Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
slow-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:
No
This has left me with mixed opinions, and I’m still debating whether I actually enjoyed it or if I’m just telling myself that I did. Bought as a book club read, and the first fantasy book picked so far this year, which had me excited from the get-go.
I enjoyed the folklore elements in this, as well as Vasya and the majority of her family. I’ve picked up book two already so I’m looking forward to seeing how certain characters develop. Set in a historical Russian village, the setting and the depictions of winter has me wishing it was a cosy December and I was reading all curled up under a blanket, and not in the humidity of my daily summer commute.
The pacing and density of the story seemed to be my biggest struggles consistently through this read; it’s taken me 3 weeks to read from cover to cover, and picking it up and dedicating time felt almost like a chore. There were more times than not where the plot, or sometimes lack thereof, totally lost my interest at times, particularly in the second part, though it did somewhat pick up again in the third, albeit a little rushed.
All of that being said, I’m looking forward to reading book 2 at my own pace, and not trying to rush to finish it the day before a book club meeting, and the synopsis for book 2 has grabbed my interest a little more, so we’ll see if the extra time to digest will help with my enjoyment
4.5 stars
This was almost 5 stars but it had the most ridiculous, over-and-done ending I've ever read. I was also so looking forward to seeing why the nightingale was so important and the answer is just that it isn't.
But still, this is the best winter ambiance I've ever read. It felt so so cozy and I absolutely fell in love with the domovoi and other creatures. I just wish a little more thought was put into the ending!
Also, to me this is definitely a stand-alone.
This was almost 5 stars but it had the most ridiculous, over-and-done ending I've ever read. I was also so looking forward to seeing why the nightingale was so important and the answer is just that it isn't.
But still, this is the best winter ambiance I've ever read. It felt so so cozy and I absolutely fell in love with the domovoi and other creatures. I just wish a little more thought was put into the ending!
Also, to me this is definitely a stand-alone.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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:
No
I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated Arden's writing style and her cast of characters. Most of the characters had distinct personalities that allowed me to have specific feelings toward them. That is something a lot of books fail to do for me, where the characters have no personality of their own and I'm unable to care about them. But Arden was able to give us characters with distinct personalities even if they did not appear often in the book.
I'm not too familiar with Russian fairy tales so I enjoyed that aspect and I loved learning the Russian words and context from the glossary and author's note.
I also really, really appreciated that Vasilisa was not a copy and paste heroine who is always bold and fearless and is somehow plain and gorgeous at the same time. I loved that she was an imperfect child and adolescent, but we got to see her grow and learn.
I think some of the people voicing an opinion one way or another about the religious aspect of the book aren't considering what normal life was like in medieval eastern Europe. Some people are saying real world religion doesn't have a place in fantasy...I disagree with that, I feel like some readers just don't like it and others do.
I also don't believe Arden was trying say all religion leads to corruption. It's just something she incorporated in the book and the way I interpreted it was setting the values and expectations that surround Vasilisa and how to fantasy element intertwined with natural world.
I will say the last few chapters of this book kind of lost me, especially after the part where. The fantasy element really amped up here and, maybe it's because I'm unfamiliar with Russian fairy tales but I had trouble understanding what was going on toward the end.
I'm not too familiar with Russian fairy tales so I enjoyed that aspect and I loved learning the Russian words and context from the glossary and author's note.
I also really, really appreciated that Vasilisa was not a copy and paste heroine who is always bold and fearless and is somehow plain and gorgeous at the same time. I loved that she was an imperfect child and adolescent, but we got to see her grow and learn.
I think some of the people voicing an opinion one way or another about the religious aspect of the book aren't considering what normal life was like in medieval eastern Europe. Some people are saying real world religion doesn't have a place in fantasy...I disagree with that, I feel like some readers just don't like it and others do.
I also don't believe Arden was trying say all religion leads to corruption. It's just something she incorporated in the book and the way I interpreted it was setting the values and expectations that surround Vasilisa and how to fantasy element intertwined with natural world.
I will say the last few chapters of this book kind of lost me, especially after the part where
Spoiler
Pyotr leaves to offer aid to the fires
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think I appreciated this book even more on a second read. Such an immersive and mystical fairytale.
I've been picking away at this audio book for what feels like forever. It's... pretty good? It kind of feels like several books all smashed together. There's absolutely nothing surprising about it. You basically know who to hate and who like immediately. Very evocative writing, though.
This book was AMAZING. I loved every single thing about it. The only thing that would have made this better is if it had been snowing outside and I had read it in front of a roaring fire.