When I read The Bear and the Nightingale, I definitely liked it, but I knew that the series was not opening up its full potential. But I decided to stick with it, because I was sure it would bloom by the second book. And it did! I loved The Girl in the Tower. So here are…

5 Reasons To Read The Girl In The Tower
It's about...

The Girl in the Tower carries on where The Bear and The Nightingale left off. Vasya, a rebellious girl, needs to flee her homeland, because after the events of the first book, she is regarded as a witch, feared and loathed, and she is worried for her own life. She can think of no other place to flee to than to Morozko, the frost god. However… Things get even darker than in the first book, but also? Much more adventurous! As Vasya now becomes the traveling adventurer maiden she was cut out to be.

Reason #1.
Vasya Is A Great Model Of Female Power
Vasya is such an amazing woman! Sure, she’s a tomboy, she’s rash and doesn’t quite think things through, but also? She’s brave, she’s daring, and through her character and her experiences, we get to see the obstacles women had to face before our times. I have always known that life for women was tough, back in the day. We all know that. But do we ever think just how tough? How limited the self expression and the life, when you’re trapped in a tower, and that’s normal? When you can’t ever say what you want to say, or even feel what you want to feel? Not speaking of the boredom and dullness of such a life. Vasya was a great contrast. She fought, she ran, she rescued. She burned and destroyed. Vasya is the true strong female heroine and I love her for that.

Reason #2.

The Slow-Burn Romance
To be honest? I was very curious what would become of the romance in this story. This is not the kind of book, nor is Katherine the kind of writer, I feel, who would subject you to flowery love stories. I wouldn’t have expected ANY romance in this series at all – apart from the fact that the story was set up from the first book and it was sort of leading up somewhere. And I was so curious about where it would lead! I have to say, I am extremely satisfied with the outcome. I’m not a romance fan, so this was just perfect for me. Subtle and reasonable. I will not say more, for fear of spoilers!

Reason #3.

The Pace And The Suspense
This book has done what the first one hasn’t – namely, it has suspense! If The Bear and the Nightingalewas slow at times, you could only say this book was rolling, and always on edge. At one point, I had to stop reading, because I just didn’t want to find out what was next – it was too much. Had to put the book down for a day or two!

Reason #4.

This Book Is More Adult
You can clearly feel that Vasya is no child anymore in this book. If things were a little soft around the edge in The Bear and the Nightingale, they are not so in The Girl in the Tower. The book is much more adult, both in the tone, and the darkness it tells about. I’m normally very sensitive to darkness in books, but this was just right. The ideas it helps express just absolutely worked with it.

Reason #5.

Being A Strong Woman Can Be So Many Different Things
You’d think that if Vasya, a strong and fighting woman, is in the spotlight here, this book says that the strength is only in fighting? WRONG! I was pleasantly surprised to see extremely strong and capable female characters who were symbolizing the other side of femininity – the soft, submissive side, namely – Vasya’s sister Olga. She is no rebel, she does what she’s told, she submits to her life and bears her cross with her head held high. But it’s no weakness! Olga displays incredible strength in the face of adversity, and she only bears that kind of life because that’s the way she can protect everyone she loves, keep her responsibilities. I couldn’t claim that either one of these women – Vasya or Olga – is portrayed as the right one! That’s the whole brilliance – both are right ways to live. Your strength lies in who you are, and there are many ways to be strong. Because of this, the book feels like a song to the many kinds of femininity there can be.

However...

I know I loved this book and it was very easy for me to follow. However, I’ve grown up close to Russia and I’ve been exposed to Russian fairytales and mythologies from an early age. I’ve heard from some Westerners that some of the mythologies are hard to follow and maybe not explained enough – if I hadn’t know the fairytale about Koshchei the Deathless, I might have had trouble following too. So if you don’t have any background, just read the glossary at the back first.

I thank Del Rey and Katherine Arden for giving me a copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion.

Another exceptional book from Katherine Arden, The Girl in the Tower is book two in The Winternight Series, carrying on from the wonderful The Bear and The Nightingale, which was one of my favourite reads last year. Carrying on from where the first book ended, we join Vasya on her travels, where disguised as a young man she comes to the rescue of three young girls stolen by bandits. Fleeting from the kidnappers she is reunited with her brother, now a monk, and comes to the attention of the powerful crown prince. Danger surrounds her and even the powerful Morozko may not be able to save her if her secret is revealed.
This is the perfect book to savour on a cold winters night, ideally in front of a crackling fire while sipping something warm and tasty. The wintry setting is vividly brought to life by the talented author, and the numerous little details about life in medieval Russia, the deprivation of the peasantry and the opulence of the aristocracy frame the story incredibly well for the reader,creating a world that I for one was sorry to leave.
We learn more about Vasya's family and indeed family and the sacrifices we make for those we love are themes that run throughout the book, and once again there are numerous references to folk tales and tradition, something I particularly liked about the first book.
Following up a book like The Bear and the Nightingale may have been a daunting task, and as a reader I was certainly nervous that it would not live up to the incredibly high bar set by it's predecessor, but my worry was all for naught since this book is just as beautiful and exciting. I can't wait to continue the adventure.

You see, I have always tried to tell myself that whenever I finish a book, just give it a day or two to compose my thoughts before I sit down to write a review. Well, I have tried but it never works, especially for the books
that have blown my mind or the books that have spoken directly to my soul. I can scarcely contain my emotions right now (I finished this book like 10
minutes ago) and I just want to pour out all my thoughts, so the world know how much I adore and love The Girl in The Tower by Katherine Arden.

This is a devastatingly well-crafted tale and Katherine is without a doubt an exceptional storyteller. This book follows shortly after the end of book 1 The Bear and The Nightingale, where Vasya left her beloved families and home and went on a journey into the wilderness to find her place in the world. Of course, during her journey, we will encounter demons, deathless king, bandits, kings and queens, princesses, princes, mythical creatures, folklore, snowy forest, ghosts, smoky cities, a beautiful bay horse, a firebird, a handsome frost-demon and an eccentric maiden. I am totally and utterly fascinated by it. I want more of this world, I want more of such complex and yet pure and beautiful thought out stories.

There is not a trace of deliberateness, everything happens in the story feels natural and has fallen into place nicely. It is extremely atmospheric and fantastical. The bell rings, the smoky towers, the blue sky, the dark shadows, the white forest, the smell of the midnight air, the sound of the snowdrop, it is so vivid and alive! I am reading Katherine’s words but it’s like watching a movie playing right in front of your eyes, it feels magical but realistic at the same time. It’s dark but also light; it is raw but also tender. It really
is extraordinary.

I love book 1, The Bear and The Nightingale, but The Girl in the Tower will always have its special place in my heart Why? Because I got to see Vasilisa grow from a maiden into the brave woman she is; and also get to witness tenderness between Vasya and a very mysterious winter king. I cannot have enough of them. The storylines and arcs between the two have my heart beating faster and made me swell with sadness but also happiness. The pace of the book is one of the best I have seen, the last 20% is full of suspense and had me gripping my book like there is no tomorrow, so good, so good!

I also want to specially mention the writing in this book. I have not read anything like this, it is like I have been transported back in the medieval Russia and read a book that was written in that era. I cannot imagine how much
research Katherine has done to achieve this and what outstanding skills she must have possessed to write a book as beautiful as this. It is so matured, so well thought out but feels also pure, airy and frightening. I truly truly love her work.

To me, this is a hauntingly beautiful story that everyone needs to read. I love it and I will love it to the end of time!

I read 'The Bear & The Nightingale' at the beginning of this year and adored it. I thought reading 'The Girl In The Tower' would be a nice way to round off the year and settle into the winter months. But NOTHING prepared me for how much I'd love it. I was so worried that this book wouldn't live up to the first, but in my opinion it SURPASSED it in so many ways. Time has passed, the family that we know and love have split into different life directions, but so much happens in this book and the best thing is that it helps to develop each and every character. No filler material here, that's for sure!

So - Vasya has grown from a feisty little girl into a strong, independent woman! I loved her! Those that love 'Mulan' will certainly enjoy this book: she spends most of it pretending to be a boy after all! But elements of this trope still felt very fresh and I liked the way that Arden incorporated it into the wider story. Also, more of Vasya's family! Yay! Sasha and Olga were welcome additions to the POV pool and made for a diverse outlook on the events of the book. It was good to see these characters grow! The developing relationship between Vasya and Morozko (complete with complications) was a lot of fun and VERY enjoyable. Basically, a big thumbs up for character development!

There really weren't any faults to this book. The plot was great, the twists and turns surprising, and once again, Arden wowed me with her knowledge of the time period and Russian/Slavic folklore. The little spirits were AWESOME and made a much bigger impact on the story this time around. They also brought a lot of the comedy, which made me love them more. I have to say, I can see some people getting confused as Medieval Russians liked to give everyone about 100 nicknames and so it COULD be hard to keep track of the character list. That being said, I personally had no problems! Arden made it easy to follow above all else!

4.25 stars

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

When I started The Bear and the Nightingale I was uncertain about it, because everyone said that if you have loved Uprooted then you were going to love it as well. I'm not a huge fan of this book so I didn't know what to expect from TBATN. After finishing it I was partially satisfied, because it was completely different and so much better than Uprooted, but the first half part was too slow for my taste.

So, I started The Girl in the Tower with low expectations... and I ended up loving it! The winter atmosphere is magical; the story itself, mixed with the russian folklore and fairy tales, is original and captivating; the characters are unique, especially Vasya, which is strong and independent, and Morozko, the winter king (aka my lovely puppy) with his tenderness and internal conflicts at the same time. All of this is perfectly combined and the result is a lyrical and magical story.

I cannot wait to read the final book, The Winter of the Witch, to know how everything will end.

Following on from "The Bear and the Nightingale" this tale continues the successful formula of fairy tale + "Russian" setting.
Vasya has left her village and is journeying by herself as she struggles with her identity Dressed as a boy . She eventually finds her way to Moscow where she is reunited with hes sister and brother, although the reunion is not without its complications.
The historical detail gives a solid foundation upon which the fairy tale elements of the chyerty (household spirits) , the sentient horse Solovey and the Winter "god" Morozko are "added"
Vasya's need to understand the real, feminine and supernatural aspects of her being are played out amongst frozen forests, bath houses and palaces of medieval Muscovy
The characters of her sister Olga and her circumscribed existence as a royal wife and her brother the monk who is also a warrior are further explored too. Identity and choices are key to this book.
As Morozko says
"every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen"

This is fantasy of the highest order in that it creates a whole convincing "secondary" world and looks at identity and courage/ heroism.

It sparkles like sun upon snow and I loved it ! I can't wait for the next one in the series.

The Girl in the Tower is just as enchanting and adventure-filled as book one in this fantasy series by Katherine Arden (The Bear and the Nightingale), who again brings to life Russian folklore in the medieval era. Book one has been a success for our store and I look forward to pressing the new one into the hands of my our customers when it is released.

The girl in the tower is the 2nd book in The Winternight Trilogy and the follow up to the bear and the Nightingale. The story continues with Vasya, who can see demons whilst roaming the Russian wilderness and she is acquaintance the Frost demon Morozko. She has chosen to be a traveller as she does not want to marry or end up in a convent. She wants to see the world. So with Morozko’s help with providing her with a knife, saddle bags and a mare she goes off to find an adventure. Where she comes across bandits burning villages and young girls stolen from their mothers.
This is another magical and beautifully written story by Katherine Arden full of Russian folklore and historical references in medieval Russia and how Vasya fought for her independence and not became something that she did not want to be. I cant wait for the next book.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book

Fantastic! I liked The Bear and the Nightingale, but this was so much more. The first novel set the scene I feel for this story. Vasya is an inspiring and endearing character, putting everyone else to shame with her courage and principles despite opposition and antagonism from all sides. I loved the world of Medieval Moscow and the blend of history and magic of Russian folk tales.
Recommended.

The bear and the nightingale was one of my favourite books of last year. This, the second in the trilogy, doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. It expands upon the story of the ever-resourceful Vasya and her trusty steed Solovey as they continue their journey towards Moscow. Wonderfully written with further references to Russian history and folklore. A brilliant and highly recommended series. It’s a real dilemma - I can’t wait for the conclusion, but I don’t want it to end. Five stars!

Thank you the Penguin Random House and Netgally for this e-arc.

This book was a whole lot more action packed than the first. It took a whole new step and explored areas that we'd only heard about or seen briefly in the previous book. This installment had a lot of character growth for Vasya, and explored the other half of her family that we didn't see much of in the first book (or only saw when they were young). It also done a good job of being progressive without giving characters from the 14th century 21st century ideals. It fought against gender roles in a subtle sort of way, and dealt with the "that's just the way it is" problem really well (that didn't leave the portrayal feeling unrealistic). This is a world that has a lot of injustice towards woman where they have very little freedom, and that was a struggle to read even if I felt the author dealt with it well.

I first thought this title was plain compared to the title of the first book, however, I thought it made even more sense than the first after I had finished reading. A lot of the book revolving around the symbol of the Tower.


Characters

Vasya is amazing. I don't know if I mentioned this when I reviewed the first book, but I rarely like the main character in a book, and most of the time find them to be bland- but there's something about Vasya, and the way Kathrine Arden writes her, that just jumps off the page. She isn't perfect, she makes mistakes, and struggles against a cruel world that would just be so easy to submit to.

I'm not much of a horse person, but horses are really important in this world, and the author transfers them into the story and gives each horse real character. Solovey is a favourite, of course, and I was really surprised that I ended up liking him so much.

I loved little Marya (as that her name? Olya's daughter anyway). She had a fire about her. I'd like to see Vasya as a real role model figure for her (even if it ended up getting her into trouble).

I loved that we saw more of Morozko in this book. He's a really interesting character, who is complex, and who I'm still not sure is good or bad- but most likely a mix of both (it comes with his title I guess).

The other characters didn't stand out as much, but none felt bland or purposeless.


Plot

This was an interesting read, and I was engaged the whole way through. There's something compelling about the writing style that keeps you reading.

This book felt like it could almost stand on it's own, the only threads that ran through from before were from the latter half of the first book. Most of the first book was setting up the characters and the world they were in before getting into the action at the end. It was nice to jump into this book with that foundation already set. It dealt more heavily with the magical elements that where introduced in book one with Solovey and Morozko, and they were areas I was happy showed up again, but it didn't quite intertwine with the story. While it had all felt like natural progression in the first book, some of the magical elements here were a bit awkward. Anything with the smaller spirits matched up with what I remembered from the first book, and though it made sense (most of the time) when Morozko showed, but- some of the time it felt a little bit too much like coincidence or too convenient. Even though I never wanted anything bad to happen to Vasya and her family, by the end it all felt too easy- nothing horrible leading to the last book. Even this book was a sort-of standalone. If someone had told me this was a duology I would've been satisfied with this ending.

There was another part of the plot I did really like. It was to do with a troupe that I'm surprised I've not stumbled across more often (even if I do hear about it a lot). I'm talking of the "woman disguised as a boy troupe". I personally thought this was done really well and really explored society complexities throughout the book.


Conclusion

This book, on the whole, was just as good as the first. It was faster paced, but had a few too-easy moments (or tricks that worked more than once so they wore out). Yet this book still surprised me, and kept me enthralled all the way to the end. I love the brand of magic in this series, and hope the author can keep this up if she's planning on continuing the series (which I know is meant to be a trilogy). This has a satisfying ending, and could work well on it's own and doesn't leave you hanging and gasping (though I plan to read the next installment whenever I can- though I know it'll be a while yet). A strong conclusion, with strong writing and characters.

