She was condemned as “a thief and a witch.” She was cursed as the wife of the “kings”—usurpers—and as the culprit behind the Great Troubles that flooded the Russian Land with blood. Marina Mniszech had to witness the death of everyone dear to her—her husbands, her beloveds, and even her small son who was hanged for the crimes of his parents. She herself is doomed to die in a dungeon, drinking to the bottom the cup of misfortune, grief, and despair. But the Lord does not abandon repentant sinners. Having passed through all the circles of Hell, having been cleansed in the abyss of torments and suffering, Marina is destined to find new love and a wondrous salvation…
According to the official version, “Marinka, a common thief’s wife, died of boredom all on her own” in the prison tower. According to the legend, she flew out of behind the bars, turning into a magpie. But in truth, everything was quite different. Want to know who became Marina Mniszech’s final love and saved her from certain death? Read this gripping and touching novel, where for the first time she is portrayed not as a bloodthirsty villain, but as an unfortunate woman—victim of her own passions, of a cruel fate, and of merciless time—who deserves not curses, but pity and forgiveness…