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The Bear and the Nightingale

(Winternight Trilogy #1)

Katherine Arden (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 93,958 ratings · 14,486 reviews

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 ...more

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Hardcover, 323 pages

Published January 10th 2017 by Del Rey Books

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· 93,958 ratings · 14,486 reviews

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Jul 24, 2018 Chaima ✨ شيماء rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2018, young-adult, fantasy, fiction, historical

There’s a weirdly intense spot in my heart occupied by so much love and appreciation for lushly written magical tales imbued with the feel of centuries-old fairy tales. There’s just something extremely entrancing about this breed of fantasy that delves deep into the origins of storytelling and employs the stone foundation of fairytales to tell a story that is at once comforting and familiar as well as subversive, vibrant and new.

This book shares the same DNA as Naomi Novik’s marvelously ...more

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Jul 25, 2017 Melanie rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Melanie by: Emily

Shelves: favorites, demons, magic, retellings, fantasy, paranormal, historical, read-in-2017, cover-porn

“Tell the story of Frost, Dunyashka. Tell us of the frost-demon, the winter-king Karachun.”

This book is magical. This book is whimsical. This book is one of the best things I’ve read in my entire life. I loved this with every bone, every red blood cell, every molecule in my body. This book was nothing short of perfection, and I’m sorry to gush, but I never expected this story to captivate me the way it did.

“In Russian, Frost was called Morozko, the demon of winter. But long ago, the

...more

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Dec 29, 2016 Emily May rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, arc, 2016

A beautiful, pastoral fairy tale set in a fantasy version of medieval Russia.

Narrated in lyrical prose and third-person past tense, Arden weaves a tale no less compelling for its slow, gradual development. Like all the best fairy tales, the author draws on the setting - a village in the northern woods of Rus' - to create an atmosphere that promises magic and suggests many horrors.

Atmosphere is the key word here: The Bear and the Nightingale captures that feeling of uncertainty and ...more

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Apr 07, 2018 Miranda Reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-series, reimagined-fairytales, best-of-decade

Haunting. Riveting. Entrancing.

This is the sort of book that sweeps you on a journey .

"I want to save you, Vasilisa Petrovna," he said. "I will save you all. There are dark forces that you do not understand."

To his surprise, and perhaps to her, she laughed.

Vasilisa "Vasya" Petrovna lives during the "old Russia" - back when fairy and folk tales were not legends.

Vasya always possessed the second sight, which made for some interesting conversations with the various creatures living in ...more

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Feb 03, 2017 Mischenko rated it it was amazing

To see this review and Q&A with the author, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com

Words cannot describe how much I cherish this book. The characters were described so well and the story was absolutely fantastic and so magical.

Certain parts of the story felt so nostalgic to me. It reminded me of my upbringing with my Russian grandmother and our old Orthodox Church. Matyushka, Batyushka and many of the other words in the story evoked a glimpse into my past. There wasn’t anything I didn’t ...more

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Jun 25, 2018 Elise (TheBookishActress) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gen-series-books, gen-sff-high-fantasy, favorite-friendships, favorite-characters, favorite-relationships, this-fucking-gorgeous-writing, books-released-2017, what-kind-of-hype-hype-hype, genre-experiments, gen-nonfiction

“All my life,” she said, “I have been told ‘go’ and ‘come.’ 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. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed me.”

So this was... unexpectedly amazing. Somehow, I went into this ...more

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Jul 28, 2018 jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

enchanting is really the only way to describe this book. this was the type of story that makes you want to go back to being a child who unconditionally believed in magic and wishes and the possibility of all things.

some might say this story was too slow, but i prefer to think of it as being patient. others might complain that there was no plot, but i saw it as being humble. and some could claim the writing was stiff, but i felt the language embodied the frigidity of long russian winters. ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Robin Hobb rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Just finished reading an ARC of this forthcoming book. You will have to wait until 201 to get your hands on it.

First, a metaphor. Have you ever been about to eat something, thinking it's flavored with vanilla and cinnamon? Then you bite into it and discover ginger and nutmeg (also favorites of mine.)

This book is a bit like that. It's fantasy. Okay, I've read lots of that. It's told rather like a fairy tale. Okay, ready for that.

It's told a bit like a Russian fairy tale only the setting is very ...more

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Dec 08, 2016 Paromjit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy

This is an atmospheric and intoxicating read that draws on history and Russian fairytales. Set in medieval times, it charts the origins of Vasya's birth and her mother's determination to have a daughter endowed with her grandmother's powers despite it meaning her death in childbirth. The novel begins with Dunya telling the story of Frost, a harbinger for what comes later.

Vasya is an enchanting rough and tumble girl, more at home in the wild outdoors and who chafes at the limitations pressed This is an atmospheric and intoxicating read that draws on history and Russian fairytales. Set in medieval times, it charts the origins of Vasya's birth and her mother's determination to have a daughter endowed with her grandmother's powers despite it meaning her death in childbirth. The novel begins with Dunya telling the story of Frost, a harbinger for what comes later.

Vasya is an enchanting rough and tumble girl, more at home in the wild outdoors and who chafes at the limitations pressed upon her. She has the abilities of her grandmother and can see, hear and feel what others cannot. She communes with and feeds the protective guardian spirits of her home, stables, forests and water. She is fearless, brave, kind of spirit, generous and has a heart full of love. All is well until the arrival of Anna and the priest, Konstantin, begin to tear apart the community through fear, presaging the bitterest cold weather, crop failures, famine and death. A gifted jewel with magical properties proves to be a vital protective talisman for our Vasya.

Anna, like Vasya, can see and hear what others cannot. However, this engenders terrifying fear in her and a zealous religious piety. Konstantin sees it as his duty to move the community to Christian beliefs and he achieves this by raising the fear factor. People begin to no longer value their spirits and guardians and abandon them. And as they wither and diminish, the dead stalk the living and the fortunes of the place hang in the balance. The only hope is Vasya, who by now is rumoured to be a witch who must be beaten into submission through marriage or convent. Neither is an acceptable option and Vasya enters the icy forest harbouring desperate fantastical dangers. Aided by the Winter King and Solovey, the nightingale, Vasya is to battle the bear for the soul of the world.

This novel pierces humanity's Achilles heel to let us see how anger and fear allow people to let in the forces of destruction to wreak havoc. We only have to look at the world and see this is so. This is a richly imagined spellbinding novel that entrances the reader. It dwells on the themes of love, loss and what it is to be different. I understand there are to be two further books to come. I adored this story completely and urge others to read it. A brilliant book! Thanks to Random House Ebury for an ARC. ...more

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Oct 21, 2019 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it it was amazing

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! This sound is not coming from the construction workers or the firefighters’ axes who are trying to enter my kitchen that I put on fire with my last cooking attempt. I literally hit my head against the wall several times. BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE READ THIS BOOK BEFORE! WTH I waited tooooooooo lonnngggg!!! I already call my SLAP CLUB (the place I founded to punish the dislikable, detesting characters of the books) to teach me a lesson to choice my books wisely!

Katherine Arden BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! This sound is not coming from the construction workers or the firefighters’ axes who are trying to enter my kitchen that I put on fire with my last cooking attempt. I literally hit my head against the wall several times. BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE READ THIS BOOK BEFORE! WTH I waited tooooooooo lonnngggg!!! I already call my SLAP CLUB (the place I founded to punish the dislikable, detesting characters of the books) to teach me a lesson to choice my books wisely!

Katherine Arden did a fantastic job by taking us a journey to a magical world: quite mash up of Russian classics, folklore, mythology and fairy tales. And you enjoy every step you take, every minute you witness about the character’s lives in this world. You turn into a part of the story and connect with all those mythological creatures and you actually feel the snowflakes brush your cheeks and you feel your bones shuddering because the cold and demons waiting for you take to the end of the world.

