Once again I am blown away by this series. The Girl in the Tower is the sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale. My emotions were all over the place as Vasya tries to make her way in the world without her family and with just the occasional help from her friend Morozko-a kind of winter king-god who is sometimes almost human and sometimes freezingly remote. All of the Russian folkloric imagery is just so beautiful. I loved how Vasya started to come to terms with herself and how she is different from those around her in this installment. I can't say enough good things about this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for this ARC in return for my honest review.

4.5 of 5 stars

Mark my words, Katherine Arden is definitely going places. Early this year, she enchanted me with her lovely debut The Bear and the Nightingale, and now she has done it again with its follow-up The Girl in the Tower, which I thought was just as good—if not better—than its predecessor.

The story continues the journey of brave Vasya, a young woman with a gift that grants her a special connection with the wilderness and the spirits that dwell within. But in the small Russian village where she lives, her abilities and strange behaviors eventually give rise to rumors that she is a witch, made worse by the town’s zealous priest who holds a grudge against her. Now she has been driven out of her community, her options reduced to either letting her older sister arrange a marriage for her, or spending the rest of her life in a convent. Neither are acceptable to Vasya, so in the end she decides to take her fate in her own hands and attempts to forge a third path.

Disguising herself as a boy, Vasya takes to the road with Solovey, her trusty horse. Her adventures are cut short, however, when she encounters a group of bandits who have been preying on the nearby villages in the countryside. Unfortunately, her swift dispatching of them ends up drawing the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow, whose party had been in the woods at the time, trying to track down the same bandits. Worse, riding with the prince is Vasya’s own brother Sasha, who had left home years ago to pledge his life to the monastery. Seeing through his sister’s disguise at once, Sasha nonetheless agrees not to reveal Vasya’s true identity as the two of them ride on to the capital with the prince, pretending to be brothers. For the moment, it seems our protagonist’s secret is safe, but with the precarious political situation in the city and the eye of the Winter King trained on her, Vasya must remain on her guard at all times.

While I loved The Bear and the Nightingale, like many debuts, the first book suffered from some flaws. Some of the ones I wrote about in my review included uneven pacing, which slowed to a crawl in certain parts of the story, as well as the excessive number of POVs and minor subplots that felt haphazardly inserted into the narrative, further disrupting the flow. The good news is, I experienced almost none of these problems in The Girl in the Tower, which really speaks to Arden’s growth as an author. It seems she’s ironed out most of the issues readers had with the first book, and the result is a much smoother and more tightly-plotted sequel.

When I read the first book, I also thought it a bit strange that Arden would make Sasha was such a huge part of Vasya’s life, only to send him away to become a monk, seemingly to be forgotten. As it turns out though, she actually had big plans for him in the second book, and indeed Sasha is one of the main characters in The Girl in the Tower, along with Vasya and their older sister Olga. While it’s true that they don’t always see eye to eye (especially when it comes to Vasya’s future), it still really pleased me to see more interaction between the three siblings, especially given how long we’ve watched Vasya struggle by herself. It was nice seeing her surrounded by love and support again, even if it was only for a brief period of time.

And speaking of developing relationships, this book also builds upon the complicated one between Vasya and Morozko, the powerful spirit known as the Winter King or the Frost Demon. Again, the story teases a bit more about his character—still not giving us all the answers, but readers who wanted to see more of his involvement in Vasya’s journey will be very happy with the way things are going, I think.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to make of it when I initially heard that The Bear and the Nightingale was going to be the start of a trilogy instead of a standalone. It’s always a challenge to follow up a successful debut, and I was worried Katherine Arden wouldn’t be able to come up with more to Vasya’s tale that’s worth telling. I realize now that those concerns were unwarranted, and I am glad because I found The Girl in the Tower to be as enchanting as the first book. In some ways, it even surpasses its predecessor, with a story that features more action, better pacing, and darker tones. As a reader, I just can’t ask for more than that. Now I’m very excited for the third book, which I’m sure will a finale to remember if this upward trend continues.

This book was so, so lovely. And exciting! I felt immersed in the world - even though I'm in Hawaii, I swear I felt chilled the whole time I was reading it, with snowflakes and danger swirling everywhere! Can't wait for the next book!

