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

4.0

A magical, if dark, fairytale for cold winters. This story reads smoothly and so that you’re eager to know what happens next (save for a few moments that felt slow). What I loved most was the depth of character you find in Vasya, her brothers, and her father. Her father especially, is a man full of moral grey yet I felt much for him. Vasya’s story is that of breaking free of expectations and finding herself. She’s a very strong character, and while I find some stories of female freedom tedious and full of cliches, Vasya’s develops beautifully. I’m proud of her and I enjoyed the way her story wrapped up with the characters of fairytales.