Alex Orlov is just an average guy trying hard to stay on the right side of the law, when he stops to offer help to an old man. Things spiral out of control, as the old man is Orel Stribog, one of the ancient Slavic gods, and beings from Slavic folklore follow the god into Alex's life. At first, Alex doesn't believe any of this is real, but then "they" come for his nephews. Alex really doesn't want to risk breaking his probation and returning to jail, but neither can he sit by and watch his family being targeted merely for being associated with him.

This is the second book in The Perilous Gods series, but each book is 100% freestanding, and deals with different characters in entirely different pantheons. I really enjoyed book 1, dealing with Greek mythology, but I LOVED this book. The dark take on the gods and folkloric beings felt fresh yet true at the same time, and the plight of an ordinary guy accidentally mixed up in the workings of gods--well, I couldn't help but sympathize and keep on reading! Alex is entirely relatable, as are his friends and family. Really great characterization all around makes this clearly a character-driven book. That said, the plot didn't lag, but kept twisting and ramping up the tension, from simple strangeness and a sense of creepiness to outright danger--both mortal peril and that "I'll regret this forever, but I have no choice" type.

This book will be especially appreciated by fans of mythology, especially Slavic mythology, and by readers who enjoyed Katherine Arden's "The Bear and the Nightingale," Naomi Novik's "Spinning Silver," and Lilith Saintcrow's "Spring's Arcana."