It is rare gift that some writers have that can so pull the reader into the world the writer creates, that you have to grudgingly shake yourself back into reality when exiting the story and begin coping with withdrawal. Who knew medieval Russian history, culture, and fairy tales could be combined into so intoxicating a spell. Add to that an exceptional facility with prose that never shocks you from your suspension of belief, and you have Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy. The Bear and the Nightingale started the journey hooking me completely. The Girl in the Tower continues the tale and is even more brilliant. I have already set a "reminder to self" to look for the next installment due August 14th 2018. I very rarely give a book 5 stars, reserving this rating for books not just loved but deemed to have risen to the level of a timeless classic, but I am giving The Girl in the Tower, 5 stars. Bravo, Katherine, and thank you for a really great read!

Well this was truly magical to read. I loved the previous novel in this series, The Bear and the Nightingale, and had high hopes for the follow up. I was not disappointed. Everything I loved from the first novel - the atmospheric setting of medieval Russia, the richness and depth of characters, and a strong background rooted in Russian folklore were developed and expanded upon to make one of the best reads of the year.

The Girl in the Tower continues to follow Vasya, as she struggles to find herself now she's free from her strict father and the rules she has been made to follow. Above all else she wants freedom. She wants to travel the world with Solovey, her companion horse, and taste the feel of adventure. But the constrictions of her time, and the imminent dangers that face her family in Moscow - particularly her sister Olga and brother Sasha, bring her crashing back to face her responsibilities. The only way to taste the freedom she longs for is to disguise herself as a boy, and join her brother in the hunt for men determined to topple the Grand Prince of Moscow from rule.

Mixed in among the politics of a developing nation, we have a story steeped in Russian folklore. The domovoi and creatures of Midnight seen in the previous novel return, and of course we have Morozko - frost demon and Winter king. Slayer of human girl's hearts, and Vasya's lover. Although labeling him this makes it seem everything is black and white, when it's far more complicated than that. Morozko is deeply conflicted in his feelings for Vasya. He is immortal, and should be unable to feel such things as love. Yet he struggles to let her go and lead the life he wants her to live. He's grown attached to things that should be forbidden to him. He's got so much emotional depth as a character, even though his time with Vasya is often so fleeting and void of conversation. Honestly, I think I'm a little bit in love.

Vasya has also grown so much as a character since we first saw her in The Bear and the Nightingale, and it's great to see her develop slowly. It's almost as if I've grown up with her, and faced these troubles by her side. She's determined to rule her own life, not needing anyone and anything to do what she wants. Her relationship with her older siblings Olga and Sasha has also developed, now that she's meeting them for the first time as an adult. She's challenging them on an intellectual level, yet she loves them deeply - to the point where she would sacrifice her happiness and freedom to keep them safe. She's not perfect either. She's rash, and bullish - at one point taking someone's choice out of their hands when it is not her decision to make. She's refreshing and wonderful.

Father Konstantin also returns - after being banished by Vasya in the previous novel, although he is woefully missing from most of the novel. I enjoy the complexity of his character - his deeply ingrained belief in his faith, yet with a love/hate of Vasya and a yearning to belong.

The plot itself to contain all these wonderful characters is great. It's well paced, as we travel with Vasya and Solovey on their journeys around Russia and then onto Moscow with Sasha, and the plot developments largely left me surprised. There's horse races, magic and little girls in danger. Unlike the previous book, I also thought the ending was well defined and didn't end abruptly. I was satisfied (and sad).

Honestly, I enjoyed this immeasurably, and I cannot wait for the final book - and bringing Vasya home.

Wow, I loved this even more than the first, The Bear and the Nightingale!

In book 2, Vasya is on her own. She wants travel and adventure and independence, and the best way to do that in Medieval Russia is by pretending to be a boy. She no longer needs to feel confined by her roles as woman, daughter, sister. However, when bandits start burning villages and stealing girls, she finds herself confined by another role: hero. At least being a hero is her choice. But in rescuing the stolen girls from bandits, she becomes ensnared in political and magical machinations, and Morozko may not be able to help, and she may not want his help.

Book 2 still has everything I loved about book 1: cheryti, magic, Russian folklore, feminist themes, engaging plot. But Arden's writing, in my opinion, improves with book 2. You see character traits by the way characters act vs. what Arden tells you, and the prose is richer, the pacing engaging. Don't get me wrong -- I really enjoyed book 1 and was excited to continue the series -- but now I have even more reasons to rave about the books!

I was often almost late to work multiple times while reading this. It's hard to put down!

This series is highly recommended for those who enjoy history, fairy tales, and fantasy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Posted on Goodreads 11/19]
[Will post on Amazon at release date]
[Review upcoming on Book Riot]
[Will post on personal blog in early December]

I really enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale last year and was very pleasantly surprised that it was the first book in a trilogy! The Girl in the Tower begins shortly after the end of the first book. Vasya, cast out from her village as a witch after the events of the first book, has two options for her future in 14th century Russia : life in a convent or marriage to a Moscow prince set up by her sister. Vasya decides to do neither of those and instead dress up as a boy for safety and ride around the countryside. During the course of her journey, she runs into her brother and the Grand Prince of Moscow and will get involved in finding a group of bandits that is burning villages and kidnapping young girls.

Once again, the author does a great job of mixing the spirit world with Russian history. I enjoyed seeing Moscow through Vasya's eyes, a somewhat naive country girl. The descriptions of the woods, the weather, the rough conditions for peasants in Moscow and in the little villages around the countryside are some of my favorite parts of Katherine Arden's writing. The setting really becomes a character along with Vasya, Sasha, the Grand Prince and the spirits. Besides Vasya, my favorite character has to be Morozko, who plays a role in this book and we learn a little more about him.

Even though this is a trilogy, both books available now tell a complete story but leave some threads dangling. I am really looking forward to another book in this series. Another well told story combining Russian folklore/fairy tales and history. Highly recommended.

This is the sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale. While I liked book one, this book is amazing! It's well crafted, thoroughly immersive and I loved this story. It's a amazing take on Russian fairytales and I hope there will be more. I didn't want this book to be over. To the author, please write more, this is wonderful!

My copy came from Net Galley. I'm thankful for that! My review is all my own, left of my own free will.

[Review also posted to goodreads]
Let’s just say that, having read both Bear and the Nightingale and Girl in the Tower, I could wish for—what to call it ... an *Advance* Advance RC, perhaps?—of the third book in the trilogy. Not that the first two don’t stand up by themselves [they do], or that either ends in a cliffhanger [they don’t]. What the author does provide is a variety of strong characters, human and otherwise, set in a proto-Russian medieval world rich in atmosphere, cultural tension, intrigue, and folkloric magic that leaves the reader wanting more.

The book The Girl in the Tower was a wonderful, adventurous fairy tale set in what would be Russia today. It is the story of a young girl who is "different" and her town thinks that she is a witch. She disguises herself as a young man and decides to see the world. Highjinks ensues, which involve her older brother and sister who live in Moscow and are trying to keep her secret. I loved the idea of the folk tales and fairy tales of Russia and how Christianity slowly frightened people away from giving thanks to the Gods of old. I also enjoyed how strong and powerful the main character is in the story. Can't wait to read the third book in the series.

I really liked The Bear and the Nightingale but The Girl in the Tower is even better! It was filled with mystery and intrigue, and even a touch of love. This book takes Vasya to Moscow and of course she get’s herself into all sorts of mischief. Being labeled a witch at home, and following the murder of her father, she flees home and decides to be a traveler. Following the advice of the Winter King, she takes the persona of a boy. It all gets tricky however when she runs into her brother Sasha.
The first 10% was kind of slow, filling in the back story, but then it really picked up and was extremely good. The last 25%, however, was so amazing and suspenseful I could barely put it down. I would read any chance I got, walking down the hallway and even sneaking little reading breaks while cooking.
The ending was well done, making the launch to the new book really exciting. I have loved both books in this series and cannot wait for the last one. I hope a lot of wonderful things happen, and I feel as though they will.

The Girl in the Tower is a fairy story with adventure and mystery. The characters introduced in The Bear and the Nightingale are further developed and I became so wrapped up in their stories that I had to put the book down several times because I was afraid of the plot's direction and the ramifications of characters' actions or decisions. So much was revealed, and yet so much more remains untold - I cannot wait to read more!

