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alyintheclouds 's review for:
The Bear and the Nightingale
by Katherine Arden
3/5 stars
so, the bear and the nightingale is definitely atmospheric—like, you can practically feel the frostbite and hear the wind howling through the trees. the russian folklore vibes are really cool, and vasya is such a fierce and independent protagonist. i loved how the magic was woven into everyday life, and the domovoi (little house spirits) were such a unique touch.
but... i didn’t totally love it. the pacing dragged in parts, especially in the beginning—it felt like forever before things actually started happening. and while i appreciated the dreamy, fairytale writing, sometimes it was a little too much, like it was trying too hard to sound lyrical. also, some of the characters felt flat or just... predictable?
i think it’s a great winter read if you’re into slow-burn fantasy with lots of description, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. i wanted to like it more than i actually did, which is a little disappointing. that said, i’m curious enough to maybe pick up the sequel—eventually.
so, the bear and the nightingale is definitely atmospheric—like, you can practically feel the frostbite and hear the wind howling through the trees. the russian folklore vibes are really cool, and vasya is such a fierce and independent protagonist. i loved how the magic was woven into everyday life, and the domovoi (little house spirits) were such a unique touch.
but... i didn’t totally love it. the pacing dragged in parts, especially in the beginning—it felt like forever before things actually started happening. and while i appreciated the dreamy, fairytale writing, sometimes it was a little too much, like it was trying too hard to sound lyrical. also, some of the characters felt flat or just... predictable?
i think it’s a great winter read if you’re into slow-burn fantasy with lots of description, but for me, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. i wanted to like it more than i actually did, which is a little disappointing. that said, i’m curious enough to maybe pick up the sequel—eventually.