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

Dec 18, 2024 Lauren rated it really liked it

4 stars!

I loved the dark winter fairytale vibes in this book! The way the author writes is very lyrical and atmospheric without being too over the top. It's very clear she did a lot of research in Russian history and folklore so I think it's why the world in this book felt very immersive. While the book is only 300ish pages, it felt like a slowburn since we're learning about Vasya's life even before she was born. I thought she was a fun character and I enjoyed her interactions with all the spiri ...more

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Mar 16, 2025 Madison rated it really liked it

Wow, I went in with very few expectations of this book. I bought it because it was on sale and the synopsis intrigued me but this book was quite excellent.

The Bear and the Nightingale is very much a fairy tale, but more of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale set upon a backdrop of winter magic and Russian folklore. There is magic and monsters overlaying themes of breaking the mold that society has placed you in and the destruction of culture/culture of fear generated by orthodox Christianity but really ...more

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Dec 11, 2024 thedeadlyscimitar rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, historical, 2024, fae, witches-mages

This book was recommended to me as a good winter/holiday read and it turned out to be exactly what I didn't know I was looking for! Given that I was only trying to find a simple, fun read to help get me into the holiday spirit, my expectations going into The Bear and the Nightingale weren't particularly high. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did nor did I anticipate that it would turn out to be the book that I didn't know I needed right now.

While this was not the lighthearted h This book was recommended to me as a good winter/holiday read and it turned out to be exactly what I didn't know I was looking for! Given that I was only trying to find a simple, fun read to help get me into the holiday spirit, my expectations going into The Bear and the Nightingale weren't particularly high. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did nor did I anticipate that it would turn out to be the book that I didn't know I needed right now.

While this was not the lighthearted holiday read that I was initially looking for, it ended up being so much better than what I expected! This book is beautifully written and full of rich, atmospheric detail. It's a tale of historical fantasy saturated in old world magic and Russian folklore. Somehow it manages to convey both the terrible harshness of frigid winters in the middle ages while also giving off an extremely cozy vibe. That's not to say that this book is a cozy, low-stakes read by any means. There is a great deal of action, danger and terrifying mythical creatures that stalk the night.

I loved how this story played with religion, specifically the introduction of Christianity into a traditionally pagan culture. It was a very unique take, unlike anything I have read before. It seemed like a very accurate portrayal of how Christianity was often forcibly pushed upon other cultures either through fear or violence. I liked seeing how the main character fought against that unwanted change to keep the old ways alive and protect her people. It was also satisfying to see that, in this story, the old religion and folklore turned out to be real.

The character of Vasya was not only incredibly compelling but also refreshing. I feel like I read so many stories now where the main female character is described as a strong woman, but that strength his never portrayed in a believable way. The author simply tells the reader "this character is strong" without actually showing it in the story or backing it up with anything concrete. I hate how so many supposedly strong female characters now are actually just rude, brash, unnecessarily standoffish and overly sassy for no reason. Not so with Vasya. Katherine Arden did a fantastic job actually showing Vasya's strength through her deeds and actions rather than just stating it as a narrative fact. The character is not portrayed as a Mary Sue with no faults who is never afraid and who has incredible power that can overcome anything. Vasya's strength comes from her courage, her compassion and her willingness to stand strong and be her own person even in the face of overwhelming criticism and dissent from everyone around her. She is unapologetically herself, wild and free with a spirit that cannot be tamed or broken.

This is a lush, beautiful and deeply moving story rife with magic and mysticism. If you are looking for a good winter read that is both cozy and exciting, I would highly recommend The Bear and the Nightengale! I can't wait to continue the series and find out what happens next with our intrepid heroine! ...more

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Feb 09, 2025 MagentaSparkles rated it it was amazing

Fantatsic read. Brothers Grimm fairytale meets Russian folklore with feminist themes throughout. The prose is wonderful, you can feel yourself immersed in the medieval russian wilderness. Excited to start the next book and be sucked into another dark fairytale.

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Jul 24, 2025 J Fern rated it really liked it

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

If anything, my biggest complaint is that definitely read this book in the wrong season! This book would have fit perfectly beside a Christmas tree and a cup of hot cider. Reader: do
not read this in the summer as I did!

With that complaint out of the way, I really enjoyed this but had a few hesitations to give it five stars. I listened on audio and perhaps that’s whe ...more

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