I've been looking forward to The Girl in the Tower since January, and luckily the wait wasn't too long. I was primarily excited for it because of how much I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale. That book had a semi-open ending, and I wanted to know where Arden would take the story since there were so many possibilities. And indeed, The Girl in the Tower picks up shortly after the end of The Bear and the Nightingale. Vasya made her choice, and she intended to stick to it.

By no means was I disappointed by The Girl in the Tower, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous book. I still liked the story, but the first couple of chapters didn’t immediately draw me in the same way The Bear and the Nightingale was able to do. However, once the point of view shifted to Vasya, the story took on a familiar fairytale-like tone, which I was an absolute fan of. It quickly became apparent that this was the dark, icy, and magical sequel I was hoping for.

One of the things I like about Arden’s writing is how atmospheric it is. I particularly enjoyed the historical aspects of the book because of how detailed and real the characters and setting seemed to fit with the time period. She perfectly captured the landscape, weather, and dangers of the setting and society. The folklore is something to be noted too. There are a lot of old tales incorporated into Vasya’s story, which tied in with the magic. It was one of the things I enjoyed so much about The Bear and the Nightingale, and I was glad to see that it carried over into the second book.

That brings me to the characters. While Vasya’s story was the focus, I liked that the secondary characters had personality. They were present in the story, not just there as background noise. Then, there was Vasya. I liked her strength and determination. She learned a lot through her mistakes, and that made her character arch all the more interesting. Morozko—I don’t have much to say about the frost demon, because that would be a spoiler. What I will say is that he's one of my favorite characters in this series, and I appreciated the scenes he was in but wish he would have been more present in the story.

So, while the ending was a little abrupt, The Girl in the Tower was still a solid addition to the series. And if you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, then this is a must read. Now begins the wait for book three.

Disclaimer: This copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Del Rey) via Netgalley for this review.

This book blew me away. There’s no sophomore slump here. The Girl in the Tower is full of political intrigue and love, and is as magically lyrical as the first. I will say that trigger warnings for this book do include sexual assault and mentions of human trafficking.

This book starts out with a glimpse as to what happened at the end of The Bear and the Nightingale before jumping into a few chapters that serves to introduce a cast of characters we will see more of in this story. We have met them before in the first book, but it was much earlier on in the story. So, if you’re looking to see what happens to Vasya and Morozko, their story beings in chapter six. I admit, those two were who I most looked forward to when I started this book, but the beginning is also very important, so do pay attention to them.

Like the previous book, this book is built on layers. But by now, we have a foundation of a story to work with, so there’s less introduction needed into who Vasya is, and we are left to focus on trying to decipher all the characters and their motivations. This is a story that takes place outside of Lesnaya Zemlya, once Vasya’s home until she was driven out for fear of her safety. Vasya is on the road, wishing to travel and see the world. But the world is not kind to young girls, especially a girl traveling on the back of a great stallion.

She does well on her own for a short while, with Solovey the stallion to keep her company. Solovey, for his part, is still hilarious and darling as ever. The conditions are harsh on the roads, and she has taken to traveling dressed as a boy despite the frost-demon Morozoko telling her to return back to Lesnaya Zemlya. Things are not well in Russia as bandits who leave no footprints are setting villages aflame and taking young girls with them. It is here that she chances upon the good graces fo the Grand Prince of Moscow, Dmitrii Ivanovich, and her brother Sasha, who since has become a monk also known as Aleksandr Peresvet.

The story takes on new layers as each character is introduced into the storyline, and secrets unfold slowly, then all at once near the end of the book. There are great many fights and battles when action calls for it. There are also quieter moments that manages to tug at the your heartstrings.

Vasya is young still and has a world for adventure in a world that would keep their women locked away and hidden from the eyes of men. She sees and speaks to the domovoi still, the spirits who care for many things – like the bath houses, a home’s hearth, and the gates of the city. Then, there is Morozko, a frost-demon who should be indifferent to all manner of things, for he is the death-god.