Vasilisa is one of the bravest, toughest heroine who is raised with Dunya’s fairy tales and sees the invisible creatures and talks with them. Her mother died when she’s giving birth to her and after his father’s second marriage she lives with her disapproving step mother suffering from psychosis (she also sees the creatures just like Vasilisa does but she thinks they are evil and she is afraid of them.) step sister, brothers and authoritative father.

Vasilisa’s specialty to bond with the creatures compassionately instead of scarring them turns her into an outcast. She doesn’t want to marry, have kids or dream for a life a girl in her ages gives anything to have. She is a good horse rider. She likes to run into the woods. She believes in fairytales because she lives in one of them. She prefers befriending the creatures over the friendship of other people talking behind her back and thinking there is something wrong with her. (They think she is cursed, she is a witch like her dead mother!)

Then one day faith brings the frost-demon and Vasilisa together and their crossed paths push them into their devoted, destined journey when bear and a beautiful nightingale involve in their story. Vasilisa’ finally finds out what she’s destined for and what her life purpose is.
Stunning, riveting, poetic writing, breathtaking , aesthetic atmosphere, well-rounded, perfectly build characters , dark, compelling approach to the classic fairytales and some lyrical elements of Russian classics you reread at least ten times MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK AND LOVE IT WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART COMPASSIONATELY.

We’re lately introduced to Morozko but I think some kind of epic, devoted and unconditional romance story is about to come at the sequels between him and Vasilisa ( I know I deserved spoilers for waiting for too long to start this epic journey but please have mercy! I already banged my head too much and probably lost the last functioning grey cells because of hitting so hard. I see double Chardonnay bottles so maybe my semi concussion is not a bad thing!)

As a summary: I LOVED IT SO MUCH AND I SHOULD READ THE OTHER TWO BOOKS ASAP. Period. ...more

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May 28, 2017 Candace rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: listened-to-audio-version, paranormal, read-listened-with-my-kids, historical

Hmm... I'm at a loss with this one. I can't say that I loved it, but I didn't dislike it either. I feel like I'm missing something. This is a story that I should probably go back and re-read at a time when I can give it my full attention...but I didn't feel a strong enough connection the first time around to make me want to do that.

When I listen to an audiobook, I'm usually doing something else that requires part of my attention (i.e. driving). For this reason, I try to keep my audiobook Hmm... I'm at a loss with this one. I can't say that I loved it, but I didn't dislike it either. I feel like I'm missing something. This is a story that I should probably go back and re-read at a time when I can give it my full attention...but I didn't feel a strong enough connection the first time around to make me want to do that.

When I listen to an audiobook, I'm usually doing something else that requires part of my attention (i.e. driving). For this reason, I try to keep my audiobook selections pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, this book proved to be too detailed for me to follow in that format. I ended up having to "rewind" several times to reorient myself because I'd find myself completely lost.

'The Bear and the Nightingale' ended up being a bit too complicated of a story for me to take in via audiobook. There were details and connections that I'm sure I missed. The fact that I didn't understand some of the Russian words and wasn't able to look them up at the time, certainly contributed to my bewilderment.

In a nutshell, the story dealt with religious persecution as the "old gods" and religions were being pushed out by Christianity. The story is set in medieval Russia and the imagery crafted by the author was beautiful. Even when I was admittedly lost, I greatly enjoyed the detailed descriptions provided.

The heroine, Vasya, had special abilities and represented "good" in this book. Her mother was determined to have her, even knowing that she would sacrifice her own life. As a result, Vasya grows up to be resented by her father in a way.

When her father decides to remarry, largely in an attempt to tame the spirited Vasya, a political marriage is arranged to Anna. Anna had planned to become a nun and religion is a very large part of her identity. To say the least, she ended up being a nightmare for Vasya.

When the self-righteous Anna teams up with the fear-mongering priest, Konstantin, nobody is safe. Let the witch hunts begin!

Meanwhile, Vasya is given a protective talisman. She is tied to "Frost", the winter demon king. Through their abilities and old "magic" the two are interconnected. -- I won't lie. I am hazy on the details here.

In many ways, this story was intriguing. At some point, I might give it another try because I'm certain that I missed a great deal. I had a hard time staying focused on this story, not because it was bad, but because I was preoccupied. Nonetheless, it ended up being a "good but not great" read for me this time around. It just didn't keep my attention.

Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
...more

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Jun 03, 2016 karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: distant-lands, free-from-work

oooh, goodreads choice awards semifinalist for best fantasy AND debut goodreads author! what will happen?

this is a stunning debut that perfectly mimics the tone of a classic fairytale, but breathes new and exciting life into the familiar themes with lyrical writing, strong characters, and by weaving in elements of russian folklore, which were mostly unfamiliar to me, and therefore fresh and exotic.

quickplot first, then i will return to these three strengths in greater detail.

pyotr vladimirovich ...more

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Feb 01, 2017 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-all, library-book

Very unpopular opinion time because it seems everyone in the world loves this book :-/

I liked certain things about the book but overall it wasn't for me. Don't know if it was the book or my mood but I'm glad there are so many people loving it.

I liked the characters enough and the storyline for the most part but I don't know. Sigh ...

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Dec 11, 2017 Lola rated it really liked it

Recommended to Lola by: Liz

Shelves: fantasy, adult, religion

This is the perfect book to read during wintertime, when there is snow falling from the sky and everything feels like magic.

Because this is such a magical and atmospheric book. I am glad the sequel just came out, since I could not see myself reading it under different weather conditions.

I knew close to nothing about Russian culture and folklore, so this was my introduction to the latter. Actually, I had heard of Ivan and Baba Yaga – but that is all and I was ashamed of myself, therefore I am ...more

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Oct 31, 2016 Maureen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Magical is the word that best describes this unusual tale, in every sense. I have to say that I've not read anything quite like this one, but believe me, that IS meant as a compliment.

It transports the reader back to medieval Russia, to a place thick with forests and deep crisp glistening snow. It is here that we find Vasya, and her family. Vasya is a child of nature, a wild and wilful girl. She has powers that leave the villagers questioning the nature of those powers, many believing that she's ...more

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Dec 14, 2016 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley, east-europe-russia, arc

4.5 stars! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:

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.

description

Vasilisa the Brave (or Beautiful)

Vasilisa, or Vasya, grows up to be a spirited and rather rebellious young girl who, like an untamed ...more

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May 03, 2017 Elena May rated it it was amazing

I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing.

That was amazing.

Saving the world is always hard. It can be a challenge even when you have loyal friends and numerous supporters on your side. Then imagine how much harder it is when your own family is actively sabotaging your attempts to help. When your entire community casts you out and punishes you for doing the right thing. When they not only make your work harder, but give you scorn instead of gratitude.

That’s ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 Katerina rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, retellings, 2019-reads

An eerie, whimsical winter fairytale.

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

Once upon a time, on the fringes of Russian wilderness, in a land of harsh winters wavering between superstition and the observance of the old spirits and demons and Christianity, a peculiar girl was born. She was untamed, fey, a cacophony. She could see and converse with sprites, she talked to horses, spent her days in the forest, ...more

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Jan 22, 2019 Christina - Traveling Sister rated it it was amazing

5, just take them all Arden stars!!!

Full review along with a recipe for Zharkoye (traditional Russian beef stew) featured on my blog Recipe & a Read!

So, first things first in this review: I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was magical and whimsical and absolutely not what I was expecting at all. I’ve seen all the hype around this book / series, I’ve seen the fantastic reviews but for some reason I just kept glazing it over for other books. This, was a huge mistake and I wish I would’ve read it sooner ...more

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Oct 30, 2017 Amalia Gavea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fantasy, fantasy, fairy-tales, american-literature, myths-legends, russia

‘’Fairy tales are sweet on winter nights, nothing more.’’

Russian fairy tales are unlike any others, in my opinion.They are not simple, ‘’happily-ever-after’’ myths, but wonderfully detailed glimpses in the daily lives of people born in times gone-by and tales that hide themes that are relevant to our era. They contain female heroines that surpass inexplicable odds and many have ambiguous closures. There is a sadness that permeates the Russian fairy tale tradition and a fierceness, a strangely ‘’Fairy tales are sweet on winter nights, nothing more.’’

Russian fairy tales are unlike any others, in my opinion.They are not simple, ‘’happily-ever-after’’ myths, but wonderfully detailed glimpses in the daily lives of people born in times gone-by and tales that hide themes that are relevant to our era. They contain female heroines that surpass inexplicable odds and many have ambiguous closures. There is a sadness that permeates the Russian fairy tale tradition and a fierceness, a strangely modern idea of feminism. All these features are included in Katherine Arden’s beautiful first installment of the Winternight Trilogy.

This book has been sitting in my TBR for practically forever, and when the second part came to me as an ARC, I thought it was finally time to begin my journey to Lesnaya Zemlya. In a Russian village, during the late medieval times, a child is born but the mother dies. Vasya has inherited the extraordinary, otherworldly gift of her mother, along with her kind heart, her free spirit of adventure and tolerance. Vasya can see what noone else is worthy to see, but her gift puts her in danger when her father decides to wed another woman. Her name is Anna, a fundamentalist as any has ever seen in any genre in Literature, and another woman who has the ability to see ‘’demons’’. Terrified of the traces of the pagan culture in her husband’s territory, she calls for a priest to come and cast away the demons. Konstantin arrives and everything in Vasya’s life changes.

The essence of the tale is the battle between the pagan tradition and Christianity. Still, ‘’’battle’’ isn’t the right word, since this division is completely constructed by a small number of people who wish to serve their own false convictions. Before Anna came to the community, the people had found the perfect balance between the teachings of Christ and the old Russian deities and traditions. Until priests started talking of demons, fire, and eternal damnation. It’s always been a point of great discourse (and discord) in Literature and in History. In any case, Vasya, Dunya and most of the women are respectful followers of both religions. Anna cannot understand it, locked as she is in her own hallucinations and she descends into a darkness where fear and demons reign. The problem is that she takes everyone else with her.

Arden has composed a tale out of many familiar characteristics of Russian fairy tales. The well-known legend of Lord Winter and the beautiful Maiden lies at the heart of it, while we meet the Baba Yaga, the domovoi (the peaceful spirits that protect the hearth of the Russian household), the vazila, the enchanting Rusalka...The supernatural characters become the heart of the story, because the human characters, well...they’re not very interesting. Anna would make a fine couple with the Devil she so hates (although I’d pity the poor man…), Vasya’s father is a doormat and Dunya is kind and comforting, but not that original. The one who had my unwavering attention was Konstantin, the young priest. An ambiguous character, fully conflicted, dark and perplexing as he is perplexed. He desperately wants to believe and serve but in what? In whom? His interactions with Vasilisa were brilliant and very intriguing. Besides Vasya and Konstantin, there is another major haunting character, but you’ll have to read it to discover it….

So, does the novel worth the hype? In my opinion, yes. Absolutely and definitely. The atmosphere and the transition of the traditional story are exceptionally constructed. Do I think it would be even better if it was written by a Russian writer? Allow me to say that yes, I believe it would. You see, there is a distinctive, haunting veil of sadness, threat and death in the Russian tradition and, while these elements are present in Arden’s work, they weren’t as tense and concise as I’d like them to be. At times, the writing became a bit too YA, a genre that I do not appreciate much. This is strictly my personal opinion, formed out of many years of familiarity with Russian Literature and Culture. However, I definitely enjoyed ‘’The Bear and the Nightingale’’ and I hope that ‘’The Girl In The Tower’’ will be equally satisfying.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.word... ...more

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Apr 21, 2019 Mary S. R. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Mary by: Just about a thousand people, more or less :|

Shelves: all-time-faves, faves, fantasy, romance, historical-fiction, adult, paranormal, retellings, mythology, feminism

5 STARS! Thank you, the thousand people who nagged at me to read this.

Soberly magical; solidly whimsical; silently wild; grimly light...The Bear and the Nightingale is all of this and none of this and more. Forgive me while I go weep in my bed of snow and dream of little demons and bird-horses and winter-kings

Review to come when I'm done with the series—meanwhile, do check out the playlist (Spotify LINK) filled with magical, spooky music and Russian folk songs to get the mood.

• • • • • •

[ ...more

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Nov 17, 2016 Elyse Walters rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Wow.....*Stunning*!!!!
Katherine Arden's lush and lovely debut novel deftly transports us to Russia in the 14th century with incredible lyricism- scents-sounds-vivid beauty-subtle intrigue- and gorgeous Russian folklore.

At the start Marina is frail and weak. She has 4 children and is pregnant with her 5th. Pyotr, her husband, and Dunya, her devoted nurse, both beg Marina not to keep the baby. They are fearful she will die. Marina had given Pyotr 3 sons and 1 daughter....but she was still hoping- ...more

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Sep 18, 2018 Nick marked it as to-read

This looks like a perfect winter read. I will save it for Christmas.

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Mar 07, 2016 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ Rabid Reads-no-more rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, mythology, some-kinda-magic, dead-things, fairy-tales, netgalley, rabid-reads-reviews, creeptastic, religious-nutters

12/30/17 - TODAY ONLY! ON SALE for $2.99:

http://amzn.to/2EiufLU

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

3.5 stars

I added another new bookshelf to Goodreads: religious nutters

I preface my review with that statement, b/c it's important that you know exactly how off-putting I find anyone who uses religion as a crutch to excuse their abominable behavior.

Agamemnon sacrificing his daughter to ensure favorable winds as he sails to Troy? Kill him on his own alter. Spanish Inquisitioners torturing anyone not Catholic ...more

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Nov 17, 2016 Hannah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: loved-it, fantasy, arc

Do you know that fuzzy feeling when you find a book with a world so immersive that you don't want it to ever end? This was a book like that for me. I absolutely adored it - and I am not quite sure if this review will at all be coherent, but I'll try my best.

This was a book that I was super super excited to get to read early. I love books set in Russia, especially the North of Russia; I love Fairy Tales; I love the books the blurb compared it to. I only wanted to read the first chapter because I Do you know that fuzzy feeling when you find a book with a world so immersive that you don't want it to ever end? This was a book like that for me. I absolutely adored it - and I am not quite sure if this review will at all be coherent, but I'll try my best.

This was a book that I was super super excited to get to read early. I love books set in Russia, especially the North of Russia; I love Fairy Tales; I love the books the blurb compared it to. I only wanted to read the first chapter because I have loads of unfinished books already but I was immediately drawn in and did not feel like reading anything else. I absolutely devoured it and when I came up again I was a bit sad that the book wasn't longer (especially because the last 3% were the glossary so the book ended a good 15 pages before I thought it would!). That so rarely happens with me!

The book tells the story of Vasya, a child whose mother was a bit other-worldly and who died giving birth to her. Vasya is different herself, being able to converse with household-spirits that nobody else can see. In true fairy tale fashion, her father remarries and the stepmother is, well not exactly evil, but one of the main antagonistic forces of this story. In a world where the new Christian beliefs are at odds with the older, heathen beliefs, this conflict comes to a head when a new priest is appointed to their little village and sets into motion a series of events that will have the heroine come face to face with arcane powers.

