the fact that it would help me knock off another one of the r/fantasy bingo squares and 2) the circumstances Ilya found himself in felt parallel to my present situation.
Firebird is, at its core, a Russian fairytale and it spares no fantastical element. Spirits, talking animals, beautiful love interests, the hero being smarter than everyone else and having to play the Fool--like I said, it spares nothing! With some reworking, I think this would have made for a really good book. I was enamoured by the talking animals. It was devastating to read about Ilya's gelding dying because he was such a witty horse. Even the vixen and the nightingale and the hounds of the palace were hilarious to read about. What put me off was the insane amount of description about things that had no significant bearing towards the story and the weird pacing. When something happens, the action is quick and the pace gallops forward like a horse set loose from the stables. However, the majority of this book was like a horse collapsing on hay out of sheer exhaustion and choosing to idle around. I enjoy slice of life books but Firebird wasn't even that during the slow bits! So, overall, I didn't enjoy this book and I do wish I had selected another one to fill out the "blacklist" square on bingo.
With that being said, there were some important messages scattered in the book. Ilya is proof that brains are just as important as brawn and you should aim for a nice balance between the two. I loved the debate around traditions and why it was important to maintain them. Yasha (the old man Ilya finds) discussed this in great detail:
“It's this—I know all old men complain that young men pay no attention to tradition, but there's usually a reason for a tradition. Sometimes it's a reason that doesn't hold anymore, but there was always a reason for it. That's why it's important to listen to old men—they know the 'whys' as well as the customs. And a man without custom and tradition is a man without roots; he'll blow away in the first hard storm, and no one will ever miss him.”
I'm not sure where I stand on this. I understand that traditions are important and I'll be the first to admit that some Indian traditions do make me feel better connected and like I'm not as insignificant as I thought. However, so many traditions are SO outdated and I wish I could untether them. It's also so hard to figure out why said traditions were started in the first place so it's even harder to "edit" them.
There was some discussion about masculinity too. When Ilya is engaged to Tatiana, he does his best to see to her complaints even going so far as to anticipate them. In doing so, he's seen as being a pushover whereas Tatiana wanted a man who would beat her and not be a "milksop" which, in and of itself, is a bit sdfjlksdjf and antiquated. But I wish the world would remove this pressure for men to be super macho. As Ilya said,
“Maybe that clout to her head woke her to the fact that just because a man is gentle and treats a woman like a precious object worthy of respect, that doesn't mean he's a milksop. And just because a man tells her what a fine piece of masculinity he is, that doesn't mean he's admirable.”
I knew Ilya and the Firebird were endgame. I mean, come on, this was a fairytale! Of course they were going to end up together! Yet the last few pages were so abrupt. Ilya agrees to travel to the Firebird's home and that's it. I would have liked to see them interact more to show they were compatible. And perhaps more hints about the Firebirds feelings for Ilya.
Characters
Ilya was a heavily flawed character. He's sexist and has a pretty big ego. I think one of the reasons I was so compelled by Ilya was because he felt so trapped in his life. He knows that life could be so much worse away from the palace but that doesn't stop him from wishing. Ilya hates how every one of his actions has to be carefully thought through to avoid drawing attention. He hates how there's no room for making mistakes. And he hates that there's really nothing he can do about it.
There was no real escape from here, not without more danger than he faced from his brothers.
All that resonated with me a lot. I always feel I have to carefully select every word I say because it will be abused and twisted and used against me. And with the pandemic still raging on and potential career options being obliterated due to my citizenship, it's hard not to feel trapped here. Things could be a lot worse but it still hurts when I dwell too long on it.
I admired Ilya's drive and determination to keep going. He kept forging through despite all the setbacks. He tried to make the most of each situation. Yes, he had his low points (he contemplates suicide), Ilya kept going. That takes serious guts.
Ilya's squad was also the most wholesome group of people ever. I loved how Mother Galina, Father Mikhail and Ruslan took Ilya under their wings and listened to him. Though he didn't tell them everything (again, relatable), it was nice that there were people who cared for him within the palace no strings attached.
Writing Style
I know for a fact that I won't be reading any more of Mercedes Lackey's books. That isn't to say she's a terrible writer. Her writing just isn't for me. I didn't like the humungous descriptive paragraphs and I would have preferred more fleshing out of the side characters.
