I just got done reading this series, and I am so sad that Vasya's story has come to an end! This series was amazing.

If I could only say one thing about this series, I would definitely borrow the sentiment that stuck out to me most when I was reading other reviews of this book:

This is why I read.

This book was unique and inspiring and funny and sad and insightful and creative, and a whole lot of other things, all wound up into one amazing work of fiction.

If you have not read the first 2 books, I recommend starting with my review of The Bear and the Nightengale (book #1) or The Girl in the Tower (book #2).

This book starts off right where The Girl in the Tower ended. Dmitri still doesn't understand Vasya and tries to offer to marry her off within the first few pages of this book. Her siblings know the truth now, though, even though I'm not sure how much of it they believe.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a perfect way to wrap up an awesome trilogy.

I loved the unique premise for these books. I have never read any books that incorporated Russian folklore and fairytales. I loved learning about them and a little bit about Russian history.

In my reviews of TB&TN and TGitT, I ranted about my appreciation for the author's use of the Russian language and thanked her for adding a section about Russian names and language and their use throughout the book. I will not rant again, but "ditto." 😄

I still 💜💜💜 Vasya! She would be a total badass in today's society, but in her time, her level of badassery was completely unheard of in a woman. I love that no matter what, she doesn't back down and do what society expects of her, despite pretty much everyone around her trying to marry her off or send her to a convent. Thankfully, this book has less of that.

I also 💜 the chyerti! I wish I could find some fan art to post of them. While I've liked the domovoi since the first book, I also really liked the mushroom chyerti in this book!

The only thing I would have liked better would have been to read the whole trilogy at one time, instead of having to wait for up to a year for each subsequent book. GOOD NEWS: If you haven't read any of the series yet, you can do that now, since they have all been released now!

I liked the way the author ended this book, but oh boy did it have me bawling, as did several other parts in the book.

If you haven't started reading this series yet, GO DO IT NOW! What are you waiting for?

The stirring, much-anticipated conclusion to Arden’s Winternight Trilogy is here. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

The scene opens on a charred palace. The Tatars have attacked the Russians and been driven off; an attempt to dethrone Grand Prince Dmitrii has been averted, but all that is left to defend stands in ruin in the late winter snow. Arden is one of the deftest word smiths to emerge this century, and the tableau laid before us is stark and resonant; at the same time, the suspense is palpable, because readers aren’t that deeply concerned about the Grand Prince. We want to know where Varya is.

Varya—Vasilisa Petrovna-- is a badass warrior that communes with the chyerti, which are Russian folk spirits; these specialize in particular realms, with some guarding the home, others the forest, the river, and so forth. All of these are presented with historical accuracy, according to the author’s note (as well as my occasional perfunctory Google search.)

Speaking of which: those that have read the first two volumes, The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, know that there are a tremendous number of specialized terms in Arden’s writing. There are words for types of clothing, domiciles, spirits, and all sorts of things. Although there is a serviceable glossary at the back of the book, I found it very useful to read digitally, because definitions, images and so forth could be called up literally at the touch of my fingertips. If you read the first two volumes in paper and found yourself either skipping a lot of words—which you can do, but your mental movie won’t be as rich—or flipping around in the book looking for things, consider shifting to the digital version for the last volume.

This begs the question: can we read this book as a stand-alone novel?

No. No you cannot.

Moving on, characters we know are gradually reintroduced like a slow drum roll, and then finally, here she is! I love this character. Vasya is unforgettable, and she defies every stinking stereotype. So many authors feel the need to compensate for creating a strong female character by making her tiny, or physically beautiful, or both. Vasya is neither. Her nose is long, her mouth is wide, and as if these features weren’t sufficient, she gets burned, beaten and starved in the course of her adventures. When she chooses to masquerade as a male, she can pass.

I grew so attached to this character during the first two volumes that I held my breath—would it be possible to see her all the way through all three volumes without having her fall in love or have a roll in the hay? And so here, I am a wee bit disappointed, because the answer is no, but almost. Nevertheless, her romantic life is never allowed to define her or alter the course of her plans, which is a considerable consolation.

Tragically, Vasya’s magnificent horse, Solovey, is killed early in the story, and I had to wonder about this; I decided that it had to happen to show us that Vasya is able to do great things without her horse to swoop in and save her, but that theory is shot to hell in the second half of the book.

On the other hand, new characters are introduced, and although I love Ded Grib, the mushroom spirit, and I find the Bear vastly amusing, my favorite is Vasya’s great-grandmother.

Vasya’s mission is to save Rus’ from the Tatars, and to persuade its leaders that Christianity and chyerti can coexist. The book (and the trilogy) ends with the Battle of Kulikovo, which happened in real life. The ending is beautifully rendered, moving, and deeply satisfying.

A surprising amount of this engaging story has historical basis, and Arden gives a concise but specific explanation at the end.

Those that have waited for the conclusion to this excellent series need wait no longer; those that haven’t read it yet should get the entire trilogy. It’s a wonderful place to get lost, providing the ultimate in escapist fiction.

Recommended to feminists, and to all that love excellent historical fiction.

In Winter of the Witch, Arden’s sweeping, Russian fairytale comes to an end. At the end of the last book, a great battle between the sorcerer and Vasya gave the evil priest, Konstantin, the leverage he needed to turn the mob against her. Vasya survives his attempts on her life, only to find the Bear (the spirit of chaos and summer, and the villain of the first book) roams the world once more. With the help of the Winter-King Morozko and the spirits of Russia, Vasya must work to save her family and all of Rus from the Bear’s machinations.
In this installment, Vasya finally comes into the promise of power and the true independence that has been hinted at since book one. There’s also, fans will be happy to note, more romance with the Winter King in store.
The two previous novels captured my attention because the blended an engaging fantasy story with plenty of factual information about the culture and mythology of Russia, a country that many Western readers are not generally taught much about in school. For instance, one thing I learned was about ovens and their importance in Russian culture for their ability to heat homes, create food, and provide a safe space for the elderly, young, or sick to stay. In that way, this installment did not disappoint, incorporating historical battles into the fictional war between the Bear and his brother. Overall, this was a very satisfying conclusion to an excellent trilogy. Thanks to Netgalley and to Ballantine for the advance review copy!

I have enjoyed this series from the start because it sweeps you away into the time of Russia’s transition between old religions and new with all the conflicts and difficulties that involves. Arden brings the chyerti, old peoples, to life while balancing questions of faith, magic, and personhood in a grand adventure with both darkness and amazing discovery. It encompasses a world between times and a battle much bigger than all but a few could realize.

The Winter of the Witch is no exception. It is the perfect culmination of what came before and offers both a harder road and a better solution than I anticipated, leaving me with regrets only because it is the final book in the series. For those of you who wait until a series is complete, now’s your chance to explore a culturally enthralling tale with deep questions to ponder. I cling to a slight hope, though, of a companion novel as Vasya has more adventures ahead of her.

This book contains two intertwined arcs, but the first ends long before the book does. It could have made for a satisfying conclusion all on its own, but when the second arc takes command of the book, it brings the story to a stronger, deeper end stretching all the way back to The Bear and the Nightingale.

The story centers on Vasya as did the previous ones, but she is much more than the wild girl she begins the series as or the witch the Muscovites believe her to be. The chyerti know. They see her potential even when she’s blind to it, but she’s not so blind that she refuses to see when the world depends on her waking up to her role.

Nor is she the only complex character. Whether human or not, the characters live by their own rules, beliefs, and expectations. Some are ghosts, others mushrooms, but they have their own lives. Seeing Vasya navigate between them and her own expectations is fascinating. Her efforts don’t come without a cost though, and sometimes she’s not the one called to pay it. This is a novel where actions have consequences. Power does not equal blamelessness with the cost in madness or regret at the very least.

There are many powerful moments in the book, often around the complexity of the characters, whether it’s the mad priest revealing his doubts and grief in art capable of swaying the Bear, or the gift Vasya gives to Morozko, the Winter King, and what he offers her in the end.

