Looks like I'm going to be the voice of dissension on this one. I'm sure you've seen the hype surrounding this book. It's hard to miss. Ads were everywhere when it was released, featuring one accolade after another. And the description sounds amazing, doesn't it? I so wanted to love it. I love Russian historical fiction, and I went into it expecting to love it, to be wowed, to be swept off my feet. Alas, none of that happened. While it's not a bad book, at the end of the day, I honestly found it to be just plain boring.

I loved the folklore and magical elements, and I liked Vasilisa, but the pacing is soooo slow. Agonizingly slow. And the omniscient style means we get the point of view of way too many characters, some who don't even have a name, that's how insignificant they are to the story, yet we get their fleeting thoughts anyway. And if you know me, you know I'm a stickler for a tight, focused point of view structure. The author's writing has been described as beautiful and lyrical, but I thought it was rather on the simple side. And then when I got to the end and discovered this is the first in a trilogy, I couldn't help but note that the story would not need to be a trilogy if this book had been trimmed down, the pace quickened, and the rest of the story added in. I actually groaned at the thought of reading this story stretched out over two more books at a snail's pace.

I don't mean to sound harsh, and I know plenty of readers are loving this, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. I'm still giving it three stars because I did stick with it till the end, and I did find some things to admire about it. But not enough to continue on with the other books.

Vasya Petrovna, last child of Pyotr and Marina, was unexpected, and Marina was too weak to survive the birth. Vasya is raised in a small village on a steady diet of folklore. Her life is relatively unremarkable until her father goes to the city and brings back a young wife. Vasya and her new stepmother are more alike than either of them know. They can both see the household spirits that occupy their homes and stables, and must be appeased with offerings. While Vasya welcomes the spirits and keeps them fed and content, Anna fears them to her very core, and refuses them their offerings. Uh oh. When the spirits ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

This books starts off as a quaint-ish little fairy tale that gives off a slight sense of foreboding, but about three quarters of the way in, turns full on horror story. I was not prepared for this as I lay reading on my phone in the dark at midnight. Not just a little bit scary, either. A lot scary. What a great surprise!

The writing is simply beautiful, and as a reader, you really are transported into this crazy world with all the lush, extravagant language. At times, though, I felt it was a little much. Perhaps it's because I know next to nothing about the Russian language, but I did have a hard time keeping all the characters straight. Especially since each one seemed to have at least three nicknames. Overall, a frightening. entertaining, and well-written read.

This book is fabulous!! If you are a fan of folktales or fairytales I highly recommend this beautiful book!

This book lived up to all the hype. It is such a different book and I honestly wasn’t sure what I was in for when I started it but I am sure glad I did! I see that this will be a trilogy and am looking forward to the next book!

Kathleen Gati’s narration is amazing she brings every character to life and everyone has a voice.

4 Stars

Magical realism blends village life in old Russia with the mystifying world of spirits and fairies in a spellbinding tale with a fantastic and heroic female lead.

Beautifully written! Absolutely loved this novel, and would highly recommend it. It reminds me a bit of something Neil Gaiman would write. I will definitely watch for more from Katherine Arden in the future.

This has become one of my favorite novels of the year. It's not a fast paced action novel and, while normally during the winter I'd want to read something that takes place somewhere significantly warmer, this book takes place in Russia, a frozen place filled with stories of monsters, witches, and a host of other supernatural folk.

I found that the story was very easy to sink into. It doesn't start out with the main character, Vasilisa, but rather her family and grows from there. We learn intricacies of her family, little facts that unfold as Vasilisa is born to a mother that wanted her more than anything and whose sacrifice has unforeseen consequences. From birth to adolescence to teenage youth there are not only the growing pains that Vasilisa faces, but the ripples in the pond that her family members make, such as her father's second marriage and her brother Sasha's aspirations to monk-hood.

In regards to the writing style, I found it reminiscent of classic Russian novels in the naming conventions, such as female and male differences, plus the slight changes made depending upon the familial relationship to the person in question. It was a bit of a challenge at first because I am not used to reading in that style, but after a couple of chapters I found that it wasn't a bother at all and actually added to my experience in the Russian landscape. It might help if the reader's read manga in the past, actually, because honorifics are used there as well, often with similar nuances depending upon the person you're talking to.

A sweeping fantasy, I think the series has potential to be quite the epic one and I look forward to reading more from the author.

I have really been intrigued by fairy tales from the Russian/Slavic area lately. It all started with Mistress of Solstice in 2013. Every time I get a recommendation from Netgalley that even hints at Russian/Slavic folk stories, I rush to request it.

