4.5 stars. In the northern lands of medieval Rus’, a daughter is born to Pyotr Vladimirovich, a boyar, lord over many lands, and his wife Marina, who dies in childbirth. But Marina, daughter of the Grand Prince of Moscow and a mysterious, swan-like beggar girl, has bequeathed her daughter Vasilisa a mystical heritage. Vasilisa, or Vasya, grows up to be a spirited and rather rebellious young girl who, like an untamed colt, freely roams the fields and forest, and is able to see and communicate with the domovoi (a guardian of the home), rusalka (a dangerous water nymph), and other natural spirits of the home and land. Her beloved nurse Dunya tells Vasya and her siblings stories of Ivan and the Gray Wolf, the Firebird, and the frost-king, Morozko.

But Vasya’s carefree life ends when her father finally decides to remarry. He brings home a new wife from Moscow, Anna, the daughter of the prince of Moscow, who is also able to see the spirits of the land, but considers them devils and demons, clinging to her cross and her belief in the church. Pyotr also brings home a mysterious gift for Vasya, a necklace with a brilliant silver-blue jewel, given to him by Morozko, whom he met in Moscow. But Pyotr and the old nurse Dunya hold the necklace back from Vasya, fearing to give it to her.

Vasya’s life with Anna as her stepmother becomes strained: the strictly devout Anna is always at odds with the child of nature, who loves the magical creatures that terrify Anna. Life becomes even more difficult when a new priest arrives from Moscow, Father Konstantin, a handsome and charismatic man who preaches fiery sermons against the spirits of the land. As the people cease honoring (and leaving food for) these spirits, they weaken … but evil is waiting to step in as their protective influence wanes. Vasya finds herself at odds with her family and the villagers as she strives to protect them against unimaginable dangers that they thought existed only in fairy tales.

The Bear and the Nightingale weaves a richly colored tapestry, combining elements from various Russian fairy tales, a realistic description of life in medieval times, when Russia was not yet a unified country, and an independent an appealing heroine. The frost-king Morozko and his destructive brother, the Bear, play the primary fairy tale roles, but there are additional and sometimes delightfully unexpected Russian folklore elements like the stepmother sending her stepdaughter into the forest to find snowdrops in midwinter (from the story “Twelve Months”), Morozko (also known as Father Frost) sending lost girls home with a dowry of gold and jewels, the Sea-King’s daughter, and Vasilisa the Beautiful. (I’m sure I missed a few more!)

The atmosphere is well-developed, immersing you in life in medieval Rus’, a place where fairy tales may be true … which is not necessarily a comfortable thing. Enchantments can be good or evil, and the rusalka, vazila (a spirit that guards the stable and livestock) and other nature spirits are dangerous as well as helpful. Arden deftly illustrates their nature, so alien to humankind, as well as the need for mutual understanding and cooperative co-existence, which breaks down so badly in this tale.

A major theme ― in fact, it propels the entire plot ― is the conflict between old beliefs, respecting and caring for the nature spirits, and the newer religion, Christianity, which is generally, and emphatically, in the wrong in this book. Father Konstantin and Anna, and the rest of the villagers that flock to follow the priest, are poor examples of religious believers. At times it seems that the novel sets up believers as being generally weak and dangerously misguided, though those characters are offset, to some extent at least, by Vasya’s brother Sasha, who has a sincere heart and desire for a religious vocation, and the monk he follows, Sergei Radonezhsky. In any case, The Bear and the Nightingale certainly effectively illustrates the power of fear, as well as the danger of using that fear, rather than love, to prompt religious devotion.

Another prominent theme is Vasya’s desire to live life freely, on her own terms, in a time when an arranged marriage or life in a convent were generally the only options for a properly raised female. Though it’s a modern them, Arden integrates it well into the overall plot, and Vasya doesn’t come off as unduly anachronistic … though I did get a little tired of seeing her compared to an unbroken filly.

The cruelty of winter and the terrors of the deep, untamed forest, where wolves ― and worse things ― rove, are tangible. At the same time, The Bear and the Nightingale also incorporates references to actual historic figures, like Genghis Khan (at this time the Rus’ people were required to pay tributes to the conquering Horde), Sergei Radonezhsky, and princes of Moscow from the fourteenth century, although they are fictionalized.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a well-written and thoroughly thought-out fantasy, suspenseful and delightful. While it reads well as a stand-alone novel, Arden has indicated that two sequels are in process. I can’t wait to be transported to medieval Russia again!

