This is the second in a triglogy(!) and although not many details are given regarding the events of the first book The Bear and the Nightingale I think it would ground you more to the story if you read that book first.

The Girl in the Tower picks up right where the story left off previously and it’s riddled with action, magic, murder, politics and a more prominent thread of romance. I was captivated from the first page and fell in love all over again with Vasya, her trusty stead Solovey and of course the elusive Morozko.

Vasya’s journey starts with her and Solovey deciding to leave home and travel the world. With her father dead and the towns people turned against her, Vasya sees no reason to remain. To avoid thieves and unwanted attention, Vasya dresses like a boy. When she comes across a ravaged village with tales of bandits burning, killing and stealing young girls, Vasya can’t turn a blind eye to them and she and Solovey find themselves tracking this mysterious group. What started as a rash rescue mission, quickly throws Vasya into a complicated and dangerous political war.

With family reunions tinged with both happiness and grief, Vasya finds that life as a young lord’s son is preferable to life as a young maiden. Even Morozko’s warnings can’t tempt her back to the safety of familiarity. But not every one she meets has her best interest at heart and dark things are underfoot in the city of Moscow.

What I loved about it:
I am hooked on this story and I can’t wait to get my hands on the final installment! Just like when I read book one, I didn’t know what I was getting into. The story won’t be what your expecting but in a good way.

There was no way I’d guess just how crazy good this would be so I loved that I was surprised, shocked, scared and seduced by this story. The storytelling is spellbinding and I literally had to read this in one sitting!

I loved Vasya with her courage and her inner strength. To forge out into the unknown and not confine herself to the mold others would like to pressure her into took some guts and our girl definitely has what it takes to make her own way. In a world where the female’s role is written in stone, Vasya struggled to find herself a niche but it was paved in loneliness and heartache.

I loved Solovey for his loyalty and his astuteness. He was a true friend and companion to Vasya and I loved every side of him. From protector, to friend, to preening flirt, Solovey was a character who might have been written in a supportive role but shined bright enough to make you see him as a first stringer instead.

And then there’s Morozko – In book one, Morozko pretty much stayed deep in shadow and mystery and I wasn’t sure where he stood, whether he was just overly cautious or hid a self serving agenda but we definitely get some answers here and although there is still things to be discovered, seeing how much Morozko has changed because of Vasya and how he couldn’t stay away, it hit me pretty heavy with all the feels! OMG, I don’t think I have the words to describe how I feel about this maddening tight lipped winter-king but I do know that he has to (like HAS TO!) come back for the final book. The romantic in me can’t accept that good-bye as their final farewell. I need more Morozko and Vasya. She might be too stubborn to admit it but Vasya needs more Morozko too, Lol!

What I didn't like:
This isn’t really anything against the story itself, I’m just gonna use this spot to rant about how crappy Sasha and Olga were to Vasya. Yes, their reactions were understandable because they didn’t know the whole story and the lives they lived were so vastly different then it was for Vasya back home but still! Where was the brotherly/sisterly understanding? Being that I was rooting for Vasya and am 100% biased when it comes to her, I was beyond pissed whenever either one of them blamed Vasya for what happened to their father. Olga throwing their dead mother into the mix was a freakin low blow, so yeah, in book one I had high hopes for both of these people but after everything that happened here, I’m only really holding out hope that Sasha will redeem himself. Olga … meh, it can go either way there but I’m not torn about it.

Favorite Lines:
“Think of me sometimes,” he returned. “When the snowdrops have bloomed and the snow has melted.”
“Is that all?” she asked, and then added, with wry honesty, “How could I forget?”
“It is easier than you would think.”

“… things made by effort are more real than things made by wishing.

“Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.

Memorable Moments:
Every time we met a bannik I was fascinated with them. Their attitudes, their functions, their actions and reations to Vasya, it was charming but also unnerving all at the same time.

Kasyn’s golden mare was a surprise and Katya and Marya were both awesome chicks I hope we get to see more of next time around.I have a feeling Midnight will also be back which is fine by me. Her cryptic mention of Tamara’s mother has me feeling antsy for more.

And I probably don’t need to mention this but the short but sweet kisses shared between Morozko and Vasya were pretty high up in the best/memorable moments of this story, just saying… I'm a romantic at heart so I'm always looking to pair characters up and this is feeding my addiction!

