Four and a half stars: A beautiful, lyrical, haunting tale perfect for winter.

Vasilisa has always known she was different. Her large, green eyes see everything, including the hidden creatures that protect the hearth and home, the ones that guard the stables, the bath house and the spirits that are present in the woods. Vasilisa is wild like the woods and unafraid. Things begin to change when her father brings home her new stepmother. Vasilisa's stepmother can see these creatures too, but she is afraid of them, and shuns them as demons. When a new priest comes to town, fear mounts as he calls them to cast out their beliefs and shun the spirits that have always protected them. Once the household spirits are abandoned, danger creeps in, and death isn't far behind. Vasilisa is the only one who is fit to save them, but how can she protect those she loves if she is danger of being labeled a witch?
What I Liked:
*The Bear and the Nightingale is a gorgeous and unique story that will sweep you away. This is a book that requires time and patience as it's story is vast and detailed, but once you let it sink it's teeth into you, the hours will slip away. This is a beautifully written book, perfect for the long winter months.
The writing is amazing. I loved the descriptions, the depth of the detail, and the author's imaginative story telling. This one blends the old Russian ways with a bit of folklore and supernatural. This is Ms. Arden's debut book, and I am impressed. I will be watching this author, she is superbly talented.
*What makes this story shine is the setting. The tale relies heavily on the atmospheric setting, and the author does a tremendous job in transporting you back in time to the cold winters in Russia. I could almost feel the bite of winter nipping at the doors as the family huddled for warmth atop the giant oven. I loved immersing myself in the old tales and customs of the Russian folk.
*This book is heavy on Russian folklore and fairy tales as well as the old ways before Christianity took hold and crushed the pagan beliefs. I loved exploring the beliefs and customs of the people and learning more about the Russian culture.
*Vasilisa is one of the most formidable and interesting female characters I have run across in a long while. I liked that the author didn't make her a gorgeous maiden, instead she was rather homely, and yet there was something enigmatic about her. I loved her fierce spirit and her determination, and her loyalty to those she loved. Loved her! Then there is Morozko, a character that stole my imagination. He was fascinating. I want to tell you more, but I can't reveal his secrets. You must learn them for yourself.
*This is a complex and winding story that requires time and patience, but it is well worth the time and effort. It has been a long time since I completely got lost in a story. I highly urge you to grab this one and cuddle up with it during the long winter months.
And The Not So Much:
*As I mentioned this is a complicated story, and I was a bit frustrated that things didn't always fit into to the story and make sense. I wondered after finishing if certain things had been edited out. For instance, there is a big focus on Sasha, Vasilisa's older brother and her sister, Olga, early on in the story, and the two move to Moscow and are almost forgotten. Then there was a strange insertion way later in the book when Sasha sends a messenger to his father begging help in a war, and then that story line is completely abandoned. Why were Sasha and Olga forgotten? I thought they were going to play important roles. There were other things that didn't quite fit, and sometimes the flow of the tale was choppy.
*I loved learning about the many different spirits that protected the people, but I also found that I needed more information. I would have loved for more depth and detail on these spirits. I wished the author had included more of the folklore and stories around them. There is a glossary at the end, but it would have been nice to have more of that detail in the story. I also wished for more of the old nurse's tales, they were fascinating.
*The pace at time wanders and meanders along, and the reader is almost half way through the story before the conflict begins to reveal itself. You really have to be patient with this one.
*I have to admit, I was disappointed that there wasn't a romance. I kept expecting to be swept away by a torrid love affair, but sadly it doesn't happen.
*The ending is a bit perplexing and open, it is up to the reader to decide.
*Finally, reader be warned there is a heavy emphasis on religion. The story is about Christianity and overzealous religious fantastic trying to instill fear in order to get the villagers to give up their pagan ways. I hated this part of the story.

