Ogniana

 No dragon is taken captive—not until
The girl didn't give her heart to the dragon.

A centuries-old curse hangs over the village of Samotino:
„Let the dragon come, take the maiden, and make her mother weep…“

Born with an unusual appearance, Ognyana grows up in a village tucked away among the rocks. The long-suffering villagers fear her and shun her; only her father’s hearth protects her from the evil fate that has been lurking for her since she was in her cradle.

But one day, fate catches up with her.
Amid the dense forests and deep snows, as if emerging from a world of ancient legends, the irresistible call of the serpent echoes. Something ignites a boldness in Ognyana’s heart and drives her to confront this ancient power.
Every dark fairy tale must have a villain.
But in fairy tales for grown-up children, he isn't the scariest one.
And Ognyana’s destiny is perhaps exactly what the young woman needs to write a new ending to this fairy tale like no other…

Your father killed a snake just to bring us a little snake! You should have been burned! Little snake!
„Snake! Snake!“ echoed in Ognyana’s head; the stone grew hot and felt heavy around her neck, and her heart beat in time with those terrifying words.
Zme-i-tsa!
Zme-i-tsa!

Maria Yonova is growing up in Pravets, and later her career took her to Sofia. After many years in the corporate world, she left it behind to devote herself to what truly inspires her—consulting on children’s sleep, children’s illustration, and writing.

She writes for children and has never intended to write for adults. But here she is, „Ogniana“ – Maria’s debut fantasy novel, inspired by Bulgarian folklore and the legends we carry in our blood…

„Ogniana“It was born precisely from the idea of a terrifying fairy tale. But over time, it grew and unfolded in such a way that it left its author little choice—just as befits the fiery temperament of the young woman in the novel. That is why Maria plunges into the story to give her grown-up readers what each of them wanted as a child—one more fairy tale. But this is a new, different, and bold fairy tale—because this girl is no helpless victim in the clutches of the beast.