Would I recommend?
Yes! If you liked Pan’s Labyrinth, Tithe, or Amelia Atwaters-Rhodes, I think there’s something within these pages that will ring true with you. I loved it and will be stalking this author’s social media for crumbs/details on the next book because it honestly cannot come soon enough for me

What a surprising book! When I first started reading, I thought this would be a difficult story for me to get through because I generally don't read books like this. I enjoy adventure stories and fairy tales, but I don't usually read books in the paranormal genre. Unexpectedly, I was pulled right into the story and stayed up late until I finished it.
Vasilisa Petrovna does not want to get married or live in a convent. She loves the outdoors and dreams of exploring the world. She has left her home because her father has died in a tragic manner and the villagers have branded her as a witch. She rides away on her horse, disguised as a boy and looking for a new life. She receives help from Morozko, the Russian winter demon. He helps her escape from several dangerous situations. Unfortunately, evil bandits have been burning villages and kidnapping young Russian girls. When Vasilisa risks her life to save three girls, she makes an enemy and also meets up with her brother, who has been helping their cousin track the bandits. Little does Vasilisa know that there is someone much more menacing and powerful than the bandits behind the crimes, and she will face almost impossible circumstances in order to save her family.
This is the sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale, which I had not read before reading this book. It is not absolutely necessary to have read the first book before this one, but it would help clarify the events that occur in this book. This book is set in medieval Russia, and I would classify it as a Russian fairy tale or folk tale with paranormal elements. This book taught me quite a bit about medieval Russian folklore, which was interesting. I didn't like the paranormal elements (ghosts, demons, house spirits, etc.) because of my own personal beliefs, but I thought this story was extremely well written and beautifully descriptive in spite of those elements. I also didn't care for the profanity and a couple of disturbing scenes having to do with sexual abuse, but I know those horrible things happened more frequently back then. I would say this is an adult book because of those things I just mentioned, as well as the violently descriptive scenes that occur. Having said all that, I loved the adventure, plot elements, many-layered characters, and beautiful descriptions in this story. I simply could not wait to find out what happened, and because of that and the beautiful writing I have given this book five stars.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

***4 ‘#TeamVasya’ Stars***

And we have another epic chapter in Vasya’s journey and what a ride it was!

Things start of right were they ended in the The Bear and the Nightingale and we find that not is as it should be in the land of Rus. The mystical powers that are seen and unseen are wreaking havoc across the land and questions abound as to what the purpose of it all is and unbeknownst to Vasya, and those she calls her own, she has a role to play in all of it.

I loved Vasya in The Bear and the Nightingale and that love grew to adoration in The Girl in the Tower. Even though she has no choice but to leave her village, she takes it and runs with it. She finds freedom and with that freedom she finds a well of strength she never realized she had. Of course her determinedly stubborn nature helps that process along, even as it at times hinders her, but she comes out of it all with a better understanding of not only the world but herself by the end of the book.

As with the first book, there are multiple POV’s throughout the book and I will admit that sometimes it did slow the pace down for me, but each one added the depth needed to get a well rounded understanding of the various situations going on and the consequences of each action taken or not taken. The supporting cast of characters grows in this one, and I found that Morozko and Solovey are my favorites. And, yes, I realize that having the winter-king/frost-demon and a horse being my favorites may seem strange, but believe me when I say they are amazing and hold pieces of my heart. But Sasha aka Aleksandr Peresvet turned out to be a most pleasant surprise throughout.

While there is closure on the main storyline at the end of the book, questions still linger over some of the smaller issues and it looks like the next book in the series will be quite a journey in and of itself and it will be interesting to see the trials and tribulations Vasya will face and how they will impact her view on the world as well as herself.

Vasya is such a strong and unique protagonist and the world building in this book wonderful. I probably liked the first book a little more, but I still really enjoyed the fleshing out of the Russian fairy tales.

This is the continuing story of Vasya as she ventures forth int he world after the events of Book #1. I thought the first book stood well on its own but oh my goodness! I did not know what I didn't know! The author once again takes us on an adventure both epic and poignant. A young woman who wants to hold on and respect the old ways of demons and sprites and beings of the earth, yet facing down a world and her family who is moving into Christianity. A world that wants to hid away and forget the old ways.

I hesitate to give too much away as the story is still unfolding. I have my thoughts and my wishes for the final book, but will wait patiently to see what the author brings us. Rich world building. Well developed secondary charcters. Wonderful sophomore outing by this new author. If you are looking for a book with a strong female lead, this is the series for you. Vasya is a times both wild and insightful. She is good to her core. She loves her family. She respects the creatures of the land. She is the bridge into this new world.

