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

adventurous dark inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Beautifully crafted and wonderfully atmospheric. I adored this book. Building on fairy tale and folk stories, The Bear and the Nightingale draws you into a story that manages to be both whimsical and dark. There is a nostalgia in the way that Arden captures the feelings of hardship, community and superstition of living in a remote village in Old Russia. It dares the reader to believe in magic and spirits, and feels incredibly real in it's gloriously slow burn building of tension and drama. It has a romance and a wildness that made it impossible to put down. Bold characters and the exquisitely written landscape truly bring the book to life. I had to sit and simply hold it for a while once I was finished reading. It is magnificent.
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