The Brothers Grimm appropriated many of their classic fairytales from tales handed down all over the world. Stories told to entertain, scare children into good behavior, and make us believe in magic. Just maybe, with a little help from our fairy godmother, things might turn out alright.

My favorite Russian fairytale growing up was the Twelve Dancing Princesses. (It’s deceptive and a little morbid in retrospect, but there’s no accounting for logic or taste in a seven year old who wanted to stay up all night and dance.) Maybe it was the extremely long and extremely harsh winters, but Russian fairytales are made up of extremes in color, fantasy, violence, and a pantheon of characters which have so much personality, in and of themselves, that they seem to wander in and out of each other’s stories. The Bear and The Nightingale is an amalgamation of multiple tales and characters into one, cohesive story. Author Katherine Arden has clearly done a great deal of research to craft an original story which stays true to the Russian roots of each character.

I read The Bear and The Nightingale next to the fire over a couple of cold, snowy days. Even if I had read it in the heat of August, I still would have felt the bitter winds and deep snow drifts that fueled the story’s action and motivated its characters. Arden’s writing is expressive and languid. That slow pace and focus on multiple characters at once will not appeal to every reader. My largest criticism was the seemingly random use of multiple Russian words, including nicknaming and renaming of core characters. There is a glossary in the back, but if you stop and flip back and forth to look words up, it breaks the flow of the story. Most of the time I just took them contextually.

You can’t have winter without Jack Frost and he is right at that beginning of the book as part of a story within a story. The Russian version of Jack Frost “Morozko” is sadly no boyish, Chris Pine from Rise of the Guardians, but not as old as Robert Pine either—more like Michael Shanks. (Sorry, I’ve been binge watching Saving Hope.) He’s written here as a mature character, but appealing. We get the sense that because he’s timeless, he could appear as any age. Even though we don’t see him again until near the end, his presence is felt all the way through.

Vasilisa, our heroine, is a wonderfully unpretentious character. She’s just not ruffled by anything, however odd it may be. Talking to house spirits and horses is as natural to her as talking to her family members. She pushes back against limits, but in her heart always wants to do the right thing. Truly, she is her mother’s daughter and at home in her wild surroundings of northern Russia.

The Bear and the Nightingale is not a romance. Marriage is largely a pragmatic thing in this harsh world, consolidating power and keeping secrets. The difference between lust and love is contrasted through the lives of this ensemble of characters and manifest in many ways. The symbolism was beautifully done and not pushed in the reader’s face, letting them take what they will from the consequences of each character’s choices.

There’s a rumor floating around that this will be the first in a trilogy. While the story does have a solid conclusion, there are many unanswered questions that I look forward to seeing Arden address. While we’re waiting, there is a prologue on Arden’s website that you shouldn’t read until after you’ve read the book.

My Rating: A, Loved It

With my exposure to Russian literature limited only to Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy, reading “The Bear and the Nightingale” by Katherine Arden is like finding a gem. Its rich texture of Russian folklore titillates my imagination. Katherine Arden brought to me a world that was just hinted to me by Russian fashion designers when I review their collections.

Huh? Where did fashion come from in this review? I am a fashion editor by day and on my spare time, a book reviewer, something I do simply because I love to read. And that is also the reason why “The Bear and the Nightingale” turned out to be a true treasure find for me. Seldom do I find a book that just feel so new though the topic is actually old.

I am not going to write a synopsis because the Description below does it very well. If I add some more, I might accidentally mention spoilers without meaning to. Suffice to say, “The Bear and the Nightingale” is a very easy read with a beautiful rhythm that makes you feel you are listening to a song while reading it. Arden’s voice is beautiful and sweet, yet very clear and powerful without being loud. It is hard to put down once you started. And quite frankly, you get so engrossed in the book that you find yourself in the middle of it without realizing it.

A must-read of sci-fi/fantasy fans and a great addition to your library. “The Bear and the Nightingale” is Rated to T for Teens.

