Rusalka (novel)
A drowned girl becomes a rusalka in medieval Russia.
Rusalka is a fantasy novel by American author C. J. Cherryh, first published in hardcover by Del Rey Books in October 1989. It is the first book of the Russian Stories trilogy, set in medieval Russia along the Dnieper River near Kyiv. The novel draws on Slavic folklore and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1990.
Quick Facts
- Author
- C. J. Cherryh
- Cover artist
- Keith Parkinson
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Fantasy novel
- Publisher
- Del Rey Books
- Published
- October 1989
- Format
- Print (hardback, paperback, e-book)
Facts from the source article.
Plot summary
Sasha, a 15-year-old stable boy living with his aunt and uncle in the town of Vojvoda, is accused of starting a house fire that killed his parents. Pyetr, a young man of the town, is attacked by old Yurishev for a liaison with Yurishev's wife; after Yurishev dies, Pyetr is accused of murder by sorcery. Sasha helps Pyetr escape, and the two leave Vojvoda together. They travel through fields into a dead forest, where Sasha discovers he can sometimes wish things into being. They come to a cottage by a river belonging to the wizard Uulamets, who heals Pyetr and asks them to help find his daughter Eveshka, drowned at age 16 and now a rusalka. While searching, Eveshka appears to Pyetr and leads him into the forest but then abandons him. Uulamets and Sasha find Pyetr unharmed but are attacked by Hwiuur, a shapeshifting vodyanoi. Uulamets traps Hwiuur, who admits to drowning Eveshka but blames Chernevog, a former student of Uulamets. Chernevog had controlled Eveshka and handed her to Hwiuur; even as a rusalka, Chernevog still controls her. Uulamets releases Hwiuur on condition he helps find Chernevog.
Reception
Roland J. Green in the Chicago Sun-Times called Rusalka one of 1989's better fantasies, praising its characterization and world-building while noting occasional lapses in narrative technique. A Kirkus Reviews reviewer found the plot pretty good but complained it was plodding and overlong, lacking atmosphere and tension. Jackie Cassada in Library Journal described it as a fantasy to be highly recommended.
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