Fantasy fiction is the genre I consider my first love when it comes to reading. I’ve especially always had a soft spot for books that have both historical and fantastical elements. If it’s a fantasy based on a fairytale, it’s a no-brainer. The Bear and the Nightingale definitely ticks all of those boxes. Though the story told here has some familiar elements, the author weaves an entertaining, compelling tale, using vivid historical descriptions and genuine relationships to do so.

The story is set at a real point in history – in a medieval Russia when the Rus lived under a various princes, who owed their own allegiance to Mongol overlords. The brutal, icy winters and devastating hunger come to life, as does the massive undertaking that was traveling to the bustling yet growing Moscow. The overall precarious nature of life, particularly for those who are old, young, weak or otherwise disenfranchised, is very evident. The daily life of those living in the village, from the harshness of winter to the lush beauty of spring, is described so beautifully. These details provide a nice contrast to the fantasy elements of the story. It’s told as a Russian fairy tale, but set in reality, and the two completely work with and play off one another.

Vasya is a character that readers are sure to find empathetic. Though her very nature is contrary, she never comes across as bratty or unobservant. The story revolves around her, however, there is a myriad of characters that help shape the story. While some of the characters feel a bit like stock characters, for the most part, they go beyond the stereotype and evoke empathy in the reader. There is the typical stepmother character, the older, protective brother, the brother intent on a holy life and the brother too busy to notice his younger sister. Sure, I’ve met these characters before, but Arden gives them a new inventiveness here. I didn’t mind getting to know these characters, and in fact, ending up liking some more than the ones I initially liked at the story’s beginning. Some characters started out as empathetic, but later, they become more villainous. These turnarounds, while not entirely unexpected, are a more heart-wrenching part of the story, but also one of the more complex pieces of it.

When one of the key players ended up being a priest, Konstantin, bent on cleansing this backward village of its pagan ways, I admit, I did hold back an eye-role of two. I’ve had my fill of stories with the evil/corrupt priest character so I was eager to see how this would play out. Though I would have appreciated a bit more back ground on his motivations, I did like how his character showed the dangers of using fear instead of true faith to inspire others, how fear is not a motivator for faith, but in truth, a hindrance, and even a danger when the conditions are right. I think I just appreciated overall the ambiguous role of villain in the human characters, particularly the priest, step-mother and even the loving yet distant father. While I wanted to dislike a few of them wholly, I never really could, because the author still managed to evoke a bit of sympathy in me with their thoughts and actions.

There are some interesting things done with the fantasy elements – she keeps the original names (spelling changed a bit for ease of reading) of the mythical beings, which adds a lot of authenticity to the story. I could have done without the undead, vampire-like elements that were included, however, for the most part, the details are mild. I liked the addition of the Domovoi, the household spirits, as well as Morozko, an embodiment of winter itself, a more intricate Father Frost-type character, benevolent or cruel as he wishes. I am not familiar at all with Slavic or Russian folklore, but I feel that the content is presented in a fresh way here. She takes the dual nature of Morozko and creates for him a brother that attempts to wreak havoc throughout the story, the Bear, Medved.

To touch again on the language of the story – the inclusion of Russian words enhances the telling and is thoughtfully done. Peek just past the ending, and there is a handy glossary of terms, which I would flip to if I ever felt confused – but honestly, that was only once or twice. She also explains her decisions regarding spelling changes and the like in the Author’s Note, so do take a look at that as well. You definitely don’t need to know anything about the Russian language, though perhaps it is helpful to know that often they use different names for the same person, depending on who is speaking and how formally they are doing so.

Overall, The Bear and the Nightingale is a lovely, lyrically told story. I spied a bit of set-up for a coming story (stories? Even better!), so I’m really hoping that is the case. I would love to see what becomes of Vasya, as well as her brothers (my favorite of them, anyway). Readers of fairytale retellings set within a realistic time in history are sure to enjoy this story. The evocative imagery and Vasya’s indomitable spirit kept me reading eagerly until the end. It’s the perfect book to curl up and read on a cold night, snug under a blanket with a cup of something hot in hand.

It's hard for me to rate this book. On one hand I really liked it and didn't want to put it down once I got past the 25% mark. OTOH it's one of those books where something is always happening yet nothing is. It had to be taken as it was without looking deeper or cracks began to emerge. There weren't gaping plot holes or anything like that. Many things were alluded to but were never explained in any depth.

The writing was beautiful. It was captivating and made the book worth reading. Many people will love this book, but I wanted more. I didn’t even realize how much more I wanted there to be until the end which is odd considering how much I liked the ending.