If you are not too old for fairy tales, allow yourself to be transported to the Land of Rus' in the middle ages. A northern woodland where winter consumes village inhabitants and the telling of tales around the oven helps to while away the time and sustain the household. Young Vasilisa, whose mother died in childbed, reveres the tales of her nurse and the memory of her mother who was descended of a line with a "second sight". The second sight allows Vasya not only to believe the stories of old, but to pay tribute to the history of her family and their lands which are rapidly being Christianized and caught up in the events of the age. Thus armed with the her regard for the creatures of the forest, Vasya goes forth in battle to save her family and her people and the memory of the tales one should be wary of outgrowing.

I am so glad that I received an ARC of this from NetGalley-otherwise I may never have read it. I didn't really expect to like it as much as I did. I hadn't read the hype or knew anything about it at all. But the the minute I began to read it I was in awe. I haven't read such a compelling, well written, beautifully styled writing (I am having a hard time putting to words how much I love her writing), atmospheric book in a long time like this-it reminds me of a wonderful, much loved classic. I won't go into details about the book plot, or etc... I just want to gush about the book as a whole. I cannot wait to read more in this world Katherine Arden has created (there will be more books) and anything else she has written!

Set in an imaginative version of medieval Russia, this story, loosely based on Russian folk tales, follows Vasilisa, a young woman with "the sight", as she navigates the world of the supernatural in order to save her village from destruction.

The author successfully transports the reader into a magical realm where supernatural beings vie for power over humans.
Her world building is exceptional. Her descriptions of the bitter cold of northern Russia in winter are very realistic, as are her descriptions of medieval villlage life. The characters are intriguing and multifaceted, convincing even while interacting in strange ways with the world of magical beings.

These supernatural beings are both helpful and harmful to the villagers. Every household has numerous demons who protect and care for various parts of the home and farm. But there are also powerful and often malevolent demons associated with nature and seasons. Vasilisa is born with the ability to see and communicate with these invisible beings. She understands that world, sees the true causes for the deterioration of village life, and fights to bring safety and prosperity back to the villagers.

Vasilisa's village in the past has honored the old ways, while also embracing Christianity. A new priest has come who wants to end what he condemns as demonic beliefs and rites. This stirs up trouble as the villagers eventually discover that the old spirits don't like being neglected.
This is an unusual book, both charming and occasionally horrifying. It's like stepping into a folk tale and spending some time there experiencing remarkable things. I found reading it to be very enjoyable and engrossing. Highly recommended.

Reading this book is like being inside a snow globe. It is about medieval northern Russia where winters lasted for months and hungry wolves howled out in the never-ending darkness. During the long nights, the elders told and retold tales of sorcery, animals with supernatural powers and about the enormous wealth and power of the Winter King. From the very first page, you suspend disbelief and enter a world of mythical creatures, domestic and woodland guardians--some good, some bad--pagan gods and tallow-scented churches. You fear when any character goes into the forest (so thick that the forest floor is always dark and so tall that the trees gossip with heaven). It is a magical book. It is a mystical book. It is a book that is difficult to put down. And, when you do, this frozen Russian world continues to live in your imagination.

A Russian Fairytale fleshed out into a novel. I had heard of this fairytale but didn't know it at all, so I had no idea who was good and who was bad or what was going to happen. I loved the journey to figure it out.
The tone of the whole book was dark but not evil. Being set in the frozen land of Russia, the whole story felt cold. It was the perfect read for a chilly day wrapped in a blanket.
The characters were well drawn and fit into the natural as well as the fantasy world created by the author. The tale was woven in such a way to draw you into the story and feel the hunger, cold and fear that those village people felt as the winter closed them in and as the strange things started to happen. Vasya was such a great character. I kept picturing her a black haired Merida (BRAVE) like girl who was a bit wild and untamed. She had an air of mystery about her from the start and I kept reading to find out what magic she held and what those abilities would help unfold. I loved it and look forward to seeing more in this series. I have heard this will be a trilogy. I will have to brush up on my Russian folklore to truly appreciate the detail that was put into keeping the nuances of the culture this story comes from.

