Chernevog

Russian Stories #2

by C.J. Cherryh

TANGLED TRAILS OF TERROR

The forest wilderness lay somewhere north of Kiev in the spirit-haunted land of ancient Russia. There Eveshka, the former destructive ghost--a rusalka restored to life--had dwelt in peace for three years with her husband Pyetr and the half-taught young wizard Sasha. But now something called her to travel north into that section of the forest none of them has visited for years--on a rendezvous about which she dared not tell either her husband or his friend.

Pyetr and Sasha left to seek her--on a course straight to where Kavi Chernevog slept, on a stone where the forest guardians had bespelled him three years before. It was he who had once killed Eveshka and turned her into a rusalka.

Chernevog's magic caught Pyetr and Sasha in its web of power, and they were forced to take Chernevog where he willed. From Eveshka, there was no word. Dark magic was loose in the world and loose among them, in human shape.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Russia, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Mythology

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Currently resident in Spokane, Washington, C.J. Cherryh has won four Hugos and is one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed authors in the science fiction and fantasy field. She is the author of more than forty novels. Her hobbies include travel, photography, reef culture, Mariners baseball, and, a late passion, figure skating: she intends to compete in the adult USFSA track. She began with the modest ambition to learn to skate backwards and now is working on jumps. She sketches, occasionally, cooks fairly well, and hates house work; she loves the outdoors, animals wild and tame, is a hobbyist geologist, adores dinosaurs, and has academic specialties in Roman constitutional law and bronze age Greek ethnography. She has written science fiction since she was ten, spent ten years of her life teaching Latin and Ancient History on the high school level, before retiring to full time writing, and now does not have enough hours in the day to pursue all her interests. Her studies include planetary geology, weather systems, and natural and man-made catastrophes, civilizations, and cosmology…in fact, there's very little that doesn't interest her. A loom is gathering dust and needs rethreading, a wooden ship model awaits construction, and the cats demand their own time much more urgently. She works constantly, researches mostly on the internet, and has books stacked up and waiting to be written.

Reviews

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

My problem with the rating system continues. I definitely did not like this book as much as I liked the first one, but I also didn't dislike it enough to give it a measly three stars. So, it gets the same number of stars as the previous book which I preferred.

There was far too much Eveshka, there just was. I don't like her as a character, her parts dragged, I just wanted her pretty much gone. I was happy for a moment when she was, then right back to her again. I guess Cherryh did a good job of portraying a selfish teenager, problem is, I can't stand teenagers. I also had the same issue I had with the previous book, a lot of what happens is unclear. I have problems picturing things in my head (it takes a lot of effort for me, so most of a book is more of a narrative to me than a movie or something) so when things move very quickly without outlining what's happening, I get kind of lost. I re-read the end three times and I'm still not sure of exactly what happened. Not that I don't know WHAT happened, but how and why.

However, that sounds like I didn't like the book. I did, at least, most of it. It did drag more than the first book, and the plot definitely wasn't as...magical? I suppose that's the word I mean. There was a bit more wonder in the first book, while this was more kind of just wrapping up storylines left over from the first one. Complaining again. This book was readable, other than the Eveshka parts, it tied in well with the first book, and I haven't wanted to read lately, but I wanted to read this. I think the fact that I made it through this book in my current mood proves that it's not as bad as I'm probably unintentionally making it sound. Cherryh is a very good writer, this is a good book, and I'm just picky.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picks up three years after the events of Rusalka. Sasha, Pyetr and Eveshka have made more-or-less of a home for themselves in the forest when Sasha (possibly inadvertently?) summons Pyetr's old horse, thus kicking events into motion.

(A note about magic in the Rusalka books -- it's fascinating; basically, wizards can want things into happening, which means they have to be very careful about what they desire and how, especially when there are multiple wizards (Sasha and Eveshka, e.g.) in the mix.)

And speaking of multiple wizards: Kavi Chernevog, the Big Bad from the first book, may not be as eternally slumbering as was hoped; and although both Eveshka's father (Uulamets from the first book) and mother are dead, are wizards ever really dead?

