Until Death Taps You on the Shoulder
by Etgoma

When facing death, there is only one way to go.

War has come to Ukraine. Ever since the first blasts of Russian bombs hit the frontline city where they live, Carmina and Agnieszka face death daily. Their lives have been changed forever. Instead of posting selfies on social media or reading fantasy books, they hide in their basements and count their breaths.

To escape the scorching grip of war, they venture deep into the Carpathian woods and stumble upon a shadow creature who calls herself Mara. Soon, they discover she is Baba Yaga, a guide to the world of Beyond. But something is wrong.

The war-tortured dead are no longer able to see Mara, and instead, they are trapped on Earth as ghosts. Unable to lead them to the Beyond, Mara has been catapulted to the world of the living–a world she’s never understood. But after meeting Carmina and Agnieszka, she begins to grasp that life is worth fighting for.

However, when death comes for the girls, there is only one way to go. Unless they ask their new friend for a favour…

Etgoma’s incredible debut novel is a fantasy twist on their experiences of the ongoing war, featuring two ace teens, Slavic folklore, and the importance of friendship and belonging in the darkest of times.

5 out of 5 fairies

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, being set during a current war, and bringing in “Mara” as a character, but I’m so glad I read it! Etgoma does an amazing job bringing the heartbreak and reality to a war that, for me, is on the other side of the world. The characters themselves feel so real, like you could hop online and message them. I loved BY/Mara and her familiar, the banter between them was a nice comic relief against the harsh realities of the war. If I’m being honest, BY was what had me most nervous about reading this, as I’m somewhat familiar with her mythology, but honestly, there was nothing to worry about. I love how she was made to feel more present and real in the human world, while still remaining respectful to her. The story is engaging, and there are heartbreaking moments as you see Carmina and Agnieszka navigate the realities of the war they’re trapped in unfold, instead of worrying about things you’d expect teens to be concerned with. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a contemporary fantasy that will both make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes.

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Etgoma are two asexual sibling-writers, creators, and illustrators from Ukraine. Psychologists by education, they dedicate their lives to writing and illustrating stories that make a difference, raising fundamental questions without answers. Their first novel, crafted during the full-scale war in their country during air raids and city shelling, came as their own battle cry. When they’re not writing or drawing, they are either fighting inner demons or having tea with Baba Yaga in the hut with chicken legs on the other side of any logic.

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