The rare sequel that not only builds on the first story but also has its own strong story in its own right. The author does a great job capturing the old world snowy atmosphere that it makes you feel so cold that you need to be bundled up to read. I'm anxiously awaiting book three!

4 stars!

*

The Girl in the Tower is just as magical and intriguing as its predecessor. The chilling and tense atmosphere draws on Russian folklore to deliver a story that sets readers on edge. Favorite characters come back to face new and more dangerous obstacles, filling the story with action, heartbreak, hope, and love.

Katherine Arden once again enchants with her beautiful writing. The steady pace and multiple POVs give the book the perfect fairytale feeling, as does her fresh take on old folk tales. There is some frustrations towards some characters’ choices, but they continue to be very well-developed and complex. The stakes are higher in this novel, and Arden makes us feel every bit of it.

This was by far one of my most anticipated 2017 reads. I totally fell in love with The Bear and the Nightingale when I read it at the beginning of this year, so I had really high expectations for The Girl in the Tower. The novel mostly managed to meet all of them and it reminded me why I love retellings so much.

The writing and steady pace are just as great as ever. Katherine Arden has grown a lot as a writer, and that definitely shows in this book. There are a lot of actions scenes that are leave you on the edge of your seat, as well as the little sprinkles of romance throughout the story. These characters have grown up a lot from the last time we saw them, and it is wonderful to read about them as they develop even more.

I do have to say that Vasya is super frustrating as a character this time around. Her wildness continues to define her, but it makes for a huge character flaw in the world she finds herself in now. I honestly think she doesn’t make one wise choice throughout the entire novel, and instead makes decisions that only lead her or people she loves into trouble.

The way the plot develops and the revelations are brought to light throughout the novel make me very curious for what is to come next. Some questions from the previous installment are answered, but they only lead to more mysteries. Vasya’s world is a lot bigger, now I’m curious to see what is going to happen as her story progresses.

In the end, The Girl in the Tower makes for an eerie, tense, and beautiful novel. The fairytale aspect that is so prevalent in the series continues to shine through in new and exciting ways. The characters are complex and interesting; the mysteries they bring are just as intriguing as ever. I definitely recommend this to all Fantasy fans, especially those who love mythology and folklore.

A slow start, an epic middle and a bittersweet end describe The Girl in the Tower.

When I read the first book in the Winternight Trilogy last year, I hadn’t realized it was a series, but enjoyed it enough to request a copy when I realized there was a book 2, and it was on NetGalley.

The opening was loaded with gorgeous prose and historical detail, but it was a long time before I got to read a chapter from the hero’s (Vasya’s) point of view. However, once she showed up in the book, she swept me away like wind from a wild winter storm and hardly let me put the book down an end that almost made me cry.

While the historic setting was detailed and well researched, it was also incredibly frustrating. I wanted to punch almost every male in the story at one point or another for being misogynistic jerks. The difference is the way Vasya was treated when people thought she was a boy versus new she was a girl really captured the sexism of the time period. However, since this book was also laden with magic and folklore, I kept waiting and hoping for that historically accurate sexism to be subverted.

I liked that Vasya put on her pants in the wild woods long before she re-entered human society. It made her character and identity feel more genuine. However, my problem with female characters that “cross-dress” or “pretend” to be boys when live in a society like this makes wonder if they do that because their culture’s view of women is oppressive, or if it is simply because of who they are. If Vasya lived today, would she still want to play the role of a man? Or would she be content a woman?

I’m always looking for books with human characters that subvert gender binaries, but historical fiction can blur or even invalidate that because it is so hard to tell how much of the character’s desire to cross-dress is internal and how much is external.

Either way, I still love how wild and determined Vasya is, curse her when she makes bad decisions, and root for her to in. I can’t see how she can find peace and be alive in the world she lives in, but now that I know it is a trilogy, I am okay with the way things ended in this book, but I do not expect any kind of happy ending where she survives the end of the trilogy.

If you are looking for a darker fairytale or historic fantasy, then you will enjoy this, but don’t pick it up if you want a disney-worthy happily ever after.

