A cute fun introduction into Russian myth. I found it hard to get into at first, but once the plot began moving the story was able to grab me more. It definitely starts out slow, but the characters get much more interesting as events move along.

Wanted a folk tale type story and this was it. Though it seemed drastically heavier than I'd origanally been going for I made it through and conquered this beast. It was enjoyable and worth a read though I don't know if I'd go back to it again.

I really wanted to like this book as I really liked the plot and theme of the book, however The Bear and the Nightingale was a bit too difficult for me to get in to. It didn't immediately draw me in, which is normally okay -- I give a book at least 5 or so chapters to get me hooked, and this simply didn't do it for me.

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.



* * * * *



Oh my goodness. This book is incredible! It's based on a Russian fairytale and Ms. Arden did a wonderful job of bringing it to life.



It's rare when I run across a book nowadays that totally sweeps me away. There were even times when I was even shivering from the cold of the winter in Rus and the temps here have been in the 70s. There were other times when the tale brought me to tears.


Ms. Arden has a deft touch with her characters. They all were so detailed and three dimensional that they became real to me. I fell in love with Vasilisa and her strength. She had a touch of the Sight and refused to be put in the box that women typically resided in. The only thing that really reined her in was her love for her family and her people.


I enjoy fairy tales but this is the first time that I have had the chance to read one that absolutely took me away from my every day life. I highly recommend it to any of my readers who enjoy fantasy or fairy tales. You won't be disappointed.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

The Bear and the Nightingale was heavily plugged to me on more than one front. So, I decided to give it a try. It took me a while to be interested (and that was more a proximity thing and not genuine interest) but once I started reading, I didn't want to put it back down.

I'm familiar with a lot of fairy tales but precious few of those are Russian so I am not at all familiar with the origins of this story. That said, The Bear and the Nightingale was a really good book as it is. I really liked Vasya and her family. I sympathized them, empathized with them, and I felt drawn into the family as if I were a neighbor of theirs. Arden did a great job of drawing the reader in emotionally.

The story itself is told in the lush verbiage of fairy tales or, if one prefers, tales of old. It feels a bit like the Thousand Nights and a Night with word choices that make the sentences flow. There is no question that this is a Russian tale as the imagery is clearly steeped in old cultural terms and ideas. I loved how it felt and sounded as much as I loved the story itself.

Vasya's ancestry is part supernatural and as a result, she is part wild and can see the supernatural beings who inhabit the world. Her sight and belief as well as her offerings and interactions help to keep that world alive and protect against the growing power of the Bear. Her courage, love, and selflessness are staples of fairy tales the world 'round. She is not made for a cage and this poses a problem for many in her family and those surrounding her family would put her in one - even if only metaphorically. There were some elements of Vasya that intrigued me, especially her wildness. Though it is true that she comes from a warrior family, she seemed to be temperamentally more in line with her father and brothers than her sisters. I don't think that was just because of her heritage either.

I really enjoyed the imagery: the Bear as devourer, the Winter King as Frost, the snowdrops, the horses (especially Solovey). The cheryty of Russian folklore were fascinating and I enjoyed the tidbits about them that make this world even more lush and rich.

I really liked The Bear and the Nightingale and would recommend it to anyone who is curious about Russian folk and fairy tales and an entry point. It has certainly inspired me to go and search out more definitive collections to see what other fantastical and interesting stories there are. I know I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

I was super excited to see this fairy tale for adults. I couldn’t wait to read it, but life happened and I only just got to it. The Bear and the Nightingale was incredibly well-written, but the language flowed in such a way that I found myself distracted. A ton of action would happen, and I would have to go back and re-read to see what I missed. Additionally, I think this writing style contributed to characters that seemed thin. I think they could have been developed more. Also, the story started before the main character was a baby. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had the beginning of Vasilisa’s life been summarized, as opposed to being told in detail. I think that the book lost some of its magic because of that. Once The Bear and the Nightingale actually got to the fairy tale part of the story, I loved it! It just took too long to get there.

