"The Tale of the Snow Princess" by Asya Lavrinovich, summary Automatic translate

"The Tale of the Snow Princess" by Asya Lavrinovich is a 2023 book set on New Year’s Eve and in the first days of January. It centers on the story of Toma, a schoolgirl who initially dreams of Vadim Rubtsov, but then, little by little, notices a completely different person nearby. After the main part, the story suddenly shifts to Yegor, changing the perspective on previously known events.

Infatuation with Vadim

The plot begins with a disturbing message Toma receives one morning: Vadim writes that he owes two hundred thousand rubles by Wednesday, or he won’t be released, and asks her to contact Kornei. This is a shock for Toma, as Vadim has long been a constant presence in her thoughts. She knows him as the most noticeable guy in school and has spent a long time trying to get his attention. To overcome her crush, she even bleaches her hair, though her mother finds this change difficult to accept.

The text then returns to the time when Toma was still making plans for Rubtsov. She follows his relationship with Nika, discusses the news with her friends, and rejoices when Vadim gains his freedom. Their first date at the skating rink seems almost like a fairy tale: afterward, Toma goes home completely delighted, repeating to herself how happy she is. At that moment, she is certain that all her efforts were worth it and that the long-awaited love story has finally begun.

Search and new attraction

That’s why Vadim’s disappearance after their second date is perceived by Toma as a disaster, not an annoying argument. The evening at the cinema, the empty square, the snow, and Rubtsov’s strange behavior later begin to seem to her like the beginning of that murky story with the debt. Trying to find out something, Toma contacts Yegor Kornienko. He greets her mockingly, responds sharply, and initially irritates her with almost every word.

Gradually, Toma and Yegor begin to work together. They try to figure out where Vadim has disappeared to, who Sidor is, and the seriousness of the trouble he’s gotten himself into. Joint trips, conversations, and risky forays transform their relationship. Toma notices that she feels calmer around Yegor, even when everything around her seems absurd or dangerous. In the scene with the stuck elevator, this feeling becomes especially clear: instead of a fight, laughter breaks out between them, and the hostility suddenly begins to melt away.

Yegor increasingly acts not as a casual assistant, but as someone who genuinely cares for Toma. She recalls her mother’s words about how being with a reliable person makes you feel less afraid, even in the depths of madness, and she involuntarily applies this thought to Kornei. Meanwhile, Toma still clings to her old attachment to Vadim and is reluctant to immediately admit that her feelings have shifted. For a long time, she harbors anxiety for Rubtsov, resentment toward him, and a growing attraction to Yegor.

Work, home, and a collision with Irma

Her personal life runs alongside Toma’s everyday life. She works part-time as an entertainer, performing at festivals dressed as the Snow Princess and the Bear, and grows tired of the constant hustle and bustle. At this job, she has a difficult relationship with Irma, who is tart and plays petty pranks on her. One such episode ends with Toma’s clothes being ruined and returning home in someone else’s coat, and her grandfather immediately notices the change and makes a sarcastic remark about it.

Toma’s home life is also unsettled. Her mother is going through a personal tragedy, crying, and at one point declaring she no longer wants any kind of love. Toma, herself confused by her emotions, tries to console her mother and convinces her that happiness doesn’t have to be based on lies. These conversations at home have a profound effect on her: she begins to see her own history with Vadim differently. What once seemed like a dream now increasingly seems like an empty pursuit of an image she’s created for herself.

Another twist involves Irma. Before the holidays, Toma, Lelya, and Nastya are shopping, choosing gifts for their mother and grandfather, and considering buying something for Yegor, when she suddenly receives a call from her old enemy. Irma announces that she slipped while taking out the trash and broke her leg. Instead of gloating, Toma’s friends decide to help her: they buy groceries, carry heavy bags, and come to her house. This episode changes the tone of the relationship between the girls and demonstrates that even old feuds can give way to a simple human tragedy.

A break with the past

While Toma is torn between emotions, the investigation uncovers the truth. It turns out that Vadim let Yegor down, drew him into a financial scandal, and effectively took advantage of his friendship. For Kornienko, this isn’t just a mundane annoyance, but a painful betrayal. When he finds Rubtsov, it comes down to a brutal blow, and Yegor’s anger reveals how long this feeling has been pent up. However, he’s still hesitant to file a complaint, wanting to repay the debt and settle the matter directly first.

For Toma, this moment marks the final farewell to her former illusion. She sees Vadim without the aura of school and without her old excuses. His weakness, his habit of evading questions, and his thoughtless handling of others’ loyalty make further attachment impossible. Against this backdrop, Toma finally acknowledges the obvious: she is drawn to Yegor, and it’s not a matter of casual attraction, but of the trust that has grown between them over these days.

When they’re alone after difficult events, the conversation no longer strays. Toma tells Yegor directly that his concern touched her. In response, he utters a phrase that perfectly captures his view of love: for him, to love means to cherish. After this, their relationship shifts from a mere playful exchange to a genuine intimacy. Toma invites him to celebrate the New Year with her family, and he accepts without hesitation.

January light

In the afterword, Yegor takes over. He looks at Toma after her performance, sees how easily she gets along with the children, and recalls that he fell in love with her long before the story’s denouement. His memory returns to their first encounters, to her abruptness, her ridiculous Bear costume, and the jealousy he felt as she chased Vadim. This shift in perspective makes it clear that Yegor’s storyline has been running alongside the main story from the very beginning.

After the holiday, the characters’ lives take on a different look. Toma and Yegor drive friends around town, plan to pick up their dog, Sherlock, and spend the holidays at her house, watching TV series, laughing, and enduring friendly intrusions from her mother and grandfather. Yegor feels a sense of peace in this house that he’s long lacked. The book ends with snow, a car, a simple conversation about Toma’s upcoming birthday, and a quiet happiness that has replaced the winter anxiety.