It's hard to find fault in a book like this. The story telling, the characters and the pace all mix together to make an excellent read. If you haven't already read this, do.

Massive fan of this book and the author’s other work. Lyrical writing which is still very readable, strong characterisation and a beautiful treatment of the folklore. Truly feels like a traditional fairytale, with the dark edge and dangers that entails.

Incredibly late to the party, I found The Girl in The Tower a bit more subdued than The Bear and The Nightingale but it was no less fantastical. Don't talk to me about Solovey,

At the time of request I did not realise this wasn’t the first book in the series. Unfortunately I am no longer able to review this book but would like to thank the publisher for allowing me a review copy

I absolutely adore Katherine Arden and her Winternight trilogy. The Girl in the Tower is the second book, and whilst it's beautifully written, I did feel that it was lacking somewhat compared to the first book. The pacing was slightly off for me, but despite this, it's hard not to fall in love with Arden's writing style and the magical world created in this series. 4/5 stars!

This book is an absolute masterpiece and I cannot rave about it enough. I am so scared to start Winter of the Witch because I know it’s going to make me sob!

I love Vasya and Morozko so so much. The writing in this book is so lyrical it’s beautiful. Such good storytelling.

I do not know where to start or even what to say, I am still so destroyed and ecstatic by the beauty of this story that I really have no words.
This second volume, which for me far surpasses the first, was full of action, love, plot twist, folklore and courage. I cried a lot, but I also laughed and rejoiced with our Vasja, who won the award as the best protagonist of the year.
Please, please, please read these trilogy!

Once again, Katherine Arden merges historical fact with fantastical fiction, following the wonderful adventures of Vasilia, this time as she must juggle danger and intrigue in Moscow. Luminous and full of fantasy, a marvel!

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

An absolutely stunning second book from Katherine Arden, that follows on from ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’.
I adored the historical detail in this book as our heroine Vasya heads to Moscow, and the way that this is entwined with the fantastical elements. The everyday workings of the city, the politics and then the fantastical elements weaved in just works so well together. I’m also an unashamed Morozko fangirl, and the relationship he has with Vasya, is the most intriguing and exciting part of these books for me.

I loved the first title in this series and I was worried this wouldn’t live up to that. But I needn’t have worried as it was just as beautiful as The Bear and The Nightingale. Perfect read for the cold months coming up.

This is the second in the series and it had been a while since I read the first one so I had to have a refresher first. The second book is really good and I don’t feel like it shuffles from second book syndrome. It merely felt like a continuation from the first book. Overall it’s a good solid fantasy series and I need to get on and read the last one before too long.

One of those books where I didn't really see what all the hype was about. I made it through the first book, thought it was okay and figured this would be an improvement. It wasn't, but that's okay. Different books work for different people.

I liked the story it just wasn't for me, but I could see why people would love this and I have recommended this to people a lot for who I thought it would be a good one!

After absolutely adoring The Bear and the Nightingale, I desperately needed to continue with Katherine Arden's second book in The Winternight Trilogy, The Girl in the Tower. So I bought it as soon as I finished the first, and dived right in. And it was just as incredible as the first.

It starts with a prologue that starts exactly where The Bear and the Nightingale left off, with Vasya riding off into the forest towards Morozko's dwelling after leaving home for good. But then it jumps to Moscow and we get to see a little of Vasya's older sister Olga and her life in the terem as Princess of Serpukhov for a while, before jumping to the perspective of their older brother Sasha, who is a monk, and close adviser to the Grand Prince of Moscow, Dmitrii. The story follows him, Dmitrii and Dmitrii's men when they hear of bandits are burning down villages and stealing away young girls. After weeks of searching, they come across a young man who has rescued three young girls who have been stolen by bandits - but Sasha recognises this young man as his younger sister Vasya.

Then the story jumps back to follow Vasya in the weeks between her going to Morozko and turning up with the three girls she's rescued. Vasya has decided to be a traveller. She's turning away from convention and has decided to see all the things she's heard about, but would otherwise never get to visit. Morozko tries his hardest to dissuade her, but she is determined not to live the life ordained for her because of her gender - a wife or a nun. She wants to live. And so with supplies from Morozko, despite thinking better of it, off she goes - with the advice that if she meets anywhere along the way, she should pretend to be a boy, because it's not safe for a young woman to be out on her own.

I can't really talk too much about the rest of the story without spoiling things, but the story really picks up once Vasya joins Sasha and Dmitrii. There is at once both less and more of the magical than the first book in the trilogy. For a good while, the main focus is the bandits, who they are, where they girls are, and what's going on there. When things get back to Moscow, they get real interesting, because as Sasha's sibling, Vasya is also one of the Grand Prince's cousins, and he warms to her. And because of this, Sasha can't hide her away or send back home as soon as he would like.