There wasn’t much of a plot. One event stumbled into the next without much direction. It fascinating enough that I wanted to know what would happen next. Vasya was unique. She could speak to the gods of old but did not fear them. Many had moved onto Christianity, and unknownst to them was causing chaos in the world. Vasya tried to right things, but there was little she could do alone.

The characters aside from Vasya had no depth. Determining who was good and bad was easy. Several characters were included just to move the plot forward. In hindsight some had no purpose at all. Vasya wasn’t close to anyone which is part of the reason why none of the characters were fleshed out. I felt like I knew the characters but only a certain side of them.

What bothered me more than anything was the lack of answers. Obviously Vasya was special, but what was she capable of? It was insinuated by many that she had powers, but other than speaking to animals and old gods, I’m not sure what they were. The purpose of the necklace was vague. The mythology was explained on a need to know basis, which surprisingly little was imperative to know for the story to unfold.

I really enjoyed this book, and it was a very well-timed read; I was stuck inside during the cold winter days. It started slow at first, and it did feel a bit rushed towards the end, but once I got past that I read through it very quickly. I don't expect a sequel, but if the author did decide to write another book to this I would definitely pick it up (or any other works by her for that matter). I'm very excited about having discovered a new author with a very stunning voice.

The Bear and the Nightingale brought back memories of childhood and reading Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Set in the Russian wilderness, Katherine Arden weaves her debut novel around old Russian fairy tales about Jack Frost, also know as Morozko or the Demon.

The main character, Vasya, is the youngest child of a family of five children. She is gifted with a special sight that allowed her to see things that other people cannot see--namely demons and wood sprites and other supernatural beings.

Like all great fairy tales, Vasya loses her mother following the birth and her father eventually brings in a new wife. Life goes on fairly well until Vasya becomes of marriageable age and jealousy from the stepmother sets in. That’s when things really start to get exciting and readers begin to see how special Vasya’s gift of sight can be.

Set in medieval Russia (before it was called Russia), readers are treated to wonderful descriptions of the dense forests of the Russian wilderness. The customs and the way of life that was so precarious in those times all come into play as the story unfolds.
My favorite part was Vasya’s relationship with the horses she came into contact with.

This is the first of three novels Arden is writing and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Many thanks to Net-Galley and Random House/Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I should have been more familiar with Russian fairy tales to appreciate this retelling more (and I will be in the future thanks to this book) I was engrossed in the wonderful story. It reads like a fairy tale, magical realism, and realistic story at the same time. This is one amazing book.

***3.5 #TeamVasya Stars***

Russia, fairytales coming to life, a life or death situation and a strong female lead?
Yup, couldn’t pass up checking The Bear and The Nightingale out and it was a rich, enchanting story that does such a wonderful job at blending fantasy and reality and bringing to life old world Rus that it will make you reconsider all that you know and think you know.

Vasya is at the center of this storm and I adored her. She is independent and rebellious, but not to the point where she truly does catastrophic harm. She simply knows her mind and doesn’t want to be locked in with all of the other ‘girls’. But underneath all of that is a generous and compassionate heart that takes care of those around her and craves the freedom to live life on her own terms.

The synopsis hits most of the high points of the story and each step of the journey is well thought out and the various storylines woven together well. The world that Ms. Arden has created is lush and detailed. Every nook and cranny of life is explored and each character is well developed. I loved how the ‘old world’ collided with the ‘new world’ and watching how each person dealt with the things that shouldn’t be, but were.

Now although I did enjoy the book, my one issue with it, and the reason for a 3.5 star rating instead of a 4 star, was the pacing. As I’ve stated, the world building is well done and I loved how thorough the author was with it as well as giving each character their due, but it caused the story to drag on in spots and had me wanting to either skim the pages or outright skip ahead. I didn’t and I’m happy I didn’t go that route, but it was a bit of a trial.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and though the main storyline is resolved, the ending leaves things open for more books, which was confirmed by the author on Goodreads, so I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen next!

It is shocking that this is only Katherine Arden's debut novel. The Bear and the Nightingale is beautifully written and beyond atmospheric. I was deeply immersed in the brutally cold word Arden created. The imagery is simply remarkable. The story is a magnificent blend of fantasy and historical fiction. There are touches of historical elements with the added dose of magic with draws from Russian folklore. Absolutely phenomenal! The story felt authentic in terms of Russian culture. For those with little knowledge, a glossary is provided in the back of the book. Those who enjoyed Uprooted by Naomi Novik or Deathless by Catherine M. Valente should not hesitate to pick this one up! It is one of the greatest retellings I have read in years. Katherine Arden has found her way on my favorite authors list with just one novel. I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. Sure to be an instant classic!

