The House of Magical Beasts

Zhenka is the only person in the world who doesn't like Peter. In his beloved Totma, from which he had to temporarily move, it snows in winter, not snow rain, and one can ski properly. Zhenka sees no point in making friends for just a year at his new school. But one day at the bus stop, he meets a talking badger named Ruk, who offers to become friends, and from that moment on, the boy's life changes.

It turns out that for many centuries, special beasts have kept the secret of ancient magic. It can only be used for good: no personal gain or fraud, otherwise the gift will be lost! Zhenka learns about this from his new friends, who are just like him, chosen by magical animals. Masha with the dove Luna, Alyonka with the dog Alma, and their random friend Pasha become a real Home for Zhenka, where he can hide from troubles.

But the beasts who have accepted magic are pursued by the Beast Service - an organization with almost unlimited resources, whose goal is to make magical beasts work for them and find a way to take away their magic. Only together can Zhenka, Ruk, and the other Friends stand up to the Beast Service.

Illustrations by Ekaterina Bas.