The narrative is one of learning and growing in acceptance. It clashes with both devil stories, and the purity of those who follow the new god and cast down the old. It raises questions about those rules that come from humanity not divine and yet are enforced as though from a greater source. This is not a binary world but one that recognizes good and evil in all things with none innately one or the other. Everything has the ability to choose between the two. It’s beautiful and far from easy as the characters struggle with that ability when circumstances pull them to one side or the other. There’s the same uneasy relationship between old and new traditions with some able to recognize it while others attempt to paint their opponents on either side as evil and never look further.

It’s not just the message that draws me though. The events work out through careful seeding, sometimes allowing me to predict and other times surprising me but in an “of course” sort of way. This speaks to the immersion where the logic of the world is so stable it avoids the easy solution for the right one and makes that choice real to the reader as much as the characters.

Reading the afterword, it’s fascinating to see how Arden blended actual events into the story so seamlessly. This feels like the real answer to questions still being debated by historians. I’m glad I didn’t know the history beforehand because anticipation, good and bad, would have stripped away some of the tension.

Also, since I noted the issues with many POVs in my last review, I need to say Arden similarly uses many perspectives, but they work to tie the different happenings together, building the web in which they’re all entangled, rather than abandoning the other characters.

The book brought me to tears, both of joy and loss. It’s not a simple, or comfortable, read, but that’s only true because the characters came to life and made their grief or wonder my own. I’ll miss the time I spent in this Russia, but I leave it satisfied both in the story and the state the characters have achieved.

P.S. I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy has come to its conclusion and it is a strong finish.

The Bear and the Nightingale was a great start to the series, but I felt like that book could have stood on its own as a presentation of a Russian fairy tale and did not need to go on any further. As such, I was ready to stop at that book. I'm glad that I didn't.

Throughout the series, the reader is introduced to the main character, Vasilisa Petrovna, and her supporting cast which includes her family on various levels/generations along with the denizens of a magical world. One of the greatest strengths of the series is that it not only introduces the cast, everyone gets developed and goes through a personal growth. I felt like everyone had their own story that weaved in and out of Vasya's own story. Vasya has a strong relationship with Morozko, the winter-king, but this is only an element of the overall epic.

I grew close to many of the supporting cast and I felt the emotional resonance as they felt loss. Vasya's close companion, Solovey, is a strong favorite throughout the series, but it is a returning character from the first book that became a new favorite this time around as he seemed to steal the scene with every line he was given.

The writer also deftly handles the conflict between magical world and the human world along with the conflict between the Moscovite people and the Tatars. Armies and alliances are built reasonably. It is interesting to see a war being fought on multiple fronts, seen and unseen. Vasya grows from a small village girl to a leader and force to be reckon with.

It is the Winter of Witch, but the witch conquers far more.

“I have plucked snowdrops at Midwinter, died at my own choosing, and wept for a nightingale. Now I am beyond prophecy.”

This is a hard review for me to write, because I think my heart doesn’t want to admit that this series is finally over. But it is, and this concluding book was everything I wanted. I cried, I felt gutted, I got my heart broken, but somehow Katherine Arden healed the pieces back together.

Where do I even begin to tell you what this story is about without spoiling anything with a review about the final book. This is a book about the bonds of family, blood and found, and doing whatever it takes to protect the ones you love. This is a book about religion and the beautiful and terrible things people are willing to do in the name of it. This is a book about all the different pieces that make a person, and how it is okay to love them all even if others won’t. But this is ultimately a book about a girl becoming the hero of her own story every single time, no matter who or what tries to block her path.

“There are no monsters in the world, and no saints. Only infinite shades woven into the same tapestry, light and dark.”

But I suppose The Bear and the Nightingale is a Russian inspired fantasy that stars a family living on the edge of the unforgiving Russian wilderness. And our main character grew up on fairy tales, but always hungered for more. And she soon realizes that maybe there was some truth in those tales, and she encounters a frost-demon named Morozko who makes magic a reality before her very eyes.