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

the bear and the nightingale (Katherine Arden)

Title: the bear and the nightingale

Author: Katherine Arden

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Del Ray

Publication Date: TODAY!!! (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 978-1101885932

Source: NetGalley

So me crew had been adding this novel left and right to their ports for plunder lists . . . know as tbr to ye landlubbers. So I read the blurb. It is a Russian fairy tale retelling set in the middle ages which appealed to me. Plus it had a beautiful cover:

This book was savoury and a delight. I was instantly entranced by the scene of the household of Pyotr Vladimirovich gathered around the hearth listening to a story. This story within a story set up the novel perfectly. It only got better from there.

I fell in love with the main character, Vasya. She is strong, brave, loving, and unique. Her relationships with her family members were absolutely wonderful to read about. I particularly liked her relationship with her brother Alyosha. It felt so refreshing to read about families that cared and loved one another especially when life’s conditions were so very hard.

The juxtaposition of Christianity and pagan beliefs in this book were fascinating. I loved that people could practice both because Christianity was for the afterlife and pagan beliefs were to survive the harsh realities of day-to-day living. The Rus’ vazila and the use of horses in the story especially tickled me fancy.

The author’s writing was rich and beautiful, making me want to delve into and discover the story. I was transported into another space and time where the blending of myth and village life seemed real, possible, and achingly beautiful in its own way.

Words fail me really, so check out me other crew members reviews where they describe the feel of this novel better than I ever could:

Erin @ Proud Book Hoarder

Emily May @ The Book Geek

Side note: This was the author’s debut novel and apparently is the first in a trilogy? It ended as though a standalone so I am interested to see where the next book will go.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Random House!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

A magical debut novel for readers of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, and Neil Gaiman’s myth-rich fantasies, The Bear and the Nightingale spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Katherine Arden – Author

To buy the novel please visit:

the bear and the nightingale – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Going to kick this review off with a: wow, what a debut. I will certainly read whatever Katherine Arden publishes next. She completely won me over with her beautiful, spellbinding writing, intriguing storytelling and outstanding heroine; even if I don’t think this a flawless story and have a few complaints, but more on that later.

The Bear and the Nightingale is based on Slavic mythology, and it tells the story of a young girl, Vasilia, as she grows up in a small village in Russia during that time of transition from the old pagan beliefs to Christianity, when people believed in all kinds of gods and spirits embodying things, animals and natural phenomena.
Like her mother and her mother’s mother before her, Vasilia can see and speak to these deities, which makes her somewhat of an outcast in the community, but she has a strong, determined, independent personality and doesn’t really care about what people think or even call her. That was my favorite thing about this story, Vasilia’s personality, her carefree way, how nothing or no one ever breaks her spirit–she is one tough cookie.

So, long story short, one of these “creatures” is about to wake up, but he’s evil and dangerous, which means Vasilia, along with her family and Morozko, the Winter King, will have to deal with it.

As I said before, I loved Vasya, but I loved her family too, even if sometimes the father and the older brother could have been way more supportive. Plus I liked how we get to go with them on a journey, even if Vasya, the main character, was not with them. Those chapters of the father and the older sons at court had me completely mesmerized. Stunning storytelling.

The writing is absolutely gorgeous and enthralling, I felt like I was listening to a master storyteller from the old days instead of reading it on my phone with my own two eyes.

Now, the minor complaints (this will seem like a lot but it’s not really ALSO SOME SPOILERS AHEAD):

-What was the necklace for anyway? This item is such an important thing in the story from almost the start, Morozko gives it to Vasya’s father and tells him he has to give it to her and that she must wear it always, but he never explains its purpose. Was it for protection? For him to track her down at all times? Was it a symbol that she was to be his bride? All these options crossed my mind but the evil guy still gets to her when she’s wearing it, and Morozko seemed to be able to find her alright when she wasn’t wearing the necklace yet, and I don’t want to spoil anyone but I don’t think the bride hypothesis is correct also. So, what?

-Meh romance. There’s not too much of it to begin with and honestly I wish there had been none because, man, there’s absolutely no romantic chemistry between Vasilia and Morozko. Plus, it’s weird, with Vasya being just a young lady and Morozko not even being human and god knows how old.