More desolate forest, more tricksy vodyanoi and other supernatural beasties, and Cherryh does that thing (also done in the later Morgaine books, come to think of it) where the big, mostly offstage villain from the previous installment is brought into the spotlight and revealed to be just as flawed and (possibly?) sympathetic as the protagonists.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The living situation in the cabin is so unbelievably toxic and I want Petyr to escape to Kiev so badly. Eveshka has serious issues and I wish she would’ve stayed in Rusalka form. Sasha needs to chill the actual fuck out and gain some confidence. Sasha and Eveshka are so annoying and treat Petyr like a child when he’s the only one with some sanity left in him living in this cursed rotting ass forest. I swear the first half of this book was Eveshka and Sasha having a combined panic attack while Pyter is chilling out in the woods. Finally after half of the book was over, the story started to pick up with the villain Chernevog waking up and Eveshka being irritating and running away (good). Chernevog was a mysterious spooky villain and helped with the rating of this book. The problem with this series is the pacing of the books- they are just too slow. Pyter has the funniest one liners and I’m hoping he escapes this forest and Eveshka.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few Cherryh novels now and I find the same thing grates on me each time, absolutely nothing happens! As much as I love the Russian folkloric themes, this would have made a great novella but it just doesn't contain enough of interest to make a 350+ page novel, it's tedious.

[Elliot Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, in fairness, I didn’t know this was a sequel until about a quarter into it. But I found the book more frustrating than rewarding. The world-building is great, the magic system is fascinating, I liked the characters, and the writing is very good. But I never felt like I understood anything that was happening or what any of the characters’ motivations really were (especially the “villains”). It was just all too obtuse, in a kind of unsatisfying way. I’m sure some things would have been more clear if I’d read Rusalka, but I don’t think that would have solved my problems with it. Oh well - not a bad book, but not for me.

[Paul Calhoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a direct sequel to Rusalka. If you liked the storyline of the second half of Rusalka - some angry, bleak, very Russian wizards go down a river - then you'll like this. For me, a bit slow on the pacing and though I do want to keep reading the series, I'm in about as much rush to do so as the characters in this book.

[Ivan Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was afraid this book would be disappointing because I loved Rusalka so much. It wasn't.

I think I like these books so much because the characters are confused and helpless most of the time, but it doesn't seem whiny or pointless.

[Stephen Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is less entertaining, more painful, and more deeply engrossing than its predecessor. it was written by someone going through a tough time and it shows. I'm glad I read it, I think it would benefit greatly from a re-read but I wouldn't want to do it.

[Maggie K]

DNF'd after however many months. I liked the 1st book in this series well enough, but this one dragggggged so badly! The main characters took turns getting magically duped and running off, and having the others look for them.....over halfway through and it was still happening. TEDIOUS!

[Michael Nalbone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts and goblins and stuff in the night grabbing you!

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sasha is so anxious in this book that it made me anxious.

[Megan]

DNS 10/27/23

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh the fog.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was , for me,a slow read.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 1 out of 5]

The constant tension became exhausting somewhere in the middle. Then no amount of exotic setting or magical action could keep me engaged in it for more than short sessions before nodding off, even in the middle of the afternoon. I finally finished it out of pure stubbornness, with the help of strong coffee, having lost all sympathy for any of the characters except the poor horses.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not spectacular but still a good read. I think I liked it a bit more than the first, but that could be because less character introduction and development was needed because its the second in a series. Eveshka has more of a personality now than just a vengeful spirit and Cherryh does a good job keeping Pyetr and Sasha consistent with their portrayals in the first book. I loved the addition of the horses appearing and becoming their own characters as well. Cherryh also did a good job of creating personalities for the horses, especially when Sasha slips in and out of Missy's consciousness. Another strength was the humanization of Chernevog, although I feel the story was still a bit lacking in fully explaining his motives and background. There's quite a bit in that regard that I am still curious about. In all, what keeps me so drawn into this series is the well developed land of Russian folklore that these tales take place in. I love reading about vodyanoi and Babi the domovoi and all these characters that I've previously encountered in Russian folklore. Babi is such a cute, tempermental little critter that he may be my favorite in the book. I especially loved the ending with his blessing of the new arrival. Looking forward to the final book of the series.

[Graham Storrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this should have been a short story. There really wasn't enough there for a whole novel. I love C J Cherryh and I loved Rusalka (the first book in this series) but this had the feel of being the bridge between books 1 and 3 and I was quite disappointed.

[KJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formerly-dead wives prove difficult to live with; local trees are ornery; local terrifying sorcerer wakes up and wants to be your best friend.

A delightful continuation, with the same virtues and failings as the first.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sequel to Rusalka. The sorcerer, Chernevog, who killed Eveshka shows up, Eveshka disappears, and Pyetr and Sasha must go with Chernevog to find her. Is he subtly controlling their minds?

[Katie Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantasy ghost story.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

More dark tales from Russia. Last one I read.

[Howard]

8

[Amanda Kespohl · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my review for THE RUSALKA.

[Shylan Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also interesting, but still not on my favorites list.

[Vader · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish

[Shardis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Russian mythos, this is a great series

[Brett]

Fantasy