Baba Yaga "retellings" from authors with no Eastern European heritage need to be stopped. Urban fantasies are hard for me to read, and I suppose I didn't realize what I was getting into. Not the worst, but I found it a bit boring and confusing.

I loved American Gods, and as a Russian myself, I LOVE Slavic folklore, so picking up this book was a no-brainer for me. And I was on board and invested for the first 50% of it, but then it just.. dragged... and dragged... and slowly plodded its way to the end. And I realized that I didn't like any of the characters anymore. Also, the book literally ends without any denouement. Nothing is resolved, nothing is learned, it's just one big road trip that just... stops. I guess the story is to be continued in the next book?

Also, comparing it to American Gods does it a big disservice. This book is not even remotely as well plotted and written as American Gods. It's boring and it drags.

I guess this has a lot to do with this author's writing style - Lilith Saintcrow decides to describe absolutely EVERYTHING that our protagonists see, feel, smell, taste, etc. It is too much description that bogs down the action to a glacial pace. Dima and Nat are riding in a muscle car, for God's sake, why is it going so slow through the story?

And there isn't much story there to speak of. Girl goes to see big bad Baba Yaga, who promises to make her mother better again if she brings back something her mother stole. Girl agrees and goes on a road trip with a deity of thieves and assassins. Girl meets some other divinities along the way and reaches a well. The end. Oh, she learns a secret that wasn't a secret to anyone but her as well.

There is no tension, there are no stakes, there is no sense of urgency even to that particular road trip. Dima keeps telling her that hungry and not very nice powers are hunting Nat and want to either take what she finds or kill her, or both at the same time, yet we never encounter any of those powers. They aren't ambushed during this trip even once (and no, the encounter with Friendly doesn't count). Nat doesn't have to fight for her life. Dima doesn't have to defend her or show his divine powers. It's all tell, but not show. I'm told the stakes are high and the road is dangerous, but I don't see it.

My other issue is with Nat herself. I was sympathetic to her in the beginning and rooting for her to finally come into her own power and stop wilting in the shadow of her horrible mother. But it never happened. I mean, how stupid can you be not to put two and two together and realize what is happening to your mother and what only two outcomes could be to this issue? Especially when people hint at that over and over again. But she just refuses to listen... or ask any questions that could help her navigate this weird world she finds herself part of? Also, you have to be very good at self-delusion to refuse to come to any conclusions from the clues you gather. It literally takes hearing it from a horse's mouth to make it clear to her what her mother has planned for her.

Also, the worldbuilding is wobbly at best. We have divinities, but some of them are old concepts like Winter and Spring, and some are gods of murder and thieves, or cowboys, or corrupt cops. And then they are literary divinities? How does that work exactly? Is there a hierarchy of power? That's never explained.

And since when is Baba Yaga the lady of winter? She is the crone. She is the witch. Wise and mysterious. Helpful sometimes, other times cruel, but I don't remember her having power over winter. The Slaves had Ded Moroz for that. And he wasn't the jolly old fellow bringing gifts to kids on New Year's Eve. No, he was the old man in a coat made of frost that could freeze you with a glance if he deemed you disrespectful... For some reason, that de Winter business really grated at my Russian soul. Baba Yaga is powerful enough on her own. She doesn't need to steal other deities' powers.

All in all, I am really disappointed with this book. I will read the next one because I had requested it from NetGalley before I read this one, so I might as well see where the story goes. However, I doubt that I will check out other books by this author anytime soon.

PS: I received an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This sounded like an interesting story and I love urban fantasy, but the writing just didn’t work for me and I didn’t make it more than a few pages in before setting it aside.

As a big fan of Neil Gaiman and all kinds of mythology this book was really meant for me. While reading I felt it spoke to me directly and made me laugh and hug the kindle while reading the eArc. At times I felt I wasn't smart enough to get all the the different little clues, at others I just felt like riding along but when I did pick a hint of who a character was or I could relate it to someone else I felt so full filled.
I loved Nat's story, her growing up in a small little yellow house in NY, her conversations with the cats and how she slowly discovers who she really is or what she has to do. This is also a journey of discovery of both a world of gods and of self discovery as one of them. Or not quite yet one of them if you want me to be closer to the truth.
But anyway I feel you will like it if you love urban fantasy with a softer than normal main character, all things mythology but with some twists and a dash of pop culture in the mix. At the beginning I compared it to October Daye by Seanan McGuire (my favorite series, can't change that) but then I felt more and more the American Gods comparison. Anyway, the story stands on its own and it's a great and fun read.
Thank you Tor and Netgalley for the eArc. I can't wait to read the second one (as this one is left in a huge cliff hanger)

