They will call her a monster-the truth of who she was, erased from memory.But before the demon-Witch of legend-before the crone of fire and bone-there was a young woman who never asked to become a savior.The year is 650 AD, and Yaga Luchanova's world is changing. The Old Gods have faded across the Thrice-Nine Kingdoms, their magic slipping ever-further through the cracks. A realm on the edge of upheaval, dark forces now churn restlessly from the shadows.When the fate of a child hangs in the balance, Yaga must open herself to a power she barely understands. Rising against the encroaching darkness, she will be forced to rely on unlikely friendships with fellow misfits. And as an unexpected bond with a newcomer grows, it will challenge Yaga's isolation- renewing her faith in a world to which she never felt she belonged.Long before her story was twisted by the mouths of men, Yaga was a young Witch poised to protect a realm. Hers is a tale of learning the truth of who one is-and discovering who one must become. As her journey unfolds, Yaga will be forced to decide: remain hidden in the quiet life she's built for herself-or step into a destiny that could change the world.Tears of the Alkonost is the first book of The Maiden Trilogy