Expected Publication Date: January, 25th, 2018

Synopsis:

The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingalecontinues 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.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Review:

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First up, I didn’t even realise that this was going to be a trilogy – so when this dropped into my inbox I was SO excited. I loved the first book and I’m incredibly glad to say that the second one didn’t disappoint. I would like the third instalment now please as this made me feel so many things.

‘The Girl in the Tower’ follows Vasya, the independent, brave and still slightly angsty girl that we met in the first book. I find her to be both charming and infuriating at times, but I really do appreciate that Arden has crafted such a real character who isn’t just good or bad and has some grey areas. There are decisions that Vasya makes that make you want to shake her but you’re still always rooting for her. I’m so attached to her character, and Arden crafts all her other characters with such care. I so love that all of the characters sit in grey areas and aren’t just good or bad, all of them make questionable decisions and no one is morally sound all of the time.

Arden brings us to a new setting for the majority of this book. The whimsical, and deadly countryside of Russia is exchanged for the streets and palaces of Moscow. I have to admit that I did miss the country setting but that isn’t to say that I didn’t love the new setting and the stories it provided. There are still parts of the book set in the outdoors and outside of the city however, so don’t fear the loss of this environment. The Moscow setting lends itself to political intrigue, however Arden doesn’t bog down the story with difficult politics and instead hints at a deeper political storyline while keeping the main story focussed away from the politics.

This is still a wonderful dark fairytale of a book, I loved every single second and I finished the book wanting the third one instantly. I fell in love with characters I never thought I would, and rooted for a relationship that broke my heart. This is gorgeous, and exciting and painful and everything you could want a book to be. I’m in love with it.

This is book two, I haven't read book one, but the story still worked for me.

Vasya has left home, her parents are dead, the villagers think she is a witch and will kill her if she returns. She doesn't want the life of a woman in Rus, life in a convent or a tower. Vasya wishes for life as a traveller, on the move, experiencing new places. That is not something a woman can do.

Vasya rides Solovey, a bay stallion, with whom she is able to communicate. Solovey helps to keep Vasya safe wherever he can. But even immortal horses have their limitations.

Her brother Sasha is a monk and he too is a traveller. Wandering about the countryside doing the bidding of his masters.

There are characters in the story whose aim is to do mischief an mayhem in order to enrich their own lives. These are the people who are set against Vasya, Sasha and their companions. Vasya must hide herself under the guise of a boy throughout it all, in order to protect herself.

Morozko 'Winter King' is there on the periphery watching out for Vasya where he can, but he cannot reach into the city and that is where Vasya is most at risk, and where disaster hits.

I found myself worrying about Vasya when I was away from the book, there were parts where she was in dire straits and couldn't help but wonder what would come next.

A well written tale of the old gods of medieval Russia. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I adore the world Katherine Arden has created here. The things I loved, loved, loved about the first part of this series are still all here:

- brilliant characters with believable interactions,
- sibling relationships that are complicated and true,
- an atmosphere so all-encompassing that it makes your forget your own surroundings,
- wonderfully immersive descriptions,
- a surprising and wonderful way to construct sentences that just sound like nobody else (in the best possible way) while still retaining that fairy-talesque rhythm that makes this series so readable,
- an understanding of the essence of fairy-tales that shows itself in the brilliant way the familiar tropes are both used and subverted, and
- the wonderful setting of Medieval Russia.
- And many more things.

From the very first chapter I was fully immersed in the story as we follow Vasya fleeing her home town after the events of the last book lest she be burned as a witch. Having only herself and her horse Solovey to rely on, this book has much higher stakes than the first one. Vasya pretends to be a boy and gets not only herself but her older siblings Sasha and Olga caught up in a web of lies.