I requested this from Netgalley (and was approved in exchange for an honest review) because I heard rumors it was reminiscent of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, which I loved, and that left it with a high standard to meet.

Thankfully, Katherine Arden did a damn good job. She convinced me that I was in the cold north of Russia. She made me believe that, when the winters came and the townsfolks were freezing, I was sitting by the hearth and sharing their warmth. She completely sold me on the supernatural all around, on the growing fear of the town, of the self-proclaimed madness of the stepmother, in the conviction that these spirits were real and had power and had bite.

Mostly, she persuaded me to love Vasya.

Ironically enough, I realized when the action really got going at around 65-70% that the first part of the book had been slow, mundane, day-to-day life and times of these characters... but it didn't matter. I hadn't even noticed the lack of real action because of Arden's writing and making me love the characters. That right there is talent. Couple that talent with the sheer depth of research she clearly engaged in to make this book accurate, and you can color me impressed.

I rarely request first books on Netgalley because I don't want to wait even longer for the next book, so I was disappointed when I found out this was to be the first in a trilogy. Now that I've finished it, my feelings have changed. Bring on book two... I'll do my best to wait patiently, but I want more Vasya!

The beginning of this novel was difficult for me to get into. I found the fairy tale nature fascinating, and the writing was quite enjoyable, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters and overall story. The second half, however, was rather addictive.

At nearly the halfway point the novel seemed to take a rather drastic turn. The beginning was a buildup for what was going to happen, and the last half was everything playing out. The focus became more about Vasya and her struggle to save her people than about her family. The fairy tale elements really came alive, making me very curious about the original tales.

Overall the writing was really captivating. It didn't read quickly, but I don't think that was really the style of story the author was trying to share. It had the whimsical feel of a fairy tale, with elements of danger. This definitely isn't the happy version of a fairy tale that I so often see. This had the grittier, darker side of things.

The characters were somewhat lacking in the beginning. There wasn't much development of them until later in the story. I found Vasya's wildness fun at first, but still didn't really feel connected to her. Later on I really did enjoy her and understood her motivations more. I also really enjoyed her relationship with her siblings, particularly Aloysha. The brother-sister dynamic was fun to see and I loved how protective he was of her. The relationship with her father was also nice, though Vasya herself was often confused about his feelings toward her.

The ending, where all of the fantasy elements finally came to a head, was quite intense and fascinating. It left me both excited and sad because I was saying goodbye to a world that I had truly come to appreciate and characters that I had grown to love.

This novel will definitely appeal to a wide range of audiences and I am interested in reading more from this author when she releases more work.

a story about a family and russia and the cold, interesting

My review will be on Goodreads and on my blog today, and on Amazon January 10th.

*Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for a review!*

The Low Down:
In the Russian Wilderness, where the winters are long and dangerous and where snowstorms eat houses, lives Vasilisa with her family. She was always a little odd, talking to the spirits that lived all around her, protecting and watching over her, her family and the village and woods where she lives. One day, her father comes back from Moscow with a new wife, fiercely devout and also harbouring the sight.
Except she doesn’t see the spirits as helpers or protectors, she sees them as devils. With the help of a Priest, she starts to drive the spirits away, and when the spirits leave, the whole village is thrown into a dangerous world that shows how true folk tales are. It is up to Vasilisa, with Morozko the Frost King, to protect the village and set things back to normal.

My thoughts:
After a series of books that were just okay for me, this book was just what I needed. You all know how I love Russia. I love the culture, history, and especially the folk tales. So this book was right up my alley. I found the story not only beautifully and lyrically written, but I found this story impeccably researched and thought out. The Bear and the Nightingale drew me into its world right from the beginning. I felt I was sitting by the fire, or galloping on the horses, or wondering through the bitter Russian Wilderness, with Morozko dancing around me, stirring up the chilling wind. Each of the characters had their own personality and story, and each has their motivations and fears for the actions they take. This book wasn’t a quick read, but a slow burn that drew you in and kept you. This was also a CRUEL book. It explores a lot of what happens when fear and ignorance sink into people’s bones and what they do.

I don’t really want to say any more about this story. I want you to explore it for yourselves and I want you to let it draw you in and sink into your soul.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is one of the best books I have read in years. The fantastic writing had me hooked from page one. I stayed up all night and read it in one sitting. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fairy tale.

