Lana Kortchik grew up in two opposite corners of the Soviet Union – a snow-white Siberian town and the golden-domed Ukrainian capital. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Australia with her mother. Lana and her family live on the Central Coast of NSW, where it never snows and is always summer-warm, even in winter. She loves books, martial arts, the ocean and Napoleonic history. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. She was the winner of Historical Novel Society Autumn 2012 Short Fiction competition and the runner-up of 2013 Defenestrationism Short Story Contest. This is her first novel.

'A powerful and hard-hitting novel, it tackles the themes of loyalty and compassion, and emphasizes the hard choices that need to be made in wartime.' Deborah Swift, author of The Lady's Slipper'The author, Lana Kortchik, has done her homework, and it shows. Her writing style is crisp and vivid, and she gives us dialogue that jumps off the page. I rarely see writing of this quality, and the book was a pleasure to read.' Harry Fox, author of The Stonegate Sword'Savaged Lands and its powerfully descriptive language pulls you in to the bleakness of war, the longing for peace, and the exhilaration of profound, unconditional love.' Marie Silk, author of Davenport House'Miss Kortchik takes the reader on a whirlwind journey, full of emotions, loss, love, and faith in this well-researched novel.' Heather Osborne, author of Bitter Bonds'I didn't want this story to end. It's one of those books you hold close to your heart and don't want to let go. By the time I got to the last page I felt I knew these wonderful characters well. Lana talks of such tragedy, hard times, loss, betrayal, sorrow, love and happiness with such class and sophistication for one so young, she left me speechless and wanting more. Such woe was there in this story, but such love, it will melt you.' Sharon Laker, author of The Railway Mice of Countesthorpe'I cried, smiled, gasped, and laughed while reading this book. It will stay with me long after I've finished it.' J.L. Leslie, author of Tame Me

Lana Kortchik grew up in two opposite corners of the Soviet Union – a snow-white Siberian town and the golden-domed Ukrainian capital. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Australia with her mother. Lana and her family live on the Central Coast of NSW, where it never snows and is always summer-warm, even in winter. She loves books, martial arts, the ocean and Napoleonic history. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. She was the winner of Historical Novel Society Autumn 2012 Short Fiction competition and the runner-up of 2013 Defenestrationism Short Story Contest. This is her first novel.

'A powerful and hard-hitting novel, it tackles the themes of loyalty and compassion, and emphasizes the hard choices that need to be made in wartime.' Deborah Swift, author of The Lady's Slipper'The author, Lana Kortchik, has done her homework, and it shows. Her writing style is crisp and vivid, and she gives us dialogue that jumps off the page. I rarely see writing of this quality, and the book was a pleasure to read.' Harry Fox, author of The Stonegate Sword'Savaged Lands and its powerfully descriptive language pulls you in to the bleakness of war, the longing for peace, and the exhilaration of profound, unconditional love.' Marie Silk, author of Davenport House'Miss Kortchik takes the reader on a whirlwind journey, full of emotions, loss, love, and faith in this well-researched novel.' Heather Osborne, author of Bitter Bonds'I didn't want this story to end. It's one of those books you hold close to your heart and don't want to let go. By the time I got to the last page I felt I knew these wonderful characters well. Lana talks of such tragedy, hard times, loss, betrayal, sorrow, love and happiness with such class and sophistication for one so young, she left me speechless and wanting more. Such woe was there in this story, but such love, it will melt you.' Sharon Laker, author of The Railway Mice of Countesthorpe'I cried, smiled, gasped, and laughed while reading this book. It will stay with me long after I've finished it.' J.L. Leslie, author of Tame Me