October 23, 2017
This book is filled with lots of yummy little details, and I enjoyed the characterization of various characters. Lackey did a good job here, though I must admit, the ending disappointed me. (hence, I took away one star for the rating). I would love to see a sequel to this book.
March 31, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I can see why Mercedes Lackey is held in such high esteem.
May 15, 2019
The writing in this one is lovely as per usual! The family dynamic in this one is toxic, and made this book hard to read at points. All in all, I did enjoy it though.
August 27, 2016
Not being overly familiar with Russian fairy tales and folklore, talk of banniks and domovoi and rusalka and polevoi was new to me. However, it is a very natural thing to our leading man, Ilya Ivanovitch – middle son of a greedy and power-hungry self-declared tsar of Rus. The Russian fairytales and spirits mingle freely with those of Christian notions brought in by the Christian priest, Father Mikail, one of Ilya’s three friends in his father’s land along with the Rus shaman Ruslan and the lead dairy woman Mother Galina. Together, those three created the basis of pretty much all that is good in Ilya, and which separates him from both his older and younger brothers with their propensity for frequent fighting and lack of intelligence. Yet Ilya has his vices too, as living in that family would make it very surprising indeed if he did not have sufficient vices to balance out the good in him.
It is the unique balance of good and vices in Ilya which help make him such an interesting protagonist to follow and encourage as he encounters all sorts of adversity. From his brothers’ tendency to gang up and beat on him since they were all children, to his rash of bad luck which has him come face-to-face with a spiteful and viscous rusalka, to the tribulations he encounters when trying to free a captured tsarina – it is the steadfast morality and goodness of heart that his friends Father Mikail, Ruslan, and Mother Galina instilled in him coupled with his natural cleverness and kindness which help him through, often in doing services for others for the sake of helping them, with rarely a thought for what he could get out of the deal. He grows along the journey, in ways that staying at home would never have allowed him to do, and becomes a better and better person as time passes. The adversity humbles him, reinforces his respect of others as well as his own work ethic.
The summary on the back states that Ilya is banished, but he is not quite “banished” in the stricter sense of the word – being sent away by someone in power and forbidden from ever returning. It is more of a happenstance, passive banishment, or a self-imposed exile; it is not even intentionally self-imposed, but by a series of unfortunate occurences and plain old bad luck, Ilya finds himself lost outside of the palace and wandering through the land of Rus with all of its magical corners and tricksters. There he is confronted by magic and beings of Russian folklore he only half-believed in, and even then not really; each of whom has their own great power to change Ilya’s path.
Yet, he also has some level of belief in the Christian ideas taught to him by Father Mikail, as occasionally he will think about the Virgin Mother, or demons of hell, or the powers that God wields. These seemingly conflicting yet cohabitating views of the world which Ilya has illustrates how it is possible to believe in two things which seem mutually exclusive, but are in actuality not so excluding as they seemed at first. These contradictions in his psyche as well as in his developing/maturing views of the world as the story goes on help ensure just how well-rounded of a character Ilya is, and help us realize that even if we think two things can never overlap, well, maybe we just are not looking at them quite the right way.
All of the above, including of course the magic and majesty of the Firebird herself, and the weaving of coincidences and fate make for a very fun, flowing, exciting, and growth-full tale. I thoroughly enjoyed being in this strange yet vaguely familiar world, where the magical is not just a story but real, and can help or harm at its own whims and fancies.
Side notes, very spoilery for the end especially:
Quotes and selected commentary:
Page 39 – chess is referred to as an “effeminate pursuit” - but I’m more familiar with it as a game of kings, as portrayed in The Princess and the Hound (The Hound Saga #1) by Mette Ivie Harrison, and other historical fiction-type novels/shows (I think even in Game of Thrones!).
There were things in the world that common sense dictated could not exist, logic failed to explain. And [Ilya] would never, ever convince his father of that. – page 84
Vocabulary: … while he glowered at all and sundry. – page 160
… use it with one of his leman! – page 162
Typos:
So he when he came to a place […] – page 209 – Should just read, “So when he came to a place […]”
But these were evidently veterans of his anger, and they had more sense to do anything other than stand with their eyes on their feet and tremble. – page 303 – I think it should be “and they had more sense than to do anything other than” to complete the set/standard phrasing of this sort of sentence.
