What the community thinks
summary of 6395 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
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Graphic
Death (13 reviewers), Religious bigotry (11 reviewers), Misogyny (10 reviewers), Sexism (10 reviewers), Death of parent (8 reviewers), Blood (7 reviewers), Child abuse (6 reviewers), Animal death (5 reviewers), Gore (5 reviewers), Violence (4 reviewers), Child death (3 reviewers), Sexual assault (3 reviewers), Grief (2 reviewers), Body horror (2 reviewers), Rape (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), Confinement (1 reviewer), Adult/minor relationship (1 reviewer), and Forced institutionalization (1 reviewer)Moderate
Child death (9 reviewers), Sexism (9 reviewers), Death (9 reviewers), Religious bigotry (8 reviewers), Animal death (7 reviewers), Blood (7 reviewers), Death of parent (7 reviewers), Violence (6 reviewers), Grief (5 reviewers), Gore (5 reviewers), Pedophilia (5 reviewers), Misogyny (4 reviewers), Sexual assault (4 reviewers), Physical abuse (4 reviewers), Emotional abuse (4 reviewers), Self harm (3 reviewers), Child abuse (3 reviewers), Mental illness (3 reviewers), Body horror (3 reviewers), Rape (2 reviewers), Adult/minor relationship (2 reviewers), Medical trauma (1 reviewer), Miscarriage (1 reviewer), Medical content (1 reviewer), Panic attacks/disorders (1 reviewer), Cannibalism (1 reviewer), Schizophrenia/Psychosis (1 reviewer), Murder (1 reviewer), Domestic abuse (1 reviewer), Ableism (1 reviewer), and Forced institutionalization (1 reviewer)Minor
Sexual assault (5 reviewers), Animal cruelty (3 reviewers), Rape (3 reviewers), Body shaming (2 reviewers), Child abuse (2 reviewers), Child death (2 reviewers), Domestic abuse (2 reviewers), Adult/minor relationship (1 reviewer), Animal death (1 reviewer), Death (1 reviewer), Miscarriage (1 reviewer), Pedophilia (1 reviewer), Self harm (1 reviewer), Forced institutionalization (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), Vomit (1 reviewer), Grief (1 reviewer), and Death of parent (1 reviewer)Moods
adventurous 84%
mysterious 68%
dark 50%
emotional 36%
tense 24%
inspiring 10%
hopeful 9%
reflective 9%
sad 7%
challenging 6%
informative 3%
lighthearted 2%
relaxing 2%
funny 1%
mysterious 68%
dark 50%
emotional 36%
tense 24%
inspiring 10%
hopeful 9%
reflective 9%
sad 7%
challenging 6%
informative 3%
lighthearted 2%
relaxing 2%
funny 1%
Pace
medium 47%
slow 44%
fast 7%
slow 44%
fast 7%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 50% | Character: 32% | Plot: 16%Strong character development?
Yes: 80% | No: 9% | It's complicated: 8% | N/A: 1%Loveable characters?
Yes: 66% | It's complicated: 23% | No: 9% | N/A: 1%Diverse cast of characters?
No: 66% | It's complicated: 13% | Yes: 13% | N/A: 5%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 58% | No: 23% | It's complicated: 14% | N/A: 3%Average rating
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At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.
Buy The Bear and the Nightingale
United States
Bookshop US
Other countries
Bookshop UK
Blackwell's
The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. We earn commission on any purchases made.
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.
What the community thinks
summary of 6395 ratings (see reviews)
Content warnings
View warnings
Graphic
Death (13 reviewers), Religious bigotry (11 reviewers), Misogyny (10 reviewers), Sexism (10 reviewers), Death of parent (8 reviewers), Blood (7 reviewers), Child abuse (6 reviewers), Animal death (5 reviewers), Gore (5 reviewers), Violence (4 reviewers), Child death (3 reviewers), Sexual assault (3 reviewers), Grief (2 reviewers), Body horror (2 reviewers), Rape (1 reviewer), Physical abuse (1 reviewer), Confinement (1 reviewer), Adult/minor relationship (1 reviewer), and Forced institutionalization (1 reviewer)Moderate
Child death (9 reviewers), Sexism (9 reviewers), Death (9 reviewers), Religious bigotry (8 reviewers), Animal death (7 reviewers), Blood (7 reviewers), Death of parent (7 reviewers), Violence (6 reviewers), Grief (5 reviewers), Gore (5 reviewers), Pedophilia (5 reviewers), Misogyny (4 reviewers), Sexual assault (4 reviewers), Physical abuse (4 reviewers), Emotional abuse (4 reviewers), Self harm (3 reviewers), Child abuse (3 reviewers), Mental illness (3 reviewers), Body horror (3 reviewers), Rape (2 reviewers), Adult/minor relationship (2 reviewers), Medical trauma (1 reviewer), Miscarriage (1 reviewer), Medical content (1 reviewer), Panic attacks/disorders (1 reviewer), Cannibalism (1 reviewer), Schizophrenia/Psychosis (1 reviewer), Murder (1 reviewer), Domestic abuse (1 reviewer), Ableism (1 reviewer), and Forced institutionalization (1 reviewer)Minor
Sexual assault (5 reviewers), Animal cruelty (3 reviewers), Rape (3 reviewers), Body shaming (2 reviewers), Child abuse (2 reviewers), Child death (2 reviewers), Domestic abuse (2 reviewers), Adult/minor relationship (1 reviewer), Animal death (1 reviewer), Death (1 reviewer), Miscarriage (1 reviewer), Pedophilia (1 reviewer), Self harm (1 reviewer), Forced institutionalization (1 reviewer), Blood (1 reviewer), Vomit (1 reviewer), Grief (1 reviewer), and Death of parent (1 reviewer)Moods
adventurous 84%
mysterious 68%
dark 50%
emotional 36%
tense 24%
inspiring 10%
hopeful 9%
reflective 9%
sad 7%
challenging 6%
informative 3%
lighthearted 2%
relaxing 2%
funny 1%
mysterious 68%
dark 50%
emotional 36%
tense 24%
inspiring 10%
hopeful 9%
reflective 9%
sad 7%
challenging 6%
informative 3%
lighthearted 2%
relaxing 2%
funny 1%
Pace
medium 47%
slow 44%
fast 7%
slow 44%
fast 7%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 50% | Character: 32% | Plot: 16%Strong character development?
Yes: 80% | No: 9% | It's complicated: 8% | N/A: 1%Loveable characters?
Yes: 66% | It's complicated: 23% | No: 9% | N/A: 1%Diverse cast of characters?
No: 66% | It's complicated: 13% | Yes: 13% | N/A: 5%Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 58% | No: 23% | It's complicated: 14% | N/A: 3%Average rating