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.

A snippet of the folktale of Snegurochka:

Snegurochka knew that she could live forever if she chose, a snow-girl in a little peasant's izba. But...there was the music. And her lover's eyes.
"So she smiled and clothed herself in blue and white. She ran outside. When the sun touched her, drops of water slid from her flaxen hair. "She and the shepherd went to the edge of the birch-wood.
"'Play your flute for me,' she said.
"The water ran faster, down her arms and hands, down her hair. Though her face was pale, her blood was warm, and her heart. The young man played his flute, and Snegurochka loved him, and she wept.
"The song ended. The shepherd went to take her into his arms. But as he reached for her, her feet melted. She crumpled to the damp earth and vanished. An icy mist drifted under the warmth of the blue sky, and the boy was left alone.
------------------------------------
"'Why should I be always cold?' she retorted. 'You are an old cold thing, but I am a mortal girl now; I will learn about this new thing, this fire.'"

One thing that struck me right away in The Bear and the Nightingale was the way Arden introduced the fairy tale to the reader through character storytelling. Not only does it tie everything together into a lovely bow, it is a wonderful tactic to familiarize any reader with the retelling. Not being particularly familiar with Russian folklore, I was elated that she used the same tactic in The Girl in the Tower to introduce the tale of Snegurochka, the snow child who became Morozko's Goddaughter and helper.

"But some say she died," she said sadly. "For that is the price of loving."

It is very interesting how Arden retells this tale and applies its implications towards Morozko, himself instead of Snegurochka. His undeniable connection to Vasya, a human girl, pulls him towards the life of the living. Yet, his true nature is an obstacle that will most-likely could be the downfall of this budding romance.

Despite the fact that I was playing a bit of catch up, it was to my satisfaction that much of the indecisiveness The Bear and the Nightingale left me with was cleared up in the first few chapters. There still were a few small details that left me wanting for more explanation, but I'm hoping The Winter of the Witch will address those.

Moving on to things I liked:

#1 In my opinion, the world building is the most notable characteristic of The Girl in the Tower. The reader doesn't need to work at all to fall into the crystalline setting of this story. The moment I started reading, a wintry chill crept in and trapped me into this medieval era in Russia. The atmosphere of this book is everything. If you are looking for a Winter read, this series is perfect for that! You have (of course) snow, a snow/death demon, wintry horse races, and so much more!

#2 The entire cast is perfection. With such a wide variety of people and creatures, it's hard not to become invested in them.

Character Breakdown (of only more prominent characters)

Vasya's character is the perfect combination of a strong female character, that has some sense. It's a common theme to make female characters rather brutish in YA fantasy nowadays. Gladly, I never had this feeling while following Vasya. She retains her free spirit, braveness, selflessness, and is simply a delightful character.

When Vasya must leave her home, she decides that she wants to live a life of freedom and adventure. Morozko tries, yet cannot sway her yearning. Instead, he aids her to disguise herself as a young man as it was dangerous to travel as a woman alone. Although it was highly against the rules, her new identity of Vasilicii ushered her into the world of men, along with their politics.

Soon, she realizes that in order to gain favor with men, including the Grand Prince Dimitrii, she must prove herself. Time after time, she does. However, her growing reputation is forgotten when she is discovered to be a woman during a duel race with Kasyan.

Faced with difficult choices, Vasya remains true to herself and stands for herself and family.

Sasha: After encountering his sister Vasya disguised as a man, Sasha's morals are challenged. Knowing her precarious state, he puts on a front and introduces her as his little brother. He puts his own reputation on the line as a priest to ensure his sister's safety. (The things we do for our family!)

Olga: While her presence was quite apparent in this story, Olga didn't have much of an impact on me. Her character is essential, as it exemplifies the societal structure, especially among the upper-class citizens.

Kasyan: I had thought that Konstantin couldn't be rivaled in his vileness, but he has met his match. Kasyan, one of Vasya's male acquaintances along the road, discovers that she is a woman. He ends up revealing her secret to the Grand Prince, forcing her to choose between punishment or marriage. Vasya discovers that Kasyan holds a secret of his own, and is actually Koshchei, an old rival to Morozko.

Konstantin: While he was still just as despicable as ever, I felt a bit more satisfied that he sort of got what he deserved. However, I feel that it will not be the last of him in this series.

Other Beings: I must send a little shout out to my lovely Solovey and other creatures throughout this series. You all make it so much better! (And who doesn't love a talking, sassy horse!?)

