The Bite of the Angel

Once upon a time, somewhere on an idyllic forest road, a mysterious old man gifted young Ivan Nekitaev, the son of a Russian officer and a Chinese Hoonhuz woman, a magic burning talisman - an artifact that chose the future ruler of the state himself. From that moment began his relentless path to power and glory. To blind jealousy, in love with his own sister - the moon-faced fairy Wan Ziden, a fearless and battle-hardened warrior, the governor of Tsargrad and consul of Hesperia, secretly guided by his henchman Peter Legkostupov - he will stop at nothing. The Russian Empire, having known turmoil, divided in two and brought together once again, must finally find its Emperor…

The modernist novel by St. Petersburg writer Pavel Krusanov was published at the very beginning of the new millennium (2000) and divided critics and readers into two camps. Some were outraged by its overt 'imperialism' and naturalism, while others were struck by its bold stylization and deep symbolism. In any case, before you is a splendid example of Russian dystopia and mystical realism of the new century.

With all its transformations, restless souls wandering through mirrors, tarot readings, languorous tea parties on the veranda of the estate, philosophical notebooks, terrifying rituals, and the treacherous scent of ylang-ylang…