"Snowfall" by Tatyana Korsakova, summary Automatic translate

This book is a mystical thriller about the confrontation between humans and ancient evil in the permafrost. Written in 2020, the novel describes the clash of modern technology with ancient shamanic beliefs against the backdrop of the harsh Arctic environment. It continues the author’s series of mystical novels. The central characters of the story previously appeared in "The Darkest Night" and "The Miracle of Burning." The plot consistently reveals the unusual abilities of each expedition member.

Route planning and flight

A group of wealthy friends is planning an extreme trip. The energetic Galliano invites Dr. Chernov and specialist Veselov to head north. Their final destination is the closed, high-tech city of Khivus. This town was founded by their mutual friend, wealthy businessman Stepan Tuchnikov. Galliano runs a video blog and attracts sponsors to cover the expenses.

Andrey Volkov joins the team. Volkov works as a specialist in solving complex problems. He is forced to bring his half-brother, Nick, along with him. Nick suffers from addictions and underlying psychological issues. Volkov has a hidden gift: the ghost of his deceased dog, Black, accompanies him everywhere. During a flight on a private jet, a frightening incident occurs. Nick begins to convulse, spewing curses. A stranger, Veronica, saves the situation. She subdues him with the laying on of hands.

Arctic Route and First Blood

In Khivus, the travelers are met by their unflappable local guide, Erkhan. The team splits into two powerful SUVs. The vehicles head out onto a snow-covered winter road. The journey proves challenging due to severe frosts and ice ridges. Along the way, the travelers admire a huge icebreaker passing by and take photos with it. They spend the night in a small northern village.

Late at night, Nick secretly leaves the administration building. He is nearly torn apart by a giant polar bear. Volkov and Erkhan drive off the wild beast with gunfire. During the skirmish, Nick drops to all fours and displays animal behavior. In the morning, Veselov discovers the dead bear’s body. A leather cord with bone figurines — a tynzyan — is wrapped around the animal’s neck. Veselov carelessly cuts off the lasso and hides it in his pocket. Erkhan sternly warns the townsman about the dangers of foreign shamanic paraphernalia.

Attack on a weather station

The next stop is an old weather station. Here, the team meets the colorful staff and the local veterinarian, Tara. That night, the weather station is suddenly attacked by a pack of aggressive polar bears. The animals methodically break down the heavy iron doors of the residential building. The station’s inhabitants fire back with flare guns and carbines. Volkov, with well-aimed shots, kills several bears and saves the duty radio operator, Edik.

In the morning, the tired squad sets out again. A severe localized snowstorm overtakes the vehicles. Veselov suddenly freezes to death right there in the heated cabin of the jeep. The programmer’s body temperature drops critically. A bloody mark from a ghostly noose appears on the boy’s neck. In the next car, Nick experiences mystical visions. The young man steps out into the snowstorm and, with his bare hands, breaks the invisible lasso connecting Veselov to the dead bear entity. Veselov regains consciousness safely.

Prisoners of a military base

Guided by visions, Nick leads the squad to an abandoned military base. In a locked, icy room, the men discover the missing journalist Alicia. She is chained to a radiator with an iron chain along with a live arctic fox. The captives are on the verge of death from hypothermia. Volkov picks the locks and frees the victims. Doctor Chernov immediately begins administering first aid.

Stepan Tuchnikov sends a helicopter for an emergency evacuation. Veronica arrives with the doctors. Veronica examines the scars on Veselov’s neck and declares that he has acquired a small amount of psychic powers. The helicopter quickly delivers the team to Tuchnikov’s mansion. Alicia is placed in a special medical bay for recovery. She explains that she was tranquilized by an unknown person wearing a shamanic mask.

Secret hangar in Khivus

Oligarch Tuchnikov secretly invites guests into a heavily guarded hangar. He displays enormous sarcophagi carved from ice. Frozen within are ancient creatures with human bodies and animal heads. Stepan admits that construction workers discovered these frightening objects while digging a pit for a botanical garden. Immediately after the ice was removed from Khivus, unexplained deaths among healthy workers increased.

Veronica explains the true nature of what’s happening. Deep beneath the permafrost, an entity known as the Snow Mother has slumbered for millennia. Global warming and intensive construction have weakened its ancient bonds. The ancient evil has partially awakened. The entity demands more human sacrifices to replenish its army. The shaman who kidnapped the journalist Alicia faithfully serves the will of the Snow Mother.

Fight at the bottom of the pit

The dark shaman turns out to be veterinarian Tara. The woman had been under the influence of the Snow Mother since early childhood. Tara killed a local hunter and attempted to sacrifice Alicia to gain mystical powers. Tara’s true goal is to lead the ice army. The shaman takes complete control of the weary Chernov and forces the surgeon to descend to the bottom of a pit dug by construction workers.

Chernov comes to in an icy arena. He’s chained to a huge polar bear by a heavy chain. An unequal, deadly battle ensues. Chernov’s own protective spirit suddenly comes to his aid. It’s a huge silver beast named Entity. Volkov breaks the connecting chain with a well-aimed shot from his rifle.

The entire team descends into the pit. A rapid surge of black water from the depths of the earth begins. Tara tightens the ghostly lasso around Veselov’s neck, threatening to strangle him. Veronica offers a fair exchange: Veselov’s life in exchange for Tara’s ghostly bear. The shaman flatly refuses the deal. The ice beneath her feet breaks. Tara voluntarily plunges into the black water along with her ghostly bear.

The end of the polar expedition

Tuchnikov brings heavy equipment and ice sarcophagi to the battlefield. An ancient, blind shaman, Nyage, emerges from the darkness. Using powerful magic, she holds back the onslaught of the elements. The team drops massive ice blocks into the bottom of a deep crater. The water instantly freezes, forever sealing the Snow Mother and her beast army in the permafrost.

A year and a half later, the surviving friends meet on a summer fishing trip in the central part of Russia. Nick and Alicia remained in the harsh North to learn true shamanic skills from the wise Nyage. The remaining heroes are recovering their health and enjoying a peaceful life. Galliano enthusiastically proposes a new extreme route. The team eagerly accepts this daring challenge.