The Bear and the Nightingale is ambitious and vast tale that explores the legend and folklore of Russia in a bygone era. This is a gorgeous book with a haunting story and unforgettable characters. I loved this one, and found myself completely lost in the story. However, this is a book that requires time and patience as it takes its time to slowly build and unfurl its secrets. You must have patience and ambition for this one, and if you do take the time to immerse into the story, you will be rewarded. This will undoubtedly end up on my favorites list.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Originally reviewed on Forever Young Adult on 2017 January 18

Ever since childhood, I have been a mythology and folklore nut. Alongside Western fairy tales, I devoured Greek myths, African and Native American folklore, Japanese ghost stories and child-friendly versions of Indian, Celtic and Norse epics. Even as an adult, I love to stumble on fantasies based on the mythology of underrepresented cultures. Stories set in faux Medieval Europe are a dime a dozen, but the genre gets an instant refresher when you take it somewhere else.

Modern authors are finding that Russia lends itself very well to fantasy, with its deep, dark snowy winters and its primeval forests, as well as the menagerie of mythical creatures, from the homely domovoi that watch over the house to the wild demons of the forest that hunger for human flesh.

Katherine Arden is a scholar of Russian culture and history and she does a good job of creating a fictional Russia where the old spirits coexist with the new religion and politics rules the city while old traditions rule the far reaches. It's the clash of modern politics and the old ways that sets the story in motion here. The strength of the book is the way that every detail of the characters' lives rings true, from the daily life of a border lord's family to the political wranglings of the city folk.

The story centers on Vasya, who has inherited a second sight and certain powers from her maternal bloodline. When Vasya's father visits Moscow, the prince takes the opportunity to send a troublesome, half-mad Princess and a charismatic, ambitious priest back home with him to get them out of the way. They couldn't come at a worse time -- the two newcomers disrupt the old traditions and weaken the land's spirits at a time when an old evil is close to escaping its prison. Vasya must draw on her abilities to protect her people, but at what cost?

This is a beautifully written, well-paced fantasy that lingers on the details, but not at the expense of the action. Arden manages to bring her tale to a solid conclusion, while leaving an opening for the story to continue and show us other settings in this alternate Russia.

The Brothers Grimm appropriated many of their classic fairytales from tales handed down all over the world. Stories told to entertain, scare children into good behavior, and make us believe in magic. Just maybe, with a little help from our fairy godmother, things might turn out alright.

My favorite Russian fairytale growing up was the Twelve Dancing Princesses. (It’s deceptive and a little morbid in retrospect, but there’s no accounting for logic or taste in a seven year old who wanted to stay up all night and dance.) Maybe it was the extremely long and extremely harsh winters, but Russian fairytales are made up of extremes in color, fantasy, violence, and a pantheon of characters which have so much personality, in and of themselves, that they seem to wander in and out of each other’s stories. The Bear and The Nightingale is an amalgamation of multiple tales and characters into one, cohesive story. Author Katherine Arden has clearly done a great deal of research to craft an original story which stays true to the Russian roots of each character.

I read The Bear and The Nightingale next to the fire over a couple of cold, snowy days. Even if I had read it in the heat of August, I still would have felt the bitter winds and deep snow drifts that fueled the story’s action and motivated its characters. Arden’s writing is expressive and languid. That slow pace and focus on multiple characters at once will not appeal to every reader. My largest criticism was the seemingly random use of multiple Russian words, including nicknaming and renaming of core characters. There is a glossary in the back, but if you stop and flip back and forth to look words up, it breaks the flow of the story. Most of the time I just took them contextually.

You can’t have winter without Jack Frost and he is right at that beginning of the book as part of a story within a story. The Russian version of Jack Frost “Morozko” is sadly no boyish, Chris Pine from Rise of the Guardians, but not as old as Robert Pine either—more like Michael Shanks. (Sorry, I’ve been binge watching Saving Hope.) He’s written here as a mature character, but appealing. We get the sense that because he’s timeless, he could appear as any age. Even though we don’t see him again until near the end, his presence is felt all the way through.

Vasilisa, our heroine, is a wonderfully unpretentious character. She’s just not ruffled by anything, however odd it may be. Talking to house spirits and horses is as natural to her as talking to her family members. She pushes back against limits, but in her heart always wants to do the right thing. Truly, she is her mother’s daughter and at home in her wild surroundings of northern Russia.