I’m going to need a second to talk about Vasya and Morozko. I already was very much taken by the mysterious Morozko in the first book, but only as a character, you know? Not necessarily shipping Vasya and Morozko together by any means (Vasya was a young child then anyways). But this book? I found myself highlighting all their interactions together and I am so in love with these two. Vasya is strong-willed and Morozko doesn’t know what to do when interacting with someone who dares to talk back to him. He seems like a precious cinnamon roll (of DEATH, I suppose).

Morozko would never do anything to put Vasya in harm’s way, but when he begins to think that he might develop feelings for her, I can’t say that he makes the smartest decisions when it comes to Vasya in order to protect her from the world. I know this book isn’t in the romance genre, but can Vasya and Morozko somehow get their happy ending in the next book? There’s a few obstacles (because, hello, death-god and all), but I would love to see a HEA very much. ❤

The Girl in the Tower is magical from beginning-to-end with an air of mystery surrounding the newcomers in this story. The writing is gorgeous and has the feeling of being whisked away into a land where a child’s fairy tales can be a very real thing indeed. This story, thankfully, does not end on quite a cliffhanger as the first book, but does leave open a few questions about a few characters and what’s next for Vasya. I absolutely cannot wait to read book three, The Winter of the Witch!!!

***Thanks to Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC for review***

It seems that Vasya has run away from home to become Wonder Woman. Without weapons or protection she can unkidnap girls from a group of marauders, kill men without a backward glance, and kiss the Winter King/Death. Wow! Then the author says the book is historical fiction. It seems to me that this could be historical fiction or it can be a fairytale, but it can't be both.

Book Talk…12/8/17
Traci Kenworth

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Ardeen. Ballantine/Del Rey. 2017 Netgalley.

A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale.

Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian wilderness, where snowdrifts reach the eaves of her family’s wooden house and there is truth in the fairy tales told around the fire. Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention of Morozko—Frost, the winter demon from the stories—and together they saved her people from destruction. But Frost’s aid comes at a cost, and her people have condemned her as a witch.

Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey.

But after Vasilisa prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself.

Advance praise for The Girl in the Tower

“Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)

“[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Vasya or Vasilisa is thought to be dead by the priest who raised a village against her in The Bear and the Nightingale but she appears while her brother, Sasha, and the Grand Prince are out seeking bandits that have been burning villages. She is dressed as a boy and Sasha reluctantly agrees to keep Vasya’s secret identity while trying to get the truth of her as to what happened to their father and why she is not at home still. She tells him an abbreviated version of the truth: their father is dead, she fled the village as the people thought her a witch.
Through this, Vasya is the only one to catch a glimpse of the bandit’s leader as they root out the bandit camp. When Kasyan joins their group and helps them to fight the bandits no one suspects he is hiding a secret as well. As they return home, to the Grand Prince’s palace and her sister is drawn into the lie about Vasya, those that would take Moscow for themselves begin to seed distrust about Vasya, Sasha, and her sister’s husband, also a prince. Can they save the Grand Prince and his people before it is too late?

Oh, this tale was magnificent! The secrets abound especially with a witch in the tower and Vasya’s niece able to see her though she’s a ghost. Katherine Ardeen’s tale is lush and bold and tells the story of a land I don’t personally know much about Russia, but it is intriguing. It’s told as though a fairytale and that really brings the story across as fresh and lovely as can be. All the characters play their parts well from the outrage at Vasya being dressed as a boy to a priest being reminiscent of a soldier. The setting is breathtaking though I wouldn’t want to live in their land of snow and ice. I get enough of that here in Ohio, lol.

I give the story *****

The rare sequel that not only builds on the first story but also has its own strong story in its own right. The author does a great job capturing the old world snowy atmosphere that it makes you feel so cold that you need to be bundled up to read. I'm anxiously awaiting book three!

4 stars!

*

The Girl in the Tower is just as magical and intriguing as its predecessor. The chilling and tense atmosphere draws on Russian folklore to deliver a story that sets readers on edge. Favorite characters come back to face new and more dangerous obstacles, filling the story with action, heartbreak, hope, and love.

Katherine Arden once again enchants with her beautiful writing. The steady pace and multiple POVs give the book the perfect fairytale feeling, as does her fresh take on old folk tales. There is some frustrations towards some characters’ choices, but they continue to be very well-developed and complex. The stakes are higher in this novel, and Arden makes us feel every bit of it.