-Morozko waking Vasilia up with a slap across the face. Excuse me, but this guy is a paranormal being with extraordinary powers, the freaking Winter King himself, so a slap across the face to wake up a sleeping girl shouldn’t even be an option. Couldn’t he, I don’t know, freeze her toes for a minute? Speaking from personal experience nothing wakes me up more during those cold winter nights than my icy feet, even if the rest of my body feels almost feverish with all the blankets on top of me; or even better, couldn’t he have conjured a bit of water and let it splash on her face? Really, it had to be a slap? It was such a turn off for me, seriously.

-That ending. Didn’t get it, felt a little cheated.

Rant and flaws aside, The Bear and the Nightingale was one of my favorite reads of 2016, after all, I am fantasy fan through and through, plus a fairytale/folktale-retelling nut, so of course a marvelous tale with such a strong and remarkable heroine was bound to tick all my boxes. Recommended!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!)

This is the perfect book to read during winter. So much of the story resolves around the setting, far northern reaches of Russia, where Christianity and the old ways still mingle side by side, and the winters are so cold they kill.

Because it's a folkstory retelling, there are some things that you just can't escape, a young woman whose mother dies in childbirth who just so happens to be magical and very captivating, a stepmother who deeply believes she is right, but for some slightly twisted reasons. I was glad to see how kindly Vasya's father is portrayed, and how obviously he cares for his children, even when forces beyond his control seem to intervene (both political and otherworldly).

The beginning of this story takes a long time to ramp up, and there's a fair bit of political goings-on in Moscow that are important to the the overarching story, and to history, but are left somewhat unresolved at the end of the book, which was frustrating.

I certainly liked the last two thirds of the book better, where Vasya is a young woman who's exploring her abilities and learning about herself and not afraid of being an outcast.

Because of the timing of this book, I think it's going to get a lot of comparisons to Uprooted, but I'm not sure it really deserves many of them. There are surface similarities, and some below the surface as well, with the Eastern European folklore and the young woman protagonist, but the impact of Uprooted was much greater. I actually finished this book and felt it had a closer similarity to The Hero and the Crown.

I felt the characters could have been developed more strongly, but it's a short book, so I can't quibble with that too much, and some aspects of the plot feel like they were included and then forgotten about. I did come away with a stronger interest in Russian history after finishing, which is always a good thing when reading fiction. It's a solid four star book for me.

Vasilisa is the eldest daughter of Russian Nobles who live in the frozen north. The land is so cold that it's said the winter lasts 8 months there. Vasya's mother died giving birth to her so she grows up with her family and her nurse until her father decides to remarry. The real trouble starts afterward.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a story that centers around a Russian Family and the time period is long ago. The storytelling is clear yet slow. Quite often I found myself hoping things would pick up or that something more interesting would happen. I struggled to care about what was happening with the family and I didn't particularly take to any character.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a solid story for those who love folklore tales.

2.5 out of 5 stars

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a very well written and well researched story of the change from paganism to Christianity in historic Russia. In fact, I had a hard time discerning if this was more historical, magical realism, or urban fantasy since the story stays grounded yet magic peeks continually around the edges. Arden doesn't go for over-idealized characters and each certainly has a personality of their own. And yet, admittedly, I had a hard time plowing through most of the book. I found I didn't connect with the characters, didn't want to read about Christianity ruthlessly obliterating the magical world, and felt the book was missing charm and playfulness in its over-earnest storytelling.

Story: Out in the more deserted reaches of Russia, a nobleman raises his family quietly yet efficiently. His wife's family had a mysterious background with connections to the Russian Czar. And now his youngest daughter, Vasilisa, is exhibiting the same fae traits of her mother and grandmother. While his sons and daughters move in the political world and make advantageous marriages that take them far from home, Vasilisa is left with her new stepmother - a woman afraid of the old world magic and very much invested in Christianity for protection. When a minister with a 'golden tongue' is sent to the family to keep him from over-influencing the Czar's court with his entrancing Christian sermons, Vasila and her old world magic will become embattled with her unhinged stepmother and the zealous priest. Meanwhile, the fortunes of her family continue to morph as the political landscape shifts constantly.

The original wording of the book makes this sound like a fairy tale but I feel this is far too serious and grounded for that categorization (unless one harkens back to the grim original versions of most fairy tales). And in the beginning, I felt this was a bit more of a magical realism, with otherworldly creatures occasionally appearing in the every day life of a mansion buried deep in a far off forest. But then the middle part of the book took a different direction with the introduction of the Christian priest and zealot stepmother, each determined to punish Vasilisa into foregoing her paganism and embracing their faith. I found this whole middle part to be tedious, especially since the blurb on the book had promised a 'Jack Frost' type of character but by 3/4 he had only appeared in one or two short scenes.