Set in the North of Russia with its seemingly ever-lasting winter, the author creates an atmosphere so believable, and enchanting, and surreal, and creepy, and beautiful, I could picture it every step of the way. Her characters are equally believable and even though they all fit the tropes of the genre, Katherine Arden adds little twists that make this story incredibly original and readable. One of my favourite of her decisions was the complete lack of romantic interest the heroine shows. She just wants to decide her life for herself; a difficult thing to do in a time when the two options open for her are a) marriage or b) joining a convent.

Overall, in case anyone missed it, I absolutely adored this book and its main character. I love the little nods to fairy tales I grew up with and I love the focus on making your own choices rather than just doing what is expected and/ or easy. The only slight negative I can find is that I found the ending to be rushed; but then again I just didn't want the book to end, ever.

___
I received this book curtesy of NetGalley and Random House, Ebury Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that! ...more

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Jun 04, 2018 ❄️Nani❄️ rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-fantasy-sci-fi, historical

Set in a Fantasy-esque Medieval Russia with Russian folklore, this was supposed to be my jam. It should have been.
It started out well and somewhere down the line, in the last third part of the book particularly, I... simply lost interest.
Oh, well.

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Jan 06, 2019 Charlotte May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: epic-fantasy, supernatural-paranormal, retelling-fairytale

"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. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed to me."

What a magical, Wintry tale! Telling stories of old Russian Legends and Folklore.
Vasya lives in the cold, harsh North with ...more

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Oct 06, 2017 Kaylin (The Re-Read Queen) rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

4 Stars

“I gave everything for you, Vasilisa Petrovna.”
“Not everything,” said Vasya. “Since clearly your pride is intact, as well as your illusions.”

Borrowing heavily from Russia for its winter setting and mythology, this debut focuses on Vasya, and her ability to see the spirits surrounding her small town. While both have always lived together peacefully, a new religious movement disbands practices honoring such spirits, upsetting the balance. This was a buddy read with these two awesome ...more

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Dec 19, 2016 Philip rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, 2017-releases, fairy-tales, female-author

4ish 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 4ish 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.

https://mrphilipslibrary.wordpress.co... ...more

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Apr 04, 2017 James rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-multi-book-series, 4-historical-fiction, 1-fiction, 9-read-2017-08-august

3 out of 5 stars to The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, the first in a fantasy and historical fiction series about Russian fairy tales.

Why This Book
I ordered this online many months ago based on the description I'd read in Goodreads. Then a friend of mine, Valerie, was planning to read it. We decided to do a buddy read together earlier this month.

Plot, Characters & Setting
A Russian girl loses her mother and her place in a family. She meets strange creatures who no one ...more

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Books Ever After: Jaartrilogie 1 The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1)	107	103	Feb 09, 2020 06:58PM
Beyond Reality: Bear and Nightingale (02/20): Finished Reading (Spoilers!)	9	20	Feb 08, 2020 10:02AM
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About Katherine Arden

Katherine Arden

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A note to everyone who trips and falls upon my Goodreads page. First, welcome. Let us read and discuss all the books together. Second, Goodreads is wondrous, but contacting me through my Goodreads DMs is a good way to ensure a long wait for a reply. Your best bet is Twitter or Instagram (arden_katherine) on both.

Happy reading.

Born in Texas, Katherine studied French and Russian at Middlebury ...more

Other books in the series

Winternight Trilogy (3 books)

Books by Katherine Arden

The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy, #2)

The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy, #3)

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Quotes from The Bear and the ...

“All my life,” she said, “I have been told ‘go’ and ‘come.’ 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. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed me. Please. Please let me help you.” — 283 likes

“Nothing changes, Vasya. Things are, or they are not. Magic is forgetting that something ever was other than as you willed it.” — 141 likes

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