Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

3 reviews

reddeddy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Child abuse, Gore, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Blood, and Animal death

Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Body shaming

spiritedfaraway's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Are you going to save us, then?”

“If God gives me strength, I will save you.”

“I am only a country girl,” said Vasya. “I have never seen Tsargrad, or angels, or heard the voice of God. But I think you should be careful, Batyushka, that Gad does not speak in the voice of your own wishing. We have never needed saving before.”

This book flows really well even with all the different point of views and it just keeps you reading until you look up and realize that the sun has come back up and that the book is, unfortunately, finished.

The Bear and the Nightingale takes place in a fantasy version of historical Russia and tells the story of Vasya and her family. It reads like a fairytale and is absolutely beautifully written. Vasya is a wild child with a touch of magic and a willingness to be brave. The different relationships she has with her family are wonderful and feel very real. And her friendships with the spirits are lovingly written.

The few problems I had mostly had to do with the fact that there wasn't a lot that actually happened until almost the very end of the book. This is definitely a character driven story and if you love plot more then this might not be the book for you. I enjoyed reading this immensely though.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Miscarriage and Mental illness

Minor: Animal cruelty

maryellen's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I would give this more stars if I could. Beautifully written, and the story just sweeps you up.

Loved it even more the second time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Animal death, and Child death

Moderate: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury