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

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The Bear & The Nightingale by Katherine Arden is SO GOOD especially as a dark winter/Yule read. ❄️ It's a very dark, spooky, dreamlike horror fairytale set in the deep, dark winter forests of 1300s Slavic Rus. Slavic folklore is the centerpiece (Morozko/Karachun, the god of frost/death, is a main character; a Christian priest is one of the villains) - but it's mostly about womanhood and magic and independence. I wouldn't exactly say it's a cozy Christmas read - it's a dark horror fairytale of the old school - but great for reading by the fire in the cold of winter. 🌨
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