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A review by itspronouncedtessa
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
2.75
I want to love this book so bad. It's beautifully written, the fairy tale is strong and the Slavic folklore is fascinating. It could have easily been a 5 star read.
But.
Do modern writers understand they're writing fiction? An untrue story, something they, in fact, made up? Even if it's "grounded in the realities of rural life at the time", it's still fiction.
The author admitted she'd fudged with the ages of actual historical figures to better fit the story, but when it comes to the fictional characters, she just has to, needs to, have a middle-aged man (who we are supposed to root for) marry and rape a child? Repeatedly? And describe him longing for her "tight body"?
Why? It did not serve the plot and absolutely nothing would have been different if the ages had been changed. If there had been a smidgen of consent.
"But it's historically accurate"
Motherfucker, it's a fairy tale. There are demons and winter gods roaming your forest. But no, a grown woman being okay with sharing her new husband's bed, that's too unbelievable.
I won't be reading the sequels.
But.
Do modern writers understand they're writing fiction? An untrue story, something they, in fact, made up? Even if it's "grounded in the realities of rural life at the time", it's still fiction.
The author admitted she'd fudged with the ages of actual historical figures to better fit the story, but when it comes to the fictional characters, she just has to, needs to, have a middle-aged man (who we are supposed to root for) marry and rape a child? Repeatedly? And describe him longing for her "tight body"?
Why? It did not serve the plot and absolutely nothing would have been different if the ages had been changed. If there had been a smidgen of consent.
"But it's historically accurate"
Motherfucker, it's a fairy tale. There are demons and winter gods roaming your forest. But no, a grown woman being okay with sharing her new husband's bed, that's too unbelievable.
I won't be reading the sequels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Child death