Rich in atmosphere, mixing both the fantastical and the historical elements of old Russia, Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale makes for a strong and memorable debut novel. As the first in a series, the narrative spends quality amounts of time crafting this book's main character of Vasilisa, and also building the recognizable but magical world she inhabits with her large and mixed family. Drawing both on real world history and the beloved folklore of Vasilisa's home country, The Bear and the Nightingale is a well-crafted and enchanting mix of genres.

The fantastical elements of Vasya's life in the wilderness -- the rusalkas, domovoi, evil spirits and much more -- are balanced by the always harsh and realistic life eked out of Russia's unforgiving climate. Her family has known struggle and strife all her life but Vasya remains undaunted in her chosen role and place; a wild, free, uncompromising, and untameable girl. Her chief antagonist is the eponymous Bear of the title, but her secondary opponent arrives in the all-too-familiar form of religion, and religious, men. Vasya's struggle to save her family and home is complicated by the priest Konstantin's need to humble the proud young woman. It's a familiar story but Vasya fights -- for herself, for her home, and for so much more.

The magical and the mundane aspects of The Bear and the Nightingale come together neatly under Arden's adept plotting and turns of phrase -- and at just the right time before the closing denouement. Her clever writing, strong and defined characters, and the enveloping atmosphere coalesce into a finely-tuned historical fantasy that won't quickly be forgotten. Only a few pacing and clarity issues kept it from a five-star read. This story is one that is rich and detailed; the characters, from its heroines to the human villains, are vibrant and dimensional people. It's remarkably easy to sink into (and enjoy) the story that Katherine Arden is unwinding with her series-opener.

This was a enjoyable read; lush and atmospheric. It took me a while to get into it, but once things really start happening you find yourself swept away with the story. One thing though, this novel is definitely not meant to be read in one burst, it works best to savor this book in little pieces as you go along.

I loved the main character, Vasilisa Petrovna - her fierceness, her stubbornness, her love and loyalty to her family and the world around her. The different familial relationships were all complicated, interesting, and (at times) rather lovely. I loved how nuanced the characters were - they were not wholly evil or wholly good; they had facets of both good and bad, as we all do.

The Russian folklore interspersed throughout the novel was very interesting and, in my opinion, well done. I really enjoyed learning more (although I do acknowledge this is a fictional novel and not a historical text) about 14th century Russia and the customs and traditions that the families lived by.

All in all, this is definitely a novel worth picking up if you're looking for a mesmerizing and enchanting read to kick off 2017.

4.5 Stars!

WOW! The Bear and the Nightingale is an atmospheric treat.The writing is incredible. It's a slow, rich tale full of myth and religion. I'm generally not a fan of literary fiction, but his one has a historical fantasy element to it that really pulled me in.

This book took a little bit for me to get into it. It is set in historical Russia and many of the words and names are obviously foreign. There is a glossary at the back that I didn't find until I finished the book. It was helpful in that it confirmed what different words meant, but the author used most of the words in such a context that you are able to figure out what they mean without referring to the glossary.

I can't continue without stopping for a minute to comment on the covers. There are 2 covers that I know of, and both are incredible. I want to buy a copy of this book, but can't decide between the American or English version. They are both amazing and completely different. I love the boldness and colors of the English cover, but the American cover perfectly captures the atmosphere. This is the 1st book in a planned trilogy, so I may wait to see the other covers before buying the set... (or both sets if my bookshelf will agree).

I believe this book will find a wide range of fans. In my opinion, it is the perfect mix of literary fiction and fantasy so it will appeal to lovers of both. I loved it as a fan of fantasy, but I will also be recommending it to my sister that is more of a literary fiction type of gal.

I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this book because I could not force myself to stop reading. I absolutely love this story. I love the setting, the characters, the elements of fantasy and paganism, and the way it's all woven together so beautifully. I wish every book I read was as good as this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this fairy tale of a story. I did have a difficult time really getting into the story and I am not entirely sure why. Once I became hooked on the story, I couldn't find out what would happen next fast enough. It was at times a slow moving story even though things always seemed to be happening. The descriptions in the story were incredibly vivid. This was the kind of story that will stay with me for some time.