I also found I didn't like many of the characters. Arden took pains to make them grounded and real - with all the foibles and contrariness that can be expected. Vasilisa was a main character but the book follows the viewpoints of several people, including her brothers, sister, stepmother, the priest, the Czar, etc. In that way, it felt a bit overwritten as so many first novels can be; the author feeling the need to explain the big picture through all the POVs instead of letting the story organically unfold and trusting the reader to understand why things were happening as they did.

Because the book is somewhat of a mixed bag, I admittedly also have very mixed reactions to it. Once it veered toward the battle of religions, it completely lost me and I had a hard time wanting to pick it up again. But at the same time, I also was very impressed with the writing depth and the assimilating mood that Arden so effectively created.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely. But at the same time, I have to admit that for me personally, I did not enjoy the Bear and the Nightingale as much as I would have hoped. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Russian fairy tale about a woman who vows to save her family from evil spirits. After Christianity is introduced into their home, and they are no longer allowed to worship their household spirits, a young woman vows to save her family from evil and misfortune. Who will triumph?

This book is a difficult one for me to review. When I first heard about this book, I was so excited about the premise, but while reading it, I found myself rushing to finish it because I was mostly bored. I am unversed in Russian fairy tales, myths and legends, so I found myself wondering if that was why I wasn't engaged in the story. I do, however, applaud the character of Vasya, a very strong female, and give kudos to the writer for her portrayal. The writing was lyrical and slow, and I had a difficult time getting used to the character's names, especially since there are many different names (terms of endearment) for each character. I do, however, understand that the author was trying to maintain the Russian flavor and authenticity of the story.

I found the introduction of Father Konstantin to be an interesting element in the story since he provided an antagonist to the mythical characters in the book. What happens when you try to rule people with fear? The story finally picked up the pace around 65-75%, but the abrupt ending left me wanting something more finite.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A fairy tale, lore, fantasy, what ever you wish to call it, this is a story worthy of five stars.
Love the writing style and the care taken by the author, that is reflected on each word that comprise this book.
Looking forward to the next installment.

Everyone thinks that Vasilisa Petrovna is a strange girl. She always had been. Her mother, Marina knew even before she was born that she would be extraordinary. And when bringing such a life into the world proves too much for her fragile body, her father never truly forgets that it was Vasya that stole his love away.

As Vasya grows, she explores the vast enchanted forest surrounding her father’s house and to her, it’s not so unusual to see what others cannot. But when her new stepmother arrives, she brings along with her condemnation and judgement. Now the only thing that stands between the certain demise of the entire village is Vasya and magic that she alone can comprehend.

“Vasilisa Petrovna,” he tried again, cursing his clumsiness. Always he knew what to say. But this girl turned her clear gaze on him, and all his certainty grew vague and foolish. “You must leave your barbaric ways. You must return to God in fear and true repentance. You are the daughter of a good Christian lord. Your mother will run mad if we do not exorcise the demons from her hearth, Vasilisa Pertrovna, turn. Repent.”
“I go to church, Father,” she replied. “Anna Ivanova is not my mother, nor is her madness my business. Just as my soul is not yours. And it seems to me we did very well before you came; for if we prayed less, we also wept less.”
She had walked swiftly. Through the tree-trunks he could see the palisade of the village.
“Mark me, Batyushka,” she said. “Pray for the dead, comfort the sick, and comfort my stepmother. But leave me alone, or the next time one of them comes for you, I shall not lift a finger to stop it.” She did not wait for a reply, but thrust his cross back into his hand and strode off toward the village.
It was warm from her hand, and his fingers curled reluctantly around it.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a fairy tale in every sense of the word. With her lush descriptions, Katherine Arden creates a uniquely singular heroine that is as quick-witted as she is strong. Vasilisa’s story is one of isolation, wonder and self-discovery and it leaves you with feeling that other worlds are right in front of you – if you would only open up your eyes…

This is a story about family, love, friendship and choice. It was a story full of fantasy, mystery, heartbreak but also hope, forgiveness and faith.

The Bear and The Nightingale was an entertaining read and came with plenty of twists and turns. Vasya was a likable heroine, she was brave and she proved her worth against all odds. She won me over with her acceptance and her willingness to stand up for what she believed in. The supporting characters really bring this story to life. I was entranced by mysterious Morozko, charmed by the brave Solovey, and intrigued by the domovoi. Special mention to Aloysha, wish there had been more of him, especially since a lot of page time is used for both Sasha and Olga, only to have them fade slowly out of the picture. Even the villain is left at a loose end, what ever happened to Konstantin?

