I did not think it was possible to have my heart broken and put back together so many times in one book. What an ending to the book and series. Perfection! Is it too early to for this to be the number 1 book of 2019?

Arden brings her Winternights trilogy to a mostly triumphant conclusion. There can't be a trope from Russian folklore that Arden hasn't dared to skillfully work into heroine Vasya’s epic journey through a mythical landscape of pagan creatures rapidly being outnumbered by the icons of an increasingly Christian world. In vast frozen landscapes of 14th century Russia, monks and demons battle for the lives and souls of humans. Arden isn't afraid to critique the cruelty of both ‘verses towards women, animals or those of lesser social rankings, or to kill off favorite characters. Vasya evens strays towards some sex and violence in the midst of her pilgrimage. The poor girl is threatened once more with witch burning, loses track of her almost love, frost king and death god Morozko, tangles with the Bear, Morozko’s devilish twin, and must convince a host of supernatural beings that by following her, they will preserve their magical ways. Vasya is a strong heroine who follows ritual tropes of heroism - leaving and losing family, an intense bond with a horse, passing as another gender, acting as a counselor to misguided princes, enduring public bouts of violence while negotiating for her soul, life and magical powers. Arden mixes elements of Russian narrative poetry, fairy tales, religion, art, and history into a great and glittering work. Her crystalline, stylized prose only occasionally feels a little stilted, with characters speaking in carefully wordy, correct sentences no matter what horrors they face. The ribbons of plot are woven together to make the three books a flashing triptych of narrative, an altarpiece that keeps our attention through fantastic images and the inevitability of Vasya’s choice between two powerful worlds.

Winter of the Witch proves, as few trilogies do, that the hat trick is possible. Three books without any deviation from the stellar quality of the first, each with a unique story and meaningful resolution, but also character and plot development across three books and a satisfying grand finale. Put it like that and it's hard to see how anyone can manage it, but Katharine Arden pulled it off with élan. This is one of the rare pitch-perfect books in which the emotional drama keeps pace with the action, making each skirmish that much more thrilling and devastating. There are also some George R. R. Martin-levels of character death, which upped the stakes for every encounter.

Her third installment featuring Vasya returns with the fledgling witch still in Moscow, the events of the second book still recent and raw. Previously, Vasya had defeated the sorcerer Koschei (aka Koschei the Deathless) and freed the firebird, setting fire to the city of Moscow in the process. Fire begets fire, and Vasya is soon in danger from old enemies and new, spirits and men. She is caught up in the symptoms of a much larger fight, and in this book she finally faces them head-on: she finally begins to tackle the seemingly insurmountable divide between the old faith (and gods) and the new.

In so doing, Vasya comes into the fullest realization of her powers, both magical and not. She braves some of the strangest lander her wanderer's heart could desire, and she gets to test her mettle against some true horrors. I'd say she comes full circle, but really she comes full spiral, drawing around and around the powers she has been encountering since the first book, encompassing them and drawing them into her orbit. Her path grows increasingly wide, even as her focus narrows to a single—if huge—point: she must save her land and her people.

But what is her land, and who are her people? Are they her family alone, those who stand by her when others condemn her for her powers? Are they her allies, spirits of hearth and forest? Or can she and her magic do more, and make a place for her enemies as well? Already in the first chapters she is forced to make bargains with bad and worse, blurring a world she thought was purely good and evil. But it's not just moral compromise that brings the book to interesting places. It's Arden's recognition of the potential for redemption and complexity that really enlivens this story. Even wicked things can be made to work toward benign ends, and even the damned can make good.

Vasya herself has mistakes to atone for, and the road is not easy. Arden does weariness and darkness well: Vasya's slogs made me tired, but her determination made me determined to read on, too. I finished this book in less than a day. It was impossible to put down, sometimes quite literally, and I'm sure my husband got a kick out of watching me juggle a book, a cat, and a toothbrush. The only logical stopping place was midway through, where there was an abrupt change in direction. It's not one I minded, but it was only lightly telegraphed, and therefore a bit jarring. In fact, the first half felt so much like a complete book, it took a little while to get back into the idea that the story wasn't over, even though I was glad to have more time with Vasya and her companions.

The thread that holds the two halves together is the question of the chyerti. What will become of the old gods and spirits now that the new god of Christianity has spread so far and sunk so deeply into the fabric of Rus'? Everyone but Vasya is convinced that there must be battle and bitter loss. And Vasya must endure both before the end to convince them otherwise.

I appreciated that Arden gave subtlety and gradation to the faiths she depicted. Pagan and Christian did not equate with good and evil, nor even with accepting and exclusionary, respectively. There were many men (and a few women) of Christian faith, but some are warrior-monks, and some are gentle abbots, and some are just frightened townspeople. The same is true of those who keep the old ways, whether they have the second sight or not. Arden manages to convey the realities of dvoeveriye, dual faith, in all its pragmatic glory. Her world of Rus is vast and strange and wonderful, barely able to contain all the magic with which she infuses it.

This series made me member the magic of a good tale. I love folkloric tales and the trilogy has so many twists and turns that this third book just felt like triumph at last. Vasya is my hero and can't wait to share this book!

This is an exquisitely-written, lyrically beautiful conclusion to the series! For fans of Naomi Novik and Catherynne M. Valente.

Absolutely without a doubt one of the best books ever. I am at a loss of words to describe this trilogy which others have called “lyrical,” “emotionally stirring,” and “utterly bewitching.” It's all that and more and book 3 has some laugh out loud moments. Vasya and Morzoko are two characters you will never forget. The supporting cast is just as endearing and one of my favorites was a little mushroom spirit. As much as I wanted to know how it all would end, it was bittersweet to leave behind this magical story. Truly one of the best trilogies I have ever read.

The concluding volume of the amazing Winternight Trilogy, set in medieval Russia finds Vasilisa Petrovna being accused of witchcraft and learning that she is indeed the granddaughter of the legendary Baba Yaga. She often must make a devil’s bargain as she finds enemies and allies in both the spirit and the material world. Any reader who enjoys fantasy, magic realism, or (magical) historical fiction should give this series a try.

Love this trilogy! Love this book! I'm always recommending this series to people and I'm going to continue to do so. This was an excellent and thrilling conclusion to a wonderful series!

First line: Dusk at the end of winter, and two men crossed the dooryard of the palace scarred by fire.

Summary: After disaster struck Moscow, Vasya is blamed. The priest, Konstantin, leads a mob against her and her family. When she escapes from the fires of the pyre she escapes into a mystical world. In the land of Midnight, she learns more about her history. Even with everyone in Rus’ against her she is determined to save her homeland from the coming of the evil spirits and invaders.

Highlights: I have loved every one of Katherine Arden’s books! They are absolutely beautiful. The story is filled with wonder and magic. I kept watching Netgalley hoping that his book would appear on their site. When it did I immediately requested it. I am so glad that I did not have to wait till January to finally read this.

I love Vasya. She is such a strong female character. She is determined and strong willed. Her relationship with the winter king was one of my favorite parts. I am not fond of romance novels but I like to have a little bit of romance in my stories. I liked to see it evolve and change. It is not the typical love which makes it even more intriguing. We are introduced to more the magical world in this story. We travel to another realm and meet spirits of the forest. Even though most of the story is fiction it feels very real. However, the author did tie in several important events in Russian history.

The author does a great job of making the reader feel everything along with her characters. I was very sad during parts of the book. Frustrated with characters like Konstantin and his followers. And extremely happy at the end. This book (and the others in the trilogy) are perfect reading for a cold winter day.

Lowlights: Absolutely nothing.

FYI: This is the third in a trilogy. But if you like this then try, Uprooted by Naomi Novik.

This novel was an excellent end to an excellent trilogy. If you enjoyed the first two books, it is highly likely that you will love this one as well. If you haven’t read the series, I’d recommend it to those who enjoyed Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik or other historically-based fantasy novels.

This series is home to some of my favorite characters. All of them are expertly fleshed-out, even the antagonists. It was fascinating to read about their motives, doubts, fears, and ethics. No character is explicitly good or evil; it’s refreshing to see shades of moral gray for almost every character. They interact in a way that feels organic and real–they harbor varying degrees of resentment and love for each other in a way that is incredibly complex. Many authors wouldn’t be able to juggle these emotions realistically, but Arden is an expert in understanding and portraying human nature. I think my favorite aspect of this was the development of Vasya as a character. She is stubborn and headstrong, but in a way that is admirable rather than overbearing. She draws strength from those around her and has moments of doubt and vulnerability that she grows from. I loved reading from her perspective and thoroughly enjoyed her stream of consciousness. Her emotions were raw and powerful, I was moved to tears several times throughout the book.

The novel is set in 14th-century Russia, which provides a rich culture regarding religion in politics. Arden provides insight to the inner workings of Rus before it was unified as Russia after facing the Mongols, which is a topic I didn’t know much about before reading this. The novel also explores the coexistence of paganism and Christianity and the struggle between the two. The addition of magic just works to take these already-interesting topics to the next level; it flowed very naturally throughout the plot and added an element of mystery. Arden’s prose was convincing enough to make me feel like I was there with the characters–the tone and atmosphere were all-encompassing and immersive.