If you don’t already know, Arden’s debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale, was one of my favourite releases this past year. I mean really, if you have paid attention to my social media sites for even a few minutes you are probably aware of this fact. Arden’s frosty fairytale and beautiful characters have enchanted me completely and I can’t even begin to describe how excited I was for the chance to read and review the sequel early as it is one of my most anticipated new releases.

In all regards, The Girl in the Tower is a strong and worthy continuation of the story of Vasya and her horse companion, Solovey. Arden stays true to the frosty, historical atmosphere of medieval Moscow and delivers the reader an even more un-put-down-able story packed with satisfying action and filled to the brim with whimsical details. We are reunited with house spirits and introduced to iconic Russian characters such as the Firebird. And dare I say there is even a little hoped-for romance developing between Vasya and a certain Winter King.

The story opens in a palace in Moscow with two lesser side characters from BEAR; Vasya’s sister, Olga, and brother, Sasha. As I was burning to find out where Vasya’s adventures took her going forth from the end of BEAR, I was a little impatient getting through the first few chapters. However, they are not without purpose and set the scene for the political intrigue that will become the main catalyst for the story. Thankfully we don’t have long to wait before Vasya is back, and when she finally arrives on the scene it is with all the energy and effortless flair you’d expect from our plucky heroine.

Vasya is now a young woman and is learning how to find her place in an unforgiving world that makes no allowance for women with a desire for more than marriage and child-rearing. In order to move freely through her world, Vasya disguises herself as a man and seek out adventure on the road. She finds herself quickly entangled in intrigue that unravels into dangerous circumstances that could threaten her life. Vasya’s character has grown more complex as she makes more mistakes and finds new strength. She has quickly become one of my favourite heroines.

I was delighted to read more about Vasya and Morozko’s increasingly complicated alliance and the scenes they share together are laden with emotional tension. It was compelling to learn more about Morozko’s part in the story and to witness him wrestle with the part of him that is oh so human. I’m eager to see how their story resolves after some intense revelations.

The Girl in the Tower is an achingly beautiful deep-winter tale and I may have enjoyed it even more than it’s predecessor (which is saying a lot considering how much I adored it!). This will certainly not be the last you’ll hear from me of persuading everyone to pick up Arden’s stunning Winternight trilogy because I can pretty much guarantee you will fall for it as I have.

I adored this book and didn't want it to end. The world and characters from The Bear and the Nightingale have grown up and gotten even more intriguing. Vasya is on the run. The world imposes restrictions on her she can't possibly adhere to, she fears she's responsible for her father's death, she still sees a magical world invisible to others, many say she's a witch. So what's a girl to do? For Vasya and the erstwhile and amazing horse Solovey, adventure and danger call. Some plotlines from the first book continue, mysteries are solved, and more action and family strife are dealt with. The prose is beautiful and the ancient Russian world sparkles with danger and beauty in equal parts. I liked it even .more than The Bear and the Nightingale.

Having been delighted with the freshness of the first book in the series, Arden returns and presents more of that world that many of us unfamiliar with Slavic and Russian folk and fairy tales can devour and enjoy. Again, the exhaustive research and incorporation of tales combine in the writing as Vasya’s story continues and unfolds before us. As the last story ended, Vasya’s choices were narrow; marry or join a convent. As we have come to see, she takes another unoffered option and runs off disguised as a boy – heading out to make her own life. All of the wonderful moments and traits that made Vasya a solid heroine in the first book are tempered with her own experience and a bit of age: even as she is as determined as ever to follow her own heart and path.

Again Arden mixes the fantastical with the plausible (and historic) moments, Vasya’s travels take her through the landscape of 14th century Russia, easily allowing readers to feel as if the landscape was haunted by spirits: some human, others supernatural, as she lands in the midst of political intrigue as the unrest threatens the Moscovian rulers, of which her cousin, Dmitri, is a part. While the overall tone is dark-ish, there are moments that shine as the atmospheric descriptions and visualizations will have you reaching for a cuddly blanket as the chill of the landscape reaches out and tugs at imagination. One of the favorite characters, beyond Vasya and her approach to tackling problems, new people and issues is the Frost demon, Morozko: so utterly complete and present in his depiction – full of the contradictions that we all have, and wholly engaging despite his reputation and power of bad. Arden has used the story of Vasya and her continued saga to present a Russia of old that is both timeless and encompassing.

