Ravan always felt that his destiny was to become a wolf. He performed countless rituals and tried every method, but nothing worked. The community has long grown disappointed in him; they watch him with suspicion and no longer believe in his hidden wolf nature. But Ravan doesn’t lose hope. Rumor has it that in the forest there live the lutes—creatures that are half-human, half-wolf. Maybe they can help him gain the ability he desires: to transform into a wolf. But how can he find them?
Baya has always been sure: there’s no need to talk to people unless you have to, and don’t let them see you in human form—otherwise you’ll get into trouble. Yet one boy caught her interest: he was performing a funny, ridiculous ritual in the night forest, which made her laugh. “In the forest you’ll find everything you’re looking for,” the lutes say.
However, life among wolves turns out to be far from a fairy tale...
1. The main hero is not “the chosen one,” although he is obsessively desperate to be. 2. A story about how not to lose yourself amid the whirlpool of your own fears and ambitions—how to tell your personal desires apart from what society has imposed on you. 3. All the inhabitants of the magical forest—from werewolves to the Master (a forest spirit/leshy)—are deeply tied to Slavic mythology, and they are not just a set of magical creatures for atmosphere; they form a cohesive organism essential to both the mood and the plot. 4. Humor, charismatic secondary characters, and the protagonists’ ability to laugh at themselves—even in the most serious situations. 5. The narration language is simple, but stylized, with elements of archaic vocabulary that create a dark, mysterious atmosphere of a mighty Slavic forest.