I absolutely loved "The House of Frost and Feathers" by Lauren Wiesebron. It is the right side of fantasy for me - the more fairy tale side of Slavic Folk Tradition as opposed to the Terry Pratchett kind. It had echoes of "The Bear and The Nightingale" by Katharine Arden. A brilliant way to while away a few hours and get lost in another world.

The House of Frost and Feathers is a brilliant, captivating read. While it has echoes of Howl’s Moving Castle, it enchanted me in much the same way as Eiko Kadono’s Kiki’s Delivery Service. Much like Kiki, young Marisha sets out from the only family she knows, embarking on an adventure that leads her into the heart of a mysterious and magical world. The story introduces intriguing twists along the way, with the curse-like plague serving as only the beginning of Marisha’s journey into a world steeped in Slavic folklore—and just one of many surprises the book has in store. For those new to this folklore, it’s a rich introduction, opening a window into a fascinating culture.

Young Marisha’s transformation from vulnerable to strong is heartening, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. My only critique would be the need for a glossary, as some untranslated terms left me guessing.
That aside, it’s a haunting book you won’t want to put down!

This is the perfect read now that it's getting colder and wintery––howl's moving castle meets uprooted. I loved the house and all its residence.

Marisha is a young woman struggling to find her way in the world following her parents falling to the sleeping plague and her brother, Dima, leaving her to find a way to make money for the family. Marisha finds a job as the assistant to Baba Zima and Olena, a travelling koldunya and her apprentice.

The novel weaves between Marisha and Olena's perspectives as they find a way to work together in the search for a cure for the sleeping plague. The tale was rich in folklore, and felt perfect for getting lost into on a cold, dark wintry night. The development of the characters was well placed, and I found myself rooting for each of them.

My main critique of the novel would be the pacing, which was overall good, but the ending seemed very sudden and with a lot of threads unresolved. I think these will be resolved in a sequel, however I'd have liked a bit more of the resolution within this tale.

Overall, an enjoyable read I'd give 3.75 stars and would recommend to anyone looking to curl up into an atmospheric, folklore inspired tale of a cold, wintry evening. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this novel.