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ameliabee33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
✨️ As I could, I loved you. ✨️
The second book in the Winternight Trilogy leans heavily into the concept of womanhood and what it meant to be a woman in medieval Russia in the 1300s. Vasya left her small village to see the world, to live a free life. To do this she dresses as a boy, because traveling as a man is much safer than traveling as a girl. As a boy, Vasya can be respected and not questioned, and for the most part she is safe from wandering eyes and hands. Vasya often comments on how much more comfortable and freeing being a boy/man is in this book, to herself as well as her brother and sister in Moscow. As a boy Vasya can be brave and rewarded for it, which she likes- because honestly why would she just want to be locked up in a tower we're highborn women in Moscow are supposed to live.
Her relationship with her siblings is strained because of her desire to not conform. Olga is the quintessential woman, who married, hand kids, and lives in the Tower and prays. Vasya is the exact opposite of everything Olga stands for, and their conflict with one another is very apparent throughout this book. Sasha leads the life Vasya wants (except for the Christian part), a man who is held in high regard by the Grand Prince of Moscow and someone who has traveled and seen the world. Sasha doesn't understand why Vasya is doing what she is doing and also wants her to "act like a woman". However, he is more lenient and allows her to live her lie.
This book also leans heavily into the "Death and his maiden" trope. We all know it and a lot of people love it. Vasya and Morozko become closer throughout the book and kindled their budding romantic relationship. Morozko is constantly confused as to why he, and immortal death god, is feeling human feelings, especially for a young human girl- keep in mind Vasya is ~16/17 here. Vasya doesn't know what it is Morozko wants, but knows she is interested in the freedom and power he offers, and if romance comes with 🤷♀️ But really, there is a lot of nuance surrounding Vasya growing up, becoming wiser and the growth of her relationship with Morozko, in my opinion.
The only reason I dropped his 0.5⭐️s was because of the creepy men that kept wanting Vasya. Like seriously I know times were different then, but GROSS. Like leave my girl alone!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Violence, and Sexism
simp_librarian's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Sexism, and Child death
Moderate: Kidnapping
bethlynch's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Child death, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Grief
mnerd63's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexism, War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Child death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy and Slavery
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I started to love Vasya as the main character even more. I feel like she had so much more personality and drive in this book. Also I generally really love the 'girl dresses up as a boy in order to be taken seriously' trope - especially when she then comments on the things that come so easy to her just because of that small change, as well as all the things she would never have been allowed to do otherwise.
The end was a great conclusion to the story of this book. I realised that even though the story is a continuation of the first book, every book could really stand on it's own as well. They are clearly connected and part of a series, but they all tell their own stories that just happen to the same cast of charaters. I am really excited for 'The Winter of the Witch' and I really hope Katherine Arden will write more mythology retellings because she is truly doing such an amazing job!
I really like reading the Glossary at the end as well as her own reflecton upon the book. In this one she even gives secondary sources for further research into the base myths and storys of the books.
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, Classism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, and Religious bigotry
thewildmageslibrary's review
5.0
CW: same "it's set in the 14th century, so" as book one
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Religious bigotry, Violence, Child death, Blood, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, and Confinement
Minor: Death of parent
ktkeps's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Slavery
mmefish's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.
This one... isn't as great as "The Bear And the Nightingale".
I still love Katherine Arden's writing and the way she shapes her characters but this book feels way less... mature? The beginning is fine and the middle section is great (I was anxious the whole time) but the ending felt rushed, unnecessary and trope-ish.
What I mean by unnecessary is, for example, this:
-
-
-
And by tropes I mean: Vasya is special, "plain" (so many time it's mentioned that she's ugly and not a beauty, we get it), everyone falls in love with her; Vasya is good/better at whatever; lack of communication, specifically people starting telling something and just... deciding not to (I hate it so much); the "twist" (
It read a little bit too much like YA.
Also, I'm really sick of
Overall, "The Girl in the Tower" is definitely not terrible but still feels like a letdown after such a strong first book.
_______________
Edit: decided not to finish the series.
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, and Sexism
Moderate: Gore, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Slavery, and Rape
maximauve's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Pregnancy, Child death, Sexual harassment, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Infertility
saintyeehaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Outing, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, and Religious bigotry