I have seen some descriptions of this story that indicate that this is a re-telling of an old story. I am honestly not well versed in Russian folklore so this story is completely new to me but the underlying fairy tale feel was present throughout the novel. This was a story filled with magic, bravery, and things unexpected. I didn't even have a guess regarding what would eventually happen in this story and it was exciting to watch things unfold.

The story focuses on Vasilisa, or Vasya. Vasya's mother died shortly after her birth so she spends the early years of her life being raised by her father and her nurse along with her sister and three brothers. Vasya is a bit of a wild child spending most of her time in the woods and speaking with the local spirits. Eventually, her father does decide to marry again and comes back from Moscow with a new wife. Vasya's new step-mother is also able to see the local spirits but instead of embracing this skill she fears it and wants the spirits to leave.

I liked Vasya a lot. She was brave throughout the story even when it caused things to be difficult in her life. She always seemed to think about the welfare of others. She trys to honor her families wishes even when she knows that it will cause her tolose the ability to do the things that bring her joy. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this story. Vasya's father tried hard to make the best decisions for her and he did care deeply for her. Her brothers were all very different but they all cared for and supported Vasya in their own way. Her step-mother and the priest were not nearly as likeable but they did add a new element to the story.

I would recommend this book to others. It is such a captivating story told in a wonderful manner. The story is highly imaginative and filled with details that bring it to life. I believe that this is the first book of a planned trilogy and I can't wait to read more of this incredible tale.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Del Ray via NetGalley.

This amazing epic seems to summarize the entire scope of Russian folk tales in a deeply textured and finely woven tapestry rich with the scents, tastes and chill of winter. Set in the 14th century in an era when vast areas were still ruled by the Mongols, the story of Vasilisa Petrovna and Morozko, the Frost King, shares with Russian novels a sense of size and breadth to equal the vastness of the plains as well as the welter of nicknames (although carefully kept manageable) for its characters. The larger-than-life tragedies and triumphs are pitted against the details of family life even to carved and scented wooden combs and the careful propitiation of the household gods in casual company with the Byzantine iconography and teachings of Mother Church. It is when the old ways lose favor that things begin to break down.

Okay, before I scare you off with all the scope and grandeur of this story, you are kept in very close touch with small-scale daily activities and not left on your own to figure things out. In fact the author has graciously provided an extensive glossary to help you with the Russian words. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful first novel and thank Netgalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a love letter to old Rus’.

The other day I found myself missing the Motherland. Once you’ve been to Russia, the spirit of the country latches on to you and you’ll never be able to forget it, even if it forgets you. The Bear and the Nightingale was the perfect answer to my melancholic nostalgia. That being said, rating this book was tricky for me because I love Russian culture so much, so deeply, that it hypnotized and transported me back to those dark and beautiful nights in Moscow and Suzdal and Vladimir and Tolstoy’s estate. I digress, but the point is if you have even the tiniest interest in Russian folklore, the old culture, and adore fairy tales, you’ll be swept up into this rustic and romantic tale of a girl kissed by magic and determined to save her people.

Side note: Throughout the story I yelled at the book in Russian. Like full on what is this??? yelling. The transliteration irked me to no end and then I got to the end of the book and I laughed so hard. That author’s note made my day. She explained her choices and described how she though Russian speakers/students would react to the transliteration-with disdain and hands pretty much clenched in fists. Somehow, the fact that she knew it made it okay.

The Bear and the Nightingale is whimsical, haunting, and twisted like any good fairytale. A blend of many stories known, loved, and feared in Russia still today, The Bear and the Nightingale is one epic journey that spans years. From the house-spirits, to the gods of the elements, to the celebrated figures of Baba Yaga and the Firebird, everything that is inherently Russian is present and accounted for. I loved that the focus was not on these known figures, but on the everyday ones that live in the household and receive offerings, that protect the hearth and livelihood of the family.