I was not quite as enamored as I was with the first book (although to be fair, that book was one of the best things I have read in years…). Most of that comes down to simple genre preferences. This second book is a lot more fast-paced while the first one created a wonderfully slow narrative with clever twists on familiar fairy tales; this book reads more like a conventional YA-Fantasy (albeit a brilliantly written and very beautiful one). My biggest problem was the “pretending to be someone else”-trope. This is one of my least favourite tropes and stresses me out to no end. The dread this built made this a very different read for me.

But beyond this tiny little issue, I was wildly pleased with this book; I adore what Katherine Arden has created here and I find her vision and her voice beyond exciting. I am happy to have been there from the beginning and I cannot imagine not reading each and every single thing she will ever write.

First sentence: “A girl rode a bay horse through a forest late at night.”

I really liked this installment of the Winternight Trilogy. Vasya is definitely not a perfect character but that's what makes her so interesting. She makes mistakes and doesn't always listen to the advice she is given but she means well and her courage is without measure. I love the relationship she has with the cherti and her complicated relationships with her siblings. I also really liked seeing her as an almost mentor to her young neice, that was very interesting. The twists of the plot I found to be original and interesting and the last third of the book really kept me on the edge of my seat.

Magical. Dark. Beautiful. Fans of The Bear and the Nightingale should love this sequel at least as much as its predecessor.

The Girl in the Tower contains everything I loved about the first book, but I feel like Vasya has really grown as a character. She's still as spirited as always, but older and wiser, and I love it when characters naturally and gradually change and develop as a story progresses.

Here, the plot picks up shortly after the events of The Bear and the Nightingale. When accusations of witchcraft leave Vasya with an impossible choice between life in a convent or marriage, she chooses option three: disguising herself as a boy and taking off across the wild and rugged landscape of medieval Russia. Vasya's journey leads her to her sister Olga, her brother Sasha, a monk, and her cousin Dmitrii, the Grand Prince of Moscow. She soon gets caught up in lies and deception, and even bigger unrest surrounding the Moscovian rulers.

How fabulous.

Arden just blends history and the fantastical so well. Supernatural elements exist alongside the politics and invaders, and the author incorporates both so naturally that it's easy to be convinced that 14th-Century Russia was a land haunted by spirits. Details of everyday life add to the novel's realism, such as the hygiene (or, I should say, lack of) and the dangers lurking in the woods.

As with the first book, The Girl in the Tower gains strength from its atmosphere and strong sense of place. A very vivid picture is painted of this snowy and dangerous landscape, and I was able to plant myself straight inside Vasya's world. Add to this the stifling constraints placed on women of the time, and you have a very emotionally engaging experience.

I am being careful not to say too much, but this book is definitely worth the read if you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale. It is just as gloriously atmospheric and, for me at least, more urgent and fast-paced.

Also, Morozko has my heart. Yeah, that's the frost demon. I'm not even sorry.

NOTE: This review will be published on my blog during the month of publication.
I read The Bear and the Nightingale at the end of last year, when I knew it would be one of my favourite young-adult debut of 2017. Vasya is back in this haunting sequel, with all of the elements I loved from the first novel: dark folktales and mythological figures, a rich tapestry intertwining history with fantasy, atmospheric winter nights where secret and magic are hidden beneath the expanse of snow.
While most of the first novel took place in the village of Lesya Zelmaya, The Girl in the Tower expand on the world building as Vasya travels through medieval Russia. Although Vasya leaves the Russian wilderness for the city of Moscow, the book retains the series’ characteristic foreboding and wintry atmosphere. Katherine Arden deftly mixes historical facts with Slavic and Russian folklore to create a detailed and richly imagined world. The novel will trigger all your senses, especially when it describes the wild beauty of winter forests, or the splendour of historical Moscow.
Vasya went through significant character growth in the previous novel, emerging as a more self-assured protagonist in this sequel. I loved her confidence and the way she independently forges the path of her own story. In The Bear and The Nightingale, we saw Vasya chafed against the limitations placed against her due to gender and station, absolutely defying the role of a damsel in distress. With this book, she takes on the role of a hero in both name and deed, while navigating the time period’s misogynistic constraints.
During the first parts of The Bear and The Nightingale, I became charmed by Vasya’s sibling – especially her brother, Sasha. I am glad to report that two of her closest siblings, Olga and Sasha, have much more expanded role and characterisation within this sequel. The addition of their narrative into the tale also served to enrich the world building and strengthen the emotional bond that I formed with this fictional family. I also loved the way the plot began to weave the historical conflict between Russia and the Khan into the mix of complex political machinations.
In The Tower, Vasya has left the wilderness of her rural forest to a city where the old power is weakened by new faith. The struggle between tradition and change continue to be waged throughout the novel. Vasya is still intimately linked to the spirits of the forest, particularly to Morozko, the enigmatic frost demon. I look forward to seeing how the relationship between these two characters develop in the next novel. Solovey, Vasya’s loyal steed and friend, is also a steadfast presence in this novel and he brings me so much joy.
Katherine Arden has proven once more that she has complete mastery over darkly tantalising tales. Save this one for that cold winter night which leaves you craving for a rich and sumptuous tale about a girl becoming the hero of her own fairy tale.

