Synopses & Reviews
In this darkly imaginative debut novel full of myth, magic, romance, and mystery, a Princeton freshman is drawn into a love triangle with two enigmatic brothers and discovers terrifying secrets about her family and herself—a bewitching blend of
Twilight,
The Secret History,
Jane Eyre, and
A Discovery of WitchesFor every world, there is an underworld.
Arriving at Princeton for her freshman year, Thea Slavin finds herself alone, a stranger in a strange land. Away from her family and her Eastern European homeland for the first time, she struggles to adapt to unfamiliar American ways and the challenges of college life—including a young man whose brooding good looks and murky past intrigue her. Drawn to the elusive Rhys and his equally handsome and mysterious brother, Jake, she ventures into a sensual mythic underworld as irresistible as it is dangerous.
In this shadow world that seems to evoke Greek mythology and the Bulgarian legends of the samodivi, or "wildalones"—forest witches who beguile and entrap men—Thea will discover a family secret bound to transform her forever . . . if she can accept that dead doesn't always mean gone, and love doesn't always distinguish between the two.
Mesmerizing and addictive, Wildalone is a thrilling blend of the modern and the fantastical. Krassi Zourkova creates an atmospheric world filled with rich characters as compelling as those of Diana Gabaldon, Deborah Harkness, and Stephenie Meyer.
Review
“Like Bulgarian-born Princeton grad Zourkova, Bulgarian-born Princeton student Theodora Slavin gets caught up in tales of the samodivi, or wildalones-forest witches of her countrys folklore who ensnare men. Think Twilight and A Discovery of Witches; the fluid, pulsing, gothic narrative seems right for the screen.” Library Journal
Review
“Readers who love fantastical romances and mythology are apt to fall under the spell of Zourkovas debut, and once they reach the final page, they will hope that Thea and the Estlin brothers adventures continue in future books.” Booklist
Review
“Ancient Greek mystery religions, culture clash, and college romance form a heady blend in Zourkovas poetic, striking debut.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“Zourkova pens a wonderful debut that intertwines love, mystery and Greek mythology in its pages. Readers will eagerly journey alongside Thea as she tackles an atypical freshman year of college. [...] her story is one that cannot be missed.” RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 STARS)
Review
“A clever, dark romance steeped in mystery, with a bittersweet thread of melancholy and keen sense of place. Fantasy and romance lovers, as well as those who liked Donna Tartts The Secret History or Pamela Deans Tam Lin should enjoy this.” Library Journal (starred review)
About the Author
Krassi Zourkova grew up in Bulgaria and came to the United States to study art history at Princeton. After college, she graduated from Harvard Law School, and she has practiced finance law in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, where she currently lives. Her poems have appeared in various literary journals. Wildalone is her first novel.