The following title has been chosen as the Marvelous Novel of the Month for January 2017 for The Marvelous Site. The review below is a reviewaka based on an ancient Japanese poetry form. (To read more about the reviewaka, see http://www.themarveloussite.com/quick-guide-to-reading-a.html.)

The Bear and the Nightingale /
by Katherine Arden /
c2016 (release date January 10) //

deepest old Russia /
delightfully wild and strong /
standing up to fears //

transcending limits: lovely, /
enchanting, mesmerizing //

MM

Vasilisa lives with her family at the edge of the Russian wilderness, content to spend her nights listening to her old nurse tell fairytales by the fire. But when her mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings back a new wife – a wife who is city-bred, fiercely devout and deathly afraid of the spirits that linger in the house. Vasilisa is the only one who keeps up the rituals to honor the spirits, but her efforts are not enough to battle the tide of darkness and misfortune that threatens to overwhelm the village. With a stepmother determined to tame her by marriage or by convent, and the threat of death and destruction looming over her, Vasilisa must discover her own strength in order to defend the home and people she loves the most in the world.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a perfectly dreamy sort of read best suited to be read in the cold of winter, curled up under a comfortable blanket and with a warm drink at hand. It took me a couple of chapters before I settled properly into the storytelling style Arden employs, though in hindsight, I recognize its similarities to the telling of a fairy tale. But once I was hooked, I was hooked. I was content to allow each chapter to unfold, simply curious to discover what would become of Vasilisa and her family. It certainly helped that it was all too easy for me to feel predisposed towards caring about Vasilisa, who was the sort of brave young lady devoted to what she knows is right that I tend to gravitate towards. Magical and imaginative and utterly transporting, I enjoyed this novel, and believe that others will as well.

First off the cover is beautiful! The story line was unique and well written! I cant wait to see whats next from this author!

Not since discovering Terry Brooks over 30 years ago has a fantasy author wowed me so. There is definitely a new voice in town. Katherine Arden has written an alluring, captivating tale with The Bear and the Nightingale. While I am not familiar with Russian folktales this spellbinding, magical and totally fascinating fairytale brought them roaring to vivid life. “All we have to fear is fear itself,” is thrillingly played out in the pages of The Bear and the Nightingale. I can’t wait to see what this author brings to us next.

No spoilers given because the reader deserves to read this amazing book like I did, event by event unfolding amazingly before you.

The Bear and the Nightingale brings the best out in storytelling, capturing the traditional essence of mixing a touch of myth, magic, and truth into an undeniably lush and captivating tale.
Russian folklore and fairy tale mingle in a highly atmospheric setting. One where Winter's landscape is so vivid you can feel the crunch of freshly fallen snow and hear the hearth’s flames crackle as the story unfolds. 
The Bear and the Nightingale is a languorous read, it takes its time unraveling, doling out yummy bits and pieces from various perspectives until a grander picture is revealed.
It begins simple enough, with a fairy tale told on a cold Winter's night. It is the story of the Winter King Morozko, also known as Frost. 
The beauty of this simple yet powerful tale is how Katherine Arden uses it as the stepping stone for The Bear and the Nightingale’s story. 
Vasilisa’s story, our heroine, begins with her birth and subsequent death of her mother. Unruly and untamed, Vasilisa grows up doted upon and well loved. Yet, at the back of her father's mind lingers the thought of taking a wife again in hopes of giving his daughter a mother figure to help tame her into a proper lady.
Thus, begins Vasilisa’s journey, a story of kindness and cruelty. Of magic and myth. A spirited heroine who battles enemies both seen and unseen. Set in a gorgeously rendered Wintery landscape, Katherine Arden fills the pages with danger and enchantment, and as Winter holds fast, Vasilisa will be challenged to save those she loves. Betrayal and help from unexpected characters make for an enticing read.
The Bear and the Nightingale is Katherine Arden’s debut novel but reads as if she has been penning these tales on paper for much longer. 
If you are an enthusiast of fairy tales, Russian history, and its folklore, then The Bear and the Nightingale is a must read! 
Katherine Arden is a new favorite author of mine and on my auto buying list. Her writing is 5-star quality, the kind you want hardbacks in proudly displaying on your shelves.

3.5 stars
Fairytales, an escape to another world bearing a dose of reality, a little suspension of disbelief, may be good for the soul once in a while and Russian fairy tales are very much a part of this story . But so is a view of medieval Russia, know as Rus in the 14th century. A time when arranged marriages of the royalty cannot be refused. I really enjoyed the setting, the time and place, the beautiful descriptions of the snow and how I could just about feel the cold. Vasilisa, a memorable character, for sure, was born soon before her mother dies. Martina wished to have a daughter with her own mother's special gifts. Gifted or cursed, Vasilisa/Vasya converses with the spirits and demons she sees . I absolutely love the Russian custom of endearing nicknames, we see throughout just as in the Russian classics.

I don't read much fantasy so at times this felt a bit much for me with demons and spirits abounding. While there are many things to enjoy about the novel, especially the lovely lyrical writing, it was the fantasy that proved a bit too much for me . I seem to be an outlier here with a 3.5 star review and the high ratings overall and from several of my Goodreads friends. You should read those reviews. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the fantastical and magical a bit more than I did here.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Del Rey through NetGalley

Gorgeous and lyrical. Arden reimagines the Russian fairy tale of Vasilisa the Beautiful but melds it with traditional stories of the fey folk. Instead of a doll, Vasilisa has brownies, and nymphs, and dryads, and others. I loved this melding of different folk tales, and it added depth to Vasya's story, that she have the sight and able to see the magical creatures, and that this is placed into context of the Christianity causing the old ways to die.

As is true of Russian literature, this is not a light book. There is an air of oppressive darkness throughout, which is in line with the harsh winters and the danger of death through cold or starvation -- even before the addition of a mythical Bear-demon who creates undead vampire wraiths.

I read this book slowly, though it is not very long. The plot is not quick and I did not want to rush it. Arden takes the time to set the stage and it is a slow build -- so slow, in fact, that when the book's denouement arrived, it was over too quickly. I wanted more; I wanted to spend more time with these characters and to see what happens next to Vasya.

This is Arden's debut book and I'm very impressed. I look forward to seeing what else she writes.

I am incredibly happy to be starting a new year of reviews with this book because it was a fantastic book to be reading as this last year came to an end. After finishing it I went back and reread the initial description that inspired me to put it on my preview request list—having forgotten everything about that description in the months between submitting my request and reading the book. I had to laugh because usually, those descriptions feel strategically written with an eye towards marketing—which, of course, they are—but in this case I found completely accurate. Katherine Arden’s upcoming The Bear and the Nightingale reminded me of Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane and is also “recommended” for fans of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus (which I just got a personal copy of for Christmas so I can read and enjoy it all over again).

It is some years after Pyotr Vladimirovich’s beloved wife Marina died following the birth of their youngest daughter, Vasilisa (called Vasya), but he finally admits that the time has come for him to remarry—mostly so there is another woman around to help with Vasya who appears to take her nurse’s fairy tales a little too literally. Journeying with his two oldest sons to Moscow, Pyotr returns with a devout new wife and a gift for Vasya from an odd stranger. Vasya can do nothing right in the eyes of her new stepmother but it isn’t until a new priest arrives in the village (determined to bring the fear of God to the northern people and save their souls) that more devastating effects threaten the village as the people begin neglecting the protective household spirits of old.

Though there are a lot of Russian fairy tale elements used in the novel, it isn’t necessary to be familiar with them before reading because such fairy tale stories, creatures, and themes are pretty universal and relatable. Similarly, the clash between older (and often rural) traditions with more institutional religious orders is a familiar one that is deftly handled in this novel. It can be easy, when dealing with such established characters/creatures/traditions for them to either fall flat in a new (novelized) form; thankfully, that is far from the case here. The lore never overshadows the original characters; it initially serves as a backdrop as the story unfolds before its important role becomes clearer and begins taking a more prominent role until it finally interacts with the original characters themselves on equal footing.

The way the novel is written and presented works beautifully. The frequent changes in narrative perspective (all third person) give the characters and story great depth and texture. While the reader is clearly meant to root for Vasya, those who oppose her (with perhaps one exception) are not heartless villains; they each have their own hardships to contend with, their own obstacles. The story may boast many fairy tale creatures, themes, and patterns, but it is far from childish. The stakes are intense and don’t shy from the dark or difficult; the ending (which I found immensely satisfying) is not the clean, happy ending that many modern readers are likely to associate with fairy tales.

There are a few characters whose early prominence seems to be misleading given that they’re almost entirely dropped from the story by the middle of the novel. Vasya’s older brother Alexei seems to be overly emphasized given how far into the background he fades. At the same time, these characters don’t detract from the rest of the story; they just function more as not-entirely-successful red herrings.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden will be available for purchase January 10, 2017.