The heroine of this story isn't really Vasilisa, but the style is very similar to that of the stories of Vasilisa the Clever/Brave/Beautiful, especially with the nesting doll resting in her pocket.
Katya lives with her beloved grandmother, who passes away one spring. Before she dies, she gives the girl a magical nesting doll (matryoshka) to use three times in her greatest need.
The girl travels to the capital to find a new home and work, and as she travels, the skies grow darker, the world grows colder, and it begins to snow. It appears that the young tsarovitch has been put under a spell to become no more than living ice, and in response, the world has fallen into a winter without thaw, a night without moon, and dark without dawn.
Fascinated by this idea she journeys to the palace and is imprisoned by the Vizier (never have a Vizier, people!) and uses the fantastical creatures inside the nesting doll to break the layers of the evil spell, rescuing the country and the prince.
Not particularly original, or worldshattering, but the illustrations are beautiful, and the girl-power theme is welcome.
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