Many are called. Few answer. Slava thought that the hard part of her journey was over when she escaped giant wolves, angry bandits, and scheming sorcerers to make it to the Lesnograd kremlin. But the apparent safety of this outpost of civilization may be just an illusion. A curse has been let loose, one aimed straight at Slava’s family. Slava has always been a most unlikely hero. Now she must summon up all her courage in order to stop the curse—or perhaps she must, at the gods’ behest, be its bearer. The conclusion to the award-winning The Midnight Land I: The Flight, The Midnight Land II: The Gift continues the epic fantasy tale of one woman’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment against the backdrop of a matriarchal Slavic world. High fantasy that is deeply rooted in Slavic history, literature, and fairy tales, this subversive story with a satirical edge will appeal to fans of Slavic-themed fantasy such as Deathless, Egg and Spoon, and The Bear and the Nightingale, as well as readers of classical East European literature. Reading order for the Zemnian Series: The Zemnian Series: Slava’s Story The Midnight Land I: The Flight The Midnight Land II: The Gift The Zemnian Series: Dasha’s Story The Breathing Sea I: Burning The Breathing Sea II: Drowning The Zemnian Series: Valya’s Story The Dreaming Land I: The Challenge The Dreaming Land II: The Journey The Dreaming Land III: The Sacrifice

Some change the world. Some break it. If you loved the Kushiel series or The Priory of the Orange Tree, try this sweeping epic starring a bisexual warrior princess with a taste for dominance! Valya has won permission to hunt down the slave traders defiling her land and stealing its children. Now begins the most difficult part of her mission: she and her companions must find the perpetrators of this crime, and rescue their victims. But as Valya will discover, the roots of the evil go deep. And saving Zemnian children from death or a life of degrading servitude is not Valya’s only concern. She still must win the heart and hand of the son of her worst enemy, and unite the steppe with the rest of the country at a time when the succession and the very life of the Tsarina hangs in the balance. And then there is the question of her daughter’s magical gifts—and, it may be, her own. Like her foremothers, Valya is about to discover that gifts of power are as much a curse as a blessing, and can be a danger not just to the wielder, but to everyone around her. Valya wants to save her homeland, but if she’s not careful, she might end up tearing it apart. With discussion questions at the end. Reading order of the Zemnian Series: The Zemnian Series: Slava’s Story The Midnight Land I: The Flight The Midnight Land II: The Gift The Zemnian Series: Dasha’s Story The Breathing Sea I: Burning The Breathing Sea II: Drowning The Zemnian Series: Valya’s Story The Dreaming Land I: The Challenge The Dreaming Land II: The Journey The Dreaming Land III: The Sacrifice

All are born weak. Some become strong. “A bold beginning to a series that explores gender, empathy, and the frozen north”--Kirkus “A riveting saga”—Midwest Book Review Honorable Mention, Epic Fantasy, 2016 Readers' Favorite Awards Honorable Mention, Fantasy, 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards After a life of unhappy luxury, Krasnoslava Tsarinovna (Slava to her friends, if she had any) is desperate to escape her position as the younger sister of the Empress of all of Zem’. When an explorer requests Imperial support for her mission to map the Midnight Land, the territory above the sunline, Slava asks that she be allowed to come along—and to her surprise, her wish is granted. As she travels North with her new companions, she encounters people from all walks of life, and also discovers that there is more out there than just the world of women. The spirits of the forest, and even the gods themselves, take an interest in her and her magical gifts, which manifest themselves as she journeys. Hoping to gain answers to her questions about her growing abilities, she goes in search of sorceresses, but instead of magical assistance, she stumbles into a plot, one she may not be able to avert—or want to. Combining high fantasy with enough snark to power a medium-sized country, The Midnight Land is a satirical, subversive story of female empowerment set in a magical, matriarchal Slavic world. Reading order for the Zemnian Series: The Zemnian Series: Slava’s Story The Midnight Land I: The Flight The Midnight Land II: The Gift The Zemnian Series: Dasha’s Story The Breathing Sea I: Burning The Breathing Sea II: Drowning The Zemnian Series: Valya’s Story The Dreaming Land I: The Challenge The Dreaming Land II: The Journey The Dreaming Land III: The Sacrifice

Love First Lessons or The Bear and the Nightingale? Try both books of this award-winning epic fantasy adventure in one omnibus edition! “A bold beginning to a series that explores gender, empathy, and the frozen north”--Kirkus “A riveting saga”—Midwest Book Review Women rule in Zem’. Krasnoslava Tsarinovna is the second-most powerful woman in Zem’. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have a lot of power. Krasnoslava (Slava to her friends, if she had any) is the younger sister to the Empress of Zem’. She lives in luxury in her sister’s kremlin, eats at her sister’s rich feasts, and sits on her sister’s council. She has everything any woman could want—except respect. Instead, she is the bearer of her family’s double-edged gifts of clairvoyance and empathy. Knowing what other people feel about you is difficult at the best of times. In the Imperial court, it’s torture. When an adventurer comes asking for Imperial support to explore the Midnight Land, the far North where the sun never rises all winter, Slava is so desperate to leave the kremlin that she asks to come with her. To her surprise, her request is granted. Slava’s journey is supposed to take her to the very edge of Zem’ and the Known World, and maybe help her learn more about her gifts. But as she travels North, she finds herself drawn into the center of a plot that could bring down her family. Slava would do anything to protect her family—except what the gods call upon her to do. Everyone has always considered Slava a coward. Will she learn to become a hero in order to save the people she loves? This high fantasy saga set in a magical Slavic world infused with Russian myths and fairy tales contains elements of metaphysical and visionary fantasy, ecofiction/ecofantasy, noblebright (or maybe a touch of nobledark), and hopepunk.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1881.

"A must for anyone interested in the Yukon's history from the pre-gold rush days through the 'lean' years and both wars to the present." The Northern Review