There is a young woman cross-dressing/pretending to be a boy in this book, and I know people have issues with this trope. I don't know enough to really comment on this, so I will just state what I read. Vasya wears "men's" clothes simply because they're more suitable for travel and warmth than "women's". She's hiding away her hair for her safety. She uses the male version of her name - Vasilii - only when necessary for her safety. And it's for the exact same reasons of safety that Sasha, despite being completely scandalised and so angry with her, says she is his younger brother. Because in this world, at this time, a young woman on her own among the Grand Prince's men will be raped. This is just the given, accepted truth. If a woman is not at home with her family, or in a convent, then what is she doing? She is then fair game, and she's asking for it, basically. A woman must live within the strict boundaries the patriarchy has given her, or she deserves all she gets.

But believing her to be a boy, Dmitrii and his men treat her in a way she's never been treated before. It's for safety, but people thinking she's a boy brings so much freedom. Because there is no pretence in behaviour - just Vasya being herself with a different name - she finds herself accepted for who she is in ways she's never experienced before, because it's perfectly fine to be who she is, as long as she's male. So you can just feel how things are going to go terribly wrong - because for a girl to pretend to be a boy is shameful, even "unnatural" (transphobic undercurrents) and to deceive the Grand Prince so? It's just a catastrophe waiting to happen. In a way, I guess you could consider Vasya's story a real fantasy, because the life she lives, the things she does, would absolutely have not been accepted at that time.

Going back slightly to how she is treated as Vasilii and how she is treated as Vasilisa, there is a stark, stark difference. To be who she is as a woman is wrong. It's not right, it's not normal - it's not natural. And The Girl in the Tower further explores the accusations of being a witch that Vasya is on the receiving end of, because they have absolutely nothing to do with anything magical. The fact that she sees the chyerti and speaks with them, and her relationship with Morozko, aren't common knowledge - no-one knows. There's no superstition around the accusation. She is simply a witch because she doesn't act the way a woman should. She isn't meek and mild, she isn't quiet and reserved, she isn't content looking after the home and mending. She's bold and brave. She has passion and strength. She's wild. She's a witch.

'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.' (p 304)*

I used the word "relationship" earlier in regards to Morozko, but I don't want to give the wrong impression; it's not a romantic relationship - at least not yet. But Morozko is definitely feeling some things he was not expecting at all. And it's really not good for him at all. Morozko narrates small parts of the story, and we find out more about him; how he came to be and why, his immortality, how magic works in regards to his existence. And the effect Vasya has on him. He needs her specifically, needs her to wear the necklace he created, in order to keep living, but she's changing him in ways he did not foresee, in ways that could be hazardous. I do really like Morozko, there's so much mystery about him, so much we don't know, but I can't help be drawn in by him. He's not exactly a villain, but he does have his own motivations, and he is Death, pretty much! But he's also kind and caring, and I do think he's kind of lonely. And it looks like there's a lot more to Vasya, as well, in regards to what she's capable of, so much she doesn't know, but we get glimmers of through Morozko's reactions. And I am so intrigued! I am intrigued by where her story will go, what will happen between her and Morozko, and finding out more about him. But it's quite obvious where their relationship will head, and it's possible people may have issues with that due to the fact that he's been around for centuries, and she's a teenager.

I absolutely adored The Girl in the Tower, and I am so incredibly excited to read the third and final book in the series, The Witnter of the Witch, but also really sad, because I don't want this series to end!

*Quotes have been checked against a final copy and are correct.

Thank you to Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for the eProof.

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features fire and arson, crossdressing/woman pretending to be a boy, transphobic undercurrents, slavery, burned bodies, abduction, threat of rape, forcibly removing a woman's clothing in public, sexual assault, stillbirth, and violence against women.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Different to what I would normally read, brilliant writing and a thrilling plot. Highly recommend to others.

This series... I have no.words. I love Vasya and her wonderful story. This book was life!!! I am.absolutely in love with this world. I cannot recommend these books enough!!!

Fans of Young Adult Fantasy will find happiness in this gem. The Girl in the Tower is the second book in the Winternight Trilogy and while it might be good to start with Book one, I found it quite easy to pick up with Book two. The Author does an excellent job of introducing the characters as part of the story, while never pulling my attention from the plot.

As a young woman, Vasya is now forced to either marry or promise herself to a convent. Instead, Vasya chooses a third option of adventure. A common trope among fiction, Vasya dresses as a boy. Once free with her horse, she ends up fighting off bandits in the woods—bandits who have actually been creating havoc throughout the country. Her valor and courage earns her the notice of the Grand Prince of Moscow. Though now she has the fear of having her gender revealed, which could impart more pain and suffering on herself as well as her siblings who run in the same circle as the Prince.

The story flows, the characters are developed, and the fantasy intrigues. I read this story in one sitting and never felt myself bored or confused. Though I will go back and read book 1. The Girl in the Tower is a testament to the strength of a young woman, her gumption to live of life of adventure, and her ability to help others. She’s no simpering miss, and provides a role model to girls, illustrating the potential for greatness we all possess, despite restrictions in society.

I definitely recommend this book and I look forward to the next book in the series, published this year – The Winter of the Witch.

This was an excellent follow up to the first book! I liked it just the same, or maybe better! There was more of Vasya in this one, which I was excited to see. Nothing stands in her way when she wants to do something, and sometimes this can cause consequences. It all makes her appear more human, though. Loved it