The story takes place in the wilds of Russia, and I loved the scenery and imagery that the author gives us. The time, the place and people were detailed just enough to paint a vivid picture but not so detailed that the story got lost under unnecessary detail. I admit the beginning of the story did leave me feeling overwhelmed with all the names and faces but eventually the characters started to distinguish themselves and the story fell into a smoother pattern.

For the most part I loved this story (and I absolutely loved this cover! So pretty). It was intense with it's old world feel and fantastical hidden meanings. But there were also things I didn't really like. Of course the evil stepmother thing drove me up the wall. It was a bit cliche, Pytrov's claim of loving Marina felt weak when he so easily is manipulated by his new young wife. The family dynamic changed and I hated that he was so easily absolved of his past mistakes like that. Vasya's relationship with Dunya, her nanny, and Aloysha, her brother, made up for it but still not enough to completely change my original opinion of Pytrov. I mentioned already the fact that we are basically left hanging when it comes to Olga and Sasha, Vasya's other sister and brother. It felt like they would reappear or play a bigger role in the grand scheme of things and then poof, they went away and their story arch was never explored further.

And then there is the ending, normally I like a solid end the story with concrete ideas of what happens to the characters. The Bear and The Nightingale surprised me with it's ending. Even more because I was okay with the chance to self interpret Vasya's fate. It allowed me to imagine my own version of events and that's a first for me. Definitely give credit where its due here, the author proved her skills at story telling and I'll be keeping my eye out for more of this author.

Favorite Line:
"Blood is one thing. The sight is another. But courage - that is rarest of all."

This story is absolutely beautiful! The writing is gorgeous and the story is completely captivating. If you enjoy retellings or adaptations of Russian/Eastern European folklore like Uprooted, you will love this book! I really enjoyed the character development and I really loved the way the story built up and grew on itself. I admit though, in the middle it slowed down a lot for me, but when it didn't take too long for the story to pick back up and once it picked up I could not stop reading! 4.5 stars!

The Bear and the Nightingale is an excellent fairy tale-inspired historical fantasy that should appeal to fans of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Catherynne M. Valente’s Deathless. Katherine Arden has crafted a well-researched, beautifully written, and overall marvelously realized debut novel that nonetheless has some deep and unsettling flaws that I expect will keep it from being among my favorite novels of 2017 and, frankly, make it somewhat unlikely that I will return to the series (this is the first of a planned trilogy).

First, the good.

If you like historical fantasy or fairy tale retellings, this one is a great choice. Arden has chosen a couple of somewhat obscure-to-Anglophone-readers fairy tales to use as the backbone of her story, and she’s chosen a setting–circa 14th century Russia–that isn’t widely used. Both of these factors set The Bear and the Nightingale nicely apart from the ongoing glut of retold and reimagined fairy tales on the market. These things are always a dime a dozen, so it’s refreshing to see something original being done in the genre, and to have an original idea coupled with a well-researched setting that offers a great sense of place is something really special.

I also kind of love that The Bear and the Nightingale isn’t a romance, though it has some romantic, in the literary sense, elements. Instead, it’s a bildungsroman of sorts, beginning before the birth of its primary protagonist, and Vasilisa grows from precocious child to independent young woman over the course of the novel. Romantic relationships barely figure into the story at all, and it instead focuses on exploring Vasilisa’s relationships with her family and community in order to explore bigger ideas about tradition, religion, gender equality, and growing up. Too often, books like this focus primarily on getting their heroine heterosexually paired off and settled down at the end, so I’m always glad to read something that avoids that narrative that domestic partnership and nuclear familial conventionality are the ultimate happy ending. The somewhat ambiguous, but hopeful, ending of The Bear and the Nightingale suits me far better.

Sadly, while the good parts of The Bear and the Nightingale are excellent, the bad parts are pretty terrible. Mostly, the bad parts all involve Vasilisa’s stepmother, Anna Ivanovna, for whom everything is terrible all the time.