This was by far one of my most anticipated 2017 reads. I totally fell in love with The Bear and the Nightingale when I read it at the beginning of this year, so I had really high expectations for The Girl in the Tower. The novel mostly managed to meet all of them and it reminded me why I love retellings so much.

The writing and steady pace are just as great as ever. Katherine Arden has grown a lot as a writer, and that definitely shows in this book. There are a lot of actions scenes that are leave you on the edge of your seat, as well as the little sprinkles of romance throughout the story. These characters have grown up a lot from the last time we saw them, and it is wonderful to read about them as they develop even more.

I do have to say that Vasya is super frustrating as a character this time around. Her wildness continues to define her, but it makes for a huge character flaw in the world she finds herself in now. I honestly think she doesn’t make one wise choice throughout the entire novel, and instead makes decisions that only lead her or people she loves into trouble.

The way the plot develops and the revelations are brought to light throughout the novel make me very curious for what is to come next. Some questions from the previous installment are answered, but they only lead to more mysteries. Vasya’s world is a lot bigger, now I’m curious to see what is going to happen as her story progresses.

In the end, The Girl in the Tower makes for an eerie, tense, and beautiful novel. The fairytale aspect that is so prevalent in the series continues to shine through in new and exciting ways. The characters are complex and interesting; the mysteries they bring are just as intriguing as ever. I definitely recommend this to all Fantasy fans, especially those who love mythology and folklore.

A slow start, an epic middle and a bittersweet end describe The Girl in the Tower.

When I read the first book in the Winternight Trilogy last year, I hadn’t realized it was a series, but enjoyed it enough to request a copy when I realized there was a book 2, and it was on NetGalley.

The opening was loaded with gorgeous prose and historical detail, but it was a long time before I got to read a chapter from the hero’s (Vasya’s) point of view. However, once she showed up in the book, she swept me away like wind from a wild winter storm and hardly let me put the book down an end that almost made me cry.

While the historic setting was detailed and well researched, it was also incredibly frustrating. I wanted to punch almost every male in the story at one point or another for being misogynistic jerks. The difference is the way Vasya was treated when people thought she was a boy versus new she was a girl really captured the sexism of the time period. However, since this book was also laden with magic and folklore, I kept waiting and hoping for that historically accurate sexism to be subverted.

I liked that Vasya put on her pants in the wild woods long before she re-entered human society. It made her character and identity feel more genuine. However, my problem with female characters that “cross-dress” or “pretend” to be boys when live in a society like this makes wonder if they do that because their culture’s view of women is oppressive, or if it is simply because of who they are. If Vasya lived today, would she still want to play the role of a man? Or would she be content a woman?

I’m always looking for books with human characters that subvert gender binaries, but historical fiction can blur or even invalidate that because it is so hard to tell how much of the character’s desire to cross-dress is internal and how much is external.

Either way, I still love how wild and determined Vasya is, curse her when she makes bad decisions, and root for her to in. I can’t see how she can find peace and be alive in the world she lives in, but now that I know it is a trilogy, I am okay with the way things ended in this book, but I do not expect any kind of happy ending where she survives the end of the trilogy.

If you are looking for a darker fairytale or historic fantasy, then you will enjoy this, but don’t pick it up if you want a disney-worthy happily ever after.

<i>"You are immortal, and perhaps I seem small to you," she said at last fiercely. "But my life is not your game.”</i>

this book is that rare second-in-a-trilogy novel that aspires to be more than just a bridge of clockwatching filler between two points. it actually does what the second-in-a-trilogy book <i>should</i> do, but rarely accomplishes - it progresses the action and allows the character some elbow room in which to grow; to <i>become</i> what the challenges of the third book will require them to be. many middle books seem content to wallow, bloated, twiddling their thumbs, waiting to cash that third-book paycheck, but this one allows for tremendous growth in vasya’s character, presents a situation steadily increasing in danger and complexity, and it is fiery and ferocious as all hell.

