Russia 1908-1917
Every good folktale reveals villains and heroes. Mila Belova’s world is overflowing with both.
Born into privilege as the daughter of the Tsar’s favored vodka maker, Mila appears to have everything: wealth, status, and a household devoted to her happiness. But behind the gilded doors of her family estate, she is trapped by the cruelty of a stepmother whose greatest wish is to give birth to her own child.
Each summer on Ivan Kupala Eve, Russia turns its gaze to river bends and forest floors in search of the legendary Fern Flower—a mythical bloom said to grant fortune, power, and the deepest desires of the heart. Only one person had ever found it.
Until Mila.
Years later, in the fading grandeur of Petrograd, Mila and her friends slip into the fabled Stray Dog Café, once the sanctuary of Russia’s most daring artists and dreamers. Inspired by its ghosts, murals, and memories, Mila's group resurrects the work she'd first imagined as a child. The Fern Flower is a breathtaking ballet drawn from folklore, magic, and the secrets of Mila’s past.
But in the fiercely competitive ranks of the Imperial Ballet School, talent is never enough. Though Mila wrote the ballet and her gifted musician friend composed its score, rivals question whether Mila is worthy of claiming the coveted lead role.
As World War I intensifies and revolution ignites, the Russia Mila knows begins to collapse. Family secrets surface, loyalties are tested, and the people she loves begin to disappear. When her parents flee and her young brother’s life hangs in the balance, Mila is faced with an impossible choice: remain with the found family who helped her chase her dreams or risk everything to save the person who needs her most.
With Russian folklore, imperial grandeur, and the fierce beauty of ballet, The Fern Flower is a sweeping tale of ambition, friendship, sacrifice, and the magic that survives even when the world is falling apart.
Praise for The Fern Flower:
"This book is outstanding in its decision to tell the story through the eyes of the moon, Grusha... The character development of Mila is beautifully rendered."
~ The Historical Fiction Company
"Shoop captures the transformation of a young girl's world in a manner all kinds of readers will find fascinating. Librarians can thus highly recommend The Fern Flower's wide reach to audiences who will relish the story... As for the moon, she comes full circle to influence, abet, and reflect events in a satisfyingly original manner that readers won't see coming."
~ D. Donovan, Sr Review, Midwest Book Review
"Deeply moving in the cultural currents it captures... The family dynamics are one of the key elements that make it a must-read."
~ Readers’ Favorite
New Year’s Eve, 1908
St. Petersburg, Russia
Look at them.
Lost in their midnight walk. The dead of dark winter nights comforted them. Sword-sharp winds threatened their hats. A band of mink collared Mila Antonovna Belova’s neck and tickled her chin.
Only Anton Belov knew what was next.
For the second time in her young life, Mila would have her heart shatter like winter ice splintering under a spring sun. Mila, who thought her father the most perfect man in the world. Mila. One of the most… No, I’m getting ahead of the story. Mila Belov is the most so many things, but I will let you experience those as her tale unfolds, as the legend of what she became was born and disappeared. Her story starts right here in Imperial Russia.
I am the moon, called Grusha by the Belovs. And I’m watching, spilling light rays over the snow-packed French Embankment, illuminating their way, safeguarding their steps.
And yes, I see you, too.
But you are not who this story is about.
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