A wonderful fantasy, set in a dark Russian winter and full of folklore and magic!

Picking up where the first book left off, Vasilia has left her home in search of adventure. Of course, she quickly gets into trouble and she finds herself saving three young girls from bandits. Because girls aren't allowed to travel the wilderness and rescue anyone Vasilia then has to pose as a boy to avoid ruining her reputation and getting herself sent off to a convent. She finds that she likes the freedom being a boy brings

Wilful, smart, brave and sometimes foolish, I was 100% rooting for Vasilia to find a space for herself in a world where women are confined to towers or convents. It made me angry to read at times, the way the women were treated as possesions, like a horse or a cow. If they were married they could leave their towers, called terems in the book, only to go to church or visit other women in their towers. I loved the way Vasilia smashed straight through everyone's expectations of how the women should act, and how she refused to regin in her personality.

Vasilia's horse Solovey is as much of a character as she is. He's her best friend and biggest supporter and steals every scene he is in.

It's much faster paced than the first book, all the build up and the world buiding is done and this gets straight into the action! It still has the atmosphere of cold, darkness and a long, long winter. The fairytales and folklore are still here too, the houshold spirits don't play as big a part but the winter king is a much bigger player this time around! I must admit I have a soft spot for Morzoko.

I was drawn straight into the story, I couldn't put it down and finished it in less than a day. I can't wait to see what Vasilia does next!

An absolutely engrossing and mesmerising tale which draws on Russian folklore and fairytales and expands them into an enticing story. The plot was a bit predictable at times but the characters were all extremely interesting and well-written and their development was one of my favourite parts of this novel. As an avid folklore fan, I was very excited to delve into the world of medieval Rus' and journey along with Vasya, her siblings, Morozko and their adversaries in this magical tale, which, despite its dark undertones is as charming to read as any of the fairytale elements it contains. I truly cannot think of a better read for those cold wintry days than this one.

I very much enjoyed this book. Initially I didn’t realise that it was the second part of a trilogy (the first being “The Bear and the Nightingale”, a copy of which is on my to read pile). After a while I found that I was reading the story for itself and not worrying about the parts that didn’t make complete sense. Once I looked up some of the Russian fairy tales that Arden references I didn’t find this spoiled my enjoyment.

The characters, even the minor ones leap off the page. Apart from the heroine Vasya, I loved the horse Solovey, who reminded me of the horse in “Tangled”, and Sasha, the warrior monk. Morozko was something else, and I look forward to seeing how he fits into the third part of the trilogy.

Aside from this, what really made the book was the setting and the detailed world-building. Vasya’s story, of a girl who doesn’t want to fit into the prescribed channels laid down for her, is one of the perennial themes in fantasy fiction, but the mental picture of this cold, brutal alien culture will stay with me. I will now read “The Bear and the Nightingale” and look forward to the third part of the trilogy

For readers who enjoy a foreign, less familiar period of history (medieval Russia), and those who enjoyed Naomi Novik’s “Uprooted.”