*Spring's Arcana* by Lilith Saintcrow is a captivating and atmospheric urban fantasy that immerses readers in a world where magic and danger intertwine. The story follows protagonist, a skilled practitioner of ancient magic, as she navigates a city filled with supernatural intrigue, deadly secrets, and shifting alliances. Saintcrow’s world-building is rich and immersive, with vivid descriptions and an eerie, tense atmosphere. The plot is filled with twists, action, and emotional depth, while the characters are complex and multi-dimensional. While the pacing can be slow at times, *Spring’s Arcana* is an engaging read for fans of dark fantasy and intricate, character-driven narratives.

Spring's Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow is a captivating read for fans of urban fantasy and mythology, particularly those drawn to stories that weave together elements of Russian folklore, mother-daughter relationships, and self-discovery, with a strong and adventurous heroine at its core.

I loved the cover and the premise - it just did not deliver. The characters and plot did not hold my interest at all.

I really wanted to love this, and generally I was into the idea, but it took me forever to finish because I just couldn't get into it. I feel like Russian folklore is vastly underused in UF, but the pacing, characters, and depth just missed the mark.

I had a really great time reading this book! I've only previously read her YA series, which I really loved, but it has been a while, and this is adult. But oh, it was a fantastic read, and it has me really excited to read the sequel!

Nat doesn't know how much her life is going to change-and just how much she doesn't know-until her mom is dying, and sends her to a friend, who works in the skyscraper-for Y.A.G.A. We did know that this was Russian inspired with Baba Yaga, and I really enjoyed how it was brought to life in this book, in a very much American setting.

This world was really interesting to read about, about magic and divinity, and what the average person wants and needs and prays for. It was beautiful and magical, but there was also a good deal of danger lurking, and there were some really great scenes where Nat was really tested!

But that ending? I need to read more, because while it wasn't a cliff hanger, not really, it feels like one. Because I need to know where the story is going to go next! I have some ideas, and there are a few things that I want to happen, and I can't wait to find out and see if they do!

I had a really great time reading this book and I can't wait to read more!

Mystery, action, and adventure with a touch of the supernatural as a woman faces the unknown to find a cure for her mother. Is it an altered reality? Is it real? A hallucination? Then why does everything feel so real - so dangerous! Story flows and is a relatively fast read.

I was really excited for this one; I'm a huge fan of Russian folklore and Baba Yaga, but this unfortunately fell short for me. I got about halfway through and was not excited about any of the characters, so I did not finish. Many thanks for the opportunity to review!

Lilith Saintcrow is currently best known for her multiple urban fantasy series – but this time she’s bringing Russian folklore to the forefront in her latest novel Spring’s Arcana.

It’s winter in New York, and what is usually a magical time of year is somewhat ruined for Nat Drozdova; her mother is dying. But her mother has an old friend she insists Nat visit; and what seemed like a harmless – if inconvenient – duty soon turns life upside down for the young woman.

Comparisons to American Gods abound for Spring’s Arcana, and I can see why – they both took a similar “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to their mythologies. But Lilith Saintcrow brings a whole new style to this fantastical road trip novel; instead of gods, we have personas, and scenes of a party where fictional characters mingle with concepts brought to life by virtue of belief and interest from a world that has no idea they exist.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the demi-monde the author has created to sit alongside our own. From hotels with rooms uniquely (and impossibly) tailored to their occupants, to roadside bars where bikers mingle with the essence of the Wild West, the story introduced Nat to marvels and dangers right alongside each other. The reader gets to watch over her shoulder and wonder right along with her; even though I know it was dangerous, I was so swept up in it all I wanted to see more and more.

The ending makes it clear that there’s more story to come, and perhaps that would be the only downside to this book; I wasn’t ready to finish when it did! But I’m excited at this new world Saintcrow has created, and I can’t wait to see more.

1.5/5 stars - I could not get into this book. I was drawn by the idea of a retelling of the Baba Yaga tale and Russian folklore, but it fell flat for me when 25% in I still couldn't grasp a thread of forward moving trajectory -- I was bored! There are wisps of Marina Dyachenko, but the book and story never connected or took off for me.

I will admit, I have not read a lot of Lilith Saintcrow, but what I have read, I've liked.

You don't need to be a Russian mythology expert to enjoy Spring's Arcana, you should be fine with what's floating around in common knowledge and Saintcrow provides explanations of some of the more esoteric bits.