Morozko: I had some issues with Morozko in The Bear and the Nightingale as I wasn't really understanding where his character was supposed to go. However, his stance was established quickly, and consistently. His obvious love for Vasya is undeniable, and heartbreaking.

Which leads me to the third point of what I liked.

#3 The romance is deliciously innocent, and believable. It's clear that there is chemistry between the snow girl and the Winter Demon. Unlike many fast-paced, no-one-uses-their-heads kind of romances, this one is nearly infuriating because the reader wants Morozko and Vasya to be together (at least, I do!) but there are so many obstacles in between them making it nearly impossible!

#4 The way this story is written feels historically accurate. Yes, I know it's a fantasy tale. However, before Christianity found its way into Russia, the Slavic (Rus) fictional character Ded Moroz (Morozko) held supreme. This battle between "the old gods and new gods" seems believable, as it did take time to convert non-believers to Christianity. Even though this is an underlying theme, these belief systems play a major role in the existence and well-being of the "mythical" creatures that add such flavor to this tale.

Things I didn't like:

#1 While I gave this book a 5-star rating, one thing that I still had a bit of difficulty with was all of the characters. While this was less overwhelming than in The Bear and the Nightingale I still felt myself trying to figure out, or remember who a character was here and there.

#2 This isn't a read for the weak. The depiction given of this Russia is brutal when one is a woman. Woman have hardly any rights, as shown when Vasya is discovered not to be a boy.

#3 Some further explanation would have been nice when regarding Koshchei the Deathless, portrayed by the character of Kasyan, and even the Nightingale. Little to no backstory is given on these characters' involvement in Russian folklore.

Overall, I loved this read. The pacing is fast and incredibly intense. I can't wait for The Winter of the Witch to come out!

Vulgarity: Moderate usage, mainly consisting of the B-word, as well as other degrading female terms.
Sexual content: While there aren't any specific scenes, women aren't treated well at this time in Russia. Basically, the moment a girl is out on the streets alone, no matter her intent, she's fair game to any man.
Violence: Moderate. There is a child birthing scene which is a bit graphic, and tragic.

5 stars.

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Just as beautiful and entrancing as the first book -- a world built with so much depth, you feel like you could just reach out and touch it. I think its tricky sometimes to have a fairytale that keeps the attention of adult readers, and this book did exactly that.

The Girl in the Tower is a magnificent novel, rich in history and filled with the magic that warms dark nights and lingers in memory.  It is a fairy tale deftly woven, that easily mesmerizes the reader transporting them to a time long past in a country foreign in nature and experience.  Vasya is not a beautiful princess, instead she is far more - a woman who dreams, unafraid of challenging the status quo, unwilling to accept the constrained life even fortunate women must endure.  She sees what has been forgotten, beings fading in time and memory.  Some say she is a witch, but she doesn’t know what she is.  Her power lies in her courage and uniqueness and her willingness to act and remember.  Vasya is at once hero and pawn in a game where elder powers struggle to remain and monotheism is on the rise.

I loved The Girl in the Tower.  I didn’t think it possible for a follow up to be as good as the original - I was wrong.  I highly recommend Katherine Arden’s novel to anyone who loves fantasy, fairy tales and the romance of history.

5 / 5

I received a copy of The Girl in the Tower from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Wow! What an intense story, Going through the things she went through it really touched my heart. Definitely a must read

In many respects, I enjoyed this book more than than the first. Where the first had a lot of info dumping that dragged, this one moved quickly. The world was rich, and you got just enough information to really believe in the world.

I enjoyed the further development of Morozko.

However, there were a few instances that drew me out of the book, and that was with the rather frequent use of a vulgar b word. With the rich culture and world building, there had to have been a better option. Only once was it in reference to an actual female animal. I found that extremely disappointing.

I received an ARC in exchange for a review.

This is the second book of The Winternight Trilogy. These books are absolutely stunning in both cover and content. I love that the author stayed as true to the time period as she could with magic involved. The use of Russian folktales is well executed. I am so excited there is a third book and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

❝ Vasya’s lips felt cold. As a child she had daydreamed of her beautiful sister, living in a palace, like the fairy-tale Olga with her eagle-prince. But now those childish dreams dwindled to this: an aging woman, magnificent and solitary, whose tower door never opened, who would make her daughter a proper maiden but never count the cost.❞

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for approving me for this ARC. This does not influence my review in any way, all thoughts are my own!