This story picks up right after the events of The Girl in the Tower in Moscow, and Konstantin Nikonvich’s vengeance knows no bounds. And a bear demon named Medved is happy to aid with the chaos in any way they possibly can. We also get to see Marya, Olga, Sasha, and Dmitrii on very different journeys through this pain and heartbreak. But we also get to see Vasya learn new things about herself and her ancestors, while even venturing into a new land unlike any other. And I truly think this concluding novel was damn close to perfection.

“You denied both the winter-king and his brother, didn’t you? You made yourself a third power in their war.”

Following Vasya, seeing her go to battle for Russia, go to battle for her family, go to battle for herself, has been a journey like none other that I’ve ever experienced while reading. Katherine Arden pulls from a lot of historical events and themes, but I’m convinced that this equal parts harrowing and heartening fairytale that she crafted is the real timeline that happened. I’ll be completely honest, this is a hard review to write, and not because it’s the last book in a series, but because I am in awe of what a damn masterpiece this entire story is. It doesn't even feel real that I have this story in my hands, that I get to read it, I get to love it, I get to experience this beautiful tale that feels so whimsical but so real. The actual blessings.

“Magic is forgetting the world was ever other than as you willed it.”

Overall, this is just one of my favorite trilogies of all time, and I think it always will be. This story just truly has every element that I’m in love with in literature; lyrical writing, winter setting, fae folks of all varieties, strong sibling bonds, heart wrenching romance, and girls becoming the hero of their story. Katherine Arden and this trilogy is a gift from a higher power and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

An immensely satisfying conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. This third installment sees Vasya come more fully into her power, with all the mystical, moody atmosphere that Arden delivers so well. The vein of Russian folklore that pulsates through the narrative remains as rich and captivating as any modern entry in the fractured-fairytale genre.

This is the final installment to the Winternight Trilogy. They have all been fantastic re-imagining of folklore but this one sent the series out with a bang! I admit to having to go back and re-read the ending of the 2nd book. I needed to remember where things left off. And this book jumps right in to the story.

Vasya is still battling the man made religions over her beloved earthly gods. The whole book is a struggle between the new and the old. Amongst all the battles and the blood shed are mixed up feelings about leaving the old ways and conforming to the new. Vasya is a champion for blending the two. It takes her most of the book and some unusual allies to get there. But in the end, peace comes to Rus and the wild creatures and the Christian priests are content to share the land.

Now, would I wish for a little bit more----yessss! Vasya and her Frost King---I wanted to see what their HEA looked like. He is silent most of the book since it is summer time. I missed him and Vasya together. We get hints what their life may be like but I would love to see them again in the future. Vasya's family---really would like to see her niece grow up and respect the old ways. And I had hoped to see them all move on and heal.

I am happy with the ending, but the colorful world building of this author just makes me want more. The first books were based more on the fairy tale. This one is definitely based more on the historical figures battling for power in Russia. Great bit of history with a fairy tale re-telling of the facts. Loved the whole series!

I have loved this series so far, and I was looking forward to this book for months. Although I thought Winter of the Witch was very well written, I had to skip large sections. The darkness and violence felt more intense than in the previous books. I doubt everyone would be as affected as I was. (There are some violent mobs and almost-burnings.)

Overall, Katherine Arden is an exceptional writer and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

I wish I’d had enough time to go back to the beginning of Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy to reread the first two novels before going into the upcoming final novel, The Winter of the Witch… but I also wouldn’t have been patient enough to do that with my preview copy just waiting to be read. I’ll have to settle for rereading all three in a row with the series’ end in mind. While I’m often left a little disappointed by the end of a series, whether it’s the execution or the simple fact it’s over, The Winter of the Witch is too satisfying to even be too disappointed there won’t be more.