I am so excited to see what the conclusion to this tale is. As with all fairy tales, there is a message for the reader and hopefully a forever after. Looking forward to more!

When we last saw Vasya in The Bear and the Nightingale, she had just survived the onslaught of the Bear, who wanted to bring unending death and night to Rus. Vasya's witchy powers, combined with the might of the god of the snows, Morozko, saved Rus but doomed her father and stepmother, and now Vasya cannot endure returning to the life she once knew. Dogged by rumors that she is a witch, she decides on a dramatic change. Instead of taking Morozko's silver as a dowry, she takes it as an investment in her travels. Along with her steed, Solovey, Vasya is ready to see the world.

But the world is not always ready for Vasya. Rus is a dangerous place, full of bandits, rapists, and kidnappers--not to mention the uneasy alliances across the political landscape. With unrest in the Mongolian horde, and boyars always vying for more power, there is more danger than ever in Rus. Vasya is not really prepared to stumble into the midst of so much chaos, but after rescuing three young girls who were kidnapped, she has little choice.
There is also the titular girl in one of Moscow's towers, a ghost woman who weeps in the night. Vasya must untangle conspiracies both spiritual and civil, all while keeping the secrets of her gender and her abilities. With so many plot threads, you would think it might get a bit chaotic, but Katharine Arden makes a firm and clear path forward at all times. She's exceptionally deft with the mysteries as well, feeding us breadcrumbs from each in turn, keeping us eager.
The Grand Prince of Moscow and a handsome lord named Kasyan make uneasy new allies in this fraught world; bandits who leave no trail make new enemies. There are also some familiar faces in Olya and Sasha, Vasya's sister and monk brother (respectively), who provide more conservative counterpoints to Vasya's rebellious desires. I was a little disappointed to also see the priest Konstantin again. He's an excellent character, a terrifying fanatic whose righteousness tends toward evil, but he was at the heart of the previous book. I am heartsick of fanaticism, and I was not eager for more of it, especially since Vasya dealt with it extensively in the first book.
The contrast with the first book is strong, setting up a nice dichotomy between being settled and being a traveler, between a distant farm and a capital city, and also between being a girl and a boy. Vasya triumphed in the previous book by mastering her domain, both the hearth and the wild woods. (A triumph mitigated by loss, certainly, but a triumph nonetheless.) Here she is out of that familiar territory as she tries to become a traveler. She knows little of life on the road and even less of people, and her bumpkinish ways get her into trouble before long. At some points, she needs to be saved.

Far from finding that offensive, I actually think it's rather interesting. The fact that this is called The Girl in the Tower is a perhaps another nod to fairy tales where women were imprisoned to await a savior. I think it's nice to have something that acknowledges that a young, untrained woman in disguise will need to be helped just as much as she is able to provide help. Vasya is very real, learning and growing from painful lessons, but holding tight to her independence despite the pressures all around her.

The historical reality is heavy with violence, especially violence against women. Arden doesn't let us look away from the sexual exploitation of poor women or the restricted circumstances of even the wealthiest women, even when her male characters shrug their shoulders at it. Vasya, able to travel back and forth between the gender divide as well as the real and spirit worlds, has to once again find her footing between the two. It is so frustrating to watch her struggle against the prejudices of her family and her people, to the point where sometimes I had to put this aside in favor of lighter things. It may not be gory or salacious, but this is still not an easy book to read in this political climate.

Once again I appreciate Arden's fine attention to detail and meticulous research. She is clearly a Russian scholar, which creates a really rich, thrilling world in both its details and its wide strokes. Vasya's rides through freezing forests, deep snowy plains, and the glory and stink of Moscow are a delight to follow. The whole narrative is like a jewel, bright but hard.

By the end, The Girl in the Tower is another success for what we now know will be a trilogy that will finish with The Winter of the Witch in 2018, for which I now have even higher expectations. Do not miss this glittering, dangerous world.

After the events of The Bear And The Nightingale, Vasilisa feels she has no choice but to dress as a boy and become a traveler; being condemned as a witch or isolated in a nunnery are her only options. It's still a difficult path for her to take, which is further complicated when she rescues children that had been stolen by bandits. The Grand Prince hails her as a hero, still thinking she's a boy, and her siblings are drawn into the deception in spite of their concerns. Revealing the truth would condemn them all, especially with the politics around the Grand Prince.

