Bth-Rusalka

First, I would like to say that I do not know about Russian culture. A friend of mine told me that there are plays and operas based on Rusalka. Depending from different parts of Russia, Rusalka is a ghost with past different mythologies & varieties of powers. Well, Ms. Cherryh create a great fantasy based on the concept of a Rusalka. The intorduction of the book is fast paced where one the the characters, Pyetr falsely accused of something and the village wants him dead. Along the way, he gets unexpected help from a wet behind ears teenage boy and escape the village of Vojvoda. Pyetr learns a little bit more about his new companion, tries to portray the real harshness of life & squash fairy tales of magic. Pyetr getting weak & near death they fortunately meet the likelihood of Uulamets. Uulamets a proud wizard in own right does something that is believe that can't be done. The trio soon become somewhat of a family when a new chartacter, Eveshka comes into the mix. Don't want to give away to much but this a great read especially for a book that was written sometime in the 80's.

I reread this trilogy (this is the first -- followed by Chernevog and Yvgenie) every few years. I love it. Obviously it isn't to everyone's taste, judging by some of the other reviews, but if you like stories about the power of friendship -- which is more powerful than wizardry as far as CJ Cherryh is concerned -- then this is well worth reading. Just be prepared for some "stream of consciousness" writing. ETA Er, apparently the author doesn't agree with me - she may be planning a rewrite. She has a blog [...] However she has recently had a loss in her family, so, be kind. July 2009 N

Very different direction but excellent. These are not sci-fi for all you sci-fi Cherryh fans out there.

Chernevog, Rusalka, and Yvengie are the greatest books. I enjoyed the atmosphere. An old-time russian fairy-tale. This series pulled together bits of all folklore I know, and even taught me some things I wasn't aware of. The characters are likeable, even the truely evil ones. You can imagine where they are coming from and why it is they are acting like they are. Perhaps it is a bit predictable, but it's a fairy-tale.

We open learning about Sasha and Pyetr, who are drawn together by chance. Sasha is a young wizard with a dangerous gift, and Pyetr is a young trouble maker who lives off of his wealthy friends. But wanted by the law, Pyetr makes an escape with Sasha at his side to aid him. That is until they discover Uulamets, a wizard with a secret. Uulamets wants Sasha's help to bring back his daughter Eveshka-a rusalka, a ghost who remains alive by sucking the life out of living things around it. Then there is another problem: Eveshka is in love with Pyetr. Overall this is an EXCELLENT book!