<i>"You are immortal, and perhaps I seem small to you," she said at last fiercely. "But my life is not your game.”</i>

this book is that rare second-in-a-trilogy novel that aspires to be more than just a bridge of clockwatching filler between two points. it actually does what the second-in-a-trilogy book <i>should</i> do, but rarely accomplishes - it progresses the action and allows the character some elbow room in which to grow; to <i>become</i> what the challenges of the third book will require them to be. many middle books seem content to wallow, bloated, twiddling their thumbs, waiting to cash that third-book paycheck, but this one allows for tremendous growth in vasya’s character, presents a situation steadily increasing in danger and complexity, and it is fiery and ferocious as all hell.

i loved this one every bit as much as [book:The Bear and the Nightingale|25489134]. it is perfect historical fantasy, which is not a genre i read overmuch, but you don’t have to be an expert in a genre to identify when it is being pulled off perfectly - where the historical details are as quietly compelling as the mythological or fantastical ones, and the writing is lushly detailed in both the gauzy romantic moments and the grit and filth and boredom of the less-embellished realities of 14th century russia. boring for highborn women, anyway, who <i>must live and die in towers</i>.

the book is a perfect balance of classical and modern storytelling; descriptions pretty and poetic:

-<i>Men lived too near the bone in winter to bother with things that did not concern them.</i>

-<i>Her fear was a wild thing's fear when the dogs are running.</i>

heroine feminist and fierce:

<blockquote>Sudden anger burned out Vasya's gathering hurt. She pushed back her chair and stood again. "I am not a dog," she snapped. "<i>You</i> may tell me to go home, but I may choose not to. Do you think that is all I want, in all my life - a royal dowry, and a man to force his children into me?”</blockquote>

vasya is a firecracker. accused of witchcraft, doomed by tradition to the confines of marriage or the convent, she decides “nahhhh, imma dress like a dude and ride a magic horse and boss around a deity and have badass adventures instead!*”

she’s had to leave so much of herself behind, but she really expands to fill her own heroic storyline. and yeah, having a deus ex machina on retainer does alleviate some of the personal risk, but it wasn’t an overused "out", and the vasya/morozko relationship has its own awkward learning curves:

<i>"How did you take the rabbit?" she asked, turning the meat with deft, greasy hands. Nearly ready. "There was no mark on it."

Twin flames danced in his crystalline eyes. "I froze its heart."

Vasya shuddered and asked no more.</i>

so, not all hearts and flowers (and necklaces) and rescuing a (secret) damsel in distress. i appreciate that their interactions are shaped enough like romance to please romance fans without alienating me and my preferences for horseback battles and derring-do.

i’m unwilling to write a detailed review of this one. with two books on the table, it’s too easy to attract one of those “i am unclear about what constitutes an actual spoiler, but i’m going to scold you tirelessly about it for hours anyway!" folks. i will say that there was some foreshadowing in this one (carried over from the first book) that’s already got me bracing myself for despair.

which i welcome. i am ready for book three, whatever the emotional cost.

this was a buddy-read with tadiana and steven! here are their reviews:

tadiana: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2047695806

steven: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1906379775


* not, obviously, an actual quote. it’s not <i>that</i> modern.

***********************************

in what is certainly the most difficult decision anyone has ever had to make - i have been salivating for this book, and i was thrilled when i got approved to read it through netgalley at the beginning of the month, but i am only reading horror for october and i keep worrying about it over there waiting for me, thinking i am not interested in it, but i AM! i'm coming for you soon, book! after the horrors!

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Es4UpW4.gif?noredirect"/>

Arden's second novel based on the fairy tales and folklore of Russia is a masterpiece. I alternated between reading frantically, and having to put the book down when things turned south for Vasya. The author does an excellent job weaving the folklore into facts about medieval Russian life, and it was so entertaining that you may not even realize you're learning something. This is a fantastic series, and I look forward to the final book!

