This was a wonderful, enchanting and magical tale. I loved it from the moment I picked it up until the moment I finished it. It had just the right amount of evil, good and everything in between.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series

I loved this book so much.

I have now read the complete series and was absolutely mesmerised by this fairytale.

This characters were beautifully written and the whole series was an absolute wonder.

Since reading this book series I have recommended to everyone that will listen.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book

Simply excellent. An incredible start to a highly original trilogy that I absolutely devoured. A wonderfully real main character that you'll root for and a fascinating take on Russian folklore.

The Bear and the Nightingale is the story of Vasila, a girl who lives in Russia and whose mother died after giving birth to her. While Vasila seems to grow up in a normal household, with her siblings and father, she sees things that other people do not see. As she grows up, her connection to spirits becomes stronger and once her father brings home a new wife, one who hates all kinds of spirits, Vasila is the one who will have to save her family.

This book has gorgeous descriptions - I don't know a lot about historical Russia, but I absolutely adored the way Katherine Arden made that world come alive for me. There was enough description that it was easy for me to image the world, yet not that much that the story was hindered by it.

These descriptions do not only relate to the setting, but also to the characters. Vasila is a complicated narrator, who, due to her young age, is not always trustworthy. As a reader, it was a joy to figure out exactly what she was feeling and what parts of her story were her imagination and which parts were real. All the minor characters, and due to the size of Vasila's family there were many, were also well written. I especially loved her sister Olya, who is completely different from Vasila, yet is incredibly nurturing towards her little sister.

The only thing I didn't enjoy about this story was the pacing. While the descriptions worked well with the story, there were too many events that weren't relevant enough to the plot. The first half of the book progresses incredibly slow and then the major event, which is alluded to throughout the novel, is solved in a single chapter. I wish the action was more spread out through the story and that there was a bigger climax towards the end of the novel. Right now, much of the beginning seemed unnecessary and at the end, I was craving to know so much more about the events and characters.

Even then, this novel was a good read. While the pacing is off, the characters are enchanting and it was a pleasure to get to know them and their journey. This story is perfect for readers who enjoy magic realism and history fiction, in that it combines both with ease.

I think this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.” The book was beautifully written but I just didn’t feel any connection to it. I don’t think I’ll bother with the rest of the series.

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

Absolutely loved this book. The author invites you into this world with vivid descriptions and lively characters. A great introduction into the trilogy, I was hooked.

The first instalment of an enchanting fantasy trilogy. The Bear and the Nightingale is a true fairy tale, set in an atmospheric setting (Russia of the early Tsars), full of magic, romance and folklore. I look forward to reading the next two installments, but in the meantime this is a complete and wonderful entry to a new world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Learnt about Russia's rich mythology and history. I also enjoyed the authors writing style too.
Keen to read the rest of the trilogy

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.

A magical fairytale fantasy set in a place reminiscent of medieval Russia with lots of lore woven in, that has garnered many rave reviews since its publication in 2017.

This is a beautiful, magical book. It doesn’t speed along, but instead builds slowly into an atmospheric and wonderful read, with a strong female lead. I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy.

A magical tale with dangerous creatures and an atmospheric vibe!

The Bear and The Nightingale is the first installment in the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden, a truly magical story inspired by Russian legends and tales.

After Vasilisa's mother passed away, life for her and her family became hard. But, when her father introduces to his children his new wife, who is set on forbidding any spiritual honoring and sending her stepdaughter away one way or another, little do they know of the danger that is going to loom over their lives.

Our heroine is Vasilisa, a fierce and brave protagonist, fit to an amazing novel like this. I loved following her adventure and getting to know more about her life, the tales her nurse used to tell her and immerse myself in traditional Russian tales.

There was an intense atmosphere throughout this novel, with magic, reality and fairy tales blending perfectly into an unmistakably unique story. The winter was described so intensely, making the hardships the family experienced all that more heart felt.

Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of horror stories or tales and the fact that there were quite a few frightening elements in this novel, only serves to emphasize the amount of love I have in my heart for this story!

I found myself anxiously turning page after page, waiting to see how the story will unfold and what is going to happen next.

At last! I finally crossed this historical fantasy off my TBR.

Set in the Middle Ages, in what is now Russia, The Bear and the Nightingale follows Vasya from her birth through her girlhood as she comes of age in a village that is growing away from their old beliefs to Christianity, encouraged by the fervour of a new priest who terrifies them with eternal damnation. Vasya is one of the rare few who has the sight, the ability to see fae-like creatures from Russian folklore, and it’s up to her to protect her village when her neighbours’ growing disbelief in these creatures puts them all in danger.

It astounds me that this is a debut novel, because it’s so beautifully written. It’s such a slow-moving, lyrical book, and yet I still found it to be such a quick read once I got into the swing of the story.

There’s such lovely attention to historical detail throughout this novel. Arden hasn’t chosen medieval Russia as her setting and then written 21st century people in medieval costumes, instead these people feel like people who belong in this era. They sleep close to the oven in winter to stay warm, and I loved the descriptions of their food, and what time of year certain foods were available, that made the setting come to life. It feels like Arden has done her research, which is understandable considering her degree is in French and Russian!

The story itself, if we strip everything back, isn’t all that original. Girls who love nature and fight the patriarchy aren’t strangers to the historical fiction genre, but it’s written so well that none of that matters. In fact I love how, through Vasya, Arden explores just how fragile masculinity has been throughout the history of the world; we have the fervent priest who hates Vasya because he desires her (he’s essentially a Russian Frollo – only younger) and an older man Vasya is almost married to until he decides against the marriage essentially because she can ride his horse better than he can.

Seriously. Masculinity is so fragile.

Having said that, Arden strays away from a lot of the tropes I’m tired of seeing. The priest desires Vasya, but we never have a scene between the two of them where Vasya is threatened with sexual assault. That doesn’t mean he’s not an uncomfortable character to read, but Vasya refuses to be afraid of him and I love that about her.

Having said that, as much as this is very much a story inspired by fairy tales and folklore I do think it’s a shame Vasya gets an ‘evil stepmother’. Arden isn’t entirely unkind to Anna, Vasya’s father’s second wife, and there are certainly moments where we can empathise with her; for example, Vasya’s father, Pyotr, isn’t an unkind man, but there are times when he’s very dumb. He’s quite a bit older than Anna, and after they’re married he notices she often cries in bed but just thinks, ‘whelp, guess I’ll just keep having sex with her’.

No Pyotr! Use your words and talk to your wife, who’s literally only a few years older than your oldest children.

Anna does ultimately become the traditional evil stepmother and, considering she and Vasya actually have something in common it would have been nice to see the two of them overcome their mutual dislike of one another to become allies.

I also felt like the book wrapped up a little too quickly. That said, this entire novel feels like a prologue to the rest of the series and I really appreciate that Arden doesn’t rush anything. She takes her time to tell the story she wants to tell, and if this is her debut then I’m very excited to see what the rest of the series holds!

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features discussion of abortion, death in childbirth, people freezing to death, the dead crawling out of their graves, death by vampire, and sexual assault.

I requested The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden on NetGalley when it was originally published, but every time I tried to read it, I wasn't in the right mood for it. But I received a finished copy for Christmas, and have been in the mood lately for enchanting, magical fantasy, and I love a retelling, so I picked it for my first read of the year. And it was brilliant!

'"Wild birds die in cages."' (p250)

Marina was weak and fragile when she fell pregnant with her fifth child, and her husband Pyotr and their nurse Dunya begged her to get rid of the baby, sure she wouldn't survive birth. But Marina is the daughter of a Princess who had magic in her blood, and is determined to have a daughter like her mother. Like Pyotr and Dunya feared, Marina died shortly after her daughter was born, living long enough to name her Vasilisa. As time passes, it becomes clear that Vasya is a wild one. She likes to climb trees and explore the forest when she should be at home mending, and always comes home dirty with leaves in her hair, and to a thrashing. It's decided that Vasya is in need of a mother, so Pyotr goes to Moscow to stay with the Grand Prince, his brother-in-law to look for a wife. The Grand Prince's daughter, Anna, is unwell; she's always looking in corners and talking to things that aren't there. To send her away, he gives her to Pyotr, who, unknowing of her condition, agrees to marry her, as he can't refuse the Grand Prince. Anna is very devout, hoping god will save her from the devils she sees. But she is not the only one to see them, Vasya does, too. They are the household spirits of the old ways, who offerings are left to to keep their homes safe. But when a new priest comes to town, he puts the fear of god into the hearts of the people, and they turn their back on the old ways. As the household spirits grow weaker, something else is awakening, something dark and hungry. And there's only one other who can help Vasya save her people - the feared Frost King.

The Bear and the Nightingale is just so gorgeous! It's enchanting and magical, and absolutely puts you under it's spell. With it's beautiful writing, and fairy tale feel, I was absolutely gripped. I've not read a retelling of Vasilisa the Beautiful, the Russian fairy tale, before, so the story is completely new to me. I have no idea whether it sticks close to the original or not, but it was breathtaking. I couldn't put it down, and completely fell in love with Vasya. The folklore that runs throughout, the household spirits, the horses that talk to Vasya, the forest which is welcoming but hides secrets, the claustrophobic snow, the disembodied voice, the umpyry (vampires) - it all works together to create an eerie atmosphere that is completely addictive. And on top of that, it's a historical fantasy set in Russia before it was Russia, so there's the clothing, the food, the langauge, the way royalty worked. It's just so vivid and real, and just so gorgeous.

