Child of the Plague Land

The action unfolds in a grim, war-torn world inspired by medieval Prussia. In Langelau, a conflict has been raging for many years: the Order is waging a crusade against heresy on the western peninsula, but the cost of this war – hunger, plague, and countless broken destinies.
The main character is Yersena. When she was only six years old, her native village was burned to the ground to stop the spread of the plague. Before her death, her mother whispers her last words:
“Go to the Order. You must survive.”
The girl obeys. But the Order is not salvation. It is a dark fortress where children are broken to be turned into instruments of faith. For twelve years, Yersena endures brutal training, deprivation, trials, and torture – both physical and mental. She learns to be strong, but the price of this strength is the loss of herself.
When the Moon Fire ignites over the green-stone Lyesse, something more than war begins. The spirits awaken, and they demand sacrifices. They ask especially much from one who believed she could give everything.
Yersena will find herself at the center of a struggle where no side is pure, and every choice is a step into darkness.

Why it’s worth reading:
A true grimdark – without sentimentality, with harsh reality and moral grayness
A strong female protagonist whose development is shown without embellishments
A deep, atmospheric world with a well-thought-out history, culture, and magic
Brutal yet honest prose – every word contributes to the atmosphere
The first part of a trilogy promising a grand epic saga
Child of the Plague Land is not just a book. It is an immersion into a world where survival is an art, and hope is a luxury. There are no heroes here. There are people. Broken. Hungry. Tired. But still moving forward.
If you are looking for honest, dark, yet vibrant fantasy where every victory comes at the cost of blood, this book will be your new discovery.
The first part. The beginning of darkness.

Child of the Plague Land is a powerful debut novel by Belarusian writer Natali Abrazhevich, which has won the “Manuscript of the Year” award and is the first novel in the series “Darker than Dark” from AST publishing house. This is Russian grimdark fantasy – a genre where there is no place for fairytale rescues, noble knights, or kind fairies. Here, reality, pain, survival, and moral ambiguity reign supreme, reminiscent of the best works of George R. R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie.