This book has everything that a fairy tale should and yet all the typical fairy tale hallmarks are twisted in a different way. There's an "evil" stepmother, but is she really evil or just scared of what she can't understand? There's a "wild" girl, but is she really wild or just living an existence that we don't understand? I also love that Vasya is never described as being a beauty, but it is her personality and her carriage that make her beautiful to many. The prose was beautiful and had that cadence that fairy tales have. I don't really know how to describe it but if you read fairy tales or even Russian novels (at least for me) there's just a particular phrasing and pace that a fall into which I like that Arden was able to replicate. I loved Vasya's relationships with all her siblings, but I wish they got explored just a little more. When Olya and Sasha go away, I wanted more about them, but I understand that this is Vasya's story and her siblings aren't as important as they seemed in the beginning (especially Sasha). I also like that Vasya's father kept her at somewhat of a distance because she was her mother's last child and while she didn't look like her mother, looking at her reminded him of her so there was some tension there. The mythical creatures in this book were fun for me as well because I don't really know a lot about Russian folklore so all the creatures were new to me! This book is a classic fairy tale that is also distinctly Russian in both the setting and the telling. I liked that Arden didn't go with the Russian tradition of everyone having three different names that everyone calls the other characters because that gets so confusing and instead kept it to one nickname, one full name, and one pet name that is universally used by all the characters. I also liked that the fairy tale doesn't end the way you expect it to and that it doesn't have the perfect "happily ever after" ending. There's some vagueness to the way Vasya's story ends where you can decide for yourself what happens to her next. Overall I really enjoyed this book and while it was a little slow in the beginning, after the set up it really picked up and had me turning the pages in anticipation for what would happen next!

This book was unlike anything I've read recently. I think this book has the potential to reach readers who may not read this genre. I am usually not a fan of fantasy but this book drew me in. It started slowly, but towards 25%, I started to get involved in the book and finished the rest of it in a night. I love the tone of the book- I can't place my finger on the best word to describe it but you can feel the tension slowly building, you can almost feel the harsh winter and frost so described in the novel. I love the imagery and the world building and the tension between old religion and new. There's so much going on in this novel and it all works. The descriptions of the characters and beings are amazing- you are fully able to picture this world and everything in it.

Overall, this is a great debut novel. I was be purchasing a copy for my library and highly recommending it to my patrons.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I was invited to read this by the publisher and was happy to oblige since fairy tale retellings are right up my street. Not that this is a straight fairy tale retelling but it does draw threads from many Russian folktales such as Vasilisa and the Firebird.

Part fantasy, part historical fiction, this book has all the whimsy and magic of a folktale but is far meatier fare. In some ways I could have done with less of Vasya's childhood although it did establish character and setting. The magic system was brilliant with no true enemies per se but instead a cycle of progression. Very much like the British Celtic tradition of the Oak king and the Holly king and their rites of ascendency, the Bear here is not truly bad but simply cannot be allowed to govern completely. Eternal summer and growth are just as damaging as winter and death.

In the way of all Russian folktales the story is a bit odd and uncanny. The heros are not really heroic - no white hats. I did like Vasya whose trye enemies were the expectations and limits of society rather than external agencies. Vasya is very much tilted towards following her own inclinations making for a rebellious and unconventional heroine.

Thoroughly enjoyable with a writing style that takes a bit of getting used to but clearly evokes the time and place.

Wow, did this book ever grow on me! It took a while for me to get into it but once I was about 30% of the way in, it picked up and I was hooked! This was an imaginative story that mixes folklore and fairy tales. I thoroughly enjoyed the main character Vasya. She is a strong and complex female lead and maid for a compelling story. I also appreciated the character of the priest, who is like many “villains”, someone who had the best of intentions gone awry. The world building and atmosphere is great, probably the novels strongest asset. It’s not a fast-paced novel but one that is completely engrossing.

I recommend it for fans of fairy tales, and full formed settings.

This book is like a fairy tale: magical and true. It shows us the forest, the snow. It shows us fear and fearlessness. It is full of courage and love. It scrolls out in the mind's eye like a film from the first page to the last. It is the best kind of book. It shows us ourselves.

I was pulled to The Bear and the Nightingale because of that stunning cover. There was just something entirely to beautiful in its too simplicity that made me want to pick this book up. The inside of the book was just as stunning as the outside, in my opinion. However, it was very clear while reading this book that I wasn't the intended audience for the book. I'm not quite sure how to review this book so I'll just share with you all some points I jotted down while reading.

-First off, the prose is stunning. It's simple, poetic and magical. It's hard to believe that this is just Arden's debut novel because the writing was so masterful. It pulls you in immediately and leaves you mesmerized throughout the whole story.

- I haven't read many books based on Russian fairy tales or folklore, so The Bear and the Nightingale was refreshing and truly an experience that's hard for me to describe. The richness and complexity of the book and the mythology were what kept me glued to the story. I'm no expert, but it's pretty obvious that Arden researched her book quite thoroughly.

- Perhaps the next best part of The Bear and the Nightingale were all the relationships that the book explored. There was a strong family theme here that I loved. I especially love the protagonist Vasya's numerous different relationships with her siblings, father and caregiver. It added a level of humanity to the book and made it even more readable.

- All that being said, I struggled with the pacing of the book a little bit. It's a story that's very slow, and rightfully so, but I kept waiting for things to pick up, and they never really did. Again, like I said, this is definitely something that's on my personal preferences and not the book's fault.

- I also struggle with books that switch to the different characters, and The Bear and the Nightingale had a huge cast that gets their own POVs, so it was tough at times, because I preferred being in the head of one character over the others.

In the end, while I was engaged throughout the story, it wasn't the best book for me because of my personal tastes. If you are into slower fairy tale books with beautiful settings and beautiful writing, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

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

(Full review is on GoodReads)
This well-researched and brilliantly written debut novel was a real treat to read on a cold winter night, and I'm looking forward to more from Katherine Arden.