i loved this one every bit as much as [book:The Bear and the Nightingale|25489134]. it is perfect historical fantasy, which is not a genre i read overmuch, but you don’t have to be an expert in a genre to identify when it is being pulled off perfectly - where the historical details are as quietly compelling as the mythological or fantastical ones, and the writing is lushly detailed in both the gauzy romantic moments and the grit and filth and boredom of the less-embellished realities of 14th century russia. boring for highborn women, anyway, who <i>must live and die in towers</i>.

the book is a perfect balance of classical and modern storytelling; descriptions pretty and poetic:

-<i>Men lived too near the bone in winter to bother with things that did not concern them.</i>

-<i>Her fear was a wild thing's fear when the dogs are running.</i>

heroine feminist and fierce:

<blockquote>Sudden anger burned out Vasya's gathering hurt. She pushed back her chair and stood again. "I am not a dog," she snapped. "<i>You</i> may tell me to go home, but I may choose not to. Do you think that is all I want, in all my life - a royal dowry, and a man to force his children into me?”</blockquote>

vasya is a firecracker. accused of witchcraft, doomed by tradition to the confines of marriage or the convent, she decides “nahhhh, imma dress like a dude and ride a magic horse and boss around a deity and have badass adventures instead!*”

she’s had to leave so much of herself behind, but she really expands to fill her own heroic storyline. and yeah, having a deus ex machina on retainer does alleviate some of the personal risk, but it wasn’t an overused "out", and the vasya/morozko relationship has its own awkward learning curves:

<i>"How did you take the rabbit?" she asked, turning the meat with deft, greasy hands. Nearly ready. "There was no mark on it."

Twin flames danced in his crystalline eyes. "I froze its heart."

Vasya shuddered and asked no more.</i>

so, not all hearts and flowers (and necklaces) and rescuing a (secret) damsel in distress. i appreciate that their interactions are shaped enough like romance to please romance fans without alienating me and my preferences for horseback battles and derring-do.

i’m unwilling to write a detailed review of this one. with two books on the table, it’s too easy to attract one of those “i am unclear about what constitutes an actual spoiler, but i’m going to scold you tirelessly about it for hours anyway!" folks. i will say that there was some foreshadowing in this one (carried over from the first book) that’s already got me bracing myself for despair.

which i welcome. i am ready for book three, whatever the emotional cost.

this was a buddy-read with tadiana and steven! here are their reviews:

tadiana: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2047695806

steven: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1906379775


* not, obviously, an actual quote. it’s not <i>that</i> modern.

***********************************

in what is certainly the most difficult decision anyone has ever had to make - i have been salivating for this book, and i was thrilled when i got approved to read it through netgalley at the beginning of the month, but i am only reading horror for october and i keep worrying about it over there waiting for me, thinking i am not interested in it, but i AM! i'm coming for you soon, book! after the horrors!

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Es4UpW4.gif?noredirect"/>

Arden's second novel based on the fairy tales and folklore of Russia is a masterpiece. I alternated between reading frantically, and having to put the book down when things turned south for Vasya. The author does an excellent job weaving the folklore into facts about medieval Russian life, and it was so entertaining that you may not even realize you're learning something. This is a fantastic series, and I look forward to the final book!

This book gives me all the heart eyes. I LOVED book 1 and anxiously awaited The Girl in the Tower. It even made my list of releases to get excited about. Book 2 picks up as Vasya is on the run from her village because they think she is a witch. She decides to travel the country with her magical horse. Set in medieval Russia, a girl can’t really travel on her own, so she travels as a boy. She ends up near Moscow and finds herself as a favorite of the Grand Prince of Moscow. She has to keep up the facade of being a boy because of this and makes life difficult for herself and her siblings that are now important people in Moscow as well. Throughout this storyline, there is also a magical subplot that leads to the big ending. If you like fantastic characters, great writing and worldbuilding all while having an underpinning of magic, this series is for you. Don’t let the magic scare you away. For the most part, the magic is more about how the world works rather than spells and the like.

First line: A girl rode a bay horse through a forest late at night.

Summary: Vasya has been cast out of her village as a witch. She does not want to spend her life behind a convent walls or trapped in a marriage. She wants freedom and adventure. With the help of the frost demon, Morozko, and her loyal horse, Solovey, she sets out on her own dressed as a boy. When she wanders into a burned village and discovers that bandits are raiding the countryside and stealing young girls she sets out to save the missing children. After her rescue mission, she gains the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow. With the help of her elder siblings, she keeps her gender hidden from the elite of Moscow. However, with the mysterious arrival of an unknown lord, Vasya starts to worry that the danger has worked its way into the courts of Grand Prince.

Highlights: Atmospheric. I can feel the cold of a Russian winter while reading the adventures of Vasya. Vasya is a wonderful heroine. She is not beautiful. She wants more out of life than the traditional trappings of her gender. I love the frost demon, Morozko. He is complicated and intriguing. I am glad that we got to see more of his relationship with Vasya. The writing is poetic and beautiful. I love that the author provides a glossary at the end to help the reader understand the terminology and characters. This one was filled with action and danger. I loved the first book and the second did not disappoint.

Lowlights: Nothing.

FYI: The second book in The Winternight Trilogy.

What can I add to the other reviews? This is a terrific piece of magical realism with a young heroine who would be a terrific YA crossover read. Vasya is one determined woman- she doesn't like her choices so she makes her own. 14th Century Russia was clearly not an easy place for anyone, let alone Vasya, who has set out alone. This is a fairy tale and yet it seems very real. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed the first book (if you haven't read it, you'll be fine with this as a standalone but if you like this one, you'll really like it) and now I'm looking forward to the third.

Katherine Arden’s The Winternight Trilogy is one of the most captivating series I’ve ever read. I fell in love with the series last winter when I read the first book, The Bear and the Nightingale. Filled with lush worldbuilding, a feisty heroine, fascinating Russian folklore, and a touch of the supernatural, The Bear and the Nightingale entranced me from the first pages and I just fell in love with everything about the story. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book, The Girl in the Tower, and was thrilled to be approved for an advanced copy to review on my blog.

I didn’t think it was possible to top the gorgeous storytelling in the first book, but Arden proved me wrong. As much as I adored The Bear and the Nightingale, I thought The Girl in the Tower was even more amazing! It has all of the same wonderful elements as the first book – the magic, the Russian folklore, beloved characters like Vasya, her horse Solovey, and the Frost Demon. But then, there’s just also so much more to love.

In The Girl in the Tower, Vasya has really come into her own in terms of character growth. She is still a free spirit who refuses to bow down and do what society expects young women to do, but now she is also more mature and a bit wiser because of what she went through in the first book.

The Girl in the Tower picks up right where The Bear and the Nightingale left off. Because of what happened to Vasya in the first book, there are rumors swirling around her village that she is a witch. Faced with the choices before her – either marrying someone she doesn’t love or being sent to live in a convent -- Vasya decides to create her own destiny and runs away from home. When the story opens, we meet Vasya traveling, disguised as a boy, with only her horse, Solovey, by her side.

The roads she travels on are rugged and unsafe, but Vasya’s journey ultimately takes her to Moscow where she is reunited with her monk brother, Sasha; her sister, Olga, who is now a princess; and her cousin Dmitrii, who is the Crown Prince of Moscow. Desperately trying to conceal her true identity, Vasya gets caught up in a web of deception, lies, and political unrest and finds herself faced with extremely dangerous choices everywhere she turns.

How will she get out of her predicament and what will happen to her if her true identity is revealed?

LIKES

As with the first book, the atmospheric quality of The Girl in the Tower was one of my favorite parts of the novel. As soon as I began reading, I felt as though I had been transported to Vasya’s world. Arden masterfully paints a medieval Russian landscape and skillfully dots this landscape with a fascinating mix of supernatural elements and Russian folklore. Her descriptions are so vivid that I could practically hear the snow crunching under Solovey’s hooves as he and Vasya traversed the snowy landscape, just as I could easily envision the tiny magical spirit guardians hidden in each building Vasya entered.

Vasya is of course still a major favorite of mine. I admire her bravery and her feistiness and the fact that she doesn’t want to be forced into marriage or into a convent. She has no interest in society’s expectations for women and, instead, wants to be an adventurer and travel the world. Vasya has a spirit that cannot be tamed, and I couldn’t help but cheer her on, even though I know it’s likely to be dangerous for her.

In addition to Vasya, another favorite character of mine is her stallion, Solovey. Solovey and Vasya can communicate with each other, and some of their exchanges are truly hilarious. I love Solovey for his loyalty, his sassiness, and for his fierceness. You’ll want a Solovey of your very own after reading this story. He’s the perfect companion for Vasya.

And, of course, I can’t leave out an unexpected favorite character, Morozko, the Frost Demon. Arden adds layers and layers of complexity to Morozko in this second book and I just fell in love with him even more than I did in the first book. The details of his history, along with his connection to Vasya, are what truly take this story to the next level, and even though I probably shouldn’t ship Vasya and Morozko, I totally do. I just can’t get enough of the two of them together!
I also loved that this story seemed a little darker and a little more grounded in reality than the first story because of the focus on political unrest in Moscow. It added a layer of danger and intrigue that really made for an exciting and fast-paced read.

DISLIKES/ISSUES

The only issue I had while reading this book was that it started out a little slow for me. It may have been because it took a few pages to actually get to Vasya’s story, but I’m actually going to chalk it up as a personal issue because I was trying to start the book while riding on a train and was constantly distracted. Once I got home and continued reading where there were less distractions, I devoured the rest of the book in less than 24 hours.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Girl in the Tower is a tale that is beautiful yet dark, enchanting yet also horrifying. With its gorgeous prose, memorable characters, and intricate storytelling, it has also secured itself a spot on my Top Reads of 2017 list. Katherine Arden has truly captivated me with this series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the final installment. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a strong, feisty, independent heroine and good solid storytelling, as well as to anyone who is interested in Russian folklore. You won’t be disappointed!

RATING: 5 STARS

This is the sequel to The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden, the second of The Winternight Trilogy. This novel follows Vasya, the daughter of a country prince in what is now Russia hundreds of years ago. Villages are burning, and Vasya sees demons (different from what the western world thinks of demons).

And you don't HAVE to read the first book. I didn't (yet). And I loved this book. (I think the reason that I tried to listen to this one, and the reader just... I couldn't get through them.)

This book entrenches you into the Rus culture, and this author knows how to do this! I understood all of the references. The writing honestly makes me want to go find more Russian literature, or Russian inspired literature.

This novel has adventure, romance, family, and lies. This story takes you on an adventure.

Anyone who enjoys historical fiction, fantasy based on actual myths, subtle love stories, and sword and fighting should give this novel a chance. And if you don't like any of those things, to the point of them ruining a story for you, maybe don't.

This is one of the best books I have read lately. I will put that out there.

I don't know what genre this is generally put in, but I would put it into literary fiction or fantasy.

After the events of the first book, Vasya knows that she can't stay in her small town. She bridles her horse, Solovey, and takes off to finally have the adventure that she's always longed for. Soon after, she discovers a village that's been burned to the ground. Many of the villagers are dead and some have had their daughters taken. Vasya can find no trace of these bandits but doesn't let that stop her. As she continues on her journey, she'll find herself embroiled in Moscow politics and longing for a life that she may never be able to have.

This was a great follow-up to the The Bear and the Nightingale. It was very much in the same tone and the characters were just as real and complex as they were before (if not more so). Vasya isn't always the most likable character, but she does make sense. She lives in a different time where women were just expected to stay in their towers all day, every day. Instead, Vasya longs for adventure and the reader can feel that throughout the book. She's so conflicted because she doesn't like lying by pretending to be a boy, but she knows that she wouldn't be as helpful (or happy) if everyone knew she was a girl.

As far as other characters go, we get to know Morozko, Sasha, and Olga a lot better than we did in the first book in addition to new characters like Dimitrii and Olga's daughter. This gives the reader a really diverse and interesting cast of secondary characters to get to know. I, personally, was not in favor of the priest from her hometown coming back. He's just so...creepy. But I guess that's the point.