What I loved about this story was how feminist it was. Vasya is a young woman who is not like most women - that is to say she doesn't behave the way a woman should. She is not meek and quiet, she doesn't smile and simper. She roams the forest on her own, comes home dirty with damaged clothes, she abandons her mending, she voices her opinions and her objections, and she rides a horse, bareback, like no-one else. She is wild and feral, and people call her witch-woman. Women are not free to do as they please, they are to become wives and bare their husbands sons, or they are to go to a convent to become a nun. These are the only options open to women, and though her father loves her, Pyotr fears for her and how she's being spoken about, and so is swayed by the venomous tongue of his wife Anna, who wants rid of her, as does Father Konstantin, who has motives of his own.

'"All my life," [Vasya] said, "I have been told 'go' and 'come.' I am told how I will live, and I am told how I must die. I must be a man's servant and a mare for his pleasure, or I must hide myself behind walls and surrender my flesh to a cold, silent god. I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed me." (p366-367)

She's full of conviction and fire, and she burns so brightly. But she's not a "strong female character." Yes, she's unlike the other women, but that's just her personality. The only reason she fights, the only reason she risks her life is because no-one else can because no-one else knows, no-one else sees. Except for Anna, but Anna believes she is mad or being punished by god. Vasya tries to save her family and her people, even though they criticise her, whisper behind her back, are afraid of her, or despise her, because she's the only one who can. She is frightened, and she's reckless, and doesn't know what to do, but she's got to do something, because who else will? She's brave and courageous, but only until she is not. She's just a teenage girl grappling with things she doesn't fully understand, running towards when she wants to be running away. And I absolutely love her. I love her spirit, and her determination despite her fear, and how she tries. I just think she's brilliant.

I absolutely love this world, and I love Vasya, and I am so excited to continue her story in The Girl int he Tower!

It took me some time to get to this book as every time I started it I found myself distracted by something else and put it down. The last time that happened was with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series which are now some of my favourite books ever!

So I decided to give The Bear and the Nightingale another chance and I’m so glad I did! It was a purely magical read and I’ve since gone on to read the second book in the series and am now eagerly awaiting the third and final part of the trilogy.

A beautifully written tale that I would highly recommend.

Fantastic series! Really, a brilliant fantasy with stunning writing. And in a setting that feels so alive as you read with wonderful character. Loved it!

A bit slow moving for me but I still felt invested in what happens to Vasya and look forward to the other books in the trilogy. I found the different names and nicknames for everyone quite confusing but once I got used to them it was easier to understand.
It wasn't till the end that I finally understood the title!

Set in the cold and wild parts of Russia in ancient times, this book takes one through the life of Vasya, a girl with special powers and her tryst with her reality and the winter king. It's beautiful and made for a perfect winter read. Rich with magic, Russian folklore and many interesting events, this book was engaging though it's a genre that I don't read often enough. I simply enjoyed it to the core and would love to congratulate the Author for such a stellar debut! The story reflects lots of research and homework which is yet another feather in the Author's cap. Looking forward to more of this book as there is a second and third part too!
Overall, this whimsical read will certainly transport you to another time and another place, and for that, you must read it.

I tried a few times to begin this - so many friends said I'd love it, and yet every time I began I couldn't focus. I'm so glad I did't write it off, however, as I started it three nights ago, cold and miserable, and have fallen in love, so much so I bought the second and third books immediately. Tonight I plan to start The Winter of the Witch, and I cannot wait.

Vasya is the granddaughter of a witch, living in a village in northern Russia with her boyar father, her devoted nanny, and her brothers and sisters. She's always been able to see the spirits that live in her home and the forest beyond, and it isn't a problem, until her father's new bride arrives from Moscow, bringing her superstitions and fears with her, as well as a beautiful, pious priest, who is intent on converting the heathens to a more Christian life. What follows is a power struggle as ancient and deadly as time, as the old ways fight with the new. But seemingly fighting alongside Vasya is the Frost King, Morozko, who needs Vasya's help to keep his murderous brother, the Bear, asleep, for the sake of all Russia...

I have to say that i really didn't enjoy this book as much as i was hoping to, i felt a little let down and even bored of the story. I found that although it was beautifully written and i generally love books based on fairy tales from around the world this book just didn't hold my attention as much as i was expecting it to. Don't get me wrong this is not a bad book by any stretch i just don't think it lived up to the hype for me, and maybe it just wasn't quite for me. Having heard it was for people who read and loved Naomi Novik books i went in with possible the wrong idea about this book which is my fault.

I did love all the descriptions of the magical creatures and the forest, but there wasn't enough of that for my taste. I would have liked more about those creatures and possibly the world she seems to go to every so often. There was too much about the dark and dangerous weather and the terrible food they were having to eat. I understand that the point had to be made but i felt it might have been a little laboured for my taste.

I think i may try another book by this author just to give them the benefit of the doubt, i may get on better with the second book in this series for some reason. I'm hoping there will be more magical creatures and a little more description of the environment in this book, we'll see!