Should he not be exalted above the others? Given a special place among you trophies? – page 319 – Could just be a misprint in this copy, but “you” should be “your” given the context that the speaker is addressing someone else directly; it looks like the text has the “r” space as an extra blank space between words anyways.
It is the unique balance of good and vices in Ilya which help make him such an interesting protagonist to follow and encourage as he encounters all sorts of adversity. From his brothers’ tendency to gang up and beat on him since they were all children, to his rash of bad luck which has him come face-to-face with a spiteful and viscous rusalka, to the tribulations he encounters when trying to free a captured tsarina – it is the steadfast morality and goodness of heart that his friends Father Mikail, Ruslan, and Mother Galina instilled in him coupled with his natural cleverness and kindness which help him through, often in doing services for others for the sake of helping them, with rarely a thought for what he could get out of the deal. He grows along the journey, in ways that staying at home would never have allowed him to do, and becomes a better and better person as time passes. The adversity humbles him, reinforces his respect of others as well as his own work ethic.
The summary on the back states that Ilya is banished, but he is not quite “banished” in the stricter sense of the word – being sent away by someone in power and forbidden from ever returning. It is more of a happenstance, passive banishment, or a self-imposed exile; it is not even intentionally self-imposed, but by a series of unfortunate occurences and plain old bad luck, Ilya finds himself lost outside of the palace and wandering through the land of Rus with all of its magical corners and tricksters. There he is confronted by magic and beings of Russian folklore he only half-believed in, and even then not really; each of whom has their own great power to change Ilya’s path.
Yet, he also has some level of belief in the Christian ideas taught to him by Father Mikail, as occasionally he will think about the Virgin Mother, or demons of hell, or the powers that God wields. These seemingly conflicting yet cohabitating views of the world which Ilya has illustrates how it is possible to believe in two things which seem mutually exclusive, but are in actuality not so excluding as they seemed at first. These contradictions in his psyche as well as in his developing/maturing views of the world as the story goes on help ensure just how well-rounded of a character Ilya is, and help us realize that even if we think two things can never overlap, well, maybe we just are not looking at them quite the right way.
All of the above, including of course the magic and majesty of the Firebird herself, and the weaving of coincidences and fate make for a very fun, flowing, exciting, and growth-full tale. I thoroughly enjoyed being in this strange yet vaguely familiar world, where the magical is not just a story but real, and can help or harm at its own whims and fancies.
Side notes, very spoilery for the end especially:
Quotes and selected commentary:
Page 39 – chess is referred to as an “effeminate pursuit” - but I’m more familiar with it as a game of kings, as portrayed in The Princess and the Hound (The Hound Saga #1) by Mette Ivie Harrison, and other historical fiction-type novels/shows (I think even in Game of Thrones!).
There were things in the world that common sense dictated could not exist, logic failed to explain. And [Ilya] would never, ever convince his father of that. – page 84
Vocabulary: … while he glowered at all and sundry. – page 160
… use it with one of his leman! – page 162
Typos:
So he when he came to a place […] – page 209 – Should just read, “So when he came to a place […]”
But these were evidently veterans of his anger, and they had more sense to do anything other than stand with their eyes on their feet and tremble. – page 303 – I think it should be “and they had more sense than to do anything other than” to complete the set/standard phrasing of this sort of sentence.
Should he not be exalted above the others? Given a special place among you trophies? – page 319 – Could just be a misprint in this copy, but “you” should be “your” given the context that the speaker is addressing someone else directly; it looks like the text has the “r” space as an extra blank space between words anyways.
November 25, 2020
Set is Rus(sia), in a time of tsars, boyars, and magick, the hero is Ilya. One of many sons in a rough, violent household, his father is indifferent, and his mother is dead. He's become strong enough and skilled enough to defend himself from his brothers, if they were to attack him one at a time, but of course, that's not how they play.
His allies in the household: the servant in charge of the dairy, the priest, and the magician, can help him heal from his injuries, but don't have the power to protect him. Ilya encounters a magical creature, a Firebird, who leaves him with some gifts that are welcome... and unwelcome. Banished from his home and presumed dead, she helps him to survive, and to become a true hero, courtesy of his wits, and kindness.
Some of this was hard to read; graphic harm/pain visited by one human on another will never be my favorite, but Ilya's journey was... magical. There's not romance in the classic sense, but there is love/obsession, and there IS a happily ever after in the end.
