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adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book really takes its time and only amps up plot and action-wise in the last third, which i didn't love. that said, it definitely finishes strong and sets itself up well for the next instalment. i was a fan of the folklore and overall fable-like way this story was told, i really enjoyed the sibling bonds, and i think i quite liked vasya as a protagonist? i'm just not sure how well i got to know her, but i'll grant that she was rather young throughout this book. on that note: why the fuck did morozko kiss her. why the fuck. why is that always a thing in these stories. like? keep these immortal dudes away from teenagers' lips and bodies? i mean?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt transported while reading this. The layer upon layer that was given to the story was phenomenal.
I haven't read a book like this before and it honestly took my breath away. The details described give the characters such depth that even by the middle of the book you feel like you have know them your whole life.
I haven't read a book like this before and it honestly took my breath away. The details described give the characters such depth that even by the middle of the book you feel like you have know them your whole life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Religious bigotry
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage
Minor: Animal cruelty
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was, simply put, a joy of a novel. I don't think it can be described as just fantasy, for it is, above everything else, a fairy tale. I loved how it followed the social and narrative mechanisms of traditional tales: the ideas of trading and reciprocity, the task-setting, the ambiguous characters, the talking animals! Perhaps if I had read this as a teenager I would've found it childish, but now that I know (a bit) more, I delighted in this.
The setting was a major selling point for me. The novel draws heavily from Russian folklore, and features Russian words often, which made me miss the time when I used to study the language. It depicts a culture very different from my own, and I loved being submerged in it for a little while. The way it shows the coexistence of Paganism and Christianity is fascinating!
The characters where all fascinating and complex, and all of them surprised me with their decisions. Vasya is, of course, fantastic, and I liked that she kept a certain amount of childlike innocence all through the story. Morozko is the broody and sometimes cruel mystery man of my dreams. I had expected Anna to be a sympathetic character, and was proved wrong. My favorite was, without a doubt, Konstantin - so tormented and proud. Ugh. He was delicious to read.
I didn't give this 5 stars because I found the author's style to be a tad juvenile at times, possibly because The Bear and the Nightingale is her first novel. For me, it didn't take away from the reading experience, and I'm certain Arden's writing will mature in her future works.
The setting was a major selling point for me. The novel draws heavily from Russian folklore, and features Russian words often, which made me miss the time when I used to study the language. It depicts a culture very different from my own, and I loved being submerged in it for a little while. The way it shows the coexistence of Paganism and Christianity is fascinating!
The characters where all fascinating and complex, and all of them surprised me with their decisions. Vasya is, of course, fantastic, and I liked that she kept a certain amount of childlike innocence all through the story. Morozko is the broody and sometimes cruel mystery man of my dreams. I had expected Anna to be a sympathetic character, and was proved wrong. My favorite was, without a doubt, Konstantin - so tormented and proud. Ugh. He was delicious to read.
I didn't give this 5 stars because I found the author's style to be a tad juvenile at times, possibly because The Bear and the Nightingale is her first novel. For me, it didn't take away from the reading experience, and I'm certain Arden's writing will mature in her future works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, Blood
adventurous
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Religious bigotry