Description
Description
A blizzard. An oath. A war outside and within.
By the winter of 1916, World War I has ravaged the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Eighteen-year-old Renata Zamoyska, Polish countess and doctor-in-training, has lost everything to the Russian occupation: her family, her home, her fiancé. But with the Russians in retreat and the Germans now in charge, life isn't much easier. Wounded soldiers keep arriving from the front, Renia's house remains in ruins, and the scars of the occupation linger.
When two Polish deserters from the Russian army turn up on her doorstep just before a fierce blizzard, Renia finds herself trapped in her own home alongside people she's long considered enemies. Cut off from the outside world while the storm rages, Renia must fight to survive, grapple with her wartime scars, and decide what justice, freedom, and healing look like for her.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Readers will quickly sympathize with the intrepid Renia and hope her remarkable story will lead these officers to mercy rather than a harsh retribution."--Historical Novel Society
-- (2/2/2026 12:00:00 AM)"Impressively, McCrina has created characters with depth and complicated backstories as well as vividly describing the difficulties of life in an occupied country, a topic rarely explored in teen historical fiction."--Booklist
-- (1/15/2026 12:00:00 AM)"A thoughtful examination of boundaries between right and wrong, carried by the moral tension and strength of the characters, this novel challenges readers to question ethical certainties. Sharp, compelling, and thoughtful."--Kirkus Reviews
-- (11/3/2025 12:00:00 AM)"For fans of Libba Bray and Ruta Sepetys, this is a well-written, suspenseful story, which would be a great addition to YA sections."--School Library Journal
-- (10/25/2025 12:00:00 AM)"It's a complex narrative rendered in the protagonist's measured voice and filled with references to Polish class distinctions and history."--Publishers Weekly
-- (11/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)"McCrina's writing is muscular, precise and visual. A must read."--Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, author of the Kidnapped from Ukraine series
-- (9/17/2025 12:00:00 AM)
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
The Allstora Membership
Membership Perks:
- Save 30% on all online store purchases
- Exclusive access to author's content
- You pay less, but authors still earn double
Membership Terms:
- To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
- One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.