Many years ago, on the shores of the Serpent Sea, during a shamanic ritual, an ancient creature was accidentally awakened to life - either a predatory evil spirit, or a dark goddess known as the Sleepless One. Since then, she has been roaming the lands of the North, summoning evil spirits, subjugating people and crushing their destinies. Meanwhile, a young Noida shaman, who lost his bride because of her, was expelled and cursed, is relentlessly following in her footsteps. Inexperienced and inept at first, he wanders, studies, fights, and little by little gains the reputation of a dangerous sorcerer. Fate brings him together with twin brothers from Novgorod. Nezhata is a brave warrior, Velko is a singer and guslar, and both have reasons to consider themselves children of the god Veles. Noida understands that the brothers are a tasty prey for his enemy, who has gradually begun to get her hands on them. The power of the fiery serpent awakens in one, the Sleepless One gives the other power over the dead... Will the brothers become allies or opponents of the sorcerer? Why do the evil spirits from the Serpent Sea need them so much? Only those who understand the goals of the Sleepless One will be able to defeat her... The first book in the new fantasy series “Children of the Snake” by the talented St. Petersburg writer Anna Gurova, author of more than 30 books, including the “Aratta” series, created in collaboration with Maria Semyonova.