Description

War breaks into Женя Бережная’s life on 24 February 2022. A call from relatives in Kharkiv wakes her in Kyiv. She packs a bag for use in a crisis. She puts her two cats in carriers. Then she enters a bomb shelter for the first time.

This novel draws on her own life during the upheaval. She recounts air raids and shelling. She spends nights in basements and must leave for safety. Бережная faces exile and the loss of someone close. Loved ones betray her, but strangers offer help. She works to build a new home abroad.

The Ukrainian author taught creative writing before the war. She also hosted a podcast about books and wrote fairy tales for adults. АСТ brought out her two-part fantasy «Терновая ведьма». She wrote it under the name Евгения Спащенко.

Here, she focuses on people and their struggle to live with trauma. Art and care from others help her find freedom, love, and hope. She shares what it means to lose her home and rebuild her life.