A fantastic conclusion to this awesome and inventive trilogy. I appreciated how the story was handled and I liked seeing Vasya's growth as a character throughout the three books.

This books amazingly blends real life history and Russian folklore and does so in a way where it is completely believable. I loved dipping into the world of mixed beliefs and seeing it develop the way it did and loved the magic that formed along the way.

“The Winter of the Witch” is the third and final installment of the “Winternight Trilogy”. I was so sad to see this series come to an end ( which led to me putting off reading it for quite some time) but this book was the perfect end. It was full of magic, beauty and so much more. The growth of the characters was wonderful. This book, like the others, transported me into another world. Filled with a perfect mix of history and fantasy, I will be singing the praises of this series for a long, long time. Wonderful job.

* Special thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an advance digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review*

This was such a great wrap up of this story. I love how independent she ends up and it isn't just happily ever after. The book doesn't leave you wanting at all, as you feel her desires met and justice served.

Absolutely loved. Amazing conclusion!
This series has everything from the beautiful writing to the wonderful characters. This final book felt exactly like that; the end of something great. No matter how heartbreaking it was to read the last line and say goodbye to the characters, I know they'll always be in my heart (and in my rereads because I will always come back to these books!).
I highly recommend this series. It's such a great blend of fantasy and historical fiction. It filled my every craving. The journey that began in book one is ended in a way I'm sure all fans will be happy with.
GO GO GO PICK IT UP!

Katherine Arden completes her Winternight trilogy with The Winter of the Witch, a superb alternate history fantasy. Vasilisa Petrovna, Vasya, involves herself in the affairs of the Russian Grand Prince of Moscovy, Dmitri, who is also her cousin; however, she has witch powers and contacts with the other world through the Winterking and other fantastic characters. Escaping burning as a witch in Moscow, she has to find her own powers and how to use them wisely. Then she has to bring together the hidden spirits of Russia with the forces of the Grand Prince and defeat the Tartars while ensuring both Christian and spirit worlds can co exist. Beautifully plotted with well rounded fantastic and historical characters. A must read for any fan of fantasy or folktale.

The Winter of the Witch is a fabulous ending to this series. Katherine Arden knows how to draw you into the story. Her characters are great and so is the story. I love reading her books.

This series is just spectacular. It really grabs the reader from the first book and sets you in a world that is fascinating. It is written so beautifully that I didn't want it to end.

WHAT DID I THINK OF THE WINTER OF THE WITCH BY KATHERINE ARDEN?
The Winter Of The Witch by Katherine Arden is the final book in the Winternight Trilogy. And whoa is this story sent out with a bang. I LOVED IT. Okay, so the beginning of this book is just brimming with action. So, okay Moscow is facing illness and people are dying. The residents are pissed off and looking for someone to blame for their misfortune. Enter Vasya. She becomes a bit of a scapegoat. There’s a wild amount of action right in the beginning because of all this. And, ugh some serious heartbreak.

However, the ending kind of pulls everything together and makes all that we experienced worth it — especially the scene involving a certain animal character that we have all come to know and care about.

On the whole, I think that The Winter Of The Witch is a must read for fantasy lovers. Personally, I am already looking forward to re-reading this trilogy back to back in the deep of winter someday. I feel it was beautifully written, atmospheric, perfectly characterized. This trilogy definitely deserves a spot upon my shelves and I just cannot wait to come back to it and to see what Arden comes up with next.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The Winter Of The Witch audiobook is narrated by Kathleen Gati who has also narrated The Bear And The Nightingale and The Girl In The Tower. I liked that the trilogy had the same narrator throughout. Something that annoys me is when audiobook series have a change in narrators partway through. I also just really enjoyed Gati’s voice which is perfect for the story. She really guided my journey through these audiobooks. Also, just want to point out that I listened at 1.25x speed and that was quite ideal for the story. I definitely would recommend this whole trilogy in any form – audiobook, physical, or ebook. It’s just a damn good read.

A wonderful conclusion to a trilogy that's been stellar from the start.