After the events of the first book, I was super excited to see where Vasya’s adventures would take her, and I really wanted to know more about Morozko. I definitely got more of both and Arden did not disappoint!

Vasya/Vasilisa sets out to see the world and find her siblings in Moscow in defiance of Morozko’s wishes. During her traveling she encounters danger and her world becomes much more complicated when she disguises herself as a boy and earns the attention of the Grand Prince. Despite their disapproval, both her brother and sister help keep her secret but make plans behind her back to force her to live a more proper life for a woman once things have calmed down.

This book definitely does a better job of explaining the different spirts and their purpose–which was one of my complaints from the first book. I liked that because I didn’t want them to just become a jumble of names to me. Unlike in the first book, however, these seemed less human. They were, understandably, less powerful and fading away because of Christianity being much stronger in Moscow and so it made them more distant both from Vasya and us as readers. That was a little disappointing because I grew to love the strong relationships between them and Vasya.

I think what balanced it out a bit for me was that we did get to know Morozko a bit better in this book. He did still have that distance that came with being immortal, but he definitely showed more emotion in this book. He was closer to Vasya and more involved in her life and well-being. What really set it apart was that it seemed more… emotionally driven than just self-preservation. This was a big change from the Winter King we encountered in the first book.

And Morozko was not the only one who changed. Vasya really came into her own in this book. She had a more commanding presence (especially when she was playing a boy). She was more confident and still just as brave and caring as in the first book. It was interesting to see her in this new role because in a way she seemed more like herself as a boy than a girl. There wasn’t anything holding her back like in the first girl when she had to curb her actions/personality to keep the villagers from getting too upset.

❝ Sasha looked at his sister. He had never thought of her as girlsih, but the last trace of softness was gone. The quick brain, the strong limbs were there: fiercely, almost defiantly present, though concealed beneath her encumbering dress. She was more feminine than she had ever been, and less.

Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.❞

Unfortunately, she didn’t have the same support as in the first book. Both Olga and Sasha just kind of put up with her in order to save face. It wasn’t because they really cared about her and wanted to protect her. Although I will say that Sasha was the kinder of the two. He did seem to show more affection towards Vasya and was more willing to hear her out than Olga.

With that said, Olga was absolutely my least favorite of the two. She was more concerned with protecting her image and that of her daughter’s than looking out for Vasya. From the beginning, she blamed Vasya for their father’s (and mother’s) death. She easily believed the worst of Vasya and wanted to be rid of her as soon as possible. It was super frustrating because it was a complete flip from how her other siblings were in the first book.

As for the plot, I liked the direction it took because it gave Vasya more room to grow into her own and it expanded on questions I had from the first group (especially concerning her connection to Morozko and her ancestors). However, I think the synopsis kind of did a disservice to the book. It hinted at an enemy and this threat that really didn’t show up until so much later in the book. I don’t think the pacing was super terrible, but just knowing that something bigger was supposed to happen made it seem like it took forever to get to that point. I think if they didn’t mention the siege it wouldn’t have felt that way.

Again, I really enjoyed reading everything Vasya did on her adventure/quest to find the bandits, but it seemed like there was a big gap in the middle of the book where the story focused more on her adventures than the actual bandits/threat she was supposed to be fighting.

Once the enemy is actually revealed things roll really quickly. I was glued to every page and I stayed up late just to finish the book because I couldn’t put it down. So much happens in the last couple of chapters that really made it worth it to push through some of the slower parts.

I think overall it was a great sequel to the series. There were some good elements missing in this book that I had enjoyed in the first (which is a little disappointing), but I think this book also brought in and expanded other areas that weren’t as strong before and it really helped balance it out.

The Girl in the Tower was released on December 5th so go pick up a copy! I think if you enjoyed the first book you’ll have fun with this one ❤

This is the second book in the Winternight Trilogy. THE GIRL IN THE TOWER is a great follow up to THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE. In only Vasya’s POV we get a glimpse into the myths and enchantments of Russian folklore.

THE GIRL IN THE TOWER picks up as Vasya is cast out of her village. She has two options: join her sister in Moscow where she will be married off or hide her identity as a girl and ride off into the subset. She chooses the latter, of course, and is given a horse named Solovey. Solovey was given to Vasya by the Winter King, Morozko.

Morozko doesn’t agree with Vasya traveling by horse and fears for her safety. Vasya suffers in her travels but learns a great deal about what it means to be really survive on her own. When she encounters a burned down village she finds the people of that village mourning their stolen daughters. Vasya’s goal becomes clear, steal them back from the bandits. The plans don’t go smooth when she ends off running into her brother Sasha, a monk now serving the King.

Things get really muddled when Vasya continues her ruse as a boy and swears allegiance to the king right along with her brother. She has a lot on the line as the forces of good and evil face off with Vasya as the only person who sees the people for what they really are. It is time for Vasya to reveal her true nature or run off and leave her family behind.

It took me a bit to get back into this story. It seems like I had that same issue with the first book. Once we were traveling on the road, I was all up to speed and following the story with no problem. It is written in the same prose as THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE and readers will either love or hate. I loved it.

Vasya has grown as a character and she continues to mature in this book. Her actions has consequences, and we haven’t been through all of them yet. Eventually, Vasya will have to choose. Her wild nature helps her choose her heart above anything else. I love that she defies everyone’s expectations and chooses to be a boy.

I would say that reading the first book in this story is important to understand Vasya’a growth. Her beginnings are just as important as the circumstances she faces I this installment to the trilogy. Vasya still has the gift of seeing the creatures the guard her family and more, and she discovers she is not the only one.

Family, once again, plays an important role in this story. Although we are meeting new people, Vasya’a blood kin are still the force that drives her decisions. Vasya also has a special relationship with horses in this story. Solovey plays the role as a sort of conscience for Vasya and reminds her that there is so much at stake.

I really enjoyed this installment as it felt like a brand new adventure with familiar characters. We still have some loose ends which I hope the author will resolve for us in the next book. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy fantasy and folklore with amazing characters. Once you get into the prose of the story it is hard to put this down.

Just as enchanting and hard to put down as The Bear and the Nightingale!

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.



* * * * *



When I read The Bear and the Nightingale, I fell absolutely in love with this Russian fairy tale and Ms. Arden's writing. I really didn't think that she would be able to top that first book. Boy was I very happily wrong.


I was immediately swept back in time to medieval Rus when Christianity was replacing earlier pagan beliefs. Vasya is a wild and free maiden who was never meant to fit into the narrow confines that women were shoved into. Instead she decides to ride away on her horse and find adventure. And does she ever.


Again Vasya's character really spoke to me. She refused to compromise and get married as proper young girls should. Instead she masquerades as a boy, saves some children and comes to the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow. As long as her disguise held, she was happy but all good things come to an end. She is found out and to save her family, she agrees to marry. She has such a good heart and love is really her guiding light.


I very highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tales. It is perfect for readers of all ages though there is violence as there is in any good tale. This book will grab you from very first page all the way through to the satisfying conclusion.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Fair warning: this is the second book in the Winternight trilogy. There’s definitely going to be spoilers ahead for the first book in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale. If you want, you can read my review of that book here.

____________________________________________________________________

Vasya has been driven from her village after the deaths of her father and stepmother. The options are slim for a young woman in medieval Russia — convent or marriage. Vasya, ever seeking to be her own master, decides to create a third option: to wander the vast expanses of Rus’ disguised as a boy, and explore the wide world now open to her. But the road and the places upon it are dangerous. Unnatural and vicious bandits are plundering remote towns in northern Rus’, and political intrigue and betrayal surround the residents of Moscow. Pulled into the events of the larger world, Vasya finds herself walking on a knife’s edge to help her family and her country, and to safeguard her precious freedom.

I simply adore this series. The Bear and the Nightingale was one of those delightful little surprises you come across occasionally. Expecting a typical historical fantasy, I found myself enveloped in a fairy tale story richly woven through with historical detail and living, breathing characters. The Girl in the Tower stays true to form. Arden’s careful attention to detail, and phenomenal gift for bringing fully-fleshed characters to her tales are undiminished in the second book.

Vasya has become a bit older and harder than last we saw her, but still retains her close ties with the many spirits who inhabit her world. Her choices and their consequences are rarely easy, and we get to see her grow and change as the plot moves along. Her relationship with Morozko, the winter demon is well done. No sappy love story here, but a subtler, bittersweet rapport that feels much more real.

If you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, then you’ll most likely love the continuation to the story. Fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and magic should definitely check out this phenomenal and original series.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book carries on where The Bear and the Nightingale left off. Vasya may only be the tiniest bit older but now she is even braver and also a fair bit wilder.

Although there is still plenty of the same enchanting fairy tale and folk lore as in The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower is much more of an action adventure, with a little more romance. A lot of the questions from the first book are answered in this one but I feel there is plenty more story to be told in the last part of this fantastic trilogy. I'm really looking forward to the next book. Hopefully Vasya will get the chance to have a short rest and get her breath back before the final instalment.

4.5/5 Stars

One of my favorite books of this year was The Bear and the Nightingale so I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of the second book. Everything I loved about the first book was in this one. The folklore and the adventure and the family dynamics were glorious! What I love about this trilogy is that not everything is black and white but grayscale and messy.

Vasya has left her village behind with her beloved Solovey and is continuing with her quest to figure out who she is. She knows that she isn’t meant to be just a lord’s wife or left in a convent. She fights against these ideas by dressing as a boy. Vasya is a hero and that heroism brings with it a lot of complications. The world she lives in isn’t ready for someone like her and she sticks out.

One of the things I loved about this book was Vasya's interactions with her siblings because her family plays a key role in this book. Her brother, Sasha, left as a teenager to become a monk but he has become more of a warrior than a religious man. He is involved in politics and with the Grand Prince. I will admit that I missed him! But as much as I loved her interactions with Sasha, Olga was my favorite. Olga has grown up a lot since the last book. While I wish we could have seen more of her with her children, I loved the scenes between her and Vasya. Things weren't easy but their interactions were filled with sisterly love. I loved seeing Vasya with her niece, who is just like her in personality and spirit. She had more people she could rely on in this book and it made things more tense but also so much better!

Morozko and Vasya’s relationship develops more in this book and it was intriguing to watch. They embodied the classic trope of an impossibly old and supernatural being falling in love with a young woman. There is a definite power imbalance between Morozko and Vasya and Arden doesn't shy away from it and the complications it brings. Even though they're each developing feelings for each other, those feelings are messy and complicated. And while we learn more about him and who he really is, we're not quite sure what his existence really means. I actually liked him a lot more in this book than the last. He felt more real and mortal. Things are changing and I can't help but ship it.

The Girl in the Tower totally lived up to the expectations I had for it! If you loved The Bear and the Nightingale, you're going to love this one! I can't wait to get my hands on the third book! I want to know how everything wraps up.

Katherine Arden's The Girl In The Tower is just as good, if not better, than the first book, The Bear and The Nightingale. Filled with more Russian Fairy tales, atmospheric literary prose, rich and strong characters, and the same enchanting setting of Medieval Russia, this book picks up right where the first one left off. It follows the story of Vasya, now a grown up woman she, instead of conforming to the role woman in her day usually play, of marriage or life in a convent, chooses instead a life of adventure. Leaving her home and traveling the vast Russian Wilderness while dressed as a boy, she soon is called upon defend the city of Moscow and finds the threat greater and more deadly than she imagined. While fighting this threat, only she can stop, she is also forced to protect her secret as she comes upon her brother and attracts the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow.

Part of what drew me to this book is the fairy tales, yes, but also the historical setting of Medieval Russia. Katherine Arden does a masterful job of weaving fantasy elements with real life historical details only a great historian would discover. Blurring the line between history, fantasy, and reality this book and, more importantly this series, is contemporary historical fantasy at its best. It is a sketch not only of real life in Medieval Russia, but also displays the power of story and demonstrates the importance of fairy tales and the lessons they can teach us.

Let me start by saying this is a Netgalley review, I received it for free for an honest review.

4.5 Stars.

Considering I gave The Bear and the Nightingale 3 stars, I didn’t have much hope for this one. I felt the first book was a slow burn for me. It took me almost the whole book to appreciate it, but this book? Immediately I was hooked. I loved it.

This book picks up with Vasya fleeing and wanting to do what she has dreamed of doing. Travel, Vasya and Solovey seek help from the frost demon. We get glimpses of other characters, but I don’t want to speak too much about them. But we hear of fires destroying villages and girls missing. Our strong-willed hero is thrust on a new path of saving some of those missing. It is when she saves them that people from her past soon find their way back into her life and they all become involved in a lie that is bigger than any of them imagined. Again, I don’t want to speak too much as I don’t want to give too much away. But I will tell you this, this book is ten times better than the first.

This book takes us on an adventure and I truly felt I was there alongside Vasya and Solovey. Solovey was absolutely my favorite. He is just the perfect companion. I have an appreciation for Vasya because she is not your typical protagonist. She makes so many mistakes and I questioned every single one of them. Like why would she do those things. But you know what, that’s what I love about her. She learns, and she protects those she loves. The frost demon, oh god I love him so.