As a direct sequel, this novel makes far more sense after reading the first book than if you dive into the trilogy here. There is so much world building that went on in the first book and it's glossed over here. Much of the events are summarized when mentioned in this one, so it is still possible to start here.

Vasilisa has the same indomitable spirit, and she fights against the supernatural and political intrigues as best as she can.

More of Russian mythology is introduced here, and now we see its impact in the wider world. We meet the older siblings that had moved away when she was young, but the reunions are bittersweet.

The action is fast-paced when it happens, with cinematic scenes to increase the tension. The battles are well fought and hard-won, and Vasilisa again sacrifices in order to save others. I can't wait to see what will happen to conclude this trilogy.

The times are unlike any other. Bandits are sweeping the villages and taking with them all of the young girls. In their wake, they leave nothing but ashes and fields filled with the dead.

Vasilisa Petrovna refuses to live her life caged by four walls of stone. She the girl who dares to journey into the forest in the middle of the cruel winter and comes face to face with the frost-demon - Morozko.

He is always there to save her when she needs him the most. Immortal and yet completely human, he always keeps from the falling into the cold grip of death. But when she ventures into Moscow disguised as a young boy, she encounters powers beyond anything she has ever seen before. To keep those she loves from harm, she makes a deal to become the very thing that dreads. But when the lines between mortal and magic are dissolved, she may have no other choice than to return to the place where it all began.

“Vasya,” he said again, low and – almost ragged, into her ear. “Perhaps I am not so wise as you would have me, for all my years in this world. I do not know what you should choose. Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.”
“That is not advice,” she said. The wind blew her hair against his face.
“It is all I have,” he said. Then he slid his fingers through her hair and kissed her.

The Girl in the Tower is fantasy at its absolute poetic best! Katherine Arden’s dream-like prose and the unforgettable heroine that she fashions in Vasya - make this installment in the Winternight Trilogy the most breathtaking yet.

It’s a tale of strength and sacrifice that will have you under its frigid spell to the very end. And it will inspire you to embrace your inner female warrior…

“Things are or they are not, Vasya, he interrupted. If you want something, it means you do not have it, it means that you do not believe it is there. The fire is or it is not. That which you call magic is simply not allowing the world to be other than as you will it.”

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings. If ye haven’t read the first book in this series, the bear and the nightingale, then ye might want to skip this post and go read the first book. Worth the read. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . . . . .

the girl in the tower (Katherine Arden)

Title: the girl in the tower

Author: Katherine Arden

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Del Ray

Publication Date: TODAY!!! (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 978-1101885963

Source: the publisher – Arrrr!

The first book, the bear and the nightingale, was one of me top 5 reads of 2017. So imagine me delight when I was given a copy of this sequel. Like book one, this installment contains another stunning cover and another beautiful lyrical story that had me besotted.

While book one could be read as standalone, I am so very glad that I got to experience more of Vasya’s adventures. This book immediately transported me back to medieval Russia. The difference is that in the first book, ye got to read about a tiny village in the dark Russian countryside. Now Vasya has fled her childhood home and is trying to figure out what she wants her future to be all while dealing with the realities in the world-at-large.

I continued to love reading about the relationships between Vasya and her siblings. Time has passed since they all saw one another and all three of them are struggling to deal with the changes that time and growing up have wrought on one another. While love is there, societal pressure is a force to be reckoned with. There also continues to be the juxtaposition of Christianity and pagan beliefs that leads to some fascinating events.

The highlights continue to be Solovey, the portrayal of the society of women, the awesome folklore creatures, and the rich character relationships. I cannot wait to read more about Vasya and the Winter-King, Morozko. It was a magical thrilling story that transported me to a different time and place. I want the next book!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Random House!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home—but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege.

Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

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Previous Log Entries for this Author

the bear and the nightingale (On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)

This was an excellent sequel to the first book, The Bear and the Nightingale, maybe even better as you didn't have to set up the characters and backstory again. It continues the story nicely and really draws you in from the beginning. The writing is excellent, and the story is compelling. The scenery and setting is well described so you feel like you are in the story.

Ms. Arden tells the tale well and makes you want to research the original mythos to delve more into the Russian history and stories. While I wouldn't want to live in this world, she gives it a rich quality that leaves you hanging on every word to capture the magic of the time.

I cannot wait to read the conclusion to this magical trilogy. Well done!