When I added Arden’s book to my Goodreads list, I saw that there is going to be a sequel. I don’t think it needs a sequel! The whole point of a fairy tale is that the characters live happily ever after and that’s all you need to know. I was really thinking this would be a standalone going into it, but I might give the sequel a try, out of curiosity.

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is a book you will want to read in front of a crackling fire and under a soft blanket.

I had a very difficult time reading this book. It is written very well and definitely reads like a fairy tale, but I was so bored and then... confused. I will say most of the action happens in the last 20-30% of the book. Before that feels like build up and character development -- Which, yes books do build up to the climax, but the book <i> felt</i> like it was building up.

For all that I was bored, I cannot deny that this was written well with magic woven between the words. I definitely think other people will enjoy the history, the different fairy tales, and will be pulled into this book. All of this makes me frustrated because I could feel the pull to be dragged in and I was curious about the tale, but it just did not work on me.

As a side note, I have no idea who the Nightingale in the tile is referring to.... brother or horse... or I missed something.

Anyhow, I totally recommend this book to people who like fairy tale retellings, don't require much action, and are interested in Russian folklore. This book is worth the read.

I did hesitate when I choose this book to read. It is a very different genre than my usual choices. Even half way through it, I was deciding whether to continue or not. Then a strange thing happened, I was so caught up in Vasilisa's story, I couldn't put it down. I am so glad I continued to read. The story centers around a Rus' family, the young girl,Vasilisa and Rus' folk tales. What a wonderful way of describing the "old" ways by putting the reader in the middle of one. This is Katherine Arden's first book as far as I know. She is a talented writer who is able to grab your attention and not let go until the end.

4.25ish stars.

I was ready to write this off pretty early. The first 25% or so gave me nightmare flashbacks to reading Uprooted (don't judge) and I was about to toss this on my "not for me" shelf and be done with it. Gladly the remaining 75% did a great job of changing my mind.

While I tend not to be a fan of the impersonal, sparse (although often lovely) narration used to tell fairy tales and mythology, I found that Arden used it to great effect here. Vasya, in critical danger of reaching special snowflake status (cough Agnieszka), ended up actually being a really cool protagonist and Morozko, in critical danger of falling into awful, douchey Dragon territory, ended up being a legitimately interesting anti-hero/(view spoiler)

The fairy tale influence was really interesting and informative. It's always cool to learn the folklore native to different parts of the world. I especially love the idea of different spirits inhabiting different buildings and creatures and nature. I initially got a decidedly anti-religion vibe with the disparity between the Old Beliefs and Christianity. One significant character in particular embodies the (historically accurate) evil of using fear and death to force Christianity upon the people at the expense of their cherished beliefs instead of allowing them to co-exist as they had been (not cool, bro). Honestly, I find the religious nut plot device frustrating and contrived but whatever. However, I feel like it wasn't so much the author making a critique on religion in general as it was demonstrating the peril of using fear and constraint to prompt faith (Crusades anyone?). We're led to believe that Vasya's beloved brother, Sasha, although not heavily featured, provides the foil of a peaceful, respectful and sincere seeker of faith through religion.

Even before I began I wasn't expecting to enjoy this- some books you have to read just because everyone else is- but I'll count it as a wonderfully pleasant surprise.

I can appreciate how much effort and research went into this book to set it in Northern Russia and populate it with creatures from legend and folklore. The beginning is quite interesting and puts you into the setting right away with small details like cutting think ice and bracing it against the windows in the winter for insulation. But it can get quite complex dealing with a large cast of characters who all have conflicting motivations.. I couldn't finish it myself, but it does have a power to it that will likely entice many readers with it's unique world building.

This book was very well written. I only really saw the fantasy aspects more than the sci-fi elements in this one. I did get brought back when I was in Comparative Myth as a class talking about Hero Myths and this was one that took fear in order to develop a hero. I did have to take breaks due to how much some of the parts kind of caused me to be a little scared but I did take the book bits at a time. Good job though!

A lovely Russian fairytale.

I haven't had a five star read in a while! If The Bear and the Nightingale is not on your radar it definitely should be! A lush Russian setting that draws you in, steeped in Russian folklore and legend, lyrical prose, a story within a story...I adored this! Fantasic storytelling! I received a review copy of this book but I also purchased a hardcover because I loved it so much! I can't wait for the next book: The Girl in the Tower out Jan. 2018!

I received a free copy of this title through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my opinion of the story. Thank you Random House and Netgalley for the review Copy!

Captivating, deeply engrossing, and magical, this story has it all. I've been reading a lot of novels that use the medieval Russian folktale theme. THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE was hard to put down and I finished it after an all-nighter. I absolutely loved it so much that it has joined UPROOTED and WINTERSONG as my absolute favorite Russian fairytale books.

I did not personally enjoy this book and didn't finish it, but it has been a popular title at my library.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Vasilisa Vladimirovich, a girl born with the second sight, whose mother dies right after childbirth. Her father, Pyotr, loved her mother, Marina, fiercely and was devastated when she died. And it made him angry that Marina knew this child would most likely kill her and she chose to have it anyways. Vasya is a sweet and generous child though, and it is almost impossible not to love her. As she grows she learns the ways of her land and learns from the different magical creatures that haunt the stables and the house. As she grows older though she is in danger from a shadow in the forest, and as the old ways are forgotten for fear of God, the whole village is in danger of the Bear devil in the forest.
Overall I really liked this book a lot. The Russian terms made the story a little harder to get into at first but once I was engaged with the story line I didn’t want to put it down. It was a beautifully woven fairy tale with just enough of the fantastical to make it feel perfectly magical. Vasya was fierce and brave, I loved her character. The plot line was thrilling and filled with danger and excitement. I’m excited to see where the story will take us in the next installment of the trilogy.

A wonderfully atmospheric fairy tale that blends old-school Russian folklore and setting with a modern sensibility. I'm a little on the fence about the ending, but overall I really loved this book.

I wasn't as impressed with this as many others seem to have been, but that could simply be a result of my reading Novik's Uprooted first, and they're fairly similar in atmosphere as well as mythology. Although obviously the plots are different. I'm also a little tired of little girl protagonist whose specialness is signaled by how tomboyish they are, and different from their families. I understand and value the impulse to create female characters that don't simply sit around sewing or simpering at love stories but there must be something more to a character than a series of strong girl tropes. This wasn't a particularly egregious example, but the beginning sections were a bit of a slog as a result of what I felt was somewhat unimaginative character-building. But I love the turn to other cultures and stories than the Western and North European mythologies popularized by Tolkien, and it's nice to see it working well as a base for the story here.

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I thought it sounded interesting and that I might enjoy it. It was different from my usual blood and guts mysteries and lesbian romances so I figured I’d give it a shot. I never would have guessed that I would be swept away in a fantastic fairy tale of sorts.

Here’s the blurb from Amazon: [removed for sharing on NetGalley]

After the first couple chapters, I couldn’t have stopped reading if I’d been ordered to. The language, the characters, the setting, the history, every single thing about The Bear and the Nightingale made me want it to never end. The way the author wove the story reminded me of Neil Gaiman at his best. I feel at a loss for words to describe how great I think this book is. I’ve talked several people into picking it up with phrases like “it’s incredible” and “just trust me, it’s fantastic and you’ll love it!”

I did a mix of listening to the audio book (which is wonderfully narrated) and reading the ebook and I’m happy I did it this way. I was able to get the voice and pronunciations in my head and still see how the words were spelled. Whichever way you decide to be absorbed into the story, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. This book is just wonderful and that it’s a debut novel is even more special. From what I saw on the author’s Goodreads page, there’s a sequel already nearing completion. You can bet I’ll be snapping it up as soon as I can.

I can’t think of anything else to say except I hope everyone who enjoys fairy tales, good versus evil, strong female characters, and beautiful writing will give The Bear and the Nightingale a try.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to discover and fall in love with this book.

Loved this book! The setting was well done and I loved the mix of Russian and English. It really drew me into the world. The fairy tale aspects of the story were truly intriguing and make me want to research Russian fairy tales. The story was engaging and you were pulling for all to turn out well in the end.