This is a love story. Not in the traditional sense, but one of love for the land, for heritage, for culture, and in beings that others believe are myth. There’s not romance in the usual fashion, but there is a hint.

The atmosphere and world building is strong. You’ll become fully immersed in the countryside, the power of the forest and all the magical beings that inhabit it.

I loved Vasya. She’s known for being unattractive, frog-like, and weird, but her spirit makes her beautiful. She’s fierce, determined, sure of herself. She believes when others are filled with doubts. She throws herself into danger, she risks her life, she loves hard and barters for her people. She’s small, but she’s crafty and wild and bold. She does what everyone else in the story wouldn’t dare and that’s what makes her compelling.

On a more somber note, there is some conversion that goes on in the story. Religious crusade of a sort that makes the reader question what happens when people story believing in their folklore, in their old gods, and all the stories that come with them. There’s something heartbreaking and sobering about this war within the people.

The pacing may be slow for some, but it builds as it goes and Vasya becomes more adventurous.

Is there going to be more?! I love love love the Russian folklore in this and all the various creatures. At times it was slow going but now that it's over I feel bereft.

What a lovely book!

The Bear and the Nightingale reads like an extended riff on Russian fairy tales. While the main character Vasya (Vasilisa) is rooted in real life, with a family, a home, and the realities of harsh Russian winters, her life is filled with hints of magic. Set in the medieval Russian era, the book shows the harmony that exists between the people and the traditional spirits, even as their outward lives are governed by the Church. The women of the house leave offererings for the domovoi and other guardian spirits, but only Vasya is gifted with the ability to see and converse with them. When a new, ambitious priest arrives and forces the people to stop their offererings to the spirits, things go from bad to worse.

The writing in The Bear and the Nightingale is pitch-perfect, with a rhythm that evokes fairy tales and magical beings. It feels throughout that we’re listening to a folktale, and so the mood is sustained from moment to moment, even in the more mundane scenes of household chores or treks through the snow.

Vasya is a wonderful character, unwilling to accept the only two paths — marriage or convent — available to a young woman at that time. Through her independence and strong will, Vasya forges a new future for herself, even at the risk of gossip, ostracism, and physical danger.

It took me a little while to find the thread of the main plot, as the opening chapters feel a little scattered and disconnected. Once we meet Vasya, the story really comes together and develops more momentum. All in all, a very satisfying and enjoyable read.

Note: I didn’t discover until I’d finished the book that this is the first in a projected trilogy. The Bear and the Nightingale reads as a stand-alone, and felt quite complete at the end. Still, I’ll look forward to revisiting these characters and this world.

I'm going to be honest here. The first half of this book is slow and full of worldbuilding. That doesn't mean it wasn't gloriously good but it took me a bit to get into it. I will say that I knew I was going to love the story as soon as I finished chapter three. The writing is gorgeous and atmospheric and reminded me of Robin McKinley's works which is one of the biggest compliments I can give a book. I loved that the story is full of Russian fairy tales! I was familiar with a few of them but not all of them. Reading this book, you can see that the author did her research and it made the story that much more amazing!

The story's main focus and character is Vasya, the youngest child of the minor nobleman, Pyotr Vladimirovich. She is a strange child who likes to spend all her days in the woods and is always getting into all sorts of mischief. This book isn't just the story of a girl with strange abilities, it's also about the rise of Christianity in Rus and how it starts pushing out the country's pagan beliefs. There are many households in Vasya's village who both pray to God and make offerings to the household spirits until a priest comes and tells them there is only God and no such thing as spirits.

Soon after that the village starts to suffer terrible winters that don't let up. Vasya starts to realize that the fairy tales her nurse told her growing up may not be simply fairy tales. When darkness descends on the village, Vasya may be the only one with the power to stop it.

