The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy, #1) in r/FantasyRomance Goodreads Group

Jan 03, 2017 Kristen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Katherine Arden's debut novel, a Slavic-folktale-inspired historical fantasy set in Rus' in the fourteenth century, is phenomenal. It's the first book I read in 2017 and one of my two favorite new releases, but it's taken me a long time to review it since I don't feel that I can adequately describe this wonderful book and all that it encompasses. The writing is lovely with small details that bring the setting alive, the fairy tale aspects are enchanting, and the characters (especially the main p ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Kathryn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fairy-tale-adaptations, fantasy, nature-stuff, world-building-ftw, mythology-or-gods

I loved this immersive and fantastical novel. The language was beautiful, the cast of characters distinct and interesting, and I just adore stories about gods/demons/etc. The juxtaposition of old and new religions here is very interesting. I've read stories that explore that element before - American Gods, Gameboard of the Gods - but both of those have modern settings.

There were a few moments where the novice level of the novel showed - the horse being named before the character knew the name, ...more

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Jan 20, 2025 Ilea rated it really liked it

The Bear and the Nightingale is the story of Vasya, a young girl in historic Russia, who is a witch. Or, is she? How do we define witch? Vasya can see things that others can't, it's true, but the chyerti and guardians of the home, the dooryard, the hearth, the stable, the woods...they are real, and they speak to her. When a priest is sent from Moscow to her father's lands and sows distrust and suspicion, though, the people begin to turn their back on their ancient customs and tributes to these s The Bear and the Nightingale is the story of Vasya, a young girl in historic Russia, who is a witch. Or, is she? How do we define witch? Vasya can see things that others can't, it's true, but the chyerti and guardians of the home, the dooryard, the hearth, the stable, the woods...they are real, and they speak to her. When a priest is sent from Moscow to her father's lands and sows distrust and suspicion, though, the people begin to turn their back on their ancient customs and tributes to these spirits, and turn to fear and anger instead. Vasya must form an alliance with Morozko, the frost-king, and find a way to protect the very people who now view her as a threat to their lifestyle and the safety of their souls from the Bear, who is coming for them.

This narrative is so sensory and atmospheric that it is positively a story you need to read during the cold season. The first 20-30% is paced very slowly, as the scene is set and the players are moved into position. There isn't a lot of context right away to help understand why anything you're reading matters, but it slowly begins to make sense and I found myself completely captivated by Vasya's story. The writing style is lyrical and beautiful, full of Russian phrases and legends that are woven so dynamically through Vasya's story. Every word makes sense and finds a place in the larger story. I haven't read a story based in Russian folklore before, and I was entranced by the language and all the little fae guardians that Vasya befriends and protects.

At its heart, this is a coming of age story steeped in female rage-a fight against cages and expectations. Vasya doesn't understand how she can be forced into marriages or convents when she can see the magic around her, and feel the call of the woods and the horizon, and when she has strength and courage and loyalty and devotion to rival any man. Why should she not protect the people she cares about, when she has the skill and heart to do it? Fear is used as a weapon throughout the narrative, and Vasya's refusal to give in to fear, or to feel afraid when she's told she should be, shows emotional maturity and sense of self that I think is rare to find in a FMC as young as she is. Although this could be a YA story, Vasya feels older and wiser than her years or those around her.

A few details:
--This is book 1 of a completed trilogy
--No romance/spice (Vasya is a child for most of the story)
--Medium paced; plot driven

Main themes:
--Rejecting ancient gods/spirits in favor of Christianity
--Gender roles and expectations: Arranged marriages, what makes a "witch", defying gender norms to be true to yourself
--Fear: How it can be used against us, how it can protect us, how we can let it control us or master it

Favorite Quote:
"He will kill us all. Already it has begun. If he goes on as he has, all the guardians of the deep forest will disappear; the storm will come and the land will go undefended. Have you not seen it? Fear is first, then fire, then famine. He made your people afraid. And then the fires burned, and now the sun scorches. You will be hungry when the cold comes. The winter-king is weak, and his brother very near. He will come if the wards fail. Better anything than that."

OK, you talked me into it, one more...
"All my life 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." ...more

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Mar 27, 2019 Laura rated it liked it

I tried to read this book traditionally but eventually put it aside for the audiobook. That format was better but still the overarching story was a little simplistic and not as engaging as I’d hoped.

I know a lot of people really liked this one, but having read the Russian fairytale adaptations by CJ Cherryh in my youth, this one wasn’t as fulfilling.

I never understood why Nightingale was part of the title. Maybe I missed something, but it seemed that character only had a small part of the overal ...more

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