4.5 stars.
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher thanks to NetGalley. I was very excited to receive this book because I loved the way The Bear and the Nightingale combined historical fiction with the sweeping traditions of epic fantasy and the figures from Russian folklore I first learned of in Andrew Lang's colored fairy books. The Girl in the Tower exceeded my expectations for a sequel.
At the end of the first book, Vasya was a teen, running from the superstitious villagers who threatened her. This book picks up right after the events of The Bear and the Nightingale with our heroine deciding to see the world, disguised as a boy for safety. She reunites with her brother, Sasha, and sister, Olga, after rescuing kidnapped girls from Tartar bandits who had been raiding villages along the river. She then goes to Moscow and struggles to maintain her newfound freedom when her disapproving family wants her to return to life as a proper Russian maiden. Vasya also must deal with politics, keeping her disguise, and the arrival of a Tartar ambassador in Moscow.
Morozko plays a key role in this book and we are introduced to a few new figures from folklore as well, but the spirit aspect was downplayed more in this book to focus on the relationships of characters already introduced. I was sad when this glorious, sweeping fantasy cane to an end. Luckily for us as readers, the author has strong foreshadowing at the end (blatant I would say) that sets up at least one more book in the series (indeed, Goodreads says this is a trilogy!). Thanks again to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC of the Girl in the Tower and I will eagerly await the next installment while shoving this into the hands of everyone I think would enjoy it. Recommended for high school and up.

Oh hey now…do you hear bells?

There are plenty of reasons to read this luminous, intimate, magical novel, the second in the Winternight Trilogy. You can read it for its badass female warrior, an anomaly in ancient Russia; you can read it for its impressive use of figurative language and unmatchable word-smithery; or you can read it because you love excellent fiction. The main thing is that you have to read it. I was overjoyed to be invited to read it in advance by Atria Books in exchange for this honest review; thanks also go to Net Galley for the digital copy. The book is available to the public tomorrow, December 5, 2017.

Vasya is no ordinary young woman. She sees and hears things few others do. Take, for example, the domovoi that guard the home; the priests discourage belief in such creatures, but they’re right there. She can see them. Then there’s the matter of her extraordinary horse, Solovey, who is nobody’s property and nobody’s pet, but who makes a magnificent friend and ally. And then of course there is the Frost Demon, a mentor and intimate acquaintance with whom she has a complicated relationship. But these are only parts of her story. The whole of it is pure spun magic that no review can adequately describe.

In ancient Russia, there are three kinds of women: some are wives; some are nuns; and some are dead. Vasya is determined to be none of these. Everyone that cares about her tries to explain how the world works so that she can make her peace with it. Her father is dead now, and so her brother, who is a priest, and her elder sister Olga both implore her to be reasonable. And even the Frost Demon wants her to face the facts. He tells her:

“Having the world as you wish—that is not for the young,” he added. “They want too much.”

Nevertheless, Vasya sets out into the winter woodlands with Solovey; she’s dressed as a man for the sake of safety. She learns that bandits have kidnapped the girls of a village that lies in her path, and everywhere she sees the depredations, the burned homes and ruined fortresses that have been laid waste by the Mongol invaders that have preceded her. She vows to rescue the girls and to seek vengeance, and as one might expect, she brings down a world of ruin and pain upon herself in the process.

A character like Vasya comes along perhaps once in a generation. Together with the first story in this trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale, it has the makings of a classic. My one small wish is not to see it become a romance rather than what it is now—brilliant historical fiction and deeply moving fantasy. At the same time, wherever Arden takes the third volume of her trilogy, I know she can be counted on to do it better than anyone else.

Can this book stand on its own if the first title isn’t available? Arden ensures that the reader has the basic information necessary to jump into the story, and yet I urge readers to get both books if at all possible. To disregard the first in the series is to cheat oneself.

This reviewer seldom keeps review copies on the shelves here at home. There are too many books and never enough space. This title (and the one before it) is an exception to this rule; I will love this series until I die.

You have to read this book.

"Come in, Vasya," Morozko said. "It is cold."

When last we left Vasilisa Petrovna in The Bear and the Nightingale she had left Leznaya Semlya on her beloved Solovey, the magnificent and magical stallion son of the great horse of Morozko. As the story in The Girl in the Tower opens we find ourselves in Moscow, with Vasya's sister Olya, and eventually again meet her brother Sasha and even the shameful priest who had harmed Leznaya Semlya's delicate balance between the old ways and the new. It takes a deliciously long while for us to find out what happened with Vasya arriving at the home among the tree grove that is Morozko's.

