This urban fantasy novella is set in modern-day Chicago, but is infused with Polish folklore and paranormal elements.
There are three types of creatures haunting the streets of Chicago – the zmora (night creatures, connected to sleep disturbances), the strzyga (a vampire-like creature), and the llorona (or banshee) – that feed off of fear and provoke sorrow in people. (You can read more about the role these creatures play in Polish mythology on this website.) The Holy Order is an organization that hunts them down in order to kill them. Membership in the Holy Order requires tremendous courage and sacrifice.
Dymitr belongs to the Holy Order, but yearns to escape from the horrifying requirements of the organization. In addition to members facing the monsters, serving in the Order involves life-threatening ordeals and a great deal of pain; for example, the Holy Order splits their souls to make their swords; they have to wrench them from a sheath of vertebrae every time they fight. Dymitr believes he can free himself of the Order by finding the witch Baba Jaga.
Ala, a young zmora who is also unhappy with her destiny, agrees to lead Dymitr to the witch if he in turn helps her break her own curse. To do so she needs him to obtain for her the magical fern flower, which blooms only once a year for 36 hours.
Their struggles to overcome the burdens of their lots in life form the core of the story and personalize the eternal war being waged by the forces of good and evil in the book. Misperceptions characterize both sides. Just as politicians throughout history have sought to dehumanize an enemy to foment hatred of them and encourage acts of violence against them, the leadership of both the “monsters” and those who fight them promulgate negative beliefs about the other. The nonhumans are powerful, yet are brought up to believe the Holy Order to be “the bogeyman of the bogeymen.” Analogously, members of the Holy Order are taught to fear and loathe Baba Jaga and the other creatures, without allowing for any nuance or understanding.
The story serves as a commentary on the concept of “monstrosity” and how prejudices can obscure the value beneath the facade of every being. Contemporary references and paranormal elements are interwoven to add an interesting appeal to the story. And of course, there is romance.
Evaluation: Roth is an excellent writer and knows how to engage young adult audiences, or indeed any reader who appreciates complicated romance. The book will also appeal to fans of stories that draw on Slavic folklore to help illustrate the dynamic between fate and free will.
Published by Tor Books, 2024
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