����������� Ilya, son of a Russian prince, is largely ignored by his father and tormented by his larger, older brothers.� His only friends are three old people: 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 of love--all of which he will need desperately, for his life is about to be turned upside-down.
����������� The prince's magnificent cherry orchard is visited at midnight by the legendary Firebird, whose wings are made of flame.� Ilya's brothers? attempts capture the magical creature fail.� When Ilya tries to catch the Firebird, he sees her as a beautiful woman and earns 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 fairy tales, Ilya falls in love with an enchanted princess, but to win her freedom will be no easy task.