GennaRose Nethercott Book order (chronological)

Explore the folklore of the trickster, villain, and rescuer known as Baba Yaga in a new light. When darkness, fear, and instability inundate our daily lives, folktale figures like Baba Yaga speak to the dichotomy of our existence—the hope and the horror, the magic and the mundane. At once an old hag and an enchantress, a demon and wish granter, a feminist and nothing more than a fairytale, Baba Yaga is an endlessly complex folktale character. Becoming Baba Yaga provides an in-depth look at the Baba Yaga mythos and history through Slavic folklore. Filled with historical and cultural context, analyses, and the stories themselves that add depth to the conversation. A comprehensive resource for anyone hoping to learn more about this ambiguous character and how her multifaceted presence still ripples through the present day, Becoming Baba Yaga is as thoughtful as it is illuminating. Spisak explores Baba Yaga’s connection to nature as an Earth goddess and as an herbalist. She also delves into the Shadow Self and Baba Yaga’s aspect as a trickster and places her in a modern context as not merely a witch of the woods but also as an archetype and force for finding your own path. Becoming Baba Yaga shares how she is both a force for good as much as evil and a feminist before her time.

In the tradition of modern fairytales, this sweeping epic draws on Eastern European folklore, exploring ancestral hauntings and the power of story. The Yaga siblings, Bellatine, a woodworker, and Isaac, a street performer and con artist, have been estranged since childhood, separated by resentment and distance. When they learn of a mysterious inheritance, they are reunited, only to find that their bequest is a sentient house on chicken legs named Thistlefoot, which has traveled from their ancestral home in Russia. However, it comes with a dark presence: the Longshadow Man, who carries violent secrets from their past, hidden in their blood for generations. As the siblings embark on a final cross-country tour of their family's traveling theater, the Longshadow Man relentlessly pursues them, leaving destruction in his path. The story culminates in a clash of time, magic, and legacy, determining who will remember the past and shape the future. This enchanted adventure, enriched by Jewish myth and lyrical prose, offers an immersive modern fantasy experience from a bold new talent.