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A review by sylvia_reads
Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
4.0
I saw someone recommending this book on Tumblr, and when I saw it in the library the week after, I knew I had to pick it up.
This book is in some aspect quite different from what I usually read, and in others very much like it.
For one, it is some ‘literary’ fantasy, the fantasy elements are quite ambiguous for a large part of the book. Also, the pacing isn’t as fast as many books I usually read, and the setting is Russia, or what is now Russia, which is not something I know much about. However, apart from the pacing, these elements weren’t a drawback for me.
On the other hand, it is a fantasy book with a female protagonist, which is very much like other books I read.
Speaking about the protagonist, Vasya, I don’t really know what I think about her. I don’t think I really like her, but I can’t really voice why. I think it is because we don’t really see her interacting with other people. She doesn’t really have friends, and she’s just always so serious. I think I would have liked to have a scene where she’s just joking around with someone.
Actually my main reasons for not giving this 5 stars, are Vasya, and the fact that the plot just seemed to be building up towards nothing. Things started going seriously bad only at the very end. I think the stakes could have been set a bit higher a little earlier.
Nevertheless, it was a really enjoying read. The writing-style really fit the story and setting. And while I didn’t like Vasha, I didn’t really dislike her, and the other characters were all very well fleshed out. So I’m really glad I read this book.
This book is in some aspect quite different from what I usually read, and in others very much like it.
For one, it is some ‘literary’ fantasy, the fantasy elements are quite ambiguous for a large part of the book. Also, the pacing isn’t as fast as many books I usually read, and the setting is Russia, or what is now Russia, which is not something I know much about. However, apart from the pacing, these elements weren’t a drawback for me.
On the other hand, it is a fantasy book with a female protagonist, which is very much like other books I read.
Speaking about the protagonist, Vasya, I don’t really know what I think about her. I don’t think I really like her, but I can’t really voice why. I think it is because we don’t really see her interacting with other people. She doesn’t really have friends, and she’s just always so serious. I think I would have liked to have a scene where she’s just joking around with someone.
Actually my main reasons for not giving this 5 stars, are Vasya, and the fact that the plot just seemed to be building up towards nothing. Things started going seriously bad only at the very end. I think the stakes could have been set a bit higher a little earlier.
Nevertheless, it was a really enjoying read. The writing-style really fit the story and setting. And while I didn’t like Vasha, I didn’t really dislike her, and the other characters were all very well fleshed out. So I’m really glad I read this book.