This final installment picks up the action precisely where The Girl in the Tower left off, with the aftermath of the fire in Moscow and Father Konstantin looking to find an outlet for the frustrating contradictions growing in his faith—and he quickly locates a suitable target in Vasya. Riling up the people of Moscow who want vengeance for their own losses and suffering, Father Konstantin turns the mob to the terem where Vasya, her sister, and her sister’s children and ladies are recovering from their own ordeal. Vasya turns herself over to save the others, but there are other forces at work seeking to spare her, leaving her to pursue a greater purpose in the larger battles being fought—between the new religion and the older pagan traditions, between the principalities of Russia and the Tatar threat…

One of the things that has most impressed me about this series is the way Arden handled the thematic threads throughout, each of which reaches a definite and satisfying (at least for me) conclusion by the end of The Winter of the Witch. For the most part, the final word comes not to the one or the other, but to finding and striking the right balance—and how easy it is to overlook balance as a solution when you allow yourself to be blinded by the personal and the emotions that go with it. Vasya’s conflict with Konstantin nearly kills her several times but she finally learns what he never does, that it is impossible to be entirely pure or entirely evil, but that everyone is a mixture of both in varying degrees. And that the same is the case beyond their human world. Forgiveness too becomes a key factor in finding balance because it is with the assistance of forgiveness that the seesawing of vengeance can be stopped.

I think one of the most satisfying aspects of this novel was the way it built towards the resolution, even as it wrapped up various other threads of conflict along the way. The pacing was beautifully managed as each task, each stage of the story built upon the last, rising to the final confrontation. Vasya’s development in this book in particular similarly builds. Her experiences in the previous two novels aid her with subsequent revelations here that show just how much she’s grown and matured since we first met her. But the novel and series aren’t only about her growth; they’re also about how she pushes those around her in their beliefs and understanding, how she inspires and unites even while she stands apart and often alone.

The Winter of the Witch will be available tomorrow, January 8, 2019.

With each book in the trilogy it just keeps getting better and better. Arden has such staying power within each fairytale she delivers a phenomenon that proves her creativity in imagination of her story telling ability. We pick up right where “The Girl in the Tower” left off, spring time has arrived in the aftermath of the fire and everyone is venerable and, in a panic, which provide Konstantin an opportunity to prey upon the country. What I love so much about this book is how Arden showed such raw emotions of the protagonist doubts and something I don’t see in many books which is the real fear, from the characters. Vasya being completely scared for her own life and suffering through PTSD as she overcomes many challenges. She wasn't just fearless as you find in almost every hero/heroin story but, Vasya was scared as she should be.
I also enjoy little metaphor I got out of this fairy tale when Vasya goes through midnight and she has encounters with the chyerti. Understand their fear of being forgotten I felt was a parallel to nature and our planet being forsaken. if we don't remember that nature and animals are living things like us, they become extinct and we human beings lose our faith in humanity that binds us all together.
Vasya really goes through it in this book, I thought the last book was hard for her but this one takes the cake. She is physically and spiritually broken yet she holds to her faith that is so inspiring. Vaysa is too much of an outsider that thought her journey her family finally except that she belongs among her own tribe and they even starts to see in Marya how alike she is with Vasya and to be happier and safer they must live in a place where their uniqueness isn’t seen as a threat but as a blessing.
The winter-King and the Bear are two side of the same coin and they elevated the fairytale just perfectly. I love how Vasya wield them into her command. She learned how to play the game by using their strength and by stroking their desire as well as getting their respect. Vasya truly made winter hers as she embraces herself as a witch who learned to use the power from within to save.
I truly loved Arden story telling style and everything she put into this trilogy was just a phenomenon.

The Winter of the Witch is the third book in the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. It picks up where book two left off. Things are chaotic in Moscow and people are looking for someone to blame for all that has befallen them. The people focus on Vasya and blame her for their ills. She finds herself fighting for her life.

Vasya journeys on the Midnight Road where it is always midnight and it is more than a time, it is a destination. The chyerti, the Russian folkloric spirits, are drawn to her. Some want to help, some are less beneficial or downright dangerous. She crosses paths with Baba Yaga and learns something important about herself in the process. As the book goes on, the spirits both large (think Morozko) and smaller (ex. Ded Grib) become more and more important.

Dmitrii tries to send tribute to the Tatars. But it fails and the Tatars will march toward Moscow. Dmitrii finds himself in the position that he must raise an army to meet them. Vasya will play a key part here as well.

The best way to read this book is as a follow up to the first two. This is not a standalone. You would definitely lose something if you tried to read it by itself.

I enjoyed seeing Vasya continue to evolve as a character. Even Morozko doesn't remain the same as he was in the first book.

The book is excellently written. I liked the first book a lot. The second one I didn't enjoy quite as much, but still it was good. The third book? Excellent! It draws it all together and sews up the plot points in a satisfactory way. The afterword tells which points are actually historical and which are more fantasy.

Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's well written. It ties things together and the characters grow and change. I continue to enjoy the way the old religion honoring the chyerti is paralleled to the new religion as it was historically. If you've read the first two books in this trilogy, you must read this one as well. If you haven't read any of them yet but are a fan of fantasy with a base in both history and folklore, then do read this trilogy. I look forward to seeing what else Katherine Arden has in store.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Katherine Arden’s stunning Winternight Trilogy comes to a masterful conclusion in The Winter of the Witch, where Vasya comes to terms with her heritage and does her best to both avert…and then start…a war.

I read The Bear and the Nightingale last year. The ebook was $1.99 on Kindle and that’s how I get a lot of my books now. But I absolutely fell in love with the story, the language, the characters, and the imagery brought forth in this fairy tale fantasy set in medieval Russia. I knew the second book (The Girl in the Tower) was coming out not long after, but I have so many books to read that I completely forgot about it. It wasn’t until I got the opportunity for an advance copy of The Winter of the Witch that I remembered I hadn’t read the second book yet. I quickly rectified that so that I could read the third installment as soon as possible.

The Winter of the Witch has a different feel than the first two books, but it’s no less compelling of a story. The Bear and the Nightingale, set it the northern part of Russia, in a small village which still held some of the old traditions, had an ethereal quality to it that started to diminish as Vasya came south in The Girl in the Tower. The Winter of the Witch loses some of that fairy tale aspect, which is ironic, as in this book Vasya finally realizes her true potential. The book opens with Father Konstantin rounding a mob to accuse her of being a witch, and her essentially discovering that she has the ability to perform magic, yet some of the magic is gone from the story. This is a much more political story, with Vasya treading a delicate balance as she tries to avert a war along with attempting to save the chyerti.

This book ruined me. I’ve mentioned in other reviews that I tend to do most of my reading on the subway, and I found myself sobbing several times while reading this book, which can be pretty embarrassing. It’s a fairly normal occurrence for me, so I’m used to it, but I am honestly glad that I decided to finish this last night in the privacy of my own home. The ending absolutely destroyed me – loud, ugly crying.

The Winter of the Witch is action-packed pretty much from start to finish. Whereas the first two books focused a lot on character development and establishing the setting, at this point in the story we have met basically all of the important players, so the action starts immediately, and I mean that literally. Arden’s writing is lyrical, almost poetic, and I was enthralled from start to finish. This is a fitting and satisfying conclusion to Vasya’s story.

Vasya is just beginning to understand what she is truly capable of. She must quickly come to terms with her power to find a way to save her family and all of Russia from mortal men that have been seduced by evil.

Branded as a witch by a mob stirred into a religious frenzy by Father Konstantin Nikonovich, she somehow survives a trial by fire but loses something far more precious to her than her own life. Her unbearable sorrow gives her the strength to embark on what everyone tells her is an impossible quest -
A journey straight through Midnight to find the only one who can help deliver them all.

“But -” the Bear went on. “My brother thinks that men and chyerti can share this world. These same men that are spreading like sickness, rattling their church-bells, forgetting us. My brother is a fool. If men are unchecked, one day there will be no chyerti, no road through Midnight, no wonder in the world at all.”

The winter-king has been imprisoned in a village far away and has lost his memory of both Vasya and their special bond. But in helping Morozko remember who he is, she surrenders both her body and soul.