This book gives me all the heart eyes. I LOVED book 1 and anxiously awaited The Girl in the Tower. It even made my list of releases to get excited about. Book 2 picks up as Vasya is on the run from her village because they think she is a witch. She decides to travel the country with her magical horse. Set in medieval Russia, a girl can’t really travel on her own, so she travels as a boy. She ends up near Moscow and finds herself as a favorite of the Grand Prince of Moscow. She has to keep up the facade of being a boy because of this and makes life difficult for herself and her siblings that are now important people in Moscow as well. Throughout this storyline, there is also a magical subplot that leads to the big ending. If you like fantastic characters, great writing and worldbuilding all while having an underpinning of magic, this series is for you. Don’t let the magic scare you away. For the most part, the magic is more about how the world works rather than spells and the like.

First line: A girl rode a bay horse through a forest late at night.

Summary: Vasya has been cast out of her village as a witch. She does not want to spend her life behind a convent walls or trapped in a marriage. She wants freedom and adventure. With the help of the frost demon, Morozko, and her loyal horse, Solovey, she sets out on her own dressed as a boy. When she wanders into a burned village and discovers that bandits are raiding the countryside and stealing young girls she sets out to save the missing children. After her rescue mission, she gains the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow. With the help of her elder siblings, she keeps her gender hidden from the elite of Moscow. However, with the mysterious arrival of an unknown lord, Vasya starts to worry that the danger has worked its way into the courts of Grand Prince.

Highlights: Atmospheric. I can feel the cold of a Russian winter while reading the adventures of Vasya. Vasya is a wonderful heroine. She is not beautiful. She wants more out of life than the traditional trappings of her gender. I love the frost demon, Morozko. He is complicated and intriguing. I am glad that we got to see more of his relationship with Vasya. The writing is poetic and beautiful. I love that the author provides a glossary at the end to help the reader understand the terminology and characters. This one was filled with action and danger. I loved the first book and the second did not disappoint.

Lowlights: Nothing.

FYI: The second book in The Winternight Trilogy.

What can I add to the other reviews? This is a terrific piece of magical realism with a young heroine who would be a terrific YA crossover read. Vasya is one determined woman- she doesn't like her choices so she makes her own. 14th Century Russia was clearly not an easy place for anyone, let alone Vasya, who has set out alone. This is a fairy tale and yet it seems very real. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed the first book (if you haven't read it, you'll be fine with this as a standalone but if you like this one, you'll really like it) and now I'm looking forward to the third.

Katherine Arden’s The Winternight Trilogy is one of the most captivating series I’ve ever read. I fell in love with the series last winter when I read the first book, The Bear and the Nightingale. Filled with lush worldbuilding, a feisty heroine, fascinating Russian folklore, and a touch of the supernatural, The Bear and the Nightingale entranced me from the first pages and I just fell in love with everything about the story. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book, The Girl in the Tower, and was thrilled to be approved for an advanced copy to review on my blog.

I didn’t think it was possible to top the gorgeous storytelling in the first book, but Arden proved me wrong. As much as I adored The Bear and the Nightingale, I thought The Girl in the Tower was even more amazing! It has all of the same wonderful elements as the first book – the magic, the Russian folklore, beloved characters like Vasya, her horse Solovey, and the Frost Demon. But then, there’s just also so much more to love.

In The Girl in the Tower, Vasya has really come into her own in terms of character growth. She is still a free spirit who refuses to bow down and do what society expects young women to do, but now she is also more mature and a bit wiser because of what she went through in the first book.

The Girl in the Tower picks up right where The Bear and the Nightingale left off. Because of what happened to Vasya in the first book, there are rumors swirling around her village that she is a witch. Faced with the choices before her – either marrying someone she doesn’t love or being sent to live in a convent -- Vasya decides to create her own destiny and runs away from home. When the story opens, we meet Vasya traveling, disguised as a boy, with only her horse, Solovey, by her side.

The roads she travels on are rugged and unsafe, but Vasya’s journey ultimately takes her to Moscow where she is reunited with her monk brother, Sasha; her sister, Olga, who is now a princess; and her cousin Dmitrii, who is the Crown Prince of Moscow. Desperately trying to conceal her true identity, Vasya gets caught up in a web of deception, lies, and political unrest and finds herself faced with extremely dangerous choices everywhere she turns.

