I really did enjoy this book -- the three star rating is because it wasn't quite what I expected, which is more a me problem than a book problem.

It's grounded with a real sense of place, which I always find fascinating; the surrounding forests are as much a character as Vasya and her friends and family.  The region's traditional paganism is being pushed out by Christianity, and the earth is rebelling.  Old gods, spirits, and beings are omnipresent and making their unease apparent, and although the paganism is not quite animism, there's still a feeling that even the rocks and trees are upset.  I really love a "the old gods are angry" premise, and this delivers.

The book starts much earlier in Vasya's life than I thought it would.  It's entirely a fantasy, which I knew, but I'd also seen it billed as "monster/god falls in love with human" and it took a long time to get to that vibe.  It's not a flaw of the book: it's fairly well-paced and although I thought we spent a little too much time in her childhood, I understand why it needs to be included.  

I'm really excited to get to the second and third books in this series!  I think they're going to be great fall/winter reads.