Together, they travel through the seasons and prepare for a battle that they know is coming. With so much at stake – family and country, men and magic, love and loss – how can one brave girl stand between destiny and the devil?

“Will you not tell me your secret?” he asked.
“What secret?” retorted Vasya, laboring to keep her voice steady. His hands were motionless, but his glance still traced the lines of her body. “I already told you. My people have need of you.”
He shook his head, raised his eyes to hers. “No, there is something more. Something there in your face every time you look at me.”
As I could, I loved you.
“My secrets are mine, Gosudar,” said Vasya sharply. “We sacrifices may take things to the grave as well as anyone else.”
He lifted a brow. “I have never met a maiden who looked less like she meant to die.”

The Winter of the Witch is the kind of finale that I, as a devout fan of the Winternight Trilogy, have been dreaming about! Once again, Katherine Arden’s signature poignant prose and vivid imagery held me spellbound from the very first page. But it is the surprising strength of Vasya that makes this book so unforgettable.

Both her steely determination through heartbreak and her ability to trust in her tender heart establish her as a heroine well deserving of such a title. And her story will stay me for a long time to come…

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/01/08/audio-the-winter-of-the-witch-by-katherine-arden/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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4.5 hearts
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I was excited and terrified to see what would happen to Vasya next.  In <strong>The Girl and the Tower</strong>, we see her decide to make her own way in the world, not wanting to be locked in to the traditional female role of a wife or nun. She learns a lot and enjoys her varied and widened view of the world.

Unfortunately, the world is not ready for her. There are always people who hate anyone different or things they don't understand.  She finds she has much more to learn. And there are always greedy men who want power and control.  War comes to Russia. Vasya struggles, working incredibly hard to help Russia and the magical world to succeed and live together.  It is a viscous, bloody, brutal battle, where not everyone survives. Vasya also has to deal with politics, egos and misinformation which are somewhat new concepts. Even with her mistakes, and everyone makes mistakes, I am proud of Vasya's courage, determination and selfless commitments.

<blockquote>"I missed you so," she said to the horse, hot tears sliding into his black mane.

<em>I am sure of it</em>, said Solovey, nosing her. He shook his mane looking superior. <em>But I am here now. You are the warden of the lake now? It has not had a mistress for a long time. I am glad it is you. But you should have had me. You would have done it all a great deal better if I'd been there.</em>

"I am sure of it," said Vasya, and she made a broken sound that was almost a laugh.</blockquote>

Here's an <a href="https://www.unboundworlds.com/2018/10/katherine-arden-russian-fairy-tales-trilogy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>interview</strong></a> of the author at <strong>Unbound Worlds</strong> talking about writing and finishing this <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/198489-winternight-trilogy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Winternight Trilogy</strong></em></a>.  I've listened to all three on audio and loved them all.  Arden does an amazing job of creating this fantastical world.  Highly recommended.

<h4><strong>Narration:</strong></h4>
Kathleen Gati continues to impress me with her magical performance of this tale.  Both the male and female voices were comfortable.  Her voice gives a slight accent which feels like a hint of the era and region.  It was all clear and easy to understand, even at 1.5x speed.

<strong>Listen to a clip:</strong>

https://soundcloud.com/penguin-audio/the-winter-of-the-witch-by
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I cannot tell you how much this meant to my heart and soul. It was everything I wanted and more. The story as a whole rearranged me. For whatever you loved about THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE and THE GIRL IN THE TOWER, THE WINTER OF THE WITCH combines all of those traits and then amplifies them to such satisfying results. I closed the book with tears in my eyes with the fullest heart I could imagine after reading a good book.

The character arcs take interesting turns in this novel. The reader learns more about the mysterious Morozko and his brother, Medved. You follow along with the Petrovna family and realize just how attached to them you are. Vasya is, as ever, a strong, determined, and capable young woman, and in this novel she’s attempting to make peace between the old world and the new.

Arden teaches some really beautiful lessons about coexisting, and it strikes a particular chord in this day and age. Like the previous two books, the exploration of religion and paganism is fascinating to say the least. It’s a beautiful blend of folklore and the real world, with real Russian history behind it.