Every one that I have read, I have loved. This one is no exception. This is a story of East meets West and they, of course, collide. Vasilisa is the daughter of a prominent lord in the north of Russia. She is a very special girl with some very special friends.

An upstart bishop from the city gets sent out to the tundra to curtail the wildness. His Orthodox doctrine is not welcome by all who live in the cold grip of the Frost King.

This is such a great story, and you really should go read it.

The wicked stepmother is a storytelling trope that has roots in reality. In times and places where resources were scarce and women often died (usually of childbirth-related complaints) by early middle adulthood, a new wife who had children of her own looked out for the best interests of her offspring above any others. The most famous literary example of a wicked stepmother? Probably Cinderella. It's a story that's remarkably common around the world: China has a version. Iran has a version. And of course, there's the European takes on the tale that inspired the brothers Grimm. It's this familiar territory that Katherine Arden mines for her debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale.

Arden presents us as our heroine Vasilisa, the youngest child of Pyotr and Marina. Vasya grows up with her four older siblings in a small village in Russia, bordering the kind of large and dark wood that a good fairy tale needs. After Marina dies in childbirth, the girl grows up half-wild, listening to old Slavic folk tales at the feet of her very elderly nurse. But to Vasya, they're not just folk tales. She can see them, the spirits that populate Slavic mythology, and talk to them too. It's a trait she shares with her stepmother-to-be, Anna. But while rural-dwelling Vasya accepts this about herself, Anna, as a member of the city nobility, is a devout Christian and thinks herself tormented by devils. Once she moves to the countryside after her marriage to Pyotr, the only place she can find peace is the church. She becomes obsessed with the handsome and vain priest, Father Konstantin, who is just as obsessed in turn with rooting out the local superstitions. There's a tinge of American Gods here, because the fading belief saps the strength of the spirits just when they're most needed in a battle brewing between the larger and more powerful spiritual forces of evil and of justice.

The characters that populate the world of The Bear and the Nightingale are wonderful. Vasya is a delightfully high-spirited heroine, but what I enjoyed even more was that Arden didn't make Anna a simple "bad guy". Instead, she's presented as scared, and her behavior towards Vasya is obviously rooted more in this fear than spitefulness. And even though the father in Cinderella stories often comes off as neglectful, Pyotr is a loving father who has a hard time dealing with his first wife's death, his second wife's obvious mental health issues, and a daughter he doesn't know how to raise. And the world that Arden creates is wonderful, richly populated and vivid. It's the first first-in-a-series that I've read in quite a while that's made me actually Google when the next entry is coming out because I want to continue along in the story Arden is beginning to unfold. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

Beautifully written tale of a young girl in Russia during the Mongol Empire. Weaving Russian folklore into the pages, Arden has created a magical story of family and faith. I absolutely loved this book; the only thing that kept it from five stars was my opinion that the last few chapters did not live up to the rest of the story. It seemed a hurried and a bit confusing, and I found myself having to reread parts to fully comprehend what was happening. However, this book is well worth the read, and is highly recommended.

I fell in love with the cover of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden the minute I saw it. I felt drawn into the beautiful artistry and colors, the homey house lit by firelight and the open door asking me to enter and find out what this magical tale was all about. I became even more intrigued as I read this book's synopsis. I came away eager to explore the pages of this adaptation of a new-to-me Russian fairy tale.

While it started out a bit slow for my taste, I soon found myself lost in the richness of this tale, the gorgeous descriptions and it's engaging characters. As so often with fairy tales, the story's basis is fantasy but within that frame work are deep glimpses of Russian history, human nature, religion and so much more!

The Bear and the Nightingale is truly a beautifully written story and I am in awe that this is Ms. Arden's debut novel. I am very much looking forward to reading more of her work.

Visit https://renee1-blog.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bear-and-nightingale-novel-by.html to read my full review.

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Del Rey Publishing, Ms. Arden and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I ended up liking this tale, which transported me to the deep frozen forests of Russia. It is based on Russian history and folklore (you can tell the author did her research). This is not usually my thing but I found myself sinking into the world of it and picking it up over books. The author also handles the Russian names/nicknames issue with more clarity than I've found in actual Russian lit (where I spend half my time confused about who people are!)