The Bear and the Nightingale is not a romance. Marriage is largely a pragmatic thing in this harsh world, consolidating power and keeping secrets. The difference between lust and love is contrasted through the lives of this ensemble of characters and manifest in many ways. The symbolism was beautifully done and not pushed in the reader’s face, letting them take what they will from the consequences of each character’s choices.

There’s a rumor floating around that this will be the first in a trilogy. While the story does have a solid conclusion, there are many unanswered questions that I look forward to seeing Arden address. While we’re waiting, there is a prologue on Arden’s website that you shouldn’t read until after you’ve read the book.

My Rating: A, Loved It

With my exposure to Russian literature limited only to Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy, reading “The Bear and the Nightingale” by Katherine Arden is like finding a gem. Its rich texture of Russian folklore titillates my imagination. Katherine Arden brought to me a world that was just hinted to me by Russian fashion designers when I review their collections.

Huh? Where did fashion come from in this review? I am a fashion editor by day and on my spare time, a book reviewer, something I do simply because I love to read. And that is also the reason why “The Bear and the Nightingale” turned out to be a true treasure find for me. Seldom do I find a book that just feel so new though the topic is actually old.

I am not going to write a synopsis because the Description below does it very well. If I add some more, I might accidentally mention spoilers without meaning to. Suffice to say, “The Bear and the Nightingale” is a very easy read with a beautiful rhythm that makes you feel you are listening to a song while reading it. Arden’s voice is beautiful and sweet, yet very clear and powerful without being loud. It is hard to put down once you started. And quite frankly, you get so engrossed in the book that you find yourself in the middle of it without realizing it.

A must-read of sci-fi/fantasy fans and a great addition to your library. “The Bear and the Nightingale” is Rated to T for Teens.

If you are not too old for fairy tales, allow yourself to be transported to the Land of Rus' in the middle ages. A northern woodland where winter consumes village inhabitants and the telling of tales around the oven helps to while away the time and sustain the household. Young Vasilisa, whose mother died in childbed, reveres the tales of her nurse and the memory of her mother who was descended of a line with a "second sight". The second sight allows Vasya not only to believe the stories of old, but to pay tribute to the history of her family and their lands which are rapidly being Christianized and caught up in the events of the age. Thus armed with the her regard for the creatures of the forest, Vasya goes forth in battle to save her family and her people and the memory of the tales one should be wary of outgrowing.

I am so glad that I received an ARC of this from NetGalley-otherwise I may never have read it. I didn't really expect to like it as much as I did. I hadn't read the hype or knew anything about it at all. But the the minute I began to read it I was in awe. I haven't read such a compelling, well written, beautifully styled writing (I am having a hard time putting to words how much I love her writing), atmospheric book in a long time like this-it reminds me of a wonderful, much loved classic. I won't go into details about the book plot, or etc... I just want to gush about the book as a whole. I cannot wait to read more in this world Katherine Arden has created (there will be more books) and anything else she has written!

Set in an imaginative version of medieval Russia, this story, loosely based on Russian folk tales, follows Vasilisa, a young woman with "the sight", as she navigates the world of the supernatural in order to save her village from destruction.

The author successfully transports the reader into a magical realm where supernatural beings vie for power over humans.
Her world building is exceptional. Her descriptions of the bitter cold of northern Russia in winter are very realistic, as are her descriptions of medieval villlage life. The characters are intriguing and multifaceted, convincing even while interacting in strange ways with the world of magical beings.

These supernatural beings are both helpful and harmful to the villagers. Every household has numerous demons who protect and care for various parts of the home and farm. But there are also powerful and often malevolent demons associated with nature and seasons. Vasilisa is born with the ability to see and communicate with these invisible beings. She understands that world, sees the true causes for the deterioration of village life, and fights to bring safety and prosperity back to the villagers.

Vasilisa's village in the past has honored the old ways, while also embracing Christianity. A new priest has come who wants to end what he condemns as demonic beliefs and rites. This stirs up trouble as the villagers eventually discover that the old spirits don't like being neglected.
This is an unusual book, both charming and occasionally horrifying. It's like stepping into a folk tale and spending some time there experiencing remarkable things. I found reading it to be very enjoyable and engrossing. Highly recommended.

Reading this book is like being inside a snow globe. It is about medieval northern Russia where winters lasted for months and hungry wolves howled out in the never-ending darkness. During the long nights, the elders told and retold tales of sorcery, animals with supernatural powers and about the enormous wealth and power of the Winter King. From the very first page, you suspend disbelief and enter a world of mythical creatures, domestic and woodland guardians--some good, some bad--pagan gods and tallow-scented churches. You fear when any character goes into the forest (so thick that the forest floor is always dark and so tall that the trees gossip with heaven). It is a magical book. It is a mystical book. It is a book that is difficult to put down. And, when you do, this frozen Russian world continues to live in your imagination.

A Russian Fairytale fleshed out into a novel. I had heard of this fairytale but didn't know it at all, so I had no idea who was good and who was bad or what was going to happen. I loved the journey to figure it out.
The tone of the whole book was dark but not evil. Being set in the frozen land of Russia, the whole story felt cold. It was the perfect read for a chilly day wrapped in a blanket.
The characters were well drawn and fit into the natural as well as the fantasy world created by the author. The tale was woven in such a way to draw you into the story and feel the hunger, cold and fear that those village people felt as the winter closed them in and as the strange things started to happen. Vasya was such a great character. I kept picturing her a black haired Merida (BRAVE) like girl who was a bit wild and untamed. She had an air of mystery about her from the start and I kept reading to find out what magic she held and what those abilities would help unfold. I loved it and look forward to seeing more in this series. I have heard this will be a trilogy. I will have to brush up on my Russian folklore to truly appreciate the detail that was put into keeping the nuances of the culture this story comes from.

Rich in atmosphere, mixing both the fantastical and the historical elements of old Russia, Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale makes for a strong and memorable debut novel. As the first in a series, the narrative spends quality amounts of time crafting this book's main character of Vasilisa, and also building the recognizable but magical world she inhabits with her large and mixed family. Drawing both on real world history and the beloved folklore of Vasilisa's home country, The Bear and the Nightingale is a well-crafted and enchanting mix of genres.

The fantastical elements of Vasya's life in the wilderness -- the rusalkas, domovoi, evil spirits and much more -- are balanced by the always harsh and realistic life eked out of Russia's unforgiving climate. Her family has known struggle and strife all her life but Vasya remains undaunted in her chosen role and place; a wild, free, uncompromising, and untameable girl. Her chief antagonist is the eponymous Bear of the title, but her secondary opponent arrives in the all-too-familiar form of religion, and religious, men. Vasya's struggle to save her family and home is complicated by the priest Konstantin's need to humble the proud young woman. It's a familiar story but Vasya fights -- for herself, for her home, and for so much more.

The magical and the mundane aspects of The Bear and the Nightingale come together neatly under Arden's adept plotting and turns of phrase -- and at just the right time before the closing denouement. Her clever writing, strong and defined characters, and the enveloping atmosphere coalesce into a finely-tuned historical fantasy that won't quickly be forgotten. Only a few pacing and clarity issues kept it from a five-star read. This story is one that is rich and detailed; the characters, from its heroines to the human villains, are vibrant and dimensional people. It's remarkably easy to sink into (and enjoy) the story that Katherine Arden is unwinding with her series-opener.

This was a enjoyable read; lush and atmospheric. It took me a while to get into it, but once things really start happening you find yourself swept away with the story. One thing though, this novel is definitely not meant to be read in one burst, it works best to savor this book in little pieces as you go along.

I loved the main character, Vasilisa Petrovna - her fierceness, her stubbornness, her love and loyalty to her family and the world around her. The different familial relationships were all complicated, interesting, and (at times) rather lovely. I loved how nuanced the characters were - they were not wholly evil or wholly good; they had facets of both good and bad, as we all do.

The Russian folklore interspersed throughout the novel was very interesting and, in my opinion, well done. I really enjoyed learning more (although I do acknowledge this is a fictional novel and not a historical text) about 14th century Russia and the customs and traditions that the families lived by.

All in all, this is definitely a novel worth picking up if you're looking for a mesmerizing and enchanting read to kick off 2017.