This book is magical and Vasya is an unlikely heroine in the vein of Agnieszka in Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Aerin from Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown and I fell in love with her almost immediately! That love just got bigger as the book progressed and we watched her grow into a young woman. I'm pretty sure I can't quantify how much I ended up loving her by the end of the book. She's like the heroines of my childhood reading and it made my reading experience even more lovely! I loved that Vasya continues to make offerings to the household spirits and befriends them even though it goes against her Stepmother's views of them being demons.

The overall storyline of the book is very subtle and the story feels more like historical fiction than fantasy in places. But there comes a point about halfway through the book where things start to pick up and the subtle plot that had been laid in the first part comes to light and the conflict becomes noticeable. IT WAS SO WELL DONE! I'm amazed at how everything came together. This is one of those books that I'll be able to reread over and over again and pick up new details every time. Also, the number of Russian fairy tales referenced in this book was amazing and I'm pretty sure I missed a bunch. I need more books that revolve around Russian folklore in my life!

Not only did I fall in love with the story and the atmosphere of this book, but I fell in love with so many of the characters besides Vasya. I want more of them! The book ends on a slight cliffhanger that will make you want for the next book in this series ASAP. This book is definitely going to be one of my favorites of the year which makes Katherine Arden a debut author you don't want to miss! She has gained a place on my auto-buy list after just one book if that tells you how much I loved this story.

The Bear and the Nightgale is a medieval Russian fairy tale-esque novel by debut author Katherine Arden.

And it's beautiful.

That's pretty much the whole review I want to give this book. It's beautiful. It's an experience. You should absolutely read it.

The closest comparison I can think of is Uprooted by Naomi Novak, for the same dark fairy tale feel. The Bear and the Nightingale is something of a slow burn book, about a family living in Northern Russia, and particularly about their youngest daughter, Vasya, who loves to run wild in the forest and sees the creatures of folklore all around her.

The novel juxtaposes Vasya and her stepmother, Anna, two young women who have the sight. Vasya embraces the creatures as protectors of the land and her friends, while Anna sees them as demons, and throws herself into religion to try and escape them. Then a young charismatic priest, Konstantin, comes to the village, and decides that he's been called by God to rid these people of their old-religion superstitions and fill them with fear of God's wrath. He reviles Anna, who wants nothing more than to be his disciple, and is obsessed with Vasya, who he increasingly sees as a witch. When Konstantin's fear allows a dark force to awaken in the forest, Vasya must fight to protect the magic that protects them all.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a book of wild forests, dark creatures, unsettling promises, and complex characters. It's a story of magic, of wonder, of fear, and of not fitting in, beautifully imagined and enchantingly told. I really recommend it.

Gorgeous. Stunning. Absolutely breathtaking. Any of those words and phrases barely skim the surface of how impressed I was by this well-woven tale. Fairy tales will always have a special place in my heart. I relish the feeling of being swept off into a new world or, in this case, a world that is right on the borders of our very own. Arden's tale pulls together Russian folklore into a tale that will have you breathless with equal parts excitement and fear. It's a beautiful thing.

Characters like Vasilisa have always been my favorite. Stubborn, willful, strong to a point where they actually cause others to fear their strangeness. Vasilisa is a woman on the fringes. She's a character who doesn't conform to norms, and is better because of it. In other words, she's everything I aspire to be. Arden wastes no time in pushing Vasilisa towards her ultimate fate and, to her credit, Vasilisa faces it head on. I was mesmerized by her, and it made this story fly by. I could have read many more pages following this amazing woman.

As mentioned above, the Russian folklore is really the star of the show here though. As the children sat around the fire, to hear tales of bravery and death, so did I. Arden brought to life the winter demon, his black-hearted brother, and all the household spirits that populated this story. As Vasilisa grew to know them, and love and hate them as called for, so did I. I found myself so immersed in this story, that I actually felt angry when people pulled me away from it. My one wish was to find out what became of our brave protagonist, and the family that she would do anything to protect.

The Bear and the Nightingale is my first five-starred review of 2017, and well deserving of that honor. This is the kind of book that you buy in hardcover, so that it will survive many re-reads to come. If this isn't already on your reading list, it should be. It really, really should.