If you're looking for deep-winter magic, Katherine Arden's richly imagined first novel The Bear and the Nightingale (Random House, digital galley) is all once-upon-a-time in medieval Russia, where a spirited heroine embraces the old myths. Vasya Petrovna, whose mother died at her birth, defies custom, her stepmother and a young priest so as to save her village, which has turned its back on the traditional spirits of the house and woodlands. Arden casts a spell with her lyrical writing, evoking Russian fairy tales and folklore, putting her own spin on the chilling story of the blue-eyed demon Frost.
from On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever

I went into this novel knowing that it was a fairy tale retelling, but what I got was an incredible dark pastoral fantasy woven together with dozens of Russian myths. The Bear and the Nightingale was a pleasant surprise and a pleasure to read. The world building in this book is absolutely phenomenal.

The setting is historic Russia bursting at the seams with supernatural elements. The world is full of demons and other spirits, each with their own beliefs and ways of life. I liked that even though many of the spirits were kindly to Vasya, they all weren’t necessarily good in the way you would expect. Some were even a little bit frightening and not all that friendly toward humans. It truly felt like the world had a certain order that was much bigger and centuries older than humanity. The atmosphere was fantastic and I got a real sense of the unknown while reading.

Vasya, eventually dubbed the Wild Maiden, really was spirited and free and I loved her character. The characters in this book are extremely complicated and well developed. I got a real sense of family reading about the Petrovna children. The priest Konstantin was also an interesting character and becomes Vasya’s foil and gave me some serious Claude Frollo vibes. Even though he was frustrating and obviously a negative forcec for Vasya, I almost liked his character in a way and wanted him to be corrupted, which was what made the books and its character so brilliant. The two represented the central conflict of the story: religion. The gradual shift from the mythical Slavic tradition of old to the new religion blazing a trail across Eurasia: Christianity. The clash between religions was the driving force of the story and it was phenomenal from start to finish.

Yet another book where the cover is absolutely gorgeous. It is just beautiful. I could probably stare at it all day long.

This novel is a wonderful Russian folktale/fairy tale retelling. Russia + folklore + fairy tale = awesome.

Vasilisa (Vasya) is far from a normal girl. We can tell that from her birth. She is destined for something special and doesn’t quite fit the image of a medieval Russia lady. She is strong and unwilling to do what she is told just because she is told to. She is a free spirit in many ways and yet also tied down in others.

The household spirits are so interesting. When they get neglected, Vasya must do her best to keep them alive. For if they die or leave this house… well, maybe the worst will happen. I really love them and their role in the story is rather nice.

I also loved seeing the way Vasya’s father interacted with his children. He can be a bit awkward at times and doesn’t really know how to interact with his children, especially Vasya. Yet, at the same time, it is clear that he really loves his children very much.

This story is rich with details and wonderful settings. Whether you want to nor not, you get pulled into this story. It is brilliant and I cannot wait for the sequel.

Let me get this out of the way: GO READ THIS BOOK. Seriously. This book is set in a medieval northern Russia where winter lasts for half the year and snow goes up to the eves of the houses. We follow a family with a father that is lord of the area with ties to the Grand Prince in Moscow. He is held in high regard there but his house seems to be the dumping ground of the unwanted in Moscow. Like the daughter of a peasant that charmed her way to be the wife of a Grand Prince. Or the seemingly mad daughter of a Grand Prince. And a eager priest that is a rising star but could cause problems in the succession. All of these people effect the area. This book reads almost like a real-life fairy tale. While we often think of fairy tales as fantasy, what if there is a kernel of truth to all of it? This book is the struggle between the old vs new. It is the transition between the old religion and Christianity. But the main character is what really carries the story. Vasya is the true tie to the old ways but she also wants to fit into her family. But she can’t just sit by as her family is in danger. To what lengths will she go to save them? Her strength and growth were amazing. Plus there are magic horses. How can a story go wrong with that?!

Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale is a superbly magical fairy tale inspired by Russian folklore. The story is lyrical and engaging, and even though I'm not a reader who is familiar with Russian fairy tales and folklore, so much of it seems both familiar and strange that I felt like this story has both been part of that fairy tale lexicon of sorts and wholly new all at the same time. I love it when a writer weaves together the old and the new to make a new effortless-feeling tale that lingers in the mind long after the book ends.

Vasya, the main character, is lively and complicated, as fairy tale heroines often tend to be. Arden's villains are nuanced and complex, making you think that perhaps villainy is only a construct of our perspectives rather than a factual thing. The atmosphere feels like a chilly Russian wilderness, and its distant enough in time and distance to be all the more enchanting.

