Sveneld. The Call of the Valkyries

Before a great expedition to the Saracen countries, Oleg the kunung of Holmgar invites warriors from all ends of the world. In winter, when he collects tribute from the Merya tribe, Sveneld, son of Almund, gathers hunters under war banners. Among the Merya there are those who want to go for loot and glory to the eastern lands rich in silver and silk—but Castan resolutely opposes it. Castan is the wife of the Merya prince Toisar, who knows how to use sorcery to control both her husband’s will and her enemies. Her daughter must help her—Illetay, a beauty and the best bride for Merymaa. Yet even wise Castan doesn’t know all of her daughter’s desires. Illetay, the forest valkyrie, by her own will has chosen her betrothed and is ready to run away from home. Now it depends only on Sveneld’s courage and luck whether Toisar will become related to the Rus and whether he will help gather an army capable of sweeping like a hurricane along the shores of the distant Khazar Sea… The novel can serve as a prehistory to the cycle "Princess Olga." “Sveneld finds himself a wife, collects tribute, prepares a campaign to the Caspian… he grows, becomes wiser… The description of collecting tribute in the Merya land is very interesting, informative, and thrilling. I learned many new things about this people—the place of their life, traditions, rituals. Of course, there is no avoiding mysticism, sorcery, and the kidnapping of the bride… These themes in Elizabeth Dvoretskaya’s novels are always described wonderfully vividly, emotionally, with a deep understanding of the subject. As always, the novel ends with the most interesting part… the troops are gathered, the commander is chosen—forward is the Path…” — Tatyana Ignatyeva “Voivode Sveneld… One of the most famous, and at the same time one of the most mysterious figures in ancient Rus’ history… In this book, Sveneld, son of Almund, is young and still doesn’t know what awaits him… The campaign promises to be difficult, but Sveneld is not the sort who turns back, and he will return—so that over time he becomes the figure we know from chronicles and countless historical novels. Or maybe he won’t—if Elizabeth Dvoretskaya dares to step away from the templates and reconstruct the voivode’s story in her own way. I’m exactly looking forward to that.” — Vera Kamsha “The cycle about young Sveneld can be called a true gift for everyone who read the historical cycle ‘Princess Olga’ with interest and pleasure.” — Tatyana Ignatyeva Rus is preparing for a campaign and calling for allies, but politics is complicated—each tribe has its own interests. Someone fights for happiness with a sword, and someone with sorcery. In the novel, the ancient Merya tribe is vividly portrayed: history forced them to choose—fight for independence and live in deep forests, or join the strong and wealthy Rus so they can become entirely different people. The beloved beauty-princess made her choice… The novel is bright and gripping, easy and quick to read.” — Lyudmila Tovolga