Inventive, darkly magical, and beautifully written, it will stay with me for a long time.' - Kendare Blake, New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns 'An enchantingly twisted modern fairy tale, perfect for those who prefer Grimm to Disney. A deliberate lack of romantic tension makes Vassa in the Night a refreshing read focused on themes of self-reliance, friendship, and family.'A dark, thoroughly modern fairy tale crackling with wit and magical mayhem.' -Leigh Bardugo, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow and Bone Vassa’s frank narration is sure to remind fans of Veronica Mars as will her resigned acceptance of her role as hero in this story.Įlements of traditional horror blend well with high-concept fantasy in this surprising and engaging tale. Vassa is a cynical, no-nonsense character who is quick to make jokes and take risks with the delightfully sharp-tongued Erg at her side. Evocative settings and imagery help bring this bizarre corner of Brooklyn to life including strong allusions to the Studio Ghibli film “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Complicated dynamics within Vassa’s blended family add another dimension to the story.

This standalone urban fantasy is inspired by the Russian folktake “ Vassilisa the Beautiful.” Although Vassa is described as incredibly pale, the rest of the book is populated with characters who are realistically diverse. When things don’t go as planned in BY’s it will take all of Vassa’s wits and Erg’s cunning to escape the store alive and maybe even break whatever curse has been placed on Brooklyn’s nights in Vassa in the Night (2016) by Sarah Porter.

Even her enchanted wooden doll, Erg, is willing to behave and keep her sticky fingers to herself this once. Vassa is sure getting out of the store quickly will be easy. When her stepsister (Stephanie, naturally) sends Vassa out in the middle of the night for light bulbs the only store that’s still open is the local BY’s. Everyone knows about BY’s, and its owner Babs Yagg, but people do tend to remember a store that dances around on chicken legs and has a habit of decapitating shoplifters.

The nights have been acting especially strange as they become longer and longer. It’s an odd living arrangement to Vassa but no more peculiar than a lot of things in her working-class Brooklyn neighborhood. Chelsea is nice enough but Stephanie might actually hate Vassa–which is fine since it’s mostly mutual. So now she has a stepmother and two stepsisters.

Vassa’s father stayed only long enough to settle Vassa with his new wife. Sixteen-year-old Vassa Lisa Lowenstein isn’t sure where she fits in her family or if it even qualifies as a family.

Vassa in the night