And, like many traditional, "original," fairy tales, The Bear and the Nightingale is beautiful and terrifying in a very Neil Gaiman-esque sort of way, and I love the sort of terror that sneaks up on you and faces you full-on, making you come to terms with the terror of your own reality in contrast to this fairy tale one.

If you are a fan of Erin Morgenstern and Neil Gaiman and enjoy reading terrifically beautiful fairy tales, this is one you need to add to your TBRs immediately!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for a review copy!

What drew me to Katherine Arden’s debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale was the reference to Russian Tales, which animated my childhood. I was excited to see how she would use them to tell a new tale. And I am so happy I got to read this book, which plunged me right as I had hoped, into my childhood and the magic world of Ded-Moroz (the Slavic equivalent of Santa Claus, call him Father Winter), Baba-Yaga (a witch who looks like a grandma), Russalka (a mermaid with magic powers) and so on. Words cannot describe how much pleasure I had reading this “new tale”.

The Bear and the Nightingale, a classic fairytale told in a new light, tells the story of Vasilisa (Vasya) Petrovna, youngest daughter of the grand lord of Lesnyaya Zemlia, Pyotr Vladimirovich, who is also brother-in-law to the grand Prince of Moscow, and of her family. Pyotr Vladimirovich was happily married with four children, Kolya, Olya, Sasha and Lyoshka when his wife Marina died in childbirth, bringing to this world his last born – Vasya. Vasya, her mother told Pyotr, would be like her mother was – gifted with the magical blood of her bloodline. As she dies, she begs her husband to take great care of her daughter. Vasya grows curious of mind and of a wandering nature. She strives to be like her brothers, especially Sasha whom is her favorite; she takes upon herself to dress like a boy, and go onto exploring the surrounding forest. She also befriends the house spirits the villagers all leave ritual offerings for, but which only she is able to see. Seven years after Marina’s death, Pyotr decides to take a second wife. He goes to Moscow, to introduce his sons, Kolya and Sasha to their uncle and Prince of Moscow. The Prince himself has a daughter, Anna Dmitrievna, who is said to be crazy, as she sees demons everywhere. To kill two birds with one stone, and ensure his son’s successful succession to the throne, the Prince of Moscow strikes a deal with Pyotr: he will take his daughter as his second wife, and in return, Pyotr’s daughter Olya will get to wed a Prince herself. Sasha decides to join a monastery and serve God, meanwhile Kolya insults a man who turns out to be Morozko, the winter-king. Again, Pyotr finds himself striking a deal in Moscow: he promises to give a gift Morozco has intended for his youngest daughter, Vasya in return for the life of Kolya. As Pyotr returns to Lesnyaya Zemlya, he brings back with him a wind of change. A reluctant bride who will prohibit the villagers to continue to give offerings to the household spirits, through the influence of a new priest, Konstantin Nikonovich. With his arrival, and the promotion of Christianity, horrible things will start to happens, of which only Vasya will have the power to stop.

The book is packed with action, and with sub-story lines which indicate Katherine Arden’s plans for a sequel. Written in a lyrical format, The Bear and the Nightingale is evocative, vivid and rich in beautiful descriptions and imagery. It is a page-turner, with beautifully written scenes waiting at each corner. The introduction of so many characters never feels confusing or overwhelming; instead, each character builds the story and invites us to follow them in their journeys. Besides offering us a new re-tale of classic Russian fairy tales, Katherine Arden also takes inspiration in the transitional period of Medieval Rus’. She explores the slowly rising influence of Christianity on pagan societies, and its clash with the old Rus’ – worshipers of old gods and the traditions that embrace it. Throughout the novel we thus note the clash between old traditions and new ones, acts of bravery and fear, and of course good and evil. Overall, it is a tale beautifully told, and I cannot wait to read the sequel of The Bear and the Nightingale.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group – Ballatine and Del Rey for an ARC of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. I love the cover art but the names were difficult and the story didn't pull me in.

The Bear and the Nightingale (Hardcover)
by Katherine Arden

Looking into fairy tales and discussing their elements and merits with second graders changing your focus when reading this Russian tale. I like that she chose specific translations of the Russian names not only because of their beauty but because of the exotic image they give the text. Looking at the characters and their names is only the beginning of the story. I love the cultural elements within the story, the ideas of death, winter, and symbols like the bear and the nightingale. This book is a great introduction to Russian fairy tales, and is a great Young Adult intro into adult fairy tales and would compliment many series of Fairy Tale stories, like those written by Robin McKinley.