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A review by ameliabee33
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Vasilisa sees creatures that other people in her village can't, the things of the old, pagan ways. In the cold north of Russia Vasya has grown up with fairytales of the creatures in the forest and of Morozko, the Frost Demon. When a zealous monk, Konstantin, comes to Vasya's village, our heroine finds herself in a battle between the people she grew up with/loves as well as a much bigger battle between the Frost Demon and the Bear. The Bear is the one-eyed, blue-scarred man that haunts her dreams and can split the world.
Vasya is constantly torn between her family and the life she wants to lead, one where she is just a girl that goes and explores the world and isn't reprimanded for being who she is. With folklore vs catholicism becoming the main conflict in her village, Vasya is portrayed as the antagonist of the Church. She gives gifts to the spirits that help her people but she is labeled rebellious, she wants too much, and she needs to behave as a woman should. Vasya is also an antagonist to the idea of being a woman in 1300s Russia. There are 2 choices for women, be married and have kids or become a nun. Vasya wants a third option, to live in the woods with the spirits instead of accepting the cards fate has dealt her.
There is also the mystery of Morozko and his involvement with Vasya. He found her lost in the woods as a very young child and forced a sapphire necklace upon her when she was a teenager. The spirits keep telling Vasya that the Bear is coming and that she needs to work with Morozko to defeat him. But why is the necklace needed? Why is Morozko invested in the success of Vasya? What does an immortal deity want with a young human girl?
This book reminded me very heavily of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, it is very heavy in its fairytale-like telling. The atmosphere is cold, given that the setting is 99.9% in the snowy winter. There is a winter Lord presiding over the the entire story. The imagery is rich and decadent. The characters are diverse in personalities and goals. There is a hint of a trope that an immortal wants a young girl (why do we keep writing that???) and if that is a firm line for you, you might want to pass this series. Lots of religious zeal and nutjobs give the tale a very intense atmosphere.
TDLR; A great first book in a winter fantasy/fairytale trilogy! The reason I docked it 0.25 starts is because of the hinted romance between an immortal being and a young 16 year old girl. Also some of the names and nicknames are used so interchangeably that it got confusing at times. Characters and plot are rich!
Vasya is constantly torn between her family and the life she wants to lead, one where she is just a girl that goes and explores the world and isn't reprimanded for being who she is. With folklore vs catholicism becoming the main conflict in her village, Vasya is portrayed as the antagonist of the Church. She gives gifts to the spirits that help her people but she is labeled rebellious, she wants too much, and she needs to behave as a woman should. Vasya is also an antagonist to the idea of being a woman in 1300s Russia. There are 2 choices for women, be married and have kids or become a nun. Vasya wants a third option, to live in the woods with the spirits instead of accepting the cards fate has dealt her.
There is also the mystery of Morozko and his involvement with Vasya. He found her lost in the woods as a very young child and forced a sapphire necklace upon her when she was a teenager. The spirits keep telling Vasya that the Bear is coming and that she needs to work with Morozko to defeat him. But why is the necklace needed? Why is Morozko invested in the success of Vasya? What does an immortal deity want with a young human girl?
This book reminded me very heavily of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, it is very heavy in its fairytale-like telling. The atmosphere is cold, given that the setting is 99.9% in the snowy winter. There is a winter Lord presiding over the the entire story. The imagery is rich and decadent. The characters are diverse in personalities and goals. There is a hint of a trope that an immortal wants a young girl (why do we keep writing that???) and if that is a firm line for you, you might want to pass this series. Lots of religious zeal and nutjobs give the tale a very intense atmosphere.
TDLR; A great first book in a winter fantasy/fairytale trilogy! The reason I docked it 0.25 starts is because of the hinted romance between an immortal being and a young 16 year old girl. Also some of the names and nicknames are used so interchangeably that it got confusing at times. Characters and plot are rich!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Religious bigotry