4.5 Stars!

WOW! The Bear and the Nightingale is an atmospheric treat.The writing is incredible. It's a slow, rich tale full of myth and religion. I'm generally not a fan of literary fiction, but his one has a historical fantasy element to it that really pulled me in.

This book took a little bit for me to get into it. It is set in historical Russia and many of the words and names are obviously foreign. There is a glossary at the back that I didn't find until I finished the book. It was helpful in that it confirmed what different words meant, but the author used most of the words in such a context that you are able to figure out what they mean without referring to the glossary.

I can't continue without stopping for a minute to comment on the covers. There are 2 covers that I know of, and both are incredible. I want to buy a copy of this book, but can't decide between the American or English version. They are both amazing and completely different. I love the boldness and colors of the English cover, but the American cover perfectly captures the atmosphere. This is the 1st book in a planned trilogy, so I may wait to see the other covers before buying the set... (or both sets if my bookshelf will agree).

I believe this book will find a wide range of fans. In my opinion, it is the perfect mix of literary fiction and fantasy so it will appeal to lovers of both. I loved it as a fan of fantasy, but I will also be recommending it to my sister that is more of a literary fiction type of gal.

I received an advance review copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this book because I could not force myself to stop reading. I absolutely love this story. I love the setting, the characters, the elements of fantasy and paganism, and the way it's all woven together so beautifully. I wish every book I read was as good as this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this fairy tale of a story. I did have a difficult time really getting into the story and I am not entirely sure why. Once I became hooked on the story, I couldn't find out what would happen next fast enough. It was at times a slow moving story even though things always seemed to be happening. The descriptions in the story were incredibly vivid. This was the kind of story that will stay with me for some time.

I have seen some descriptions of this story that indicate that this is a re-telling of an old story. I am honestly not well versed in Russian folklore so this story is completely new to me but the underlying fairy tale feel was present throughout the novel. This was a story filled with magic, bravery, and things unexpected. I didn't even have a guess regarding what would eventually happen in this story and it was exciting to watch things unfold.

The story focuses on Vasilisa, or Vasya. Vasya's mother died shortly after her birth so she spends the early years of her life being raised by her father and her nurse along with her sister and three brothers. Vasya is a bit of a wild child spending most of her time in the woods and speaking with the local spirits. Eventually, her father does decide to marry again and comes back from Moscow with a new wife. Vasya's new step-mother is also able to see the local spirits but instead of embracing this skill she fears it and wants the spirits to leave.

I liked Vasya a lot. She was brave throughout the story even when it caused things to be difficult in her life. She always seemed to think about the welfare of others. She trys to honor her families wishes even when she knows that it will cause her tolose the ability to do the things that bring her joy. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this story. Vasya's father tried hard to make the best decisions for her and he did care deeply for her. Her brothers were all very different but they all cared for and supported Vasya in their own way. Her step-mother and the priest were not nearly as likeable but they did add a new element to the story.

I would recommend this book to others. It is such a captivating story told in a wonderful manner. The story is highly imaginative and filled with details that bring it to life. I believe that this is the first book of a planned trilogy and I can't wait to read more of this incredible tale.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Del Ray via NetGalley.

This amazing epic seems to summarize the entire scope of Russian folk tales in a deeply textured and finely woven tapestry rich with the scents, tastes and chill of winter. Set in the 14th century in an era when vast areas were still ruled by the Mongols, the story of Vasilisa Petrovna and Morozko, the Frost King, shares with Russian novels a sense of size and breadth to equal the vastness of the plains as well as the welter of nicknames (although carefully kept manageable) for its characters. The larger-than-life tragedies and triumphs are pitted against the details of family life even to carved and scented wooden combs and the careful propitiation of the household gods in casual company with the Byzantine iconography and teachings of Mother Church. It is when the old ways lose favor that things begin to break down.

Okay, before I scare you off with all the scope and grandeur of this story, you are kept in very close touch with small-scale daily activities and not left on your own to figure things out. In fact the author has graciously provided an extensive glossary to help you with the Russian words. I really enjoyed reading this wonderful first novel and thank Netgalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity.

The Bear and the Nightingale is a love letter to old Rus’.