There is no magic. Things are. Or they are not.

In many ways, The Girl in the Tower is a deeper and more complex story than The Bear and the Nightingale. The complexity is both due to the interweaving of more folklore (we see other famous 'monsters' from the pantheon) than just that of Morozko in this book, but also deeper because of questions about mortality, immortality, love, truth, and magic. The relationship between Vasya and Morozko deepens and we find that Death is surprisingly kind. Vasya must deal with further strife in terms of how everyone, at times even Morozko want her to be. But the two most important male figures in her life- Morozko and her brother Sasha, seem to find some way, some space, to allow Vasya to always be herself, even as they fear for her safety. Their fears are well justified. Torn between fates that would be anathema to her- two different towers with both implying differing horrors if you are Vasya, she is also caught between Death and Deathless, for a time.

There was a passage in the first book in which Solovey rebuts Vasya's saying he is not a bird with the comment "You do not know what you are; can you know what I am?" Although, yes, we can call Vasya a witch, I'm not sure, still, even at the end of this book, that we know exactly what Vasya is or what has been passed down to her from Tamara's mother to Tamara, then to Marina to Vasya and even Masha. We are left with strong suspicions, however. It will be interesting to see what Vasya can rebuild from what she has destroyed. And what little Masha will become.

This was a masterful second novel and an entirely satisfying middle book in the Winternight trilogy. I cannot wait to see what Katherine Arden has in store for us in the final book, "The Winter of the Witch."

The Girl in the Tower is a superb fantasy novel—one of the best books I’ve read this year.

To fully enjoy this book, you must first read The Bear and the Nightingale, the previous volume in Arden’s Winternight series. In that novel, the heroine Vasya uses her ability to see chyerti—the spirits of Russian folklore—to help her defeat Medved, a demon who feeds on fear and suffering. She does so with the assistance of Lord Morzoko, the spirit of winter and death, who seems overly interested in Vasya’s life.

Following Medved’s defeat, Vasya dresses as a boy and run away on her magical stallion Solovey to escape accusations of witchcraft in her home village. In spite of the harshness of life on the road, Vasya is thrilled to be free to see some of the world, something well-born girls are not allowed to do. Then she happens across a village that has been burned by a seemingly untraceable pack of Tatar bandits who are wantonly killing villagers and stealing away girl children. Vasya rescues three of those girls and earns the acclaim of her cousin Grand Prince Dmitrii. But the attention of princes can be dangerous, especially if you are a woman who must pretend to be a boy. While Vasya and her siblings Sasha and Olga are endangered by their lies to the grand prince about Vasya’s identity, that’s not the only danger facing them, as a mysterious lord comes to the Moscovite court pursuing his own intrigues. And then there’s Lord Frost, who continues to help Vasya but refuses to explain the connection between them, something that makes Vasya increasingly puzzled and upset.

One of the biggest strengths of this book is how gritty Arden’s worldbuilding is. Arden’s medieval Russia is cold, dirty, and frequently brutal. It’s a world where even a princess may have rotted teeth, and a prince may be both admired and cruel. We sometimes romanticize the past in fantasy novels, but there’s none of that here. Arden’s world feels real, in spite of the fantastical adventures Vasya experiences.

The folkloric elements are similarly dark. While the chyerti may choose to be helpful, they are frequently capricious and may as easily do harm. Morozko is not evil, but he is constrained by his nature to act as the avatar of Death. That brings its own darkness to the story, because dying is all too easy in Vasya’s world.

Yet, in spite of the inherent darkness of both the real and spirit worlds of the book, this is no grimdark fantasy tale. The brightness at the core of the story is Vasya, a fierce force for good who pursues what she believes is right no matter the personal cost. Even when the world conspires to snuff her vital spirit, Vasya refuses to be quenched. One thing that is abundantly clear in this book is how cruelly constrained the lives of even wealthy women were in medieval Russia. Marriage and the convent are the only options presented to Vasya, but she is completely unsuited for either and finds a way to forge her own path, difficult as it may be.

I’m really looking forward to the third book in the series. It promises an answer to the source of Vasya’s supernatural abilities as well as a resolution to the romance blossoming between Vasya and Morozko. Even though I’m hoping for a happy ending for their story, it’s hard to see how they’ll get one, since happy endings seem in short supply in Arden’s world.

