The Bear Cub

'Why are you doing all of this?' Natalya asked, her need to be done with this making her brazen and cutting. 'What have I done to make you take such an interest?'
'You know Ivan the Terrible had a pet bear?'
Natalya didn't like where this was going. 'Yes.'
'He used to keep it hungry. Then when he threw his enemies to it, he'd get to watch them get torn apart.'
'Yes, yes!' snapped Natalya. 'What's your point?'
Bringing their entwined hands between them, he stretched one finger out to run down her cheek. 'I've always wanted one. A medvezhonok to raise and nurture to my will.'

1950's Stalinist Russia; a time of totalitarianism and turmoil. Natalya Morozova, a young seamstress from Moscow, finds herself tangled in her husband's illicit activities and is suddenly thrust into the GULAG prison system, where deceit lies around every corner. Will she prove worthy of mastering it? Or will her own crimes finally catch up to her ad plunge her even further into despair.