2018, is too long to wait until the 3rd book. I don’t even want to wait, I just want it now because I need to know how everything ends. But I genuinely loved this book, the slow burn is totally worth it.

The people in Vasya's village believe she is a witch. As her neighbors become increasingly antagonistic, she is told to join a convent or get married. But Vasya chooses instead to leave everything she has known behind. Disguising herself as a boy, she rides off into the Russian countryside. She soon finds a battle to fight when she learns that bandits are terrorizing small towns. Her bravery earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince. She must continue her facade to keep the prince's trust, but her choices could put her brother, her sister, and the entire city of Moscow in peril.

I absolutely adored The Bear and the Nightingale, the first book in this trilogy. Sequels can be tricky, but The Girl in the Tower lives up to its predecessor. This story gives our beloved protagonist room to grow while also giving us insight into her brother Sasha and sister Olga. If the first book was primarily about Vasya, this one is about the whole family. It also moves the story from the quiet dangers of the forest to the perils of the city and court, where the person sitting next to you could be your friend or scheming to take your place.

Katherine Arden does a wonderful job of holding things in tension: Vasya glories in the opportunity and danger of the woods while appreciating the safety of a city, she can't resist spending time with the frost demon Morozko but won't give up her own agency, and she is a woman who makes unconventional choices, but those decisions have very realistic repercussions for a woman of the past. It's darker and the consequences are bigger, but the enchanting writing will still draw you in and refuse to let go.

The Winternight books are a beautiful blend of historical fiction and fantasy. If you haven't read them yet, you must pick them up and enjoy all of the magic that a good story with wonderful characters can provide.

The Girl in the Tower
The Winternight Trilogy #2
By Katherine Arden
Del Ray December 2017
352 pages
Read via Netgalley

The perfect book for winter reading, The Girl in the Tower, much like The Bear and the Nightingale is set during the depths of winter and you can feel the cold winds blowing over you as you read. 

The Girl in the Tower picks up right where The Bear and the Nightingale left off, and continues the adventures of firey Vasilia. Vasya is a charming heroine, ironically full of fire for a book about the cold and winter. 

Katherine Arden debuted admirably with The Bear and the Nightingale and her second novel, The Girl in the Tower is only stronger. Unlike The Bear and the Nightingale, I had no problem jumping right into The Girl in the Tower. I had a hard time with Bear's slow start and felt that the pacing lagged. Arden clearly learned as she went along and Girl is tightly paced. I was turning pages as quickly as I could, but didn't find myself so beset with suspense that I needed to skim pages just to find out what happened. 

In The Bear and the Nightingale Arden explores the strict gender roles in medieval Russia, and those roles - the literal confinement of women - is even more starkly on display in The Girl in the Tower. 

The Girl in the Tower is a fantastic read for any lover of fairy tales. Grab a hot drink, put on some thick socks and settle in against the cold - you won't want to put The Girl in the Tower down.

Oh my goodness! She did it again. Katherin Arden is such a storyteller.

First and foremost, thank you to Del Rey/Random House for the Advanced Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. It took me longer than I expected to complete it, but I enjoyed every page of it.

In the second installment of this trilogy, we find Vasya engaging in adventures beyond what she may have expected when she left Lesnaya Zemlya at the end of The Bear and the Nightingale. Solovey, her faithful companion is invaluable as he is witty, considering he's a horse.

We certainly get to know more about the whereabouts of Sascha and Olya, and it may not be exactly what Vasya or us--the readers--may have imagined. Being the middle book in a trilogy, the story is full of action, and unanswered questions. Magic is still present but in unexpected ways. I was happy to see more Domovois (I simply love them) and chyerti. We'll have to wait another long year to find out what happens with these beloved characters and (please, please, please) Morozko. I would not recommend reading this book without reading the first book first. It will still make sense, but there would be too many unanswered questions.

Katherine Arden has brought back my childhood passion for fairy tales. Her setting in remote, ancient Rus' (Russia) feels like a historical fiction story even though she's made it clear it isn't. I was lost in the forests and killer winters of a land I've never met. Her descriptions are so vivid and clear, one is transported to the setting. I can imagine myself reading the trilogy around Christmas time for years to come. wrapped in my blanket with a hot cup of cocoa. Thank you for writing such a wonderful tale.