I highly recommend this series. If you aren’t already reading it, do yourself a favor and get copies of both books so you can immerse yourself in Vasya’s story and the brutal magic of medieval Russia.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

A Dark, Magical, Russian Winter

In this sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale, Vasya is off on an adventure. Accused of witchcraft by her village, she rejected the choice of marriage or a convent, and, disguised as a boy, took off on her magical horse, Solovey. In her travels she helps defeat a group of bandits who are destroying villages and taking the young girls to sell. She meets the Grand Prince of Moscow and wins his respect as a fighter, but must be careful to keep him from learning her sex. In Moscow, she reunites with her brother, Sasha, and her sister, Olga, and helps defend the city from a political war that threatens its existence.

As in the previous book, the text is filled with lyrical descriptions of the countryside, fairy tales, and courageous escapades. The deep winter and tales of spirits, weave a dark tapestry against which the action occurs. I loved the fairy tales, but I found the descriptions of medieval Russia more interesting. This book is faster paced with more action than the first book, but the spell is still captivating.

Vasya has grown in this book. She’s no longer a child and faces adult challenges. She finds difficulty reuniting with her family, particularly her sister, Olga.

This is an excellent sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale. If you love atmospheric stories with good characters, this is a book you’ll enjoy.

I received this book from Random House for this review.

I've been looking forward to The Girl in the Tower since January, and luckily the wait wasn't too long. I was primarily excited for it because of how much I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale. That book had a semi-open ending, and I wanted to know where Arden would take the story since there were so many possibilities. And indeed, The Girl in the Tower picks up shortly after the end of The Bear and the Nightingale. Vasya made her choice, and she intended to stick to it.

By no means was I disappointed by The Girl in the Tower, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous book. I still liked the story, but the first couple of chapters didn’t immediately draw me in the same way The Bear and the Nightingale was able to do. However, once the point of view shifted to Vasya, the story took on a familiar fairytale-like tone, which I was an absolute fan of. It quickly became apparent that this was the dark, icy, and magical sequel I was hoping for.

One of the things I like about Arden’s writing is how atmospheric it is. I particularly enjoyed the historical aspects of the book because of how detailed and real the characters and setting seemed to fit with the time period. She perfectly captured the landscape, weather, and dangers of the setting and society. The folklore is something to be noted too. There are a lot of old tales incorporated into Vasya’s story, which tied in with the magic. It was one of the things I enjoyed so much about The Bear and the Nightingale, and I was glad to see that it carried over into the second book.

That brings me to the characters. While Vasya’s story was the focus, I liked that the secondary characters had personality. They were present in the story, not just there as background noise. Then, there was Vasya. I liked her strength and determination. She learned a lot through her mistakes, and that made her character arch all the more interesting. Morozko—I don’t have much to say about the frost demon, because that would be a spoiler. What I will say is that he's one of my favorite characters in this series, and I appreciated the scenes he was in but wish he would have been more present in the story.

So, while the ending was a little abrupt, The Girl in the Tower was still a solid addition to the series. And if you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, then this is a must read. Now begins the wait for book three.

Disclaimer: This copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Del Rey) via Netgalley for this review.

This book blew me away. There’s no sophomore slump here. The Girl in the Tower is full of political intrigue and love, and is as magically lyrical as the first. I will say that trigger warnings for this book do include sexual assault and mentions of human trafficking.

This book starts out with a glimpse as to what happened at the end of The Bear and the Nightingale before jumping into a few chapters that serves to introduce a cast of characters we will see more of in this story. We have met them before in the first book, but it was much earlier on in the story. So, if you’re looking to see what happens to Vasya and Morozko, their story beings in chapter six. I admit, those two were who I most looked forward to when I started this book, but the beginning is also very important, so do pay attention to them.

Like the previous book, this book is built on layers. But by now, we have a foundation of a story to work with, so there’s less introduction needed into who Vasya is, and we are left to focus on trying to decipher all the characters and their motivations. This is a story that takes place outside of Lesnaya Zemlya, once Vasya’s home until she was driven out for fear of her safety. Vasya is on the road, wishing to travel and see the world. But the world is not kind to young girls, especially a girl traveling on the back of a great stallion.