His allies in the household: the servant in charge of the dairy, the priest, and the magician, can help him heal from his injuries, but don't have the power to protect him. Ilya encounters a magical creature, a Firebird, who leaves him with some gifts that are welcome... and unwelcome. Banished from his home and presumed dead, she helps him to survive, and to become a true hero, courtesy of his wits, and kindness.
Some of this was hard to read; graphic harm/pain visited by one human on another will never be my favorite, but Ilya's journey was... magical. There's not romance in the classic sense, but there is love/obsession, and there IS a happily ever after in the end.
August 17, 2020
I‘m so over this regular good vs. evil stuff, the story wasn't gripping at all.
As everybody is so over the moon about this author, I'm considering giving her another chance. Anyone any recommendations please?
As everybody is so over the moon about this author, I'm considering giving her another chance. Anyone any recommendations please?
July 1, 2020
4.25 stars. This is a little over written in some places but overall it's an entertaining retelling.
September 9, 2017
On the one hand, FIREBIRD has a main character who I didn't particularly care for and starts off very, very slow in its depiction of ordinary life for Ilya. But on the other hand, it had elements of the tale I'm familiar with and the second half is certainly much more fairytale fodder that made me nostalgic for tales read in my younger days. Still a bit mixed in my reaction to this one, to be honest.
July 30, 2015
Well, Livejournal decided to be nasty today and deleted my whole review that I had originally written for this. I have no why idea why it did this, but now I'm annoyed and going to keep this review very short because I don't feel like re-typing everything I just worked on (in vain.)
It's all right though, because I actually ended up really not liking this book very much. I know this is extremely lazy, but I will list in a bullet list why I didn't like this book (major spoilers ahead; read with caution):
- I wasn't fond of the narrative voice Lackey used. It read like it was trying to hard to have a "fairy tale" vibe, and I get that this is a fairy tale re-telling, but it came off as clunky and just felt weird. This was especially obvious when the reader was privy to Illya's inner thoughts.
- Also in regards to writing: Lackey used way too much exclamation points. That probably sounds like an odd complaint, but seriously, there were so many. Everytime Ilya had a thought, almost every sentence ended in an exclamation mark. It really grated on my nerves after awhile.
- Because of the unsatisfactory narrative voice, everything came off as flat. Ilya was the only character to get any decent amount of characterization, and even HE was flat, so you can just imagine the secondary characters (I didn't mind those two priest characters though, and their unlikely friendship).
- I don't know how faithful Lackey stayed to the original fairy tale this story is based off of, but the representation of the female characters in this story is kind of troublesome. All the female characters are either: a) in need of rescuing (e.g. the Firebird being caught in the tree and saved by Ilya; the maidens at the castle), b) end up being terrible people (Ilya's betrothed near the end of the novel) or c) fall in love with Ilya (Ilya's betrothed, the Firebird [despite being a mythical creature that can do whatever the hell she wants]).
There'll be no Final Verdict because I think I've made it quite clear how I felt about this reading experience, which is really too bad considering I was kind of excited to finally getting around to reading a Lackey novel. Too bad it just ended up being kind of Lacking.
It's all right though, because I actually ended up really not liking this book very much. I know this is extremely lazy, but I will list in a bullet list why I didn't like this book (major spoilers ahead; read with caution):
- I wasn't fond of the narrative voice Lackey used. It read like it was trying to hard to have a "fairy tale" vibe, and I get that this is a fairy tale re-telling, but it came off as clunky and just felt weird. This was especially obvious when the reader was privy to Illya's inner thoughts.
- Also in regards to writing: Lackey used way too much exclamation points. That probably sounds like an odd complaint, but seriously, there were so many. Everytime Ilya had a thought, almost every sentence ended in an exclamation mark. It really grated on my nerves after awhile.
- Because of the unsatisfactory narrative voice, everything came off as flat. Ilya was the only character to get any decent amount of characterization, and even HE was flat, so you can just imagine the secondary characters (I didn't mind those two priest characters though, and their unlikely friendship).
- I don't know how faithful Lackey stayed to the original fairy tale this story is based off of, but the representation of the female characters in this story is kind of troublesome. All the female characters are either: a) in need of rescuing (e.g. the Firebird being caught in the tree and saved by Ilya; the maidens at the castle), b) end up being terrible people (Ilya's betrothed near the end of the novel) or c) fall in love with Ilya (Ilya's betrothed, the Firebird [despite being a mythical creature that can do whatever the hell she wants]).