**Spoilers below this line.**

Like Vasilisa, Anna can also see the household spirits that hang around human dwellings being fed and revered by servants and peasants, only Anna–raised in Moscow and educated as a strict Orthodox Christian–perceives these creatures as demons and thinks herself mad. Anna’s dream is to become a nun as she believes that she will be safe in a convent. Unfortunately, she’s also the daughter of a prince, so she’s instead forced to marry Vasilisa’s father, Pyotr, whose older children are all older than Anna and who may even be old enough to be Anna’s grandfather. Regarded by others in the book (and, judging from the way he’s written, by the author) as a kind man, Pyotr nonetheless rapes his young wife repeatedly, even though she cries every night.

You might think from this introduction to Anna Ivanovna that she is going to be a foil for Vasilisa, that their similarities might be deeply mined for their rich thematic potential, and that Anna will be treated humanely and with dignity in the narrative. You would be wrong.

Sure, Anna functions as a sort of foil for Vasilisa, but the two characters never have a positive interaction in which they might discover any common ground or shared experiences between them, and Anna’s religious beliefs are portrayed as something between stupidly irrational and actively malicious. Anna’s trauma, as a child (or at least extremely young) bride and rape victim, is never examined, and we’re given no insight at all into the struggles she must have had as a teenager herself being thrust into the roles of wife and mother in a strange place with people she doesn’t know at all. Instead, the word most used to characterize Anna is “shrill,” and she’s increasingly shown, as the book goes on, to be petty, jealous, spiteful, and caring only about her own offspring’s prospects.

In the end, Anna is unceremoniously killed as part of the novel’s climax and left callously unmourned. It’s a tragically ugly depiction altogether of a woman who deserves so much better than she got. The Bear and the Nightingale is being touted as a book with strong feminist sensibilities, but the reduction of Anna Ivanovna, a character with easy opportunities for complexity, to an archetypal Evil Stepmother only undermines any feminist points the author is trying to make. Both Anna and Vasilisa are oppressed by patriarchy, at home, in their communities, and in their country. They have a lot in common and much that they could teach each other if given the opportunity. Even if that’s not the story Arden wants to tell, Anna Ivanovna doesn’t need to die for Vasilisa Petrova to be emancipated, and the fact that Anna’s rapist is mourned more than she is made me furious.

There is a lot to like about The Bear and the Nightingale, but I don’t think I can forgive Katherine Arden for Anna Ivanovna.

This review is based on a copy of the book received from the publisher through NetGalley.

A wonderful historical fantasy novel. Katherine Arden presents a well-researched Russian fantasy YA novel that has a strong heroine and a fascinating story. I'm very excited to see what she comes up with next. Full review is found at [a cup of tea and an armful of books], link below.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cold. I felt a chill reading this book and not just because it is currently midwinter where I live. The setting of this novel takes place mostly in midwinter of a medieval Russia, and the author builds the story around this setting wonderfully. It incorporates haunting creatures from Russian folklore with a chilling storyline involving the creatures’ advancement on a Northern Russian village. It’s a bit of a dark fantasy that made me afraid at times causing me to wrap myself in a blanket for comfort.

The pacing of the novel is quite slow, but again this is due to the strong focus of the atmosphere. I expected the novel to move a lot faster, with our heroine Vasilia entering the wood to confront the demon much sooner. However, it is definitely more about the evil coming out from the wood, and not Vasilia going in. I did not mind the slow pacing of the story due to the atmosphere, but there was not too much outside of that to leave me entranced. The plot focuses strongly on Vasilia’s stepmother and the village priest condemning Vasilia and calling her a witch. It explores each of their personal reasons for saying so. While these and other characters of Vasilia’s family become well developed throughout the novel, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that Vasilia (and thus, the reader) does not explore the woods more. She doesn’t get to know the demon from the original fairy tale more fully. Given all that, I think the novel ends at an appropriate point, (slight spoiler [I wouldn’t want any romance), (hide spoiler)] but it just left me unsatisfied. 3 out of 5 stars.

I only made it to 25% of the book before it got released, but definitely purchasing this one. It's atmospheric with a chilling deity perfect for cold winter nights next to candle light. Can't wait to finish it on hard copy.

It is the first time I read anything of Russian legend, so everything is new to me. But it's a welcome new.
The plot shows us, among other things, how the same situation can have different points of view.
You see, Vasya and Anna possessed the same powers, but while Vasya felt them in their fullness, lived in harmony with them and knew how to operate them, Anna was afraid. And taking advantage of this fear, a third person, the priest Konstantin, managed its attempt to put people under his power, under the power of the fear.

Vasya had to fight bravely and throughout story, every kind of feeling and adjective runs through to a shocking finale. Or she could be beaten as the enemy - as a witch.

