Arden spins another brilliant and enjoyable book here! We are in the same world as the first book, A Bear in the Nightingale, as well as following many of the same characters and sprinkling in some new. Vasya meets up with her other siblings, Sasha and Olya in Moscow with more darkness and evil spreading over Rus’. Vasya’s heart and courage continues to be a force to be recked with. Her horse Solovey is one of my favorite animal characters of all time.

I highly recommend both of Arden’s books so far and can’t wait until she releases the next in the Winternight Trilogy. She will be an auto-buy author for me in the future.

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

The Girl in the Tower is every bit as good as the The Bear and the Nightingale. I love the main character, Vasya, and her strength, determination and love for her family. When Vasya is left with no choice to live her own life, she escapes by dressing up as a boy and riding a magical horse across Russia in the depth of winter. She is united to a brother, sister and cousin who are all unwitting players in a play of lies, deception and evil rulers.
Each character is painted in rich colors as well as the landscape and homes of Russia. And against the austere and bleak backdrop of Russia, Vasya shines even more as a strong, intelligent woman who will do what she knows is right.

Thank you netgalley for this early read! I loved it!

I couldn't have asked for a better sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale! 

TB&TN was a wonderful, unique introduction to the world the way it was in Russia back in the day, and the fairytales of the time. The first book left off with Vasya deciding to leave home and travel around the world, rather than being sent to a convent. This book tells of her travels, which are awesome and crazy and exciting. 

This book made me ♥ Vasya even more! She defied all the social norms of the time and proved everyone wrong when they insisted that she must succumb to "the lot of women" and either get married for her dowry and become chattel locked in a tower or be locked in a convent.

I also grew fonder of the fairy tales and house spirits in this book. 

I wasn't really sure what to expect when reading these books, but I was delighted with them! These books are an excellent change from the other YA books I've been reading and a pleasant change from other retellings.

Again, the author included a note at the end of the book about her use of the Russian language (See my review of TB&TN for more info on the note at the end of the first book), stating that she tried to stay as accurate as possible and "at least hint at complex depths of personality and of politics- when I could not delve into them more deeply." She also apologized for any inaccuracies or shortcomings and even refers readers to two other books (non-fiction) that will help others learn more about Russia during that time period and the fairy tales of the time. 

I also love her explanation of Russian names and nicknames in this book (and transliteration in TB&TN). Before reading these books, I had no idea that Russian names often give rise to so many nicknames. I know in the book, the main character's name is Vasilisa, or Vasya and several other nicknames. The author gives the example: Yekaterina, which can be shortened into Katerina, Katya, Katyusha, or Katenka, among other nicknames. "Variations are often used interchangeably to refer to a single individual, according to the speaker's degree of familiarity and the whims of the moment." This is kind of what I assumed when I read the book, or at least that the nicknames were terms of endearment, such as Aleksandr's family calling him Sasha all the time of Sasha calling Prince Dmitri Mitya when he was worried for him. 

Sorry, if you can't tell, I ♥ writing and words and languages (almost as much as I love reading).

Back to the book... Again, the author has not only enchanted and entertained me with Vasya's story, but she also taught me a lot about Russian history, language, and fairy tales. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Katherine Arden! 

I definitely recommend this book and The Bear and the Nightingale to anyone looking to read something a little different. 

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

THE 411...

Words? what are they? I seriously don’t think I can do this book justice but because I feel EVERYONE should read this trilogy, I will pull myself together & let you all know why Katherine Arden is a force to be reckoned with. I thought Arden’s debut The Bear and the Nightingale was AMAZING! If this author never wrote anything again, I would’ve been saddened but also would’ve felt like I had found a diamond I could treasure for the rest of my life! a lush & vivid world I can see myself returning to on a cold winter night year after year. I was NOT expecting to be blown away by its sequel The Girl in the Tower! not only has our MC grown since the last time we saw her but the world itself has expanded & developed to give us readers a better picture of Vasya’s travels & adventures outside her small village & woods. We last left off with Vasya having no choice but to leave her only known home once she was labeled a witch. It was expected that she’d be sent to her sister Olya in Moscow to be paired off in marriage & spend her days with the other women who live in a tower child rearing & running their households. Vasya however has never had an interest in these things & could never be tied down for the rest of her days. Having always found comfort in “boys clothing” she finds she can see the world without restrictions.