There'll be no Final Verdict because I think I've made it quite clear how I felt about this reading experience, which is really too bad considering I was kind of excited to finally getting around to reading a Lackey novel. Too bad it just ended up being kind of Lacking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2014
I liked the idea of a retelling of the story of the Firebird more than I liked the actual retelling, in the end. Ilya is the despised middle son of a mean, petty, tyrant - although no real reason is given for why he is so hated, except that he is supposedly smarter and less violent than the others. he is routinely beaten by his many brothers, despite being so clever. The actual story takes a long time to get moving, with many false starts towards adventure along the way. The ending is rather too easy, and Ilya hasn't proved himself all that much smarter or more self-aware than he was at the beginning.
I was somewhat amazed at the casual misogyny in the story, since it was written by a female author (although I know that is no guarantee of better representation): At the beginning, the only way that Ilya thinks about women are as sex objects, apart from Mother Galina, who is too old and too much his mother figure to be seen that way. All women he can't view as sex objects for himself are seen as stupid, annoying, grasping and so forth.
A minor quibble - whoever wrote the jacket copy for the edition I read rather misrepresents the adventure aspect of the book, making it sound like Ilya sets out on his quest far sooner than he actually does.
I was somewhat amazed at the casual misogyny in the story, since it was written by a female author (although I know that is no guarantee of better representation): At the beginning, the only way that Ilya thinks about women are as sex objects, apart from Mother Galina, who is too old and too much his mother figure to be seen that way. All women he can't view as sex objects for himself are seen as stupid, annoying, grasping and so forth.
A minor quibble - whoever wrote the jacket copy for the edition I read rather misrepresents the adventure aspect of the book, making it sound like Ilya sets out on his quest far sooner than he actually does.
August 15, 2012
Interesting. The synopsis is not exactly accurate, no. The H's father and brothers never knew about the firebird, so how could they possibly try to trap her?
The story is technically a romance I guess, and told entirely from the H's POV - an interesting change there. His encounters with the firebird lead to her giving him the power of understanding animals, which saves his butt several times. The zoo that is his father's household... gaah! Eventually, his older brothers manage to get him lost in the woods - sort of - which facilitates his escape. (another inaccuracy of the synopsis - they weren't trying to run him off so much as pull a nasty prank on him). I never quite grasped what age group this was aimed at, in part because we're never told how old the H is. Since he's a middle son (in a brood of 8), and the youngest is well past puberty, one guesses early-mid 20s maybe. So these 3 older siblings are still pulling nasty pranks and ganging up on him? Grow up already.
Still, outside of the indignant feelings on his behalf every time they beat him up, for the most part, this is a very...lighthearted tale. The H is intelligent - intelligent enough to make me wonder why it is that he does remain there. He bemoans his fate but can't seem to find the spine to escape - until a nasty prank leaves him lost in the wilderness during a snow. It didn't really make sense. He fretted that if he took a horse, his father would hunt him down, yet... it's not winter ALL the time. Surely he could "disappear" by walking.
I dunno... it's hard to respect him much when he remains under such an unpleasant roof.
The story is technically a romance I guess, and told entirely from the H's POV - an interesting change there. His encounters with the firebird lead to her giving him the power of understanding animals, which saves his butt several times. The zoo that is his father's household... gaah! Eventually, his older brothers manage to get him lost in the woods - sort of - which facilitates his escape. (another inaccuracy of the synopsis - they weren't trying to run him off so much as pull a nasty prank on him). I never quite grasped what age group this was aimed at, in part because we're never told how old the H is. Since he's a middle son (in a brood of 8), and the youngest is well past puberty, one guesses early-mid 20s maybe. So these 3 older siblings are still pulling nasty pranks and ganging up on him? Grow up already.
Still, outside of the indignant feelings on his behalf every time they beat him up, for the most part, this is a very...lighthearted tale. The H is intelligent - intelligent enough to make me wonder why it is that he does remain there. He bemoans his fate but can't seem to find the spine to escape - until a nasty prank leaves him lost in the wilderness during a snow. It didn't really make sense. He fretted that if he took a horse, his father would hunt him down, yet... it's not winter ALL the time. Surely he could "disappear" by walking.
