Spinning Silver

The buxom blonde daughter of an alcoholic farmer, Wanda has few prospects in life beyond marriage and inevitable death in childbirth. Having only felt love from her mother, she sees no reason to give it to anyone else, least of all her remaining brothers. Wanda rejoices when Miryem takes her into her service to pay off her father’s debt since the work keeps her safe from forced marriage. The hardworking servant learns what she calls magic—mathematics and writing—and is soon able to assist Miryem in the collections. Over time, Wanda not only comes into her own and develops confidence and skill away from her father, but she also finds a loving family comprised of her brothers and the Mandelstams.

Irina is the plain but compassionate daughter of the Duke of Vysnia. Despite being dismissed all her life as unimpressive, her father considers her a usable political pawn with the help of some enchanting Staryk silver jewelry. He plots to wed Irina to the tsar for political gain, expecting nothing more to come of her. However, with the help of her jewelry and Staryk ancestry, Irina finds her own power—and responsibility to her people. Mockingly dubbed the “defender of dead squirrels” by the cruel tsar in girlhood, her propensity for chivalry remains under her quiet, deferential demeanor. However limited by her circumstances, Irina uses her wits, her jewelry, and her sheer unbending determination to save the lives of the people of Lithvas.

An ethereal winter king with the power to freeze blood and steal souls, the Staryk is feared throughout the country. At first glance he appears to be a cold-hearted monster, self-serving and greedy, but the Staryk proves himself to be far more than that. For all his arrogance and disdain for mortals, the Staryk is a true king, ready to sacrifice his life for his people. When he encounters a mortal who may be the key to saving his kingdom, he brings her to his lands through the most appropriate route—marriage. Miryem proves to be more than he bargained for, teaching him valuable lessons about assumptions, prejudice, and hasty decisions. Their rocky relationship has consequences that affect Lithvas and the Staryk nation alike.

Chernobog, the primary antagonist, is determined to destroy the Staryk and assume power over Lithvas. A vengeful, manipulative fire demon, Chernobog has possessed Mirnatius since birth. He often makes bargains then exploits loopholes within them, which is why Irina refuses to strike any deal with him. Seven years earlier, he attacked the Staryk lands, wrecking their mountain and setting the stage of the novel’s main conflict.

Miryem’s mother is a kind and generous woman, eager to take care of all who cross her path. Empathetic and gentle, she struggles to accept how the work of moneylending affects her daughter’s disposition. Regardless of her mixed feelings on the cost of survival, Rakhel is always prepared to support her family at any cost.

A kind father but a terrible moneylender, Josef Mandelstam is too soft for the work of collections, causing difficulties for his family. Josef is aware of his faults and tries to make adjustments for them, foraging and hunting when he cannot collect. Unlike other fathers, Josef does not hold with sexist notions of “women’s work,” and he accepts the consequences of his failure to provide as his own responsibility.