Choosing instead to map out her own destiny, Vasya sets off into the woods on her horse Solovey. If The Bear and the Nightingale was mostly world-building & the fleshing out of characters, this follow-up introduces a fast paced plot while also balancing & building upon its predecessor. Villages are being pillaged and burned, their little girls are being stolen away from their families. Vasya finds herself in the middle of it all as she fights the bandits and eventually captures the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow with her bravery. We follow Vasya as she uncovers the sinister forces threatening the kingdom all whilst keeping her true identity hidden.

CHARACTERS

Vasya- still holds the title of my Most Favorite MC in all of Fantasy! Her independence, self worth, bravery, fierceness and determination not to conform to society’s gender norms speak to my soul. In The Bear and the Nightingale we are introduced to a young Vasya who is considered very wild and rebellious. In this follow-up, we get to see how much she’s matured while still staying true to who she is at her core. I loved seeing older Vasya experience new things and emotions.

”Sudden anger burned out Vasya’s gathering hurt. She pushed back her chair and stood again. “I am not your dog”, she snapped. “You 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?” 

 Morozko aka Frost Demon aka King of Winter – Morozko plays a integral role in this story but it wasn’t until this follow-up that I truly grew to love this character. Think of him a mix of Father Winter & Grimm Reaper, his broodiness was on another level & for some reason I found this to be so endearing smh #dontjudgeme haha!

Solovey – My fave character in this whole book is Solovey who is Vasya’s horse & UGH! my heart can’t contain the love I have for this sassy four legged creature! besides the sass he is SUPER protective & loyal to Vasya which is always admirable.

Sasha aka Aleksandr – Vasya’s older brother who also decided to carve his own path & become a monk. This however doesn’t mean he is a peaceful monk lol, Sasha can be found protecting his cousin The Grand Prince which means swords a plenty. I LOVE the sibling relationship between Vasya and Sasha, moments where he wishes she’d just conform to the norm & marry but then quickly realizes that the thought alone sounds absurd. Sasha accepts & many times admires Vasya on the battlefield. He’s seriously the brother I wish I’d always had 🙂

Olya – Vasya’s older sister, last we heard of her she had gotten married and left to Moscow to tend to her household. Olya has always been sort of a mother figure to her siblings so it was interesting seeing her very different relationship with Vasya. Olya loves all of her siblings & doesn’t always understand the things they do but she’s always represented home for them.

Marya – One of the newest characters introduced towards the end, Marya is Olya’s young daughter. Although she didn’t have a huge role in this book, we get the feeling there will be more to her story. Marya is free spirited just like Vasya & as such looks up to her aunt. I got a vivid picture of young Marya who will remind many of the Vasya we were first introduced to however, she is definitely more outspoken 😉

Last but definitely not least are the spirits aka Chyerti you will find hidden in the ovens, bath houses, horse stables, and door yards. These are perhaps some of my most favorite characters in this world. I’m totally considering leaving an offering in my oven to see if my Domovoi shows up *fingers crossed* 😉

WRITING AND FINAL THOUGHTS

It comes as no surprise that I am absolutely OBSESSED with Katherine Arden’s writing! I would’ve never guessed when I was handed a copy of the book by the author herself at Comic Con that she was giving me the BEST gift ever! I can think of no other books that better capture the magic and beauty of winter. A cozy blanket on a cold winter night is what I always use to describe this book to my book blogging buddies & wrap you up it will. Many who found The Bear and the Nightingale to be on the slower side might find themselves really enjoying the faster paced plot in The Girl in the Tower. I for one don’t mind a slow paced world as long as it’s rich & inviting like these are. Also, there is a clear cut villain this time which felt like the connecting puzzle piece & I just loved seeing it all come together. I am SUPER STOKED for The Winter of the Witch in 2018!!! as sad as I’m sure I will be to see it end, I am confident Katherine Arden will give us all a EPIC ending to this amazing trilogy 🙂

*Many thanks to Del Rey, Netgalley, and Katherine Arden for the eGalley copy of  The Girl in the Tower in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden!   This sequel to Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderful fantasy with beautiful descriptions and fascinating legendary characters of Russian heritage. Vasya is still uniquely interesting and after surviving different adventures, she meets her niece, Marya. The two of them have a great deal in common and Vasya finally has someone she can share her magical sights with, until they are forbidden to spend time together because of the impropriety of Marya showing her face in public. She truly is a girl locked in a tower. Their lives scatter out of control when a secret Vasya has kept quiet is revealed and everything spirals downward from there. I enjoyed this sequel as much as the first book and even more. The ending left me wanting more and I sure hope there’s a third book planned. I noticed on Goodreads that the next addition to the Winternight Trilogy is set to be published August 2018 and is entitled The Winter of the Witch! The Russian information and resources in the Author’s Notes helped with the understanding of legends, vocabulary and names. I am also interested in researching more of this section of Russian history, thanks to the sources mentioned. This beautiful story rates 5 stars for its atmospheric descriptions and dynamic characters!

