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alienem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Not as completely absorbing as the first one, but good character development.
lisamchuk's review against another edition
5.0
Just as good if not better than the first one, so compelling I listened to the audiobook straight through in one day. I rather enjoy the magic of the world the author has created, and look forward to the final book of the trilogy.
turtledonut's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
She should have listened to her horse
bookish_emily's review against another edition
5.0
The Girl in the Tower continues the story of Vasilisa Petrovna begun in The Bear and the Nightingale. After the deaths of her father and stepmother, Vasya has few options open to her in the tiny village where many now think her a witch. With the help of the frost demon she takes to the road, seeking adventure. Along the way she stumbles upon a mysterious evil that she may be uniquely suited to help defeat. However, she will have to overcome the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated world in order to save those she loves.
The second installment in the Winternight series is as magical as the first, with colorful characters and a backbone of fairy tale. The author is careful to infuse as much historical accuracy as possible into the story, so that readers feel they have been transported to old Russia. Great for fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings.
The second installment in the Winternight series is as magical as the first, with colorful characters and a backbone of fairy tale. The author is careful to infuse as much historical accuracy as possible into the story, so that readers feel they have been transported to old Russia. Great for fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
It's been a while since I've loved a series this much. Complete review to come.
Full review:
I loved The Bear and the Nightingale, but I hadn't realized it was intended as part of a trilogy, so imagine how eager I was to get my hands on this book. However, I did have some reservations, because at times I think trilogies are attempts to stretch out a story over more books than it needs, often leaving the second book feeling like so much filler. I'm happy to say I did not have that sense with this book, at all. Since I also know very little about Russian folklore, these books are an immersive experience for me in a way other European-inspired fantasy books are not. Some spoilers to follow; since there is a pretty major plot point I intend to discuss here, I will be giving some things away, but I'll try not to spoil the central plot or most of the plot points.
The Girl in the Tower brings back many of the characters I knew and loved in The Bear and the Nightingale; most importantly, Vasya and Morozko. What I really love about Vasya is she is a character who does not fit in with her time period and both books reflect this. Not only do they reflect this, they struggle with it, moreso in this book, I think, than in the first. I liked the fact that multiple characters tell Vasya she doesn't fit in, and that she is presented with several alternative forms of escape, yet the book makes it very clear that none of these "escapes" is a real win for Vasya. Throughout this book, she has no truly good options, she simply must adapt from one situation to the next, striving to make the best of choices that offer her no real fulfillment. She exists with feet in both worlds, and this means she constantly flirts with what it would feel like to belong to one or another without ever really being able to belong to one or another. The tension, frustration, and longing this makes her feel comes through very vividly in this book, and I empathized with Vasya so much.
In my opinion, these books have a strong underlying feminist message, but that doesn't mean they aren't entirely without problematic elements. On the one hand, Vasya's being treated like an object of mingled desire and disgust by Konstantin in the first book, and her treatment at the hands of the villain in this book (whose name I won't use, lest I give a twist away) are problematic to me. There's an almost fetishistic turn to her treatment, particularly in this book, that didn't sit well with me. Yet it also makes sense, given the time period in which the book takes place. Male characters' reactions to her refusal to conform in the way women are expected to conform feel authentic in that it makes sense to me the male characters will either outright reject Vasya, seeing her as repulsive and unnatural, or will be attracted to her willfulness, as it would imbue her with a certain spice. The books create a world where highborn women aren't seen as autonomous human beings, but as property, so I could see how her "otherness" would make her a temptation to men who tend to see women in a very narrow light. I didn't think the book was overly graphic, but I still was very uncomfortable with two scenes in particular, both of which are extremely demeaning to Vasya.
