Firebird

Tales of Old Russia #2

by Peter Morwood

The bird will rise… The flames will burn. Prince Ivan and Mar’ya Morevna live a life of ease. Their household is in perfect order, and Ivan is learning more each day studying the Art Magic. But all of that is about to change. In Germany, a Holy Christian order of Teutonic knights sets their sights on the Rus. While overtly condemning them for their use of sorcery, citing witchcraft and blasphemy, Hermann von Salza, Grandmaster of the Order, secretly covets the power these magics can give him. He calls for the aid of Baba Yaga, who’s simmering hatred and desire for revenge against Prince Ivan make her a sensible, if revolting, ally. Baba Yaga bends to her service a Firebird, cruelly misusing the noble creature, while Ivan gains a companion in the shape of a Grey Wolf. Across the Rus, gruesome deeds and warnings are being carried out and no one can figure out how the deeds are done – or who is committing them… Can Ivan and Mar’ya figure out who is targeting them? Will they survive the plotting, and in doing so, be able to save the Rus? Firebird is the gripping second novel in Peter Morwood’s Tales of Old Russia fantasy series featuring the inimitable hero Prince Ivan. Join with Ivan as he travels across Old Mother Russia, encountering incredible new people, fantastical creatures, and ancient magics as he matures into a future Tsar. Praise for Peter “The descriptive writing is gripping, the characters strongly drawn […] An intensive read.” Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review Annual Peter Morwood is primarily a fantasy novelist and screenwriter, though he has also written works of science fiction. His best-known works include the Horse Lords series (in two sequences) and the Tales of Old Russia series.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Russia

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2016

About the author

Peter Morwood was an Irish novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for his Horse Lords and Tales of Old Russia series. He lived in Ireland with his wife, writer Diane Duane, with whom he co-authored several works.

Reviews

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firebird

Brilliant, fantastic, an adventure I will never forget. This is a must read for anyone in search of a wonderful experience.

[Jane Jago · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those sweeping fantasies that doesn't quite ever live up to expectations. Enjoyable, but I never got to really like the characters.

[Shaitarn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because even if I didn't like it as much as Prince Ivan, I still liked it a great deal. FRTC.

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled to read it, I was bored by the characters.

[Macha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 & 1/2 stars. i'm trying to clean out my slush pile, which is maybe why the stuff i'm reading mostly tends to feel... desultory. this one was competent, but uninspired. in contrast to its colorful material. which makes it worse, somehow. pity the writer didn't aim at more, because he might even have met that mark.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Unfortunately I couldn't get past the first few pages as this was so slow and boring.
Maybe if I had persevered it would have got better, but there are far better books out waiting to be read.

[Kitanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was SO DRY AND SLOW, but once I got past that it was good.