When her father is 'promoted' for messing up the Tsarina's grand project, Olga and her budding ballerina sister find themselves living in a remote observatory in the wilderness, not far from the border between their country and the republic of Birds. Nestled at the foot of their cold and decrepit new home is an equally decrepit manor where three elderly women live. When Olga discovers they're Yagas, magic users banished when members of their order stole and hid a Phoenix egg in an effort to prevent either country from possessing and hatching it, it's the beginning of her frightening and epic adventure. That's sparked by her sister's kidnapping and Olga's determination to rescue her. It takes her to places she thought didn't exist, or were a death sentence for girls. She discovers otherwise as well as finding, then losing something precious. What she discovers instead makes for a very satisfying conclusion. This is a fast read and a dandy fantasy. ( )

When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure how to categorise it, and struggled a little bit with some of the terminology which appeared to be Russia/Baltic in origin. But after a while, I became swept up in the story.
Olga lives in Stolitsa ( a parallel Russian like country) which engaged previously in a war the Republic of the Birds ( a neighbouring country) which resulted in there being no magic or birds left in it. Olga's father has just been demoted to a remote outpost of Stolitsa and has taken his entire family with him. On the journey there, Olga's family see some inklings of the lost magic in the strange women called Yargas (like witches) who live in moveable houses. When they arrive at the outpost, they are greeted by other strangely magical beings because they are so close to the border with the Republic of Birds.
Olga must travel into the enemy territory to rescue her sister when she is kidnapped by birds to try and thwart an ambitious plan by her father and also confront a truth about herself.
Could be for younger readers who can suspend the laws of physics, and follow the maps inside the book, to accommodate the various twists and turns of the book. ( )