Yet this discomfort may be the point. Vasya's pain is never discounted, and the book makes it clear she is the victim, but the humiliation and degradation she suffers also make Sasha, in particular, feel a very visceral sense of how painful it is to live in Vasya's skin. Social mores demand that she sit on her hands rather than act, and the books do a good job of expressing her frustration with her inability to be who she is, as well as her simultaneous inability to pretend to be things she is not. Vasya shakes the foundations of her society by challenging people's definitions of what women should be, and what they are capable of doing. Even the people who care about her struggle mightily with this, which I think is to the books' credit. Her refusal to adhere to traditional roles shocks them and makes it difficult for them to decide how they feel about her, and those struggles are very evident. Also evident is how bitter this makes Vasya feel, how while she understands why they feel as they do, given the world in which they live, it does nothing to dispel the terrible sense of betrayal she feels at people's inability to see her for who she is rather than defining her by what's expected of her gender.
Another element I find problematic in this novel--even as I admittedly root for it--lies in Vasya's relationship with Morozko, though I admire how the book handled this evolution, particularly in the latter parts of the book. In many ways, this is a classic trope: an impossibly old being falls in love with a young woman, which raises all kinds of questions about the ethics of someone much older falling in love with someone much younger. Aside from the age difference, Morozko is also a supernatural being, so there is a definite power imbalance between him and Vasya. The book doesn't shy from this, and though they're each developing feelings for the other, those feelings are messy and complicated. I also think Vasya retains her agency, as she is determined not to be entrapped by anyone, no matter how she feels about them. Her freedom is of the utmost importance to her, and she will defy anyone who threatens it, even if she is coming to care for him. I like that she doesn't just give in, that she calls him out for his behavior and doesn't give him a pass.
Really, this entire book hinges on gender dynamics when boiled down to its essence. Vasya is a hero, with all the complications her heroism entails. She isn't rash, though she does act rashly at times. She isn't eager for violence, though she sometimes finds violence satisfying. She doesn't set out to become heroic but rises to the occasion and does what she must for the good of others--but she can only do these things by posing as a boy, because women are not allowed to do what she has to do. No matter how much she proves herself, every man in the book will distrust and discredit her, from her brother to all manner of important men, simply because she is a woman. Her warnings are discounted as hysteria and/or witchcraft, laying bare how intimidated the male characters are by the thought of a woman attempting to claim her own power, even though their refusal to acknowledge Vasya's information threatens their own well-being.
Ultimately, what I think makes this series work so well for me is that it's messy. Things aren't black and white, and Vasya is constantly forced to grapple with what it means for her to try to grasp what she wants in life, choices that affect not only herself, but those she loves as well. Nothing is simple for her, and those complications make her struggles all the more compelling.
It's been a while since I've loved a series this much. Complete review to come.
Full review:
I loved The Bear and the Nightingale, but I hadn't realized it was intended as part of a trilogy, so imagine how eager I was to get my hands on this book. However, I did have some reservations, because at times I think trilogies are attempts to stretch out a story over more books than it needs, often leaving the second book feeling like so much filler. I'm happy to say I did not have that sense with this book, at all. Since I also know very little about Russian folklore, these books are an immersive experience for me in a way other European-inspired fantasy books are not. Some spoilers to follow; since there is a pretty major plot point I intend to discuss here, I will be giving some things away, but I'll try not to spoil the central plot or most of the plot points.
The Girl in the Tower brings back many of the characters I knew and loved in The Bear and the Nightingale; most importantly, Vasya and Morozko. What I really love about Vasya is she is a character who does not fit in with her time period and both books reflect this. Not only do they reflect this, they struggle with it, moreso in this book, I think, than in the first. I liked the fact that multiple characters tell Vasya she doesn't fit in, and that she is presented with several alternative forms of escape, yet the book makes it very clear that none of these "escapes" is a real win for Vasya. Throughout this book, she has no truly good options, she simply must adapt from one situation to the next, striving to make the best of choices that offer her no real fulfillment. She exists with feet in both worlds, and this means she constantly flirts with what it would feel like to belong to one or another without ever really being able to belong to one or another. The tension, frustration, and longing this makes her feel comes through very vividly in this book, and I empathized with Vasya so much.