I liked the author's narrative and I felt good reading the book.
It was refreshing to be able to read a different style and genre from what I usually read.

4,5 stars

Before I get to my actual review of The Bear and the Nightingale (possibly my longest review ever), I have a little note:

Dear 2017,

I’m sure you’re aware of what a suck-tastic year 2016 was, for so many people. I really appreciate your efforts to make up for it by giving us this amazing treasure of a book so early in the year. The Bear in the Nightingale is the most beautiful thing I’ve read in a long time. It’s savage. It’s painful. And it’s phenomenally lovely. I had chills. I cried (and not just the tears-in-my-eyes kind…the I’m-on-a-public-bus-and-I’m-trying-so-hard-not-to-sob-I’m-shaking kind). Thank you for giving me a stellar 2017 book to recommend to everyone I know. Thank you for giving me another author to put on auto-buy.

Please send more books like this my way this year.

~Lizzy

P.S. On second thought, maybe just one a year is fine. I had to order both the US and UK editions, so very many of these might break my bank.

There was a time, not long ago
When flowers grew all year
When days were long
And nights star-strewn
And men lived free from fear
Just to clarify: The Bear and the Nightingale (TBATN) is NOT a YA book. I’ve seen it pop up on several lists as such, but it is not. It’s also NOT historical fiction, though it is heavily inspired by historical, medieval Russia. It is adult fantasy that reads almost entirely like historical fiction until Part II, where it starts to feel like magical realism historical fiction…so let’s just keep it simple and say fantasy. Could some teenagers read it and appreciate it? Yes, but the style is very different from most YA, and some of the content is definitely adult (marital rape and a little graphic violence). This obviously didn’t deter me from ADORING it, but I thought the slight genre-confusion I’ve been noticing was worth a mention.

In Russian, Frost was called Morocco, the demon of winter. But long ago, the people called him Karachun, the death-god. Under that name, he was king of black midwinter who came for bad children and froze them in the night.
Feels:

I am in love. With everything. With the world, with the characters, with the woods, the village. With Vasya. A little bit with Alyosha. I wept with Vasya and her family. I saw the spirits as Vasya did. I felt the fear of the villagers. I felt the pain and confusion of a young child with a wild, free spirit in a world that didn’t accept her. The writing in TBATN is astounding. Lyrical, whimsical, and utterly entrancing.

Characters:

“I am only a country girl,” said Vasya. “I have never seen Tsargrad, or angels, or heard the voice of God. But I think you should be careful, Batyushka, that God does not speak in the voice of your own wishing. We have never needed saving before.”
Vasya, the main character, is my sister from another mother. I swear. Her love of nature, her stubborn refusal to accept the fate others wish to push on her, her refusal to be broken. I already said I love her but it bears repeating. The story spans from right before her birth to the time she is 14 years old. She doesn’t have an easy life, but she has to be one of the most resilient people I’ve ever met. Bent, at times, but never broken.

“All my life I am told how I will live, and I am told how I must die. I must be a man’s servant and a mare for his pleasure, or I must hide myself behind walls and surrender my flesh to a cold, silent god. I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing.”
Now no joke, there are quite a few characters in this story. However, they are all so clear and distinct I was never confused. Not once. Not even with the Russian names. I did have to realize in the beginning that everyone had a given (fancy) name and a called (shorter, plainer) name, but since Arden stuck mostly to the called names it wasn’t hard. Also, each character experiences a growth arc in the book. No matter how minor, they show some growth and change – sometimes for good, sometimes for bad! That is an incredible feat and after reading so many books with such flat minor characters – amazing.

Romance – guess what? There is none. None. None, none, none, NONE! It’s such a beautiful breath of fresh air. There IS marriage. There’s also sex – and by sex I mean marital rape. It’s not graphic, but it’s obvious. I feel it’s treated as well as such a thing CAN be – these are medieval times, and in those times women were no more than property, no matter how highly valued that property. The women themselves often never questioned the right of their fathers and husbands to barter with them and then use their bodies for their own pleasure – it was a husband’s right and a wife’s duty! *insert much sarcasm* It definitely effects the entire dynamic of the story.