I dunno... it's hard to respect him much when he remains under such an unpleasant roof.
August 12, 2020
Okay, now we're into straight-up historical fantasy.
Firebird is a long-form novel based off the Russian legend of the Katschei, an evil sorcerer who hid his heart away and was defeated by Ivan, a tsar's son, with the help of the titular Firebird. The description on Goodreads bears only a slight resemblance to the actual plot, so I'll try to write a better one. Ilya Ivanovitch is the least valued of his father's eight sons, to the point that he can remain more or less invisible among them despite being the smartest and best-intentioned among them. Though we only have Ilya's word for that, as he's the POV character. Someone begins stealing his violent father's cherries, and Ilya discovers that it's the Firebird before being beaten nearly to death by his brothers. He decides to pretend to be a fool, in order to protect himself. Things happen, and he ends up at the Katschei's palace, having fallen deeply in love with one of the Katschei's captive maidens, and determines to defeat the Katschei and save her.
This has a lot of the usual Lackey flaws. It's really infodumpy and heavy on the description, with most of the plot shoved into the last half of the book to disquieting effect, about three different plot twists in the last ten pages, and a few dropped plot threads. That said, it is entertaining, and Ilya is a reasonably likable protagonist, although there's a lot of really oogy attitudes toward sex and consent, particularly in the first half of the book.
Eh. If you like Russian mythology or are a Lackey completist, this is a nice book to read. If you don't, ditch it. Not worth the time.
Firebird is a long-form novel based off the Russian legend of the Katschei, an evil sorcerer who hid his heart away and was defeated by Ivan, a tsar's son, with the help of the titular Firebird. The description on Goodreads bears only a slight resemblance to the actual plot, so I'll try to write a better one. Ilya Ivanovitch is the least valued of his father's eight sons, to the point that he can remain more or less invisible among them despite being the smartest and best-intentioned among them. Though we only have Ilya's word for that, as he's the POV character. Someone begins stealing his violent father's cherries, and Ilya discovers that it's the Firebird before being beaten nearly to death by his brothers. He decides to pretend to be a fool, in order to protect himself. Things happen, and he ends up at the Katschei's palace, having fallen deeply in love with one of the Katschei's captive maidens, and determines to defeat the Katschei and save her.
This has a lot of the usual Lackey flaws. It's really infodumpy and heavy on the description, with most of the plot shoved into the last half of the book to disquieting effect, about three different plot twists in the last ten pages, and a few dropped plot threads. That said, it is entertaining, and Ilya is a reasonably likable protagonist, although there's a lot of really oogy attitudes toward sex and consent, particularly in the first half of the book.
Eh. If you like Russian mythology or are a Lackey completist, this is a nice book to read. If you don't, ditch it. Not worth the time.
March 29, 2011
Firebird was very enticing and pays quite an homage to the Old Russian tales. I was quite gleeful when I picked the book up, began to read, and realized I knew what each magical creature was, even before they began to explain the purpose of the rusalka and the leshii. And the firebird herself was, well, heavily magical at the very least!
I had expected something different of the story, actually, though I blame my misunderstanding what the book cover was telling me about the plot. I spent a good half of the book scratching my head with: "Well, when does Ilya get banished?" Or "That's technically not really being banished..." Still, it was not lacking of interest. I do wonder about the ghosts Ilya saw in his family grave.
The book itself seems like it was made for two parts. One story took place in Ilya's home, and a parallel, more magical story in the Katschei's castle. I loved that Lackey did repeat what Ilya learned the first time around and apply it the second time--and somehow he still managed to make things work.
Ilya's fox-friend was highly charming, too. But I regularly like clever foxes.
Really liked Firebird, yes I did!
I had expected something different of the story, actually, though I blame my misunderstanding what the book cover was telling me about the plot. I spent a good half of the book scratching my head with: "Well, when does Ilya get banished?" Or "That's technically not really being banished..." Still, it was not lacking of interest. I do wonder about the ghosts Ilya saw in his family grave.
The book itself seems like it was made for two parts. One story took place in Ilya's home, and a parallel, more magical story in the Katschei's castle. I loved that Lackey did repeat what Ilya learned the first time around and apply it the second time--and somehow he still managed to make things work.
