57 pages • 1 hour read
Where the Dark Stands Still
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Published in 2024, A. B. Poranek’s Where the Dark Stands Still is a young adult dark fantasy romance novel that draws on Slavic folklore to reimagine Beauty and the Beast. The story centers on Liska Radost, a teenage girl from a small village who fears her magical powers and subsequently strikes a desperate bargain with the Leszy, the demon warden of the spirit-wood, offering a year of servitude in exchange for a wish. As she navigates her new reality, Liska must confront her powers and the darker elements of her world. The novel explores themes of The Quest for Belonging and Redemption, The Magic of Self-Acceptance, and The Enduring Relevance of Myths and Folktales.
Citations in this study guide refer to the e-book edition released by Simon & Schuster in 2024.
Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain depictions of domestic violence, deaths of parents and spouses, suicide, and sexism.
Plot Summary
The people of Stodoła believe that Liska Radost is a witch because she possesses magic and can see spirits. People like her were once revered as czarownik, but they are regarded with fear and suspicion now.
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