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.
The dream of following in her Mama’s footsteps has been with Mila since she was very little. Dreams of becoming a prima ballerina, the best in the country and the Tsar’s favourite dancer, have stayed with her throughout her young life. Losing her Mama only strengthened her determination to make her proud, to become a shining star her Mama could look down upon.
Mila’s life has been one of comfort and love, despite the heartbreak of losing her Mama. She has grown used to being the centre of her father’s world, enjoying nightly walks with him and listening to stories beneath the moonlight. The arrival of a new woman in her life changes everything. Her new Maman appears unexpectedly and instantly steals her father away from her. Mila is no longer the centre of his universe, but instead finds herself pushed into the background, silently longing for the attention she once had.
As she grows and learns to find her own way, Mila quickly discovers that life as a ballerina is not simply based on skill. Hard work alone will get her nowhere if she cannot prove herself to her teachers. Fighting desperately for approval and the chance to fulfil her lifelong dream, Mila learns that the most important people in your life are not always family, and that sometimes the family you need is the one you choose, not the one you are born into.
The Fern Flower by Kathleen Shoop is an epic and beautifully written portrayal of life in early twentieth-century Russia, following one young girl who dreams of dancing centre stage while fighting to find her place in a world that often overlooks her.
Mila is a young heroine who instantly captures the reader’s heart. She is a spirited young girl who has grown accustomed to the life she and her father settled into after her Mama’s passing. Having enjoyed his devoted attention for so long, the arrival of the woman introduced as ‘Maman’ shatters her world. This new woman is not introduced gradually, but arrives in Mila’s life and makes it clear she is there to stay. Almost immediately, Mila finds her father’s attention diverted elsewhere, his affection directed towards his new wife, while his words and actions towards his daughter become increasingly harsh. Maman has very different views on life from those Mila has grown up with, and her father is all too quick to defend his new wife and change the way the household has always worked in order to keep her happy. Watching this little girl, once so loved within her home, become increasingly isolated from her father is heartbreaking. She is desperate to regain the love and attention she once had, yet every effort seems to fall painfully short.
In her many attempts to gain Maman’s affection, Mila finds herself constantly trying to please the woman who has stepped into the role of mother. Maman is short-tempered, and her moods shift rapidly, creating a tense atmosphere within the household. Occasionally, Mila’s efforts are rewarded with a smile or a rare moment of kindness, but those moments quickly disappear as another change in Maman’s mood leaves Mila facing fresh accusations and resentment. Desperate for a child of her own, Maman often directs her disappointments towards Mila. It quickly becomes clear, both to Mila and to the reader, that she is viewed as the unwanted reminder of her father’s first marriage. Maman’s arrival creates an ever-widening rift between father and daughter as he becomes increasingly determined to keep his new wife happy, no matter the cost.
Despite her rejection by the family that should love and protect her, Mila finds comfort in those whose devotion never changes. Lottie, her nanny, and Mrs Vesna, the cook and housekeeper, continue to care for her as though they are family. Lottie, in particular, becomes Mila’s confidante. Although they have always shared a close bond, Mila’s changing home life draws her even closer to the woman who offers the love and understanding she so desperately needs. Lottie possesses many of the same qualities as Mila’s Mama, even sharing her gift for sewing costumes, whether for the ballet or the circus. The family Mila finds in Lottie is built upon mutual love, trust and respect rather than blood. In Mila, Lottie finds the child she always imagined, and in Lottie, Mila finds the mother figure she longs for. Their relationship adds a tremendous amount of warmth to the novel and beautifully illustrates just how much the word ‘family’ can truly mean.
This novel is steeped in the folklore and superstitions of its time. The old story of the mystical fern flower, which blooms only once a year, drives people into the forests in search of the supernatural bloom. It is said to bestow power and wealth upon whoever finds it, yet no one ever seems to succeed. When the beautiful flower blooms before Mila, the moment lodges itself firmly in her memory, inspiring both her dancing and her imagination. Alongside a childhood friend, the beginnings of a ballet slowly begin to take shape, with choreography and music inspired by the legend, until life eventually catches up with them and childhood dreams make way for reality. The inclusion of this folklore adds a magical quality to the novel, enriching an already enchanting story. Mila may feel trapped by her circumstances, yet these legends quietly suggest that her future is hers to shape. Another fascinating addition is the inclusion of chapters narrated by Grusha, the moon, watching over Mila as her life unfolds. Grusha’s affection for Mila adds an uplifting sense of hope, reminding both Mila and the reader that no matter how alone she feels, she is never truly forgotten.
The reader is given the opportunity to watch Mila grow throughout the course of the novel. From a young child meeting her stepmother for the first time to a young woman attending the Imperial Ballet School and finding her place in the world, every important stage of her early life is explored. The Ballet School is a harsh and demanding environment filled with talented young women who all share the same dream. Yet talent alone is not enough. Mila must constantly prove herself worthy while avoiding attracting attention for the wrong reasons. To stand out too much could be just as dangerous as not standing out enough. During this turbulent period in Russian history, becoming part of the Imperial Ballet was considered the highest honour, but as revolution begins to gather momentum and everything associated with the Tsar comes under threat, achieving that dream becomes about far more than talent alone. Shoop succeeds in creating a novel that allows the reader to feel the slow crumbling of society as history unfolds, immersing them completely in Mila’s story.
Although this is a long novel, at no point does the story drag. There is never a moment where the reader is simply waiting for the next significant event because, from the very beginning, Mila’s story proves utterly absorbing. Whether the moments are quiet and personal or dramatic and life-changing, every chapter leaves you eager to read on. The Fern Flower by Kathleen Shoop is a beautifully written novel steeped in history, folklore and emotion, following one young woman’s determination to find her place in a sometimes lonely world. It is a captivating story that draws the reader in from the very first page and keeps them enthralled until the final full stop.
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Mary Anne xxx