In my opinion, these books have a strong underlying feminist message, but that doesn't mean they aren't entirely without problematic elements. On the one hand, Vasya's being treated like an object of mingled desire and disgust by Konstantin in the first book, and her treatment at the hands of the villain in this book (whose name I won't use, lest I give a twist away) are problematic to me. There's an almost fetishistic turn to her treatment, particularly in this book, that didn't sit well with me. Yet it also makes sense, given the time period in which the book takes place. Male characters' reactions to her refusal to conform in the way women are expected to conform feel authentic in that it makes sense to me the male characters will either outright reject Vasya, seeing her as repulsive and unnatural, or will be attracted to her willfulness, as it would imbue her with a certain spice. The books create a world where highborn women aren't seen as autonomous human beings, but as property, so I could see how her "otherness" would make her a temptation to men who tend to see women in a very narrow light. I didn't think the book was overly graphic, but I still was very uncomfortable with two scenes in particular, both of which are extremely demeaning to Vasya.
Yet this discomfort may be the point. Vasya's pain is never discounted, and the book makes it clear she is the victim, but the humiliation and degradation she suffers also make Sasha, in particular, feel a very visceral sense of how painful it is to live in Vasya's skin. Social mores demand that she sit on her hands rather than act, and the books do a good job of expressing her frustration with her inability to be who she is, as well as her simultaneous inability to pretend to be things she is not. Vasya shakes the foundations of her society by challenging people's definitions of what women should be, and what they are capable of doing. Even the people who care about her struggle mightily with this, which I think is to the books' credit. Her refusal to adhere to traditional roles shocks them and makes it difficult for them to decide how they feel about her, and those struggles are very evident. Also evident is how bitter this makes Vasya feel, how while she understands why they feel as they do, given the world in which they live, it does nothing to dispel the terrible sense of betrayal she feels at people's inability to see her for who she is rather than defining her by what's expected of her gender.
Another element I find problematic in this novel--even as I admittedly root for it--lies in Vasya's relationship with Morozko, though I admire how the book handled this evolution, particularly in the latter parts of the book. In many ways, this is a classic trope: an impossibly old being falls in love with a young woman, which raises all kinds of questions about the ethics of someone much older falling in love with someone much younger. Aside from the age difference, Morozko is also a supernatural being, so there is a definite power imbalance between him and Vasya. The book doesn't shy from this, and though they're each developing feelings for the other, those feelings are messy and complicated. I also think Vasya retains her agency, as she is determined not to be entrapped by anyone, no matter how she feels about them. Her freedom is of the utmost importance to her, and she will defy anyone who threatens it, even if she is coming to care for him. I like that she doesn't just give in, that she calls him out for his behavior and doesn't give him a pass.
Really, this entire book hinges on gender dynamics when boiled down to its essence. Vasya is a hero, with all the complications her heroism entails. She isn't rash, though she does act rashly at times. She isn't eager for violence, though she sometimes finds violence satisfying. She doesn't set out to become heroic but rises to the occasion and does what she must for the good of others--but she can only do these things by posing as a boy, because women are not allowed to do what she has to do. No matter how much she proves herself, every man in the book will distrust and discredit her, from her brother to all manner of important men, simply because she is a woman. Her warnings are discounted as hysteria and/or witchcraft, laying bare how intimidated the male characters are by the thought of a woman attempting to claim her own power, even though their refusal to acknowledge Vasya's information threatens their own well-being.
Ultimately, what I think makes this series work so well for me is that it's messy. Things aren't black and white, and Vasya is constantly forced to grapple with what it means for her to try to grasp what she wants in life, choices that affect not only herself, but those she loves as well. Nothing is simple for her, and those complications make her struggles all the more compelling.
honestlyholle's review against another edition
I'm having trouble with such long chapters in Spanish. Not something I even really noticed when I read it in English.
mari_etha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
emilyh2606's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
abreathofthewyld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
4.0
ablaura's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0