My one complaint is that the plot did drag a bit at times. For the most part, the book was very exciting and I couldn’t put it down; however, there were points that felt a bit stagnant and repetitive. These were few and far in between, so I wouldn’t let this deter you from an otherwise outstanding book.

Book 3 in the Winternight Trilogy, and I hope this isn't the end. Yes, trilogy, I know, but surely we can get some short stories? Perhaps a new trilogy (or 7), centered on different characters? Or even (some of) these same characters? Because reading this, I just so desperately didn't want it to END. Every page is prose-drunk, drenched in beauty, the sort of book you just want to curl up and get lost in. The sort of book that should go on forever.

I won't spoil the plot--it's the ending of a trilogy, so obviously pick up the first two before cracking this one open--other than to say that we end with a fairy tale that's not afraid to deconstruct fairy tales, while also embracing the beating heart of fairy tales. Basically, the very best kind of fairy tale..

Here's hoping this wasn't the last we'll hear from this Russia that never was.

(I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

”‘There will be snowdrops along the way,’ said Vasya.”
-- The Girl in the Tower, by Katherine Arden

In January of 2017, Katherine Arden introduced us to Vasya (Vasilisa) in the first book in this Winternight Trilogy, with The Bear and the Nightingale, and followed up in December of 2017 with ”The Girl in the Tower.” With her third, and final book in this series, she has brought us a gratifying and heartwarming conclusion that surpassed any hopes I had.
In her first book, almost from the beginning, Vasya’s mother, Marina, is physically weakened from carrying her child, but also determined to live long enough to see this girl child born, sure that she will carry her mother’s gifts, her way of taming animals, foreseeing the future and the ability to harness Nature’s powers. Vasya takes her first breaths as Marina takes her last.

As ’The Girl in the Tower’ picks up where the The Bear and the Nightingale, left off, Vasya is dealing with accusations of her practicing witchcraft, which leaves her feeling freed from the constraints of living in the village, while at the same time exposing her to the dangers of a young girl traveling alone in the forest. And so she dresses as a boy and re-names herself, Vasilii, the masculine form of her name.

This story picks up where ”The Girl in the Tower left off, with Moscow in ashes, and the people needing a target to take out their anger. They blame Vasya, with her remarkable, if disturbing, gifts. But if her trial-by-fire has taught her anything, it has shown her that she is capable of holding her own against those who wish her harm, and perhaps that she has others she can depend upon to assist her in her quest.

Vasya is a woman now, no longer a child and I felt that loss in this one a bit more. The whimsical, enchanted nature of The Bear and the Nightingale dropped a notch with The Girl in the Tower, and again with the beginning of this, but it more than makes up for it as the story picks up as it moves along, as Vasya learns more about her powers and her mysterious ancestry.

This story, the fight of good against evil, love against hatred, is filled with magical moments, mythical beasts, sorrow and joy, family, religion and an epic, historical battle. An enchanting tale with an atmospheric setting, and a strong, feisty female protagonist on a mission, which all comes together perfectly in an unforgettable finish.



Pub Date: 08 JAN 2019

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

A stunning end to an exceptional trilogy, this is quite possibly the best book in the entire series. Following the style of the other two books, "The Winter of the Witch" is beautifully written and takes readers through the full range of emotions and leaves you wanting more. The reader both cheers for, and mourns with the main character, Vasay, as she faces internal and external struggles to save her beloved Russia, and in the process grows into a woman who cannot be contained by society's expectations. The entire series is an absolute MUST-READ, and the conclusion to the trilogy does not disappoint.

This is the final book in the Winternight Trilogy. The first book is The Bear and the Nightingale. I’ve read little Russian fairy tales, but I am getting addicted after reading Arden’s books and Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Do NOT read further if you haven’t read the conclusion of book two, The Girl in the Tower. The conclusion will be ruined for you, so STOP. I don’t say a lot because I don’t like to spoil anything in a series, but be aware that you may learn more than you want even though I’ve stayed vague.

The publisher writes, “One girl can make a difference.” I can’t think of a better way to begin. Vasilisa Petrovan (Vasya) insists on her freedoms. She will not be labeled as a female who must marry or go into a convent while the men do as they like and rule the world. She begins this novel in a precarious situation, only to find the Bear, unbound, with no hint of Winter. Vasya must learn more about the powers that exist within her in order to save her country.

