“Good luck, Oretsev. Find the firebird, and when this is over, I'll see you well rewarded. A farmhouse in Udova. A dacha near the city. Whatever you want.""I don't need any of that. Just..." He dropped Nikolai's hand and looked away. "Deserve her.”

Leigh Bardugo is an American author of young adult and adult fantasy. She is best known for her Grishaverse series, which includes *Shadow and Bone* and *Six of Crows*, blending intricate world-building with morally complex characters. Her work explores themes of power, identity, and rebellion.