Best read if you are familiar with The Bear and the Nightingale, the story is paced similarly, allowing you to escape into the book and savor the moments as you wonder just how each piece fits into the overall. In this book, several moments from the earlier come clearer and inform Vasya’s decisions and choices, and while the political and societal unrest play on her choices, few are solely determined by any one event, allowing the story to feel as if it is progressing naturally – even with the fantastical moments. Sure to please fans of fairy tales and magically plausible fiction, this second installment promises wonder for the conclusion of the trilogy – and sure to be a favorite of many looking for something that is just a bit different.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9uA/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Wow, it took a good bit to build the story but the long build up was so worth it in the end. I received this book as an ARC but this review is not swayed by that.

The need for the build up is that it is set in what is now Russia and the tales of that area aren't as well known in the west. The world building is beautifully woven into the story so it grows as you follow the tale like a tapestry out of a loom.

If you enjoy stories that have a basis in old tales you owe it to yourself to read both the books in Katherine Arden's Winter Night Trilogy and eagerly await the third book.

"Sasha looked at his sister. He had never thought of her as girlish, but the last trace of softness was gone. The quick brain, the strong limbs were there: fiercely, almost defiantly present, though concealed beneath her encumbering dress. She was more feminine than she had ever been, and less.
Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name."

4.5 stars.

The Girl in the Tower is the highly-anticipated sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale in Katherine Arden’s The Winternight Trilogy.

It continues the story of Vasilisa Petrovna – Vasya – after her village shunned her and cast her out as a witch, leaving her with only two options: go to a convent or get married. Being a headstrong, independent, and obstinate girl who fears being locked away, she instead defies convention and rides out with her horse, Solovey, disguised as a boy in search of adventure. It isn’t long until she finds trouble – or trouble finds her – and she finds herself in Moscow.

The Girl in the Tower was a very intriguing read, and I think it was even better than The Bear and the Nightingale. The story drew me in from the first page, and I kept wanting to know what would happen next to Vasya and her siblings.

Both of Arden’s books have been very atmospheric reads, which are perfect for the season. I think The Girl in the Tower was a little more action-packed whereas the previous book was more set-up, though both were equally magical.

The second book isn’t even officially released yet, and I already can’t wait.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey (Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, that was a wild climax!

This second in Arden's series expertly mixes gritty realistic detail about medieval life in Russia (not for wimps!) with figures of Russian folklore. There's more subtle blending of the new replacing the old, less value judgment, in this book, and likewise the characters are more complex.

Vasya is wonderful as she beats her head against the narrow lives expected of women (convent or marriage, and those marriages often began in one's early to mid teens). She takes a third option, cross-dressing, at first terrified, then gaining confidence, until the reader is turning those pages expecting a fall.

Fall happens.

I love the way Arden spun it all out, and then resolved that particular plot in this book, without dragging it into the third to repeat the plot over again. Key elements still remain (oh, those horses) to be explained, in the meantime we get to know Vasya's brother and sister better, as well as medieval Moscow.

There is also a new male character who seems to be set opposite the frost king, as the crazy priest (who appears again in this book) seemed to be in the first: Kasyan Lutovich. As in the first, Arden tips her hand concerning his arc with certain over-used craft elements, but those will only be noted by the older reader, and it's still exciting to see the story spin out, and how Vasya rises to the challenge.

Besides the vivid detail of everyday life, and the Russian feel to everything, I really appreciated the attention to horse care, as well as the horse body language. Special horses exist here, but they still act like horses. Love that.

A terrific, exciting read, leaving me looking forward to the third.

The first novel was great and the second novel is epic! The Girl in the Tower is the second novel in The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. I don't read fantasy books that often but after the great reviews the first book received I decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did. Katherine Arden has created wonderful characters in an epic story that takes place in medieval Russia.

The story picks up right were the first novel ended. Vasya begins her journey of exploring Russia only to be surprised by meeting Sasha on the road. Soon they travel to Moscow for a reunion with Olga. From beginning to end, Vasya's story is full of emotion and adventure and I could not get enough of this epic fantasy.

I look forward to the exciting conclusion to this wonderful trilogy and more than anything, I look forward to Katherine Arden's next project. She is a masterful storyteller.