In order to save Rus, Vasya must determine what her role is. Does she choose sides? Whom does she help? How? Also, how can she use the magic within without going crazy? Without Solovey, her family, or the Winter King, Vasya is faced with choices from the world of the unseen and the world of men who worship God. The unseen cannot disappear. Can the people see anything but “demons” when they hear of the chyerti? To begin, she must find the Winter King and then build a coalition army that can fight those who are trying to unseat Dmitrii. She’ll also have to find a way to have both faiths exist in one world in order to work together. To do these tasks, she’ll have to do what no one else has ever done, relying on her own instincts, abilities, and faith in others.

I absolutely loved this trilogy. I re-read books one and two before reading this book and saw so many things that I didn’t realize were important. My only criticism is that her younger brother never makes another appearance, and he was such an important support in the first book--he shouldn’t have been dropped. I’d like a short story added. Ms. Arden has written an amazing and engrossing trilogy that I highly recommend. It’s a page turner as you become totally engrossed in the chyerti who hold up Russia. Vasya is a great example for tween and teenage girls as they witness bravery, sacrifice, strength, and love.

Just as beautiful as the first two! However, there were parts that felt a bit rushed to me. Especially a pretty important one. I don’t want to spoil too much, but it left me a tiny bit disappointed. Also, the ping ponging between worlds did confuse me just a tiny bit at times. Overall though it was a solid and enjoyable read. I can’t wait to buy a hard copy!

I received this book through Netgalley.

The previous two books in the Winternight Trilogy are among my favorites in recent years. Therefore, my expectations were quite high. <i>Winter of the Witch</i> lived up to my hopes, and made me fight tears a few times along the way.

This is a series set in medieval Russia where folktale creatures exist, but are dying as people turn more to the church than to them. Vasya straddles both worlds, and fits in neither--and to complicate things more, she's a woman (a noblewoman at that). Arden's prose is gorgeous, and she writes Vasya as a strong, smart heroine who makes mistakes, learns from them, and does not give up. A romantic element is gentle and complicated all at once, and deftly handled.

There is a major heartbreaking incident that happens early on in the book. It's so devastating, it might make some readers stop. DON'T. Really. Dry your eyes and keep reading. This book is by no means a perky, happily-ever-after sort, but neither is it a grimdark bloodbath. Instead, it continues the vibe of the previous two books and manages to be fresh and vibrant and nostalgic all at once.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

An amazing ending to an even more amazing trilogy! Each book is more beautifully written than the last.

Do-do-do-do-do ... so I fought back and forth with this book the whole read. I was bored a lot during the first 40%, then things got interesting, then I got bored again, then things were magnanimous. But, Frost Demon, you make every scene you are in worth reading. I seriously think I would have enjoyed it more if he had his own POV. Like we get POVs from a lot of others, but never my boy! Whyyyyyyyy nottttttttt??????????

At times my issues came with Vasya. I felt sometimes she needed more emotions? I guess? Sometimes, or a lot of the time, I can be a robotic person so I do get that. Also, when it came to Morozko, I would have preferred more of a team effort when it came to certain things. A lot of the time these days, as I've said before, authors are making the girls so bad ass and then the guy seems like a pathetic weakling. I want a team effort—equality—not the guy saying, "let's go hide in a corner," and then the girl is all like, "I'm going to go win this war!" I don't get it... Yet there were some perfect scenes between Vasya and Morozko that were so good and swoooooooon!

When it came to the Winter of the Witch, not sure if the right word is political or if the book felt like it had more of an agenda, but when it came to that stuff, I was just like come on already! I want more of the magical feel I first felt! But don't worry, there are some gorgeous scenes, too.

Anyway, the book was beautifully written. I just miss the whimsical/fairy tale feel of the first book and the intriguing feeling I had while reading the second book. Also Konstantin, the creep, is still crazy! His character is so interesting at times, but I also want to smack him for his insane thoughts. I will say that the Bear is probably one of my new favorite characters—ever. And Sasha I still love more than anything. Overall I did like the way it came to an end, but can a certain character get their own book now???

The Winter of the Witch was full of the characters that a fantasy reader would like in his novels: spirits, demons, earth and sea monsters, the undead, wondrous horses, and death. The heroine, Vasilisa Petrovna, was a warrior from early childhood. Her newly discovered magical skills caused her family to want to ostracize her from the world for her own safety. Headstrong, she went into the world disguised as a boy to face rage, terror, and grief in her battle to conquer the great and terrible spirits who were harming Russia.

Readers will find this book to be an amazing ending to its’ series for despite all Vasya’s hardships of loss and injuries, she found romance and contentment in her life.

My review was based an ARC that was provided by the publisher Ballantine Books via Netgalley.