This book is my favorite of the bunch because of the way the characters grow, the nonstop, heart pounding action, the twists and turns, and the stunning writing to go along with it all. Arden is a marvel and I can’t wait to read what she publishes next.

If wintery scenes, Russian history, romance, woodland creatures, fairytales, action, and feminist ideals are your thing, then you absolutely must read this book.

5/5 stars and a forever favorite of mine.

I just finished The Winter of the Witch early this morning. Yes, I stayed up until 1 am reading this book because it was just that good. I was fortunate enough to get an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley. This book took me a little less than a month to finish. The reason for that is because I never wanted the book to end. I savored this book like it was decadent cheesecake. It truly was beautiful.

Katherine Arden has a way with creating characters that you become invested in. You meet old characters and some new ones. Each character is fleshed out and it's fascinating to see how they all have changed for the better or worse in this novel.

The plot is unique and had quite a few twists and turns. I loved how I never knew what was going to happen. It takes a true storyteller to create something so different and so compelling. I laughed, I cried, and I never wanted it to end.

If I could give this infinite stars I would. This was spectacular. If you haven't read the others in this series, you're missing out. This has quickly become my favorite fantasy series.

Okay, so, I didn't really think this series could get any better after the incredible first two installments.

We're all wrong sometimes.

Somehow TWOTW managed to be even better than the already fantabulous first two books. I don't wanna be spoilery...but there's a scene early on with Konstantin and a Certain Someone that I literally just. Well. I highlighted basically all of it. And it had some of my favorite lines from any book ever.

There was a point in this book where I thought everything had been resolved, and didn't understand why my kindle still showed like 65%...but trust. It. Was not done. It was nowhere NEAR done.

This book is staggeringly good. I've been recommending it to everyone I know on twitter and insta. If you know me, you know that's high praise. I only freak out this much about The Secret History and The Traitor Baru Cormorant. And HERE I AM. A new obsession.

One day,,,one day I will write as well as Katherine Arden. (soft sob)

Please note: As requested on the Digital Review Copy and the paper review copy (Keep the Secrets or Beware the Bear) of this book, I held reviews until release day. As promised to the publicist, I am offering a giveaway of "The Bear and the Nightingale" on my blog, appended to this review.

5 Stars and more, if I could give them.

"Magic is forgetting the world was ever other than you willed it."

Readers of my blog are quite familiar with my great love for Russian folklore and my love of the Winternight trilogy. Katherine Arden has managed to take some of the most famous characters of classic Russian folktales and deepen them while stripping them of many of the tropes, particularly female gender constraints, that plague classic fairy, and folktales.

Vasya has never desired a conventional life for herself, and after the conclusion of The Girl in the Tower, finds even greater challenges lie ahead after she is labeled a witch and blamed for burning part of Moscow. Picking up immediately after the conclusion of that second book, The Winter of the Witch finds Arden continuing to deftly mix Russian folklore and the medieval history of Rus' in a way that reflects the delicate coexistence of faith and pagan culture in Russia. The tension between the Byzantine-influenced Orthodox Russian faith and paganism, between family and personal freedom, is perfectly captured in Vasya as she bridges the worlds of humans and chyerti.

"I was born to be in between— do you think I don't know it?"

This book opens with utter heartbreak but moves on, while never forgetting what has been lost, at a harrowing pace toward a resolution that is satisfying, and even at times exhilarating. Arden never lets her reader down- the complexity of relationships and the story she has interwoven with real Russian history are beautifully rendered.

A triumphant capstone to the trilogy.

I received a Digital Review Copy from Del Rey, along with a paper review copy, in exchange for an honest review.

I'm just so sad that it's over! This was an incredible trilogy, and I will not soon forget Vasya. I was enthralled from the beginning, and each book was increasingly better. The Winter of the Witch took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Although I was completely torn apart by the end, I feel all the better for letting this story enrich my life. This was a powerful story that I recommend to all of my friends. I look forward to seeing what else Katherine Arden writes in the future.