The Bear and The Nightingale: (Winternight Trilogy) (Winternight Trilogy, 1)

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Kudos to the author for a job exceptionally well-done, and I cannot wait to see what else Katherine Arden has in store for us. Total book love. One of the things I like most about these books - and this one in particular - is how much Vasya grows as a character. I think it is one of the most interesting and convincing character arcs I've ever read about. She ages and gains hard-earned wisdom so naturally over the course of the three novels, and I feel strangely like I've grown up with her after following her story for the last few years. Initial post: YES! I finally got the ARC of this last book in this trilogy (which began with The Bear and the Nightingale)!! Now can I keep my hands off it for a couple of weeks while I read a few other books in my urgent TBR pile? We'll see ...

Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice. The world building just keeps growing and I like the Russian vibes it had with all the mythologies and folklore it features. The first book in the series had little magic but it just kept getting more awesome with each entry. I love Vasya as a character and she will forever be one of my most favourite and most impactful heroines I have ever come across in literature. I would love to be like her- she’s a very inspirational female character to follow. She is absolutely smart, fierce, independent, devoted, passionate and brave. She wants a life of magic instead of traditional gender roles that others are trying to box her in to. We also get to see more Vasya and Morozko and see how their interactions develop. Speaking of monasteries, I also loved Sasha. He reminded me of Vasya in how he stood up for taking his own path, and the way he was always there for his sister, even if it meant lying to Dimitrii, almost had me tearing up. In fact, the family bonds in this series were pretty amazing in general. Dunya, Pyotr, Alyosha, Irina, Olga, Sasha, and even the little bit we got to see of Kolya – I loved it all. And Sasha’s sacrifice at the end was so sad, but it made the series so much stronger. I hate when, in fantasy series with huge stakes, everyone miraculously survives until the end, so I’m glad this series gave us a bit of heartbreak. And it wasn’t just Sasha – Vasya’s parents, Olga’s newborn child, and even Anna Ivanovna. It was all just so, so tragic.

Moscow is in flames, leaving its people searching for answers – and someone to blame. Vasilisa, a girl with extraordinary gifts, must flee for her life, pursued by those who blame their misfortune on her magic. Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical. . . so detailed and vivid you can practically feel the chill numbing your fingers. Beautifully written and richly textured, it’s a beguiling read. SFX Magazine I cannot help myself not to cry over this end! Don’t take me wrong, of course there are so many tragic elements about the ending