Meeting an Ogre - Paperback

by Yelena Stezhenskaya (Author), Grigory Ioffe (Translator)

Her Royal Highness, Princess Leticia (Lettie), is ambushed in a dark forest. Her attendants are killed, and she narrowly escapes with her life. Lost and frightened, she's rescued by Gumus, an outcast hermit scarred by betrayal and estranged from society. As Lettie slowly earns his trust, the story unfolds into a tale of emotional healing and unlikely friendship. Meanwhile, the grieving king's desperate search for his daughter leads to diplomatic turmoil and his own imprisonment. In the end, he finds Leticia and Gumus-but not before tragic misunderstandings land Gumus behind bars. Only with the help of a mysterious woman named Azalia, later revealed to be a sorceress, is the truth revealed. The king ultimately sees Gumus for the protector he is and asks for forgiveness.

While rich in classic fairy tale magic and adventure, the story also explores deeper themes: economic collapse under a corrupt prime minister and the personal toll of social exclusion. These elements lend substance and nuance while remaining accessible to young readers.