She does well on her own for a short while, with Solovey the stallion to keep her company. Solovey, for his part, is still hilarious and darling as ever. The conditions are harsh on the roads, and she has taken to traveling dressed as a boy despite the frost-demon Morozoko telling her to return back to Lesnaya Zemlya. Things are not well in Russia as bandits who leave no footprints are setting villages aflame and taking young girls with them. It is here that she chances upon the good graces fo the Grand Prince of Moscow, Dmitrii Ivanovich, and her brother Sasha, who since has become a monk also known as Aleksandr Peresvet.

The story takes on new layers as each character is introduced into the storyline, and secrets unfold slowly, then all at once near the end of the book. There are great many fights and battles when action calls for it. There are also quieter moments that manages to tug at the your heartstrings.

Vasya is young still and has a world for adventure in a world that would keep their women locked away and hidden from the eyes of men. She sees and speaks to the domovoi still, the spirits who care for many things – like the bath houses, a home’s hearth, and the gates of the city. Then, there is Morozko, a frost-demon who should be indifferent to all manner of things, for he is the death-god.

I’m going to need a second to talk about Vasya and Morozko. I already was very much taken by the mysterious Morozko in the first book, but only as a character, you know? Not necessarily shipping Vasya and Morozko together by any means (Vasya was a young child then anyways). But this book? I found myself highlighting all their interactions together and I am so in love with these two. Vasya is strong-willed and Morozko doesn’t know what to do when interacting with someone who dares to talk back to him. He seems like a precious cinnamon roll (of DEATH, I suppose).

Morozko would never do anything to put Vasya in harm’s way, but when he begins to think that he might develop feelings for her, I can’t say that he makes the smartest decisions when it comes to Vasya in order to protect her from the world. I know this book isn’t in the romance genre, but can Vasya and Morozko somehow get their happy ending in the next book? There’s a few obstacles (because, hello, death-god and all), but I would love to see a HEA very much. ❤

The Girl in the Tower is magical from beginning-to-end with an air of mystery surrounding the newcomers in this story. The writing is gorgeous and has the feeling of being whisked away into a land where a child’s fairy tales can be a very real thing indeed. This story, thankfully, does not end on quite a cliffhanger as the first book, but does leave open a few questions about a few characters and what’s next for Vasya. I absolutely cannot wait to read book three, The Winter of the Witch!!!

***Thanks to Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC for review***

It seems that Vasya has run away from home to become Wonder Woman. Without weapons or protection she can unkidnap girls from a group of marauders, kill men without a backward glance, and kiss the Winter King/Death. Wow! Then the author says the book is historical fiction. It seems to me that this could be historical fiction or it can be a fairytale, but it can't be both.

Book Talk…12/8/17
Traci Kenworth

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Ardeen. Ballantine/Del Rey. 2017 Netgalley.

A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale.

Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian wilderness, where snowdrifts reach the eaves of her family’s wooden house and there is truth in the fairy tales told around the fire. Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention of Morozko—Frost, the winter demon from the stories—and together they saved her people from destruction. But Frost’s aid comes at a cost, and her people have condemned her as a witch.

Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey.

But after Vasilisa prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself.

Advance praise for The Girl in the Tower

“Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)

“[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Vasya or Vasilisa is thought to be dead by the priest who raised a village against her in The Bear and the Nightingale but she appears while her brother, Sasha, and the Grand Prince are out seeking bandits that have been burning villages. She is dressed as a boy and Sasha reluctantly agrees to keep Vasya’s secret identity while trying to get the truth of her as to what happened to their father and why she is not at home still. She tells him an abbreviated version of the truth: their father is dead, she fled the village as the people thought her a witch.
Through this, Vasya is the only one to catch a glimpse of the bandit’s leader as they root out the bandit camp. When Kasyan joins their group and helps them to fight the bandits no one suspects he is hiding a secret as well. As they return home, to the Grand Prince’s palace and her sister is drawn into the lie about Vasya, those that would take Moscow for themselves begin to seed distrust about Vasya, Sasha, and her sister’s husband, also a prince. Can they save the Grand Prince and his people before it is too late?

Oh, this tale was magnificent! The secrets abound especially with a witch in the tower and Vasya’s niece able to see her though she’s a ghost. Katherine Ardeen’s tale is lush and bold and tells the story of a land I don’t personally know much about Russia, but it is intriguing. It’s told as though a fairytale and that really brings the story across as fresh and lovely as can be. All the characters play their parts well from the outrage at Vasya being dressed as a boy to a priest being reminiscent of a soldier. The setting is breathtaking though I wouldn’t want to live in their land of snow and ice. I get enough of that here in Ohio, lol.

I give the story *****