FIREBIRD

Ilya, son of a Russian prince, is largely ignored by his father andtormented by his larger, older brothers. His only friends are three oldpeople: a priest, a magician, and a woman who toils in the palace dairy.From them Ilya learns faith, a smattering of magic, and the power oflove--all of which he will need desperately, for his life is about to beturned upside-down. The prince's magnificent cherry orchardis visited at midnight by the legendary Firebird, whose wings are made offlame. Ilya's brothers' attempts capture the magical creature fail. WhenIlya tries to catch the Firebird, he sees her as a beautiful woman andearns a magical gift: the speech of animals. Banished,the young man journeys through a fantastical Russia full of magical mazes,enchanted creatures, and untold dangers. As happens in the best fairytales, Ilya falls in love with an enchanted princess, but to win herfreedom will be no easy task.