In a half-ruined princely estate, children-orphans are brought from all corners of the Empire. However, this place hides mysterious and frightening secrets. Only Marishka seems truly worried about what’s happening. Her warnings drown in the general noise, the creaking of floors, and the movement of animated objects. The other orphans don’t want to listen to her, convinced that Marishka is lying.
Marishka has a hard time, because in this house it’s impossible to hide from the gossip and bullying that follow her.
New!
“Don’t be afraid of those who have gone, dear. Be wary of those who remain.”
A dark folk-fantasy story set in an alternative Russian Empire.
The plot combines elements of tsar-punk and a thriller, with a spark of romance burning between them.
The lives of the orphans are turned upside down, and the move to the frightening estate that Marishka calls “the Spider Principality” turns out to be far from the biggest problem.
The most terrible crime in the Empire is disbelief in the pantheon—refusal of faith.
Where is the truth, and where is a lie?