15.9k reviews for:

The Bear and the Nightingale

Katherine Arden

4.09 AVERAGE

picklelady's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Fun and approachable adaptation of Russian folktales. Well researched and written. 

zoereads88's review against another edition

5.0

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This was a fun and compelling read. I loved the Russian folklore and historical elements and the feisty main character. The book puts in tension the Christian religion and local folklore. I found it really interesting that in the village the two ways of life complement each other and the people are happy until the self-righteous priest arrives who believes it is his task to save the village. When they abandon their original way of life in harmony with the land and creatures, then things start to go wrong for the village. It is a good and needed critique of how Christianity has functioned, and continues to, in some places, I think.

nofy's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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: Complicated

chloeshawe's review against another edition

4.0

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I have never been so happy to see a character die. Also, I really hope there’s more of Sasha in the next book.

jamiepear's review

4.5

adventurous dark tense 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: Complicated

bookishbunner's review against another edition

5.0

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Such a unique reading experience. I didn't even realize it was historical fantasy until the third book!

katrix's review against another edition

3.25

slow-paced

duchess's review against another edition

4.0

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This was as entrancing as the original stories! I loved the confident, headstrong Vasya. Alyosha is the ally we all deserve, and Konstantin can get fucked. I absolutely need to finish this trilogy!

emilyreads2024's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

book_soup's review

4.25

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes