The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1)

by Katherine Arden

By the shore of the sea stands a green oak tree; Upon the tree is a golden chain: And day and night a learned cat Walks around and around on the chain; When he goes to the right he sings a song, When he goes to the left he tells a tale. —A. S. PUSHKIN

In Russian, Frost was called Morozko, the demon of winter. But long ago, the people called him Karachun, the death-god. Under that name, he was king of black midwinter who came for bad children and froze them in the night.

The serving-women muttered that she could tame animals, dream the future, and summon rain.

priests are in love with their standing. They eat fat meat and preach poverty to the miserable.”

She looked like a wild thing new-caught and just barely groomed into submission.

But I think you should be careful, Batyushka, that God does not speak in the voice of your own wishing. We have never needed saving before.”