A review by bellyreads
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

If you're looking for a fast-paced, plot-based fantasy (which seems like the main talking points of several negative reviews here), this isn't it. It's slow, coming-of-age and character-focused, and the "physical" aspects of the plot and battle with the "Big Bad" is in service of the character development rather than the plot (i.e. the character development IS the plot!)
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