I wanted to like this book for the Ukrainian folklore, but I couldn’t handle the sexual assault. Too dark for me.

This is a dual timeline and a multi-generational novel that I thought was really good. The author started with current times. Larissa and Ina, sisters, are searching for their grandemother all over Eastern Europe has"taken off". Past timeline is where their grandmother, who is Ukrainian" during World War 2

Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio copy of this book for an honest review.

The story didn't grab me at any point and the narrator was tough to listen to. I was really looking forward to the story and may revisit it another time but right now it was just not working for me.

Unfortunately I DNF’ed this book. I think after Thistlefoot this book fell flat for me because I loved that one so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing and ALC for my honest review.

Kris Spisak is clearly a talented writer, but that doesn't always mean a book will capture a reader's attention, and this one failed to do that for me. I'm giving a four star review because I think it has more to do with reader preference than book quality, and I encourage others to give The Baba Yaga Mask a try for yourself.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ARC in exchange for my review.

I was very excited about this book. I love learning new folklore and legends, and have only heard a bit of about Baba Yaga so far, so it is always a good topic for me. Overall, I liked this book, but more so the historical time line. I didn't really enjoy the present day portions of the story. I feel like if the whole book had been set in the historical time line, it would have been enjoyable overall.

3 stars for 'I liked it'

I enjoyed the audio version of this novel. Teh narrator was amazing perfectly pronouncing Ukrainian/Russian/Slavic language. She gave both characters true heart. I loved how the author told you a story about both the main character and her grandmother as well. Combining well-done and imaginative writing with excellent narration, The Baba Yaga Mask is entertaining and meaningful.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for my copy of The Baba Yaga Mask by Kris Spisak Narrated by Allyson Voller in exchange for an honest review. It published May 9, 2023.
I really enjoyed the narration of this book, I felt like it was well-done, especially with the accents and pronunciations.
This book was very interesting, it was sometimes hard to follow, but overall I found it to be a very good read. I liked the characters, and I loved the old stories threaded throughout!

TW: Sexual Assault

Ira and Larissa weren’t planning on taking an international flight together, but when their grandmother disappears after her flight to Europe, the sisters take off in search of her. They begin to learn more about their grandmother’s past and the realities she had to face while living in Europe during World War II. Will the two be able to find their grandmother? What lessons will they learn along the way?

I wanted to love this book, and I certainly was excited by its concept. Unfortunately, the execution was lacking. The present-day characters were impossible to like. It felt like each sister was given one characteristic/trait that became their whole personality. Ira's personality was whimsy and unthinkingly rushing into things. Larissa's personality was being a responsible mother. That was their whole development and depth, which made it difficult to see them as real people or feel any emotional connection to them. There was also a major lack of explanation for the motivations of the characters or their thought processes. For example, there was a sexual assault scene that was disturbing/odd and added nothing to the story, and the character didn’t think or talk about it at all, just went right on with her life. The setting also never really felt fully realized or alive in this modern timeline, which contributed to my dislike of it. There also didn’t really feel like there was a point to this plot – it just existed.

However, I loved the historical timeline. Vera was wonderfully written, and I was highly invested in her story. The historical details and setting were well incorporated, making the past come to life in a meaningful way. Despite it not being the main focus of the book, it contained interesting insights into Ukraine during WWII under Russian then German occupation. I wish the book had focused entirely on this time and Vera’s early life.

If I could, I'd rate the present timeline 1 star and the historical timeline 4 stars. My thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Lukewarm Encounter with "The Baba Yaga Mask"

I would like to express my gratitude to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for providing me with an advanced audio copy of "The Baba Yaga Mask" by Kris Spisak. However, I must confess that my experience with this book left me feeling rather indifferent. While I understand that personal taste plays a significant role in one's enjoyment of a story, I found myself struggling to engage with the narrative throughout.

To begin with, I should note that mythology is not a genre that particularly appeals to me, so it's possible that my lack of enthusiasm for "The Baba Yaga Mask" stems from this bias. That being said, my primary concern lay in the characterization. The characters, unfortunately, came across as flat and lacking depth. I found them to be quite cliche and stereotypical, which hindered my ability to form a genuine connection with them.