Somewhat of a cross between a mob drama and a road trip/quest story, Spring's Arcana is a bit of a slow burn at first, but I couldn't put it down for the last few chapters. Looking forward to picking up the conclusion (it's out by now, this review is very late) and finding out what happens!

I received a free copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion.

#SpringsArcana #NetGalley

This was a unique read with great world building. I’m not super experienced with urban fantasy but this one feels like it could be a classic!
I did struggle with staying focused on the plot but overall I enjoyed reading this one and look forward to more from this author/series.

Spring's Arcana presents an average reading experience, with its imaginative world-building and blend of fantasy and romance being the highlights. However, the uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters prevent it from reaching its full potential. While it may not leave a lasting impression, it can still provide a decent escape for readers seeking a lighter fantasy read with romantic elements.

Thank you Tor/Forge for approving me for Spring’s Arcana! I actually requested this book because I took their Booksona quiz and Spring’s Arcana was my result! At first, I was a little wary of the wordiness mixed with so many metaphors. One paragraph was entirely a run-on sentence, which I’m not opposed to if it’s a good sentence, but it was all description, so it was kind of a lot. The other aspect that was kind of a hump to get over when beginning this book was the immersive worldbuilding with little to no exposition. At about the halfway mark, I began to catch on to a lot of what tended to go over my head and finally connected the pieces. After that, I ended up really enjoying this book, and ironically the immersive worldbuilding won me over as a favorite aspect. I give it 4 stars and will impatiently await the sequel because this cliffhanger was brutal!

Book Summary:

Nat Drozdova's mother is dying. She has cancer, and the doctors say there is little they can do. Yet Nat's mother is convinced that her cure lies at the top of a skyscraper in Manhattan. So that is where Nat is going.

As it turns out, the cure isn't a thing. It's a goddess; one is both hungry and powerful. Will Nat take her offered deal, or will she give up the hope that may save her mother?

My Review:

When I started Spring's Arcana, I was unaware that it would be the first in a series (Dead God's Heart). That said, I'm thrilled that this is far from the end of this story! A modern-day Baba Yaga tale is exactly what I was looking for – and I got that, plus so much more.

In truth, Spring's Arcana reminded me of several different stories, all taking a new form. There's the obvious – but there are other tales too. It had a bit of an American Gods aesthetic, and elements of the story felt like Seanan McGuire's Ghost Roads world (though this was probably largely due to the road element, duh). I enjoyed seeing these elements combine into something new and interesting.

Plus, there's the whole desperate protagonist plot. Nat is desperate to save her mother, even if that means dealing with a god with nothing but a whim and a wish. We all know how dangerous that is – and it helped to add a darker undertone to this read.

Long story short, Spring's Arcana was a fantastic read, and I legit can't wait to see what happens next.

Highlights:
Urban Fantasy Meets Baba Yaga
Fight to Save a Life

Trigger Warnings:
Cancer

Starting in New York we meet Natasha Drozdova, a young woman living with her controlling mother and a shady uncle figure. Nat and her mother have had a difficult relationship, mainly a lack of love or empathy shown by her mother. However despite this Nat remains loyal and concerned for her mothers health, which deepens when her mother is hospitalized with terminal cancer.
Nat is urged by her mother to visit a mysterious woman called Ms. de Winter and when she does she finds out more than she bargained for. Ms. de Winter is in fact the incarnation of Baba Yaga from Slavic legend and she tasks Nat to find a stolen object of power, if found her mother will be returned to health.
This search not only unlocks truths about Nat's lineage and her mother, but also of the wider hidden supernatural world inhabited by gods and other denizens. On her journey she is aided by Dmitri Konets, assassin with luck on his side. They have a spiky relationship, not helped by the fact that Dmitri would like to see Nat dead.
The story has the flavour of American Gods to it, but it would be difficult for a book set in American and focused on European gods to not meet that comparison. The Slavic element steeps the story in a dark folklore, and this has been echoed by other authors in the genre.
I found the pacing to be right (some reviewers felt it was slow), the story builds nicely and speeds up in the last third to a cliffhanger ending. I would definitely say try this out especially if you missed its publication date in May.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC, all views are my own.

Well, I was obviously not the intended audience for this one! Whew!

Every page is filled with details - so many details! Of every. Little. Thing. I was about to pull my hair out!

And I was confused about what was going on to boot. This is supposed to be a folklore retelling, which I great, except they assume you know what the folklore is and mention all of these parts of it that have no context for anyone unaware of the original telling. Like me.

After a few chapters I just gave up. I’m not going to work that hard for something that should be enjoyable and simply wasn’t.