How will she get out of her predicament and what will happen to her if her true identity is revealed?

LIKES

As with the first book, the atmospheric quality of The Girl in the Tower was one of my favorite parts of the novel. As soon as I began reading, I felt as though I had been transported to Vasya’s world. Arden masterfully paints a medieval Russian landscape and skillfully dots this landscape with a fascinating mix of supernatural elements and Russian folklore. Her descriptions are so vivid that I could practically hear the snow crunching under Solovey’s hooves as he and Vasya traversed the snowy landscape, just as I could easily envision the tiny magical spirit guardians hidden in each building Vasya entered.

Vasya is of course still a major favorite of mine. I admire her bravery and her feistiness and the fact that she doesn’t want to be forced into marriage or into a convent. She has no interest in society’s expectations for women and, instead, wants to be an adventurer and travel the world. Vasya has a spirit that cannot be tamed, and I couldn’t help but cheer her on, even though I know it’s likely to be dangerous for her.

In addition to Vasya, another favorite character of mine is her stallion, Solovey. Solovey and Vasya can communicate with each other, and some of their exchanges are truly hilarious. I love Solovey for his loyalty, his sassiness, and for his fierceness. You’ll want a Solovey of your very own after reading this story. He’s the perfect companion for Vasya.

And, of course, I can’t leave out an unexpected favorite character, Morozko, the Frost Demon. Arden adds layers and layers of complexity to Morozko in this second book and I just fell in love with him even more than I did in the first book. The details of his history, along with his connection to Vasya, are what truly take this story to the next level, and even though I probably shouldn’t ship Vasya and Morozko, I totally do. I just can’t get enough of the two of them together!
I also loved that this story seemed a little darker and a little more grounded in reality than the first story because of the focus on political unrest in Moscow. It added a layer of danger and intrigue that really made for an exciting and fast-paced read.

DISLIKES/ISSUES

The only issue I had while reading this book was that it started out a little slow for me. It may have been because it took a few pages to actually get to Vasya’s story, but I’m actually going to chalk it up as a personal issue because I was trying to start the book while riding on a train and was constantly distracted. Once I got home and continued reading where there were less distractions, I devoured the rest of the book in less than 24 hours.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Girl in the Tower is a tale that is beautiful yet dark, enchanting yet also horrifying. With its gorgeous prose, memorable characters, and intricate storytelling, it has also secured itself a spot on my Top Reads of 2017 list. Katherine Arden has truly captivated me with this series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the final installment. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a strong, feisty, independent heroine and good solid storytelling, as well as to anyone who is interested in Russian folklore. You won’t be disappointed!

RATING: 5 STARS

This is the sequel to The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden, the second of The Winternight Trilogy. This novel follows Vasya, the daughter of a country prince in what is now Russia hundreds of years ago. Villages are burning, and Vasya sees demons (different from what the western world thinks of demons).

And you don't HAVE to read the first book. I didn't (yet). And I loved this book. (I think the reason that I tried to listen to this one, and the reader just... I couldn't get through them.)

This book entrenches you into the Rus culture, and this author knows how to do this! I understood all of the references. The writing honestly makes me want to go find more Russian literature, or Russian inspired literature.

This novel has adventure, romance, family, and lies. This story takes you on an adventure.

Anyone who enjoys historical fiction, fantasy based on actual myths, subtle love stories, and sword and fighting should give this novel a chance. And if you don't like any of those things, to the point of them ruining a story for you, maybe don't.

This is one of the best books I have read lately. I will put that out there.

I don't know what genre this is generally put in, but I would put it into literary fiction or fantasy.

After the events of the first book, Vasya knows that she can't stay in her small town. She bridles her horse, Solovey, and takes off to finally have the adventure that she's always longed for. Soon after, she discovers a village that's been burned to the ground. Many of the villagers are dead and some have had their daughters taken. Vasya can find no trace of these bandits but doesn't let that stop her. As she continues on her journey, she'll find herself embroiled in Moscow politics and longing for a life that she may never be able to have.

