Catherynne Valente's Deathless is a perfect mix of fairy tale, myth, and historical fiction, written with carefully crafted writing that lingers with you. The story feels Russian, the way it addresses so many themes. This is not simply a retelling of a fairytale, but a reflection on life, death, war, hope, love, pain, and so much more. This novel breathes the Russian experience, and mirrors so many of the things people have told me while I've been living here in Russia this semester. I also enjoyed Valente's whimsical and revealing names, revealing her extensive research and understanding of Russian. In my opinion, this is the type of writing and book we long for, but is so rarely written. Молодец!