This beautiful, magical story begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues with the second in a saga of three. Vasya, is a young woman, forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent. She chooses to flee her village when she is cast out as a witch after the death of her father and stepmother.  Vasya’s life choices are either to resign herself to life in a convent, or a marriage arranged her older sister.  She chooses  to disguise herself as a boy instead of committing herself to an isolated life in a tower.  Vasha sets off on an adventure with her horse, Solovey, with the assistance of Morozko, the Winter King.  After rescuing three girls from bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside by burning villages, she reunites with her older brother, Sasha.  She also earns the favor of Dimitri Ivanovich, the Grand Prince of Moscow, who has no idea she is not a boy. Vasha realizes the kingdom is under threat and returns to Moscow with him and the soldiers.
I love this series sequel set in medieval Russia folklore.  The author's enchanting, descriptive prose transports you to a snowy winter in a time gone by.  I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes rich historical fiction.  I am also looking forward to reading the third novel in the series.  
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored The Bear and the Nightingale, but this one was "meh" at best. It starts off strong, with Vasilisa escaping her village and a forced marriage to seek refuge with Morozko, the frost demon. She chooses a life of freedom, wandering the wilds of Russia in winter dressed as a man. Vasilisa then encounters a camp of bandits who she knows have been burning villages and stealing their girls. She rescues the girls and brings them to the nearest village, which happens to be the monastery where her brother Sasha is staying along with their cousin, the Crown Prince of Moscow. Vasilisa is then stuck portraying a man for her own safety, which becomes dangerous once they have all returned to Moscow. 

It seems like Vasilisa and Morozko have the same conversation every time they meet, which gets tiresome. There is also a lot going on with side characters who are not very interesting and don't seem to have a lot of bearing on the plot of the story.

This book was even better than first as it felt much more plot driven. This author brings the setting to life so that it is almost another character (reminds me of Roshani Chokshi). I cannot wait to see what this author puts out next.

The Bear and the Nightingale was one of my favorite 2017 reads so I was slightly nervous about reading The Girl in the Tower. A few pages after I started, I knew that I had absolutely nothing to fear - this one is just as good, albeit in a different way. Katherine Arden’s writing is absolutely exquisite, her world-building is incredible, and her characters are some of the most realistic I’ve read.

This book begins shortly after the events at the end of The Bear and the Nightingale. Vasya has been cast out from her village, shunned by those she loved. Rather than accept her fate of joining a convent or marrying, Vasya decides to create her own path and, dressed as a boy, sets off for adventure. After finding herself drawn into the Prince of Moscow's inner circle, Vasya discovers a mysterious conspiracy that threatens the kingdom and everyone she holds dear.

I loved how easily I was able to slip back into the world and the story. Even as Arden began to weave this new story, she included enough details that I was able to easily recall the events from the first book. As before, the world-building was intricate, detailed, and captivating. The historical fiction aspects were beautifully intertwined with the fantasy aspects. It was almost possible to believe that I could catch a glimpse of a domovoi or other spirit if I looked hard enough. I also loved that Arden doesn't shy away from some of the more brutal aspects of history, particularly in regard to women and women's rights. Some of those scenes were heartbreaking and emotionally difficult to read but these are stories that need to be told.

Throughout the events of The Girl in the Tower,  Vasya grows from a girl uncertain of her place in the world to a woman who forges her own path. She is selfless, brave, and headstrong. And she makes mistakes. Arden's strength lies in creating characters who feel realistic, who are imperfectly perfect. Even her secondary characters jumped off the page. In the first book, I wanted more backstory on Morozoko and this book absolutely delivers on that. I never thought that a frost demon could steal my heart but I was proven 100% wrong.

The Girl in the Tower was an exquisitely written, beautifully atmospheric novel that I couldn't put down. Arden deftly avoids the sophomore slump, creating a story that is just as enchanting as the first. If you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, you'll adore this one.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale.  This is a wonderful adventure story with a strong female protagonist.  The author draws on Russian folklore and history to fuel this adventure about a young girl who is too smart, gifted and strong to let herself be forced to conform to the strictures of medieval society.  My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy

This is the second in a trilogy by Katherine Arden. What an amazing storyteller! I absolutely loved this magical  adventure and can't wait for the third in the series.

