Matrona is an ordinary woman - her parents have arranged a marriage with Feodor, whom she doesn't love but will marry out of duty. She happens upon a fine paintbrush on the ground one day, and in attempting to return it to the tradesman Slava (the only one in town wealthy enough to own such a thing), she enters his house and discovers a table of nesting dolls. One for every single villager. Slava discovers Matrona has found out his secret and she's pulled unwillingly into a plot of lies and magic.

I would say I liked this, but didn't love it. I probably won't read it again, the plot overall didn't do a whole lot for me & I didn't feel particularly invested in it. Holmberg's writing is, as usual, excellent. Her world building & concept just didn't scratch the mental itch that her books usually do.