On the positive side, it is evident that the author put considerable effort into researching the subject matter and crafting the story. The writing itself is pleasant and well executed. Spisak's attention to detail shines through, providing a sense of authenticity to the mythological elements present in the book. From a technical standpoint, there is no denying that the prose is skillfully written.

However, despite the commendable research and writing, I found myself yearning for a more captivating and engaging plot. The story, regrettably, failed to hold my interest. It lacked the necessary intrigue and excitement to keep me invested, leading to a sense of boredom that persisted throughout my reading experience.

Overall, "The Baba Yaga Mask" is a well-researched and nicely written book that unfortunately fell short in terms of character development and plot. While fans of mythology might find more enjoyment in its pages, I personally struggled to connect with the story. My decision to continue reading stemmed more from a feeling of obligation than genuine enjoyment. It is important to note that my lukewarm review should not discourage others from exploring this book, as personal preferences greatly influence one's experience.

Thank you once again to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for providing me with the opportunity to delve into "The Baba Yaga Mask" ahead of its release. Though this particular story did not resonate with me, I appreciate the chance to discover new works and explore different genres.

I liked a lot of things about this book and I didn't like a lot. There were many unaswered questions or things just being told with no lead up. Lots of what was happening with Vira, but not her reasoning for why she did what she did. And tge granddaughters were quite 2 dimensional

2.5 stars rounded to 3

I have mixed feelings about this book, I really liked the ukranian folklore, myths and history but I didn't get what the author was trying to say.
Plus, the characters were hard to connect with, I didn't like both sisters, they were too much of everything they were. The only parts I did enjoy were Baba Vera's past, with its fields of sun flowers, bees, nature, dolls and their symbolism and how courageous and bold this woman was and still is.
I listened to this as an audioarc, the narrator " Allyson Voller" did an amazing job and it's thanks to her performance, I didn't drop off this read.
Maybe this was not my cuppa, but I'll ask you to give it a try, you just might like it!!
Thanks Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the Advance Reader Copy of The Baba Yaga Mask.

The Baba Yaga Mask is a split timeline story that tells the stories of Vira during WW2 and her granddaughters' search for her in present time. Vira and her mother and sisters are forced to flee Ukraine after her father's imprisonment and brother's death. We quickly find out that Vira lost all of her family during the war. Vira had a sweetheart before the war started but his family flees before hers does and Vira marries another man only for him to immediately begin fighting. Vira's WW2 timeline feels fairly generic for a WW2 historical fiction novel but does pick up towards the end of the book.

Larissa and Ira's timeline was the more difficult one for me. Neither character was likeable. Larissa is ultra Type A and obsessed with her kids and being a mom and Ira is carefree to the point of stupidity. The first two thirds of the book is just them trying to locate their grandmother after she flies to Poland and disappears after arriving at the airport. The last third of the book is more interesting but did not endear me to their characters.

If you are interested in Ukraine and it's history of WW2 you may enjoy this book. It wasn't my favorite but I am glad I finished it.

Although I am really interested in a story that explores Slavic customs, mythology, and Ukrainian history, I’m not sure I will finish this audiobook. On hold at about 50%. Maybe I will return to it, but for now, it’s not likely.

My reasons for putting it on hold:
- Narration: In general, the narration was ok, but I couldn’t get used to it from the beginning. First, I’m sorry, but I think Allyson Voller is the wrong narrator for this novel. It feels like her voice suits some other genre. Second, the narrator of this audiobook should be fluent in Ukrainian (or at least one other Slavic language) to sound more authentic.
- Characters: I liked Baba Vira (she wasn’t much around), but I disliked Larissa (she seemed too perfect, maybe even arrogant) and Ira (too childish for a grownup).
- Language: Maybe this is the narrator’s fault. I found it annoying that Ira constantly pronounces Ukrainian words wrong. She is interested in her Ukrainian heritage, and she mispronounces the most basic words?
- Story: Some aspects of this story weren’t believable.
- I think Poland and Poles (Polish people) were not presented properly.

For now, I won’t post my review anywhere else.

A beautiful story spanning multiple generations which explores the strength of women, different cultures and familial bonds. I loved the mix of history and folklore/supernatural in this - I learnt a lot and loved seeing the characters develop throughout the book through the dual timelines which are both heart-breaking and heart-warming. There's a lot in this book which has been forgotten or not taught through time and I loved seeing this unique perspective of WWII in Ukraine and overall I thought this was an amazing book.

