Anna Kashina
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“Rich description, fascinating characters with dark motivations and even darker methods, and scenes that keep the story moving ever forward. Anna Kashina does not waste a single word.” Black Sun Reviews
“…a pleasure to read. Uncluttered yet vivid with detail, Kashina’s writing promises to beautifully update Russian folklore for a worldwide audience. “
Tracy Falbe, Her Ladyship's Quest.
“Kashina manages to capture all the elements that make fairytales such fun to read and adds a voice of her own to it as well.” Pearls Cast Before a McPig.
"Taking inspiration from Russian folklore, Kashina has created a captivating fantasy novel about how love can be exploited or liberated."
The Fantasy Tavern
Ivan-and-Marya
(Drollerie Press, 2010)
Marya, a shapeshifter and a powerful sorceress, helps her father rule the kingdom by sacrificing young virgins whose life force feeds her father’s soul. She wards off the enemies of her cult by luring them into a trap of her beauty, and destroying them. Marya never questions her duties, not knowing that the man she calls her father holds the dark secrets about her birth and the true source of her magic powers. Ivan, a young man on a quest to put an end to the virgin sacrifice, walks straight into Marya’s trap and falls in love with her at first sight. At first his gentleness makes Marya believe he would be easy to defeat, but as she confronts him she finds him a tougher enemy than she imagined. Ivan’s hidden strength – and the forces that aid him – for the first time challenge not only her powers, but the very foundation of her beliefs. To face Ivan and achieve her 'happily ever after', Marya must first face her darkest fears -- and survive it.
The Dark Essence of Russian Myth
Ivan-and-Marya is a dark fantasy with elements of romance, based on Russian folklore.
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Ivan-and-Marya flower
Yes, it really exists and is very common in Russia and northern Europe. Its Latin name is Melampyrum nemorosum, and it does look like two flowers on one stem. It blooms in the Russian forests right around the Summer Solstice, inspiring many legends and fairy tales.