The plot is slow-moving, but not boring by any means. I didn't necessarily feel compelled to pick the book back up after I was done reading for the day, but I think that says more about my own reading preferences than the book itself. Arden is a talented writer and that shows through in this book just as it did in the first one. There's the smallest little bud of a romance that blossoms in this book. I'll be honest, I was wanting this romance from the first book, so I'm glad it's getting explored and I hope we see more of it in the third book.

If you're interested in historical Russia, Russian fairytales, or just love beautifully written (albeit slow-moving) books, then I would definitely recommend this book. I look forward to seeing what Arden comes out with next.

Overall Rating: 4
Language: None
Violence: Heavy, but not SUPER descriptive
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate

Note: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

*Some spoilers ahead for The Bear in the Nightingale, the first in the Winternight Trilogy*

In her follow up to 2016’s The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden once again breathes magic and excitement into Russian folk and fairy tales. Picking up where the first book in the Winternight Trilogy left off, Vasilisa Petrovna is compelled to leave home lest she either be sent to a convent or tried as a witch. While travelling with Solovey (and a little help from Morozko), Vasya soon discovers it’s not quite so easy to be a woman with agency in the world. But a new threat is beginning to emerge: villages are being burned, young girls stolen from their families, and a new Prince has appeared in Moscow. Vasya, her monk brother Sasha, and her sister Olga get tangled in the social and gender politics of Moscow while facing choices between love and duty. Even more enticing than the first book, The Girl in the Tower is a welcomed return Russian winters and nights, now with nods to historical figures and events of the 14th century. Vasya’s relationship with the Frost King from the first book finds finds more depth, while new characters - and new myths - are added in just the right balance. I often struggle with sequels and series, but with a tight narrative, compelling adventure, and new thematic exploration, The Girl in the Tower is a very welcome winter night read.

*I received a copy of this book from Del Rey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I loved the main character, both her resourcefulness and her weaknesses. The description of the area, people and animals in the story were well written, without being wordy. The story pulled me in from the beginning, and never did I get bored with the story. The Russian names were sometimes tough to follow at the beginning, but they did not hinder the story line and the explanation of names/nicknames in the back of the book helped.
I wish to thank to the publisher and the author for providing a free copy of the ebook via Netgalley and a hardcopy from Bookish in exchange for an honest review.

*An ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I am really, really enjoying this series. This second installment is much more action-packed than the first. Vasya is now a grown woman (at 17 or so) and is struggling to find her place in a world that would burn her as a witch, shut her up in a convent, or marry her off into a life of isolation and confinement, all of which she rejects. Life in Moscow is very different from her little rural village and this sets the stage for twists and turns that made the story very exciting, although I deliberately took my time reading this one.

I was a little afraid there would be less of the Russian folklore and fairytale that made the first book so special, in exchange for palace intrigue and real life dramas, but the magic was ever-present, and Arden weaves in even more folklore in pretty unexpected ways.

The stage is now set for the third book and I'm really looking forward to reading it!

I loved the first in this series, so I am having a hard time describing how I feel about this one. I loved it so much more and felt like the first really set the scene for this book. It was dark, twisty, inspiring, wild, I mean really you could throw whatever adjective you wanted in here and it would probably work. I loved following Vasya and her commitment to staying as true to herself as she could even when she was struggling with her own identity. She was brave and she showed that the love for your family knows no bounds. I am eagerly waiting for the next in the series.....

The second book in Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy is amazing! I liked her first book, The Bear and the Nightingale, but with The Girl in the Tower, Arden has hit the sweet spot in fairy tale fiction. This is one of my favorite novels of the year.

This one checked all the boxes for me. It was intense, exciting and dangerous. In this novel, Vasya leaves her home after her father dies and the villagers accuse her of being a witch. With her faithful horse, Solovey, she sets off to see the world and have adventures. Her travel is filled with danger and Morozko returns to help Vasya when things get precarious.

Of course, no fairy tale is complete without a bit of romance and a villain, which Arden wonderfully delivers. This was such a pleasure to read. I especially loved the relationship between Vasya and her stallion, Solovey.

I think the story would work well as a stand alone, but readers will enjoy it so much more if they have read The Bear and the Nightingale. I will definitely be reading The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy #3) when it is released in 2018.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.