The Girl in the Tower marks a shift from the first book, which could have been an open-ended standalone, to what is now a clearly defined fantasy trilogy. The Bear and the Nightingale was a slow story told over a span of years, set in the cold and isolated north of Rus'. We watched young Vasilisa grow from birth to become a beguiling young woman in tune with the magic that is fading from her land. This second book picks up where the first left off, but it's much more of a fast-paced, plot-driven adventure story, with Vasya masquerading as a young nobleman. Determined to see the world, she strikes out alone with her magical horse Solovey, but eventually finds herself drawn into the orbit of her beloved brother Aleksander, who has become a renowned monk, and her sister Olga, who is now a noblewoman in Moscow following her marriage years before. Their world is a political one, in which actions have consequences that Vasya has little understanding of, and she unwittingly puts them both in great danger with her deception, as "Vasilii Petrovich" finds favor with her brother's close friend, the Grand Prince of Moscow.

As with the first book, the backdrop is a medieval Rus' in which Russian principalities are chafing under the yoke of Mongol "infidel" rule, but while that conflict is a distant backdrop of the first book, it becomes immediate in The Girl in the Tower, with the Grand Prince's desire to wage a fight for independence complicated by the threat of bandits pillaging Russian towns. So in addition to the adventure story, there's an element of court intrigue and political scheming that feels much more like rote historical fiction and fantasy fare than anything in The Bear and the Nightingale did. Additionally, the predictable fantasy romance that I was kind of relieved didn't materialize in book one develops in book two, but I wasn't actually pissed about it like I expected to be, since I thought Arden handled it with finesse.

The most compelling relationships in this book are the sibling relationships, and both Aleksander and Olga are given strong character development, with the opening chapters dedicated to establishing their places in the story even before Vasya arrives on the scene. Vasilisa and Aleksander seem to be cut from the same cloth, but he is a man of God and she is a woman of the older, pre-Christian ways. So does this mean that he must denounce her as a witch, even though he sees so much of himself in her? Meanwhile Olga lives a life that is foreign and incomprehensible to wild Vasya. At this time in Russian history, noblewomen were expected to live in secluded households like the tower of the title, and not interact with the outside world. Olga is comfortable in her own sphere of influence, but one of her young daughters may not be cut out for it any more than Vasya is.

What remains constant from book one is Arden's rich use of Russian fairy tales, her portrait of the contentious co-existence of new and old beliefs, and her ability to weave the magical into a story that is deeply rooted in history. The Girl in the Tower introduces even more characters and story elements from traditional Russian fairy tales, and like the first book, starts off with the telling of a traditional tale (in this case The Snow Maiden), that introduces themes that recur throughout the book.

Arden's writing style continues to be evocative and atmospheric, but this book relies more heavily on tried-and-true fantasy adventure tropes than her first novel did. So I'm not sure I recommend The Girl in the Tower as strongly on its literary merit as I did The Bear and the Nightingale, but I certainly enjoyed the ride just as much, if not more.

The Bear and the Nightengale introduced us to a world in transition. A child growing, religion shifting, a family coming together and falling apart. The Girl in the Tower shares much of what made its predecessor charming and engaging, but has a new and different focus. Vasya is no longer a carefree spritely child in the country side. She finds herself entangled in the world of men, wholly immersed in the struggles of society and politics, fighting for freedom. Freedom for herself, her family, her people. 

It’s tempting to call this a coming of age tale, but I think that would be an oversimplification and a bit of an injustice to the depth of the story. Vasya isn’t just growing up, she did a lot of that already in the first book. She’s growing outward, changing the world around her as much as the world around her influences who she is becoming. Her strength comes from herself, but she finds much of her courage in her deep desire to protect those she loves, and her pride is balanced by her care for others. So I think instead, this is a tale of what it means to be human. Discovering the price of freedom, even as you relish it and whether or not you are willing to pay that price. Discovering the importance of family, even when they are being a righteous pain (Vasya is not the only person in this story to face significant trials and tribulations). Even the otherworldly pagan spirits she encounters are a reflection of our faith in them, our need for certain truths of the human experience to have a face to lend them some relatability, to diminish some of the fearful mystery of the unknown parts of each person’s journey through life. We desire protection of our homes (and stables), recognizable faces for the threats that linger in dark forests, and we always, always need to have some form for the presence of death. So Vasya journeys through this story, learning when to be strong, when to rely on the help of others (as none of us exist alone, she must learn to relent her pride a little when it is good to do so) and when embrace anger and compassion. 