Ilya's fox-friend was highly charming, too. But I regularly like clever foxes.
Really liked Firebird, yes I did!
May 24, 2011
A wonderful re-make of one of my favourite old fairy tales. However I would imagine- although I can't be sure- that this novel wouldn't appeal as much to any who had NOT read the original Russian folk-tale. This stuck fairly closely to the original, with enough differences and new laws to enable Lackey to introduce a few original twists and turns..... more and more so as the novel progressed. The characters were exceptionally well portrayed and rounded- even the minor ones- and the plot was tight and consise, with no detail lacking but also nothing unnecessary added. I did find, though- that it began to get a little bit obscure in parts. There were some scenes and revelations that I had to re-read a few times before I was able to puzzle them out- another case of Ms. Lackey forgetting to tell us what is going on in her head. All in all a gripping novel, and a nice, dreamy change from her usual blend of gritty and/or classic.
September 23, 2007
I had heard good things about this author and I'd wanted to try one of her books. Despite checking The Black Gryphon out from the library like 5 times, I never managed to get past page 3 on that one, so I got this one instead.
Based on the Russian fairy tale, this one introduces the son of a minor tsar as our hero. Ilya is not the firstborn or the lastborn. But he's the fool. Or at least that's what he sets out to be. After catching a glimpse of the firebird, he cannot stop thinking of her. He must see her again.
I enjoyed this one, but it wasn't as good as some other updated fairy tales I've read. It's written for adults and is a little too adult in some of the attitudes. The tsar and his relationships with the young peasant girls, for instance. But nothing is graphic, just a little grown up in its themes. For older teens and adults.
Based on the Russian fairy tale, this one introduces the son of a minor tsar as our hero. Ilya is not the firstborn or the lastborn. But he's the fool. Or at least that's what he sets out to be. After catching a glimpse of the firebird, he cannot stop thinking of her. He must see her again.
I enjoyed this one, but it wasn't as good as some other updated fairy tales I've read. It's written for adults and is a little too adult in some of the attitudes. The tsar and his relationships with the young peasant girls, for instance. But nothing is graphic, just a little grown up in its themes. For older teens and adults.
September 6, 2016
Better than much of Lackey's work, this novel retells the Russian legend of the Firebird (with plenty of editorial embellishment). Ilya, a handsome Russian prince with a habit of womanizing, seems like he has everything going for him – except that his seven lunkhead brothers want to kill him, and their father doesn't particularly care. After a rash of mysterious thefts of rare cherries from a prized orchard, Ilya discovers that the culprit is a beautiful and magical bird-woman. Using the chaos she's thrown the household into to escape his family, he finds himself on a quest to rescue a dozen gorgeous tsarinas from an enchanted castle... but will he ever learn the true meaning of love?
Recommended for fans of re-told fairy tales, such as those by Jane Yolen, and much of Terri Windling & Ellen Datlow's Fairy Tale series.
Recommended for fans of re-told fairy tales, such as those by Jane Yolen, and much of Terri Windling & Ellen Datlow's Fairy Tale series.
August 25, 2014
I have loved nearly every book Misty has written, and this one did not disappoint. You can really see in this one where the inspiration came for the 500 Kingdoms books. Ilya is a delightful protagonist, despite his tendency to be led by his baser passions, and proves that a hero can, in fact, win by shear cleverness, even when strong enough to fight. The Firebird is equal to him in every way, and it is refreshing to find an older book with a female character who has brains, courage, and a great deal of self-confidence, despite the attitudes of the culture around her discouraging such things.
Shine on, Misty!
Shine on, Misty!
August 23, 2013
I loved this book. It was one of those books that I felt like I was there. Not like I was imagining it in my head, I was fucking there. The only thing I did not like about this book was the summary on the dust cover. I felt it did not do this book justice and it was slightly misleading.
Let me just discuss Ilya for a moment. Oh Ilya, forever persistent Ilya. I loved that he was no saint in this story. It made it seem less like a fairytale and more like real life. I think if Mercedes had left out those more salacious thoughts of his, Ilya would have fallen flat for me.
Let me just discuss Ilya for a moment. Oh Ilya, forever persistent Ilya. I loved that he was no saint in this story. It made it seem less like a fairytale and more like real life. I think if Mercedes had left out those more salacious thoughts of his, Ilya would have fallen flat for me.
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