I loved this book so much! It's beautiful, frightening, heartbreaking, and fantastic. The narrative bounces back and forth from present day and 1930s-1940s Russia in a way that feels seamless and natural. I hadn't really refreshed my memory on the premise before I started reading and I'm glad I hadn't. The beauty of this novel came through so much better without me having any expectations whatsoever. This one is one that will definitely be a candidate for a reread. I didn't expect to love this book, but (despite the painful nature of its plot) I absolutely did. And like her daughters, I found myself shifting in my perception of Anya as the story continued. I very much didn't like her in the beginning, but I came to love her in the end.