This was a great follow-up to the The Bear and the Nightingale. It was very much in the same tone and the characters were just as real and complex as they were before (if not more so). Vasya isn't always the most likable character, but she does make sense. She lives in a different time where women were just expected to stay in their towers all day, every day. Instead, Vasya longs for adventure and the reader can feel that throughout the book. She's so conflicted because she doesn't like lying by pretending to be a boy, but she knows that she wouldn't be as helpful (or happy) if everyone knew she was a girl.

As far as other characters go, we get to know Morozko, Sasha, and Olga a lot better than we did in the first book in addition to new characters like Dimitrii and Olga's daughter. This gives the reader a really diverse and interesting cast of secondary characters to get to know. I, personally, was not in favor of the priest from her hometown coming back. He's just so...creepy. But I guess that's the point.

The plot is slow-moving, but not boring by any means. I didn't necessarily feel compelled to pick the book back up after I was done reading for the day, but I think that says more about my own reading preferences than the book itself. Arden is a talented writer and that shows through in this book just as it did in the first one. There's the smallest little bud of a romance that blossoms in this book. I'll be honest, I was wanting this romance from the first book, so I'm glad it's getting explored and I hope we see more of it in the third book.

If you're interested in historical Russia, Russian fairytales, or just love beautifully written (albeit slow-moving) books, then I would definitely recommend this book. I look forward to seeing what Arden comes out with next.

Overall Rating: 4
Language: None
Violence: Heavy, but not SUPER descriptive
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate

Note: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

*Some spoilers ahead for The Bear in the Nightingale, the first in the Winternight Trilogy*

In her follow up to 2016’s The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden once again breathes magic and excitement into Russian folk and fairy tales. Picking up where the first book in the Winternight Trilogy left off, Vasilisa Petrovna is compelled to leave home lest she either be sent to a convent or tried as a witch. While travelling with Solovey (and a little help from Morozko), Vasya soon discovers it’s not quite so easy to be a woman with agency in the world. But a new threat is beginning to emerge: villages are being burned, young girls stolen from their families, and a new Prince has appeared in Moscow. Vasya, her monk brother Sasha, and her sister Olga get tangled in the social and gender politics of Moscow while facing choices between love and duty. Even more enticing than the first book, The Girl in the Tower is a welcomed return Russian winters and nights, now with nods to historical figures and events of the 14th century. Vasya’s relationship with the Frost King from the first book finds finds more depth, while new characters - and new myths - are added in just the right balance. I often struggle with sequels and series, but with a tight narrative, compelling adventure, and new thematic exploration, The Girl in the Tower is a very welcome winter night read.

*I received a copy of this book from Del Rey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved the main character, both her resourcefulness and her weaknesses. The description of the area, people and animals in the story were well written, without being wordy. The story pulled me in from the beginning, and never did I get bored with the story. The Russian names were sometimes tough to follow at the beginning, but they did not hinder the story line and the explanation of names/nicknames in the back of the book helped.
I wish to thank to the publisher and the author for providing a free copy of the ebook via Netgalley and a hardcopy from Bookish in exchange for an honest review.

*An ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I am really, really enjoying this series. This second installment is much more action-packed than the first. Vasya is now a grown woman (at 17 or so) and is struggling to find her place in a world that would burn her as a witch, shut her up in a convent, or marry her off into a life of isolation and confinement, all of which she rejects. Life in Moscow is very different from her little rural village and this sets the stage for twists and turns that made the story very exciting, although I deliberately took my time reading this one.

I was a little afraid there would be less of the Russian folklore and fairytale that made the first book so special, in exchange for palace intrigue and real life dramas, but the magic was ever-present, and Arden weaves in even more folklore in pretty unexpected ways.

The stage is now set for the third book and I'm really looking forward to reading it!

