Egg & Spoon

About the book

Gregory Maguire, renowned for his bestseller Wicked, weaves a spellbinding tale of enchantment in the setting of Tsarist Russia.

In this whimsical retelling of The Prince and the Pauper, Maguire combines elements of fairy tales and folklore to create a unique story of mistaken identity. Praised by School Library Journal for its ability to explore the delicate balance between innocence and danger, this novel will captivate readers of all ages.

Elena Rudina resides in the impoverished Russian countryside, facing a bleak future as her family's circumstances worsen. However, everything changes on a stormy night when a grand steam train makes an unexpected stop at the abandoned station in her village of Miersk. This train carries a precious Fabergé egg and a mysterious girl named Ekaterina, whose destiny becomes intertwined with Elena's.

As their paths collide, a thrilling and amusing adventure unfolds, featuring the legendary Firebird, a disguised prince, the splendid city of Saint Petersburg, the icy landscapes of the north, and the enigmatic Baba Yaga - the infamous witch of Russian folklore and her peculiar house, Dumb Doma, perched upon chicken legs.