Plot:

TBATN is not a fast-paced book. It’s a slow burn building up to more and more – and it’s TOTALLY worth the read. All the details are beautiful and intriguing, and they really add to the mystery and overall atmosphere. The characters are really the driving force, and all the drama and suspense are very slow to build but after spending several chapters getting to know the people and the country I was already so invested I already knew I was in for the haul. Things really start to pick up with the arrival of a new priest in Vasya’s village. There is a struggle between the new Catholic church and the old spirits of the land and as things start to happen at first NOTHING is explained. Everything just kept building and building and there’s even a little mini-climax at one point (which was EXTREMELY satisfying), but things just keep going! Not only did it keep going, it picked up speed and I was completely wrapped up in the story.

As previously stated, there is no actual romance in TBATN. It doesn’t need it. There’s also not an entirely happy ending. It is…heartrending, yet hopeful at the same time. There’s no actual cliffhanger, but so much room for additional stories, and Vasya’s fate and path seem far from decided.

Worldbuilding/Setting:

Phenomenal. It truly has a historical feel to it. I’m not all the well-versed in Russian history or mythology, but the detailed notes on language and history at the end, as well as the comments I’ve read from people native to that part of the world seem to bear out that thought as well. The descriptions allow you to fall through the pages into the story, and it really feels like a full sensory experience. When the mythological creatures begin to appear, it feels so amazingly right.

Rating/Further Notes:

5 stars. I don’t have any more words for how beautifully savage this book is. I can’t wait to see what Katherine Arden comes up with next. I’ve heard rumors this is the first of a trilogy, but in her author Q&A page I only see mention of a sequel. I’ll be buying whatever she comes up with!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was like living in a Russian fairy tale. The language was beautiful and it filled you with images of magic, hardships, cold and beauty. I read this covered in blankets and felt the cold creep off the pages. There is a lot of build up to the end but each piece has an important part to play. All the characters are complex and wonderfully written. You understand people even as you hate them. This book was amazing! Highly recommend but don't expect a fast easy read because this has so much detail and beauty it is meant to be savored.

This novel is a real gem. While many books have been published that build on traditional fairy tales and folklore, it’s rare for them to be as successful as this one is in recreating the feel of those stories, particularly the darkness that many of them have at their core. It’s also rare for authors to step outside the Western European tales to take on the folk traditions in other parts of the world—in this case, Russia.

Set in the countryside north of Moscow in the thirteenth century, the novel opens with a nursemaid telling her charges a story featuring an innocent maiden, a wicked stepmother, and Lord Frost, the demon lord of winter (and, in an earlier incarnation, death). This tale is a foreshadowing of things to come for the heroine of the novel, Vasilisa.

The daughter of the local lord, Vasya grows up happily playing among spirits of the forest and hearth, creatures no one else can see. When her father remarries, her stepmother forbids their household from providing offerings to the domestic spirits, which she believes are demons. She is supported by the new village priest, an outsider who speaks out against the old beliefs that predate the worship of Christ. Under their influence, the village turns away from honoring the spirits and begins to lose the protections that these creatures provide against more malevolent forces, like Medved, a one-eyed bear demon who feeds on fear and despair. Only Vasya and her few allies—including Medved’s brother, Lord Frost—can stand against him when he wakes in the deadly winter season.

This novel is a perfect wintertime read. Arden does an excellent job in evoking the cold, darkness, and privation of the Russian winter and the suffering of the people trying to survive it. Even though Vasya’s family is part of the aristocracy, they too face the dangers posed by wolves and other predators, starvation, and freezing to death. It’s easy to understand why the deadly spirits that they most fear are tied to that season.

While the world building and folklore elements were handled beautifully, I also appreciated Arden’s care in creating well-rounded human characters to inhabit her story, particularly her effort to give some complexity to the human antagonists that endanger Vasya’s village. The evil stepmother, Anna, is jealous, petty, and cruel in her treatment of Vasya. At the same time, she is pitiable, because her deeds are in part provoked by her extreme fear of the strange creatures that she, like Vasya, is able to see. The priest Konstantin is motivated by a genuine faith, but he is also driven by lust and vanity. He’s not completely evil, but his combination of blind faith in God and in himself makes him an easy target for temptation.

The only thing that bothered me a bit about the book was that the ending seemed a little abrupt. After a lot of buildup, evil was vanquished rather quickly, although not without significant sacrifice. That’s a relatively minor quibble when weighed against all the good things about this novel, though.

I’d highly recommend this novel for readers who enjoy folkloric fantasy. Arden is apparently writing two more books set in this world; the next will feature Vasya, her warrior-monk brother Sasha, and her sister Princess Olga. I’m looking forward to finding out what further adventures Vasya and her family will face in future volumes!

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.