This is a wonderful sequel to what was a fantastic debut story, and left me looking forward to the next book in the trilogy. I’ve often found that the second book in a trilogy may be a weak link, lacking its own momentum in the interest of furthering the first tale or setting up for the coming book, but happily this isn’t the case for Arden’s Winternight Trilogy. If you enjoyed the first book, the second will be a page turning pleasure.

When faced with the choice of marriage or joining a convent, Vasya decides to determine her own fate and leaves for Moscow, disguised as a boy. This second book has multiple new characters, and some of your favorite old ones, like a certain wintry entity, that add to Vasya's journey to and life in Moscow. Moscow itself is opulently drawn and the threat to it builds throughout the book. Some of my issues with book 1 are resolved here, this installment is not slow, but I still wish that we had more development on Vasya's relationship with Morozko.

I have received an ARC from publishers but it does not in any way influence my thoughts and opinion.

THE WORLD: It is the second book in the series following rather famous The Bear and The Nightingale. As this book is pretty much takes off where the first one ended we are again set in the magical fairytale land of Russia where old gods and dark magic exists. I must say I was looking forward to being again in this world even more than I wanted to know what happens next! The Bear and The Nightingale was the first book that introduced me to this amazing genre and since then I have been reading many books set in old fairytale lands. Therefore I was slightly bit disappointed when we did not get to see as much of magic as in the first book. I mean of course it is expected, in the first book we learned all about the world and it's rule and by now we are as familiar with everything as our own world but still...little part of me would have loved more legends and old stories. 

CHARACTERS: Just like in the first book we are still following Vasya as our main heroin. She is now a young woman who has to choose to either marry or go to the convent. Of course if you remember Vasya you already know that neither choice is something she would pick so Vasya ends up pretending to be a boy and set off on the adventure. As Moscow and surrounding villages are being attacked by bandits and little girls stolen Vasya finds herself trying to solve the mystery. After a battle she is invited to the castle where she is supposed to talk to the prince. Except that if you remember both Vasya's brother and sister are in Moscow and that of course becomes a problem because she is still pretending to be a boy. Alright so now let's look at Vasya herself. She is not a child anymore and the choices she makes are also not so small. When she leaves her village she ends up leaving her family behind which of course is nothing easy. She also has to eventually comes to the point as to what she will do next. Adventure and fighting off evil will always be her thing but now that her siblings are there and she is invited by the prince Vasya seems to kinda loose her appear. Not that I don't like her anymore. It's just often I found myself not a biggest fan of what she does. However it was very nice to read about her siblings again. 

ROMANCE: Not the center. There is something happening and there are things carried over from the first book but Vasya is still a free spirit. 

GOOD: I liked being back into the world. Will always love it and its magic.

BAD: It kinda felt like this book has a second book syndrome. I read first book as a stand alone and it was great but having a second book our after less than a year...I think you can feel that it was written much faster than the first book. 

OVERALL: It was great to be back in the world but I wished a little bit more of this book. However as it is a trilogy maybe all the biggest fun is coming in the next book!

I was surprised by the first book, The Bear and the Nightingale, and I eagerly awaited this book. I have to admit that, at first I was thinking this book might suffer from second book syndrome as Vasya kept making bad choices. She is learning something totally new so that is expected, but sometimes frustrating for the reader. Still, as things moved on and I became more curious. Once she became reunited with 2 of her older siblings I was totally invested.

This story is a retelling of Russian myth (actually several), we do get a tale that feels familiar in the embodiment of death who falls for a mortal the consequences. It is also a tale of a strong girl who learned what she didn't want out of life in the first book and what she was willing to do to avoid the consequences of her decision. While we are still dealing with the echoes of that important choice she now finds she must decide on what she wants and if she is willing to fight for it. In other words she doesn't just need to know what she is moving away from but what she needs to move toward. She finds her voice and her strength from within and every bit is needed to not just survive a cunning villain but also those that felt betrayed by her choices who also, in turn, betrayed and loved her.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. If you haven't tried this series, I think you should! I really enjoy all the characters especially Vasya, Morozkzo (who will break your heart), and Slovey (her horse! I love that horse!). I also would start with the first book. While this trilogy hasn't ended, this one did not end on a cliffy, but questions linger and you are pulled into wanting the next book now. You could wait for the last book to appear, but seriously, I would just start enjoying it now.

