Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Good but has weird charectrisations that don’t allow true understanding of motivations and inconsistencies.
Okay but why did we have to have a marvel-esque fight scene at the end? Not the best of the Slavic fairytale inspired books I’ve read but pretty fun. personally I could do with some more yearning; wasted potential with the priest being evil imo. Horses!!! <3
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think listening to half the book is "giving it a chance." It's just not my thing. I know I'm in the VAST minority. I just can't listen to it anymore. Maybe Russian fairy tales just aren't my "thing."
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
The more I think about this book, the more I want to go back and read it again. Katherine Arden managed to marry Russian Folklore beautifully to an original tale of her own making.
The story takes place long ago in Northern Rus' where the winters are cold enough to freeze someone in their bed. The protagonist, Vasya, is a young, wild girl, far too wild for what her time period allows. Her grandmother was said to be a witch, her mother died birthing her, and her siblings regularly step in and out of her life. Besides her unruliness, Vasya is set apart because she can see and speak to the house and forest spirits. She never hid that she could see the spirits because her people still honored them, even though they couldn't see them. However, when Vasya's father, Pyotr, remarries an extremely devout woman who can also see the spirits, Vasya's storybook life in her small village in the snow-laden forest is set on its ear. Vasya's stepmother believes the spirits are demons and with the help of a priest, Konstatin, they ban all methods of honoring the spirits, leading to some pretty dire consequences.
There is a strange dynamic between Vasya and Konstatin, he appears bewitched by her and it unsettles him. The conflict between Vasya, Konstatin, and her stepmother ultimately leads Vasya to meeting the more important characters like Solovey, the trusty steed, and Morozko. Morozko is a frost demon, a Winter King from Russian legend. He isn't always kind, but he's dark and mysterious and I really adore him.
I honestly can't tell if there is meant to be romance between Vasya and Morozko, it's almost subtextual. Honestly, I don't think I want Vasya and Morozko to become an item, and since this story doesn't feel completely YA, it's still possible that they won't become a thing. However, there's no way to know until the next books, and it's good that there will be more books because the story does feel somewhat unfinished, like the introduction of a much larger story.
I read this book while on a small jet air ambulance transporting my husband from one hospital to another. It was cold and loud, but The Bear and the Nightingale held me captive for the entire 6 hour flight. I felt the chill of the the Rus' winter, the frosty sting of The Bear's breath, and heard the whispers of the house spirits. Katherine Arden did a wonderful job inserting pieces of old folklore to her intricately woven story.
TL;DR A lovely story set in Russia during medieval times about an unruly girl, her trusty steed, and a frost demon trying to save their little world with a blend of myth and magic. I cannot wait for the next book in the trilogy.
The story takes place long ago in Northern Rus' where the winters are cold enough to freeze someone in their bed. The protagonist, Vasya, is a young, wild girl, far too wild for what her time period allows. Her grandmother was said to be a witch, her mother died birthing her, and her siblings regularly step in and out of her life. Besides her unruliness, Vasya is set apart because she can see and speak to the house and forest spirits. She never hid that she could see the spirits because her people still honored them, even though they couldn't see them. However, when Vasya's father, Pyotr, remarries an extremely devout woman who can also see the spirits, Vasya's storybook life in her small village in the snow-laden forest is set on its ear. Vasya's stepmother believes the spirits are demons and with the help of a priest, Konstatin, they ban all methods of honoring the spirits, leading to some pretty dire consequences.
There is a strange dynamic between Vasya and Konstatin, he appears bewitched by her and it unsettles him. The conflict between Vasya, Konstatin, and her stepmother ultimately leads Vasya to meeting the more important characters like Solovey, the trusty steed, and Morozko. Morozko is a frost demon, a Winter King from Russian legend. He isn't always kind, but he's dark and mysterious and I really adore him.
I honestly can't tell if there is meant to be romance between Vasya and Morozko, it's almost subtextual. Honestly, I don't think I want Vasya and Morozko to become an item, and since this story doesn't feel completely YA, it's still possible that they won't become a thing. However, there's no way to know until the next books, and it's good that there will be more books because the story does feel somewhat unfinished, like the introduction of a much larger story.
I read this book while on a small jet air ambulance transporting my husband from one hospital to another. It was cold and loud, but The Bear and the Nightingale held me captive for the entire 6 hour flight. I felt the chill of the the Rus' winter, the frosty sting of The Bear's breath, and heard the whispers of the house spirits. Katherine Arden did a wonderful job inserting pieces of old folklore to her intricately woven story.
TL;DR A lovely story set in Russia during medieval times about an unruly girl, her trusty steed, and a frost demon trying to save their little world with a blend of myth and magic. I cannot wait for the next book in the trilogy.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This would be the perfect winter fantasy book.
In the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year. Vasilisa doesn’t mind; she loves listening to stories of winter demons around a warm fire.
But when her father brings home a fiercely devout new wife, Vasilisa’s peace is threatened by her stepmother’s refusal to honour the village’s spirits.
As things go from bad to worse in the village, Vasilisa tries to restore the spirits as best as she can, but she fears that demons may be threatening her home.
This was the perfect book to cosy up with on a cold night. The descriptive writing showcased the beauty and danger of the freezing Russian winters in centuries past. I also enjoyed how Russian folklore wove in with the fantasy elements of the book.
Vasilisa’s character is brilliantly feminist, especially for the time. There are certain scenes that stick out in my mind that made me love her, and I can’t wait to see how she’s going to grow in the later books.
In the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year. Vasilisa doesn’t mind; she loves listening to stories of winter demons around a warm fire.
But when her father brings home a fiercely devout new wife, Vasilisa’s peace is threatened by her stepmother’s refusal to honour the village’s spirits.
As things go from bad to worse in the village, Vasilisa tries to restore the spirits as best as she can, but she fears that demons may be threatening her home.
This was the perfect book to cosy up with on a cold night. The descriptive writing showcased the beauty and danger of the freezing Russian winters in centuries past. I also enjoyed how Russian folklore wove in with the fantasy elements of the book.
Vasilisa’s character is brilliantly feminist, especially for the time. There are certain scenes that stick out in my mind that made me love her, and I can’t wait to see how she’s going to grow in the later books.