3.5 rounded up. I received an ARC of the audiobook through Netgalley; the release date is early May.

I will read nearly anything that has "Baba Yaga" on it. This is a contemporary fiction novel about two adult sisters tracking down their missing Ukrainian grandmother across eastern Europe. The elder sister Larissa is a type-A mom of two little kids; the younger sister Irina is single, free-spirited, and deeply in touch with the Ukrainian culture that Larissa has largely detached herself from. It is Irina who, throughout the plot, tells the folktales their baba passed down to them. Interspersed with chapters from both sisters' perspectives are chapters from their grandmother's youth in 1940s Ukraine.

Ultimately, this is a story about the strength and resilience of women, and of culture, and what the novel does in service of those themes is largely done well. Both Irina and Larissa are validated by the narrative, although both are also shaken out of their sense of "normal," too. Still, I found their characterizations ultimately a little flat. And the early nods to the supernatural played out in ways that fell short of/did not square well with their setup to my mind. Similarly, the plot was more fun than thrilling, as advertised. It was still a good read, but it didn't quite live up to my hopes.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, and Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review.

The Baba Yaga Mask is a generational, duel timeline story that highlights the history and folklore of Ukraine. The two timelines complimented each other very well and the historical one tells a World War II story that isn't often told. Vira's perspective is one of loss, hard decisions and unbreakable bonds, which even carries over to the present day sisters. The current timeline follows Larissa, a devoted Mother and Caregiver to Vira, and Ira, the free spirited younger sister, throughout their travels tracking down their missing Grandmother. I appreciated Ira's character who often took on the role of storyteller by telling Baba Yaga stories.

Overall, this is a beautiful generational story and well timed novel with what is going on in the world. It is a great place to start while learning more about Ukraine's history. I would rate this novel 3.5 stars, and rounded up to 4 on Goodreads. I would only rate it a 3.5 over a 4 or higher, because there were parts of this story that I wish just had more! I would have liked to expand more on Larissa's and Ira's Mother, or even Ira and her connection to folklore/life line. Even towards the end I was just hoping for more details and wrap ups for some of the characters! But, that could have also been me wanting to stay in the story a bit longer! I did appreciate the ending, with it's openness and hope!

The narration of this story was beautifully done by Allyson Voller, who brought the story and it's many colors to life. I would definitely recommend this book/audiobook!

I really enjoyed this book! I took a minute for me to get into it but once the adventure got started I was hooked. The exploration of Poland, Ukraine, and Slovakia in both present day and in the 1940s was super eye-opening, especially given the conflict in Ukraine at the moment. I dont read many WWII books but the perspective from Eastern Europe is one I don't know much about.

I did find the writing a tad cheesy at times, but I did listen to this on audio book so it may have been the reader as well. The characters were also a little stereotypical and got on my nerves at times, but I did also appreciate the growth and understanding we got by the end.

Overall, this is an engaging, fast-paced adventure with a more unique setting and folktale twist.

This is a beautiful story of family, culture, and wars of the past that is particularly poignant and relevant as we helplessly watch it happening again from afar. There are wonderful folktales and pieces of culture mixed into this book as it alternates between the present and the past. It is frustrating and heartbreaking to read the bits of history that we were never taught in school because it was not deemed necessary for whatever reason even though it was everything to those who experienced it, especially given the current relevance.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This book sounded super interesting to me, as I don't know a lot about Ukraine during world war II, but unfortunately I just didn't care for the story. I found the characters to be pretty cliche, with the bossy, over organized older sister and the flighty, flaky younger sister. I also found the part that set the majority of the story in motion to be really unrealistic. I don't understand why Larissa and Ira decided to pick up and travel, not only to Poland, but then all across eastern Europe. It might be a minor detail, but who has the money for that!?? And Larissa just left her husband and kids? Does her husband not have a job he has to deal with? Again, just very unrealistic. Especially because they find out early on that their grandmother is not in any imminent danger, so I didn't really see the point of them then trying to follow her.
The world war II timeline was interesting because I don't know a ton about Ukraine during that time although I've always assumed it's was similar to the rest of Eastern Europe in that if it wasn't occupied by Russia then it was occupied by Germany, so terrible for everyone involved.