The other day I found myself missing the Motherland. Once you’ve been to Russia, the spirit of the country latches on to you and you’ll never be able to forget it, even if it forgets you. The Bear and the Nightingale was the perfect answer to my melancholic nostalgia. That being said, rating this book was tricky for me because I love Russian culture so much, so deeply, that it hypnotized and transported me back to those dark and beautiful nights in Moscow and Suzdal and Vladimir and Tolstoy’s estate. I digress, but the point is if you have even the tiniest interest in Russian folklore, the old culture, and adore fairy tales, you’ll be swept up into this rustic and romantic tale of a girl kissed by magic and determined to save her people.

Side note: Throughout the story I yelled at the book in Russian. Like full on what is this??? yelling. The transliteration irked me to no end and then I got to the end of the book and I laughed so hard. That author’s note made my day. She explained her choices and described how she though Russian speakers/students would react to the transliteration-with disdain and hands pretty much clenched in fists. Somehow, the fact that she knew it made it okay.

The Bear and the Nightingale is whimsical, haunting, and twisted like any good fairytale. A blend of many stories known, loved, and feared in Russia still today, The Bear and the Nightingale is one epic journey that spans years. From the house-spirits, to the gods of the elements, to the celebrated figures of Baba Yaga and the Firebird, everything that is inherently Russian is present and accounted for. I loved that the focus was not on these known figures, but on the everyday ones that live in the household and receive offerings, that protect the hearth and livelihood of the family.

This is a love story. Not in the traditional sense, but one of love for the land, for heritage, for culture, and in beings that others believe are myth. There’s not romance in the usual fashion, but there is a hint.

The atmosphere and world building is strong. You’ll become fully immersed in the countryside, the power of the forest and all the magical beings that inhabit it.

I loved Vasya. She’s known for being unattractive, frog-like, and weird, but her spirit makes her beautiful. She’s fierce, determined, sure of herself. She believes when others are filled with doubts. She throws herself into danger, she risks her life, she loves hard and barters for her people. She’s small, but she’s crafty and wild and bold. She does what everyone else in the story wouldn’t dare and that’s what makes her compelling.

On a more somber note, there is some conversion that goes on in the story. Religious crusade of a sort that makes the reader question what happens when people story believing in their folklore, in their old gods, and all the stories that come with them. There’s something heartbreaking and sobering about this war within the people.

The pacing may be slow for some, but it builds as it goes and Vasya becomes more adventurous.

Is there going to be more?! I love love love the Russian folklore in this and all the various creatures. At times it was slow going but now that it's over I feel bereft.

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. If more of the book had been like the last quarter or so, I probably would have liked it more. I think I just wasn't expecting the right sort of book. If I had expected historical fiction with a little dust of magic and folklore, I probably would have enjoyed it more. I was expecting a book with a lot more magic, especially because the title is so mysterious and reminiscent of fairy tales.

Most of the book was a young girl growing up in Russia in a time period where women were expected to be humble and domestic. Vasya is instead headstrong and wild, and does what her heart tells her. She follows the old traditions and feels a deep connection to the creatures and spirits of Russian folklore, even as her family members try to assimilate and become good Christians. I really liked Vasya, especially because of the contrast between Vasya and her step-mother. I also loved the portrayal of the Lord of Winter/Death. He isn't actually in much of the book but the few moments where he is present are magical.

I have really mixed feelings about the writing style. On one hand, it was very lyrical and beautiful, and quite fitting for a story about the richness of folklore and magic in every day life. On the other hand, I felt like the prose was a little...for lack of a better word...cold. I didn't feel very connected to the characters throughout the book, and it was mostly because the writing style told story as if you were a neighbor passing by and looking into people's lives instead of engaging with people and really understanding them.

Another thing that kept me from really getting into the book is how slow it was. The prologue was beautiful and got me hooked, but then nothing much happened for the rest of the book. The last quarter of the book was really intense and I thought the book had a fantastic and fitting ending, but it was just hard to stay focused in the middle. Thankfully the book isn't that long so it wasn't too bad even with the slow middle.

I did like this book, but it wasn't as magical as I was hoping it would be. I would definitely recommend it, but with the caveat that it's a very slow book and more historical fiction than fantasy.

A free eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review