I loved the first in this series, so I am having a hard time describing how I feel about this one. I loved it so much more and felt like the first really set the scene for this book. It was dark, twisty, inspiring, wild, I mean really you could throw whatever adjective you wanted in here and it would probably work. I loved following Vasya and her commitment to staying as true to herself as she could even when she was struggling with her own identity. She was brave and she showed that the love for your family knows no bounds. I am eagerly waiting for the next in the series.....

The second book in Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy is amazing! I liked her first book, The Bear and the Nightingale, but with The Girl in the Tower, Arden has hit the sweet spot in fairy tale fiction. This is one of my favorite novels of the year.

This one checked all the boxes for me. It was intense, exciting and dangerous. In this novel, Vasya leaves her home after her father dies and the villagers accuse her of being a witch. With her faithful horse, Solovey, she sets off to see the world and have adventures. Her travel is filled with danger and Morozko returns to help Vasya when things get precarious.

Of course, no fairy tale is complete without a bit of romance and a villain, which Arden wonderfully delivers. This was such a pleasure to read. I especially loved the relationship between Vasya and her stallion, Solovey.

I think the story would work well as a stand alone, but readers will enjoy it so much more if they have read The Bear and the Nightingale. I will definitely be reading The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy #3) when it is released in 2018.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl in the Tower is mystical and intriguing. As a continuation of Vasya’s story, it was engaging and flowed nicely. If you loved The Bear and the Nightingale, you will love this one.

My first thoughts for this one were of slight boredom and confusion (and my review may reflect said thoughts). It took me about 30% of the book before I really got in to it. It relied heavily on knowledge of Russian folk tales and gave little explanation. But, having thought about it some more, I found that I could put those thoughts aside when looking at the story as a whole.

Between book 1 and book 2, the story did seem to flow pretty seamlessly. My initial thoughts on book 1 were that I would have liked to have more Russian folklore and less Christianity. Book 2 gave me the same thoughts, and I realized that this is meant to weigh heavily in the story to show the oppression of the Russian culture. This is what drove the story and drove Vasya to fight for the things she believed in. This is what made the appearance of Morozco, and the folklore creatures so important and fascinating!

Once the plot picked up for me, it had some interesting twists. I was introduced to a few more creatures, and another character from Russian folklore. It had moments of magic and intrigue, and some engaging characters.

Vasya still held the lead in the story. She was brave and determined. She was caring and stubborn, and still made some dumb choices. She was engaging and fascinating though.

Vasya’s siblings, Olga and Sasha, were wildly different from book 1. They had clashing beliefs compared to Vasya. They were unique in their own way, but sometimes still annoyed me with their choices.

I still don’t feel like I enjoyed this one as much as the first. I enjoyed it enough to look forward to book 3 when it is released, but it just doesn’t get the rating that I gave book 1. It had really nice moments of mysticism and excitement, and had action and unpredictable plot twists, but I would have liked it to have more world and history building, and more enjoyable characters. I also realized that I couldn’t enjoy this one as much because of my lack of knowledge of the Russian folktales. That is why I was able to think a little more positively about the book when putting my confused thoughts aside (my initial rating was at a 2).


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Girl in the Tower is the second book in Katherine Arden's The Winternight Trilogy. This one follows the adventures of Vasya, the young woman who was the heroine in The Bear and the Nightingale. This time around the story is set in the holdings of the Grand Prince in Moscow where she has reunited with her brother Sasha and sister Olga in the most inauspicious and dangerous way. Vasya still finds herself in the midst of secrecy, sinister evil and a story about her bloodline is slowly revealed. Like the first book, The Girl in the Tower is full of magic, historical facts and the old world charm of those long lost tales about magic, spirits and the old way of life. Fans of the first book will definitely want to continue reading about Vasya's adventures and her discovery of who she truly is. Cannot wait for the third book!

When I started reading the first novel, I was enchanted by this world that captures real elements of a culture that many people ignore. I learned of creatures and a history that is largely ignored in American society. In the next novel, Katherine Arden does it again. She brings to life a culture while creating characters that are memorable and unique. The story is exciting and takes place immediately following the first novel; you are in for a ride and you won’t forget it.