I found this installment to be a bit slower than the other two, especially in the first half when the magical and mundane realms are kept a bit too separate, but I was ultimately quite impressed with how Arden resolved things. All characters, even the minor ones, got the endings they deserved, good or bad or in between. Vasilisa Petrovna is truly one of my favorite fantasy heroines of recent years; she reminds me a bit of the leads from Robin McKinley's Damar books, except Russian! The balance of romance with strong and independent female power is also reminiscent of McKinley's work.

The depiction of the Battle of Kulikovo, an event to which the story was building from the start, felt a little too rushed to be an entirely effective battle scene, so I don't think this author is yet very strong as, say, an action or war novelist, but at this point I would probably read her grocery list and enjoy it.

This is one of my favorite series. It was a perfect end to an already amazing trilogy. The characters are so real and breathtaking, the setting perfectly crafted, and the plotline so raw and beautiful. Everything about this book made my heart race - every turn of the (kindle) page was a new adventure. Totally recommend this absolute unique incredible fantasy retelling of a well-loved tale.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.

I have loved all of the previous books in the Winternight Trilogy and when the chance to receive an ARC of this came up I jumped at it. This book was just as magical and hauntingly beautiful as the previous books. I love an historical fiction author who is fairly accurate and judicious with the history that they use. I love Russian history, Russian fairy-tales and strong female characters so Vasya and her story is a perfect fit for me. This is one of those series that when it ends you wish you could re-read it with no prior knowledge of the book because the experience of reading it for the first time was so magical and moving. I will likely re-read this series many times in my life but this first read through will always hold a special place for me.

This final book rips right through you. I found myself forgetting to breathe, sobbing, wanting to cheer aloud. It's so RARE to have a finale end so well. Katherine Arden is an astonishly good writer.

This is a series that got better as it went for me. The first book was a 3, the second around a 3.5 and this was a 4 or 4.25. I think that the characters needed time and exposure to grow on me and by the time I finished this, I was quite attached to some of them. I’m super excited to see where this author goes next!

I loved this series so much. The writing is absolutely amazing and vivid. The story is great and the conclusion was awesome as well. I didn't think I was going to like this series because the first book was slow for me but man, did this wow me.

Wow. This trilogy has been one of my favorites since the first book came out. And it has ended remaining so, with a twist (no spoilers) that made me cry and was absolutely unexpected. This series is destined to stand the test of time - it's not just fantasy, but encompasses the best and the worst of humans, and what it means to be different and forge your own path. There is a strong core of *humanity* in this series, and that combined with the folktales and the beautiful writing will keep people reading these. It's not often that I find books I want to re-read, simply because there are just so many other books out there - but these are different. The writing flows, and the echoes of magic still linger long after the last page has been turned.

Wow! This whole series has been amazing! The setting makes me feel like I am in old Russia. I love how Katherine brings in all the old Russian fairy tales and makes it all seem so real. And I cannot say enough about Vasya. She is a strong-willed, determined character that doesn't feel forced or cliche. I recommend this series wholeheartedly!

Spellbinding! A wonderfully creative and action filled ending to this trilogy. Katherine Arden never disappoints!

This was a beautiful ending to a beautiful trilogy. I was captivated from the first book to the last. I loved reading a retelling of a Russian fairytale.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

An utterly beautiful retelling of Russian fairytales and folklore perfectly meshed together with Russian history and its people. I cannot praise this series enough, and this was an absolutely mesmerizing conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden.

As part of the trilogy, The Winter of the Witch is achingly wonderful. The tone, the pacing, and the plot were brilliant; the overall story arc was encapsulated for its finale with perfect pitch. All the while weaving together its own story and standing solidly on its own. Arden's writing is once again wondrously magical—thrumming with its own heartbeat and breathing its own life.

As a reader, watching Vasya grow up over the course of the three books into such a believable and whole person while being so fully immersed in this fantasy world is beyond amazing. Arden has her growth as a character perfectly charted and has allowed this organic and natural quality to blossom within this woman she has created.

I will absolutely read whatever else Arden produces. In fact, her Middle Grade book, Small Spaces, was so enjoyable. It really impressed me with how she was able to transform her writing voice to completely suit the target audience. Her talent and skill so clearly come through in her writing, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.