This book is another excellent one from Kathleen Arden. The story is full of depth and power.,

Vasilisa’s journey continues as she leaves her home at Lesnaya Zemlya and decides to be a traveler. In spite of repeated warnings from the frost-demon himself, Vasya and Solovey set out on an unknown path, a path full of danger and cold that can kill.

“Go out into the world, traveler. See what the long nights and hard days feel like, after a week of them.”

“Perhaps I will like them,” Vasya retorted, with spirit.

“I sincerely hope not.”

This path eventually leads her to Moscow, where she has to disguise herself as Vasilii, the son of a Lord. In Moscow and adjacent places, the villages are burning and girls are being abducted by bandits who don’t leave any track. And Vasya is on a mission to find these clever, mysterious and shrewd bandits, only to realize later that it’s all a part of a big plan.

The story develops a lot in the initial chapters, as we are given details about the miseries that Vasya faces on the road. There is news about Sasha and his present life as a monk, as well as Olga, as the princess of Serpukhov. The strange relationship between Vasya and the winter king also grows, as they come close and he saves her life again and again. There’s a hint of a probable romance and there’s longing between the two souls.

“Think of me sometimes,” he returned. “When the snowdrops have bloomed and the snow has melted.”

The plot picks up only after 60% of the book and that’s when there’s action. So I suggest you have a little patience. Once the actual plot unfolds, secrets and treacheries start pouring out. There are fights, races, drama, emotions etc. We meet similar kind of ghosts as in The Bear and The Nightingale and they help Vasya a lot throughout her battle to save the city of Moscow.

I liked this book a little less than The Bear and The Nightingale. But what I loved is, nothing in the plot is forced. Not even Morozko’s presence, The author has taken the time to justify every plot twist (even though a few things have broken my heart 😦 )

A brilliant follow up to the wonderful debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. We pick up right where the first book left off and follow Vasya as she escapes her stifling life in her small village for adventure on the open road. It turns out to be entirely more than she expected and the Winter King can't leave her undefended. When she runs into her brother while in disguise as a boy, her life takes a turn that she never expected. She sees her sister, pregnant and cloistered with the other women in a tower, and knows that she can never reveal herself as a girl and end up stuck in that space. When a new friend turns out to be someone completely unexpected, Vasya must summon all of her courage and, of course, the Winter King to save her family and the city of Moscow. A must-read if you loved the first novel and need to know what happened to Vasya--I know I did. Go buy it at your local bookstore. Give it to your friends..Read it in your book clubs. This will be the book you talk about over the holidays!

I really loved the first book in this series, "The Bear and the Nightingale". I loved the fairy tale feel of the woods, the supernatural creatures that co-existed with the Russian village, and the strong character of Vasya. 

This book went in a slightly different direction, one I didn't like as much. A good portion of the book took place in towns and cities, which prove to be dangerous places for a girl alone. At the beginning of the book, Vasya has decided to live on the road, since her village has rejected her. The structure of the book starts in Moscow, where we are re-introduced to her sister and brother, Olga and Sasha. Father Konstantin also makes an appearance. After some time is taken to establish these characters and this setting, we are abruptly thrown back in time to see what Vasya has been doing in order to meet up with her siblings again. This flashback structure is awkward and it made me feel like most of the first half of the book was just Vasya coming up to speed with where the other characters began the book. Nothing really moved forward plot-wise until halfway through the book when everyone was in one place. 

Once the real book began, halfway through the book, I enjoyed reading about Vasya passing as a boy. She quickly became an integral part of court, and a standout adventurer. Of course, this could never end well, and a hidden sorcerer outs her. Once again, the author spends a considerable amount of time on the harsh restrictions placed upon well-born Russian women. They were essentially cloistered and had no place in public life. It sounds horrible, and Vasya is not fit for such a life. Quite a bit of action happens in order for her to save herself.

Morozko and Vasya continue to dance their will-they-won't-they in this book, and I'm honestly not sure I want to root for them. I'm not really sure their semi-romance adds anything to the story. 

At the end, I read quickly but didn't find the story as satisfying as the first in the series. I'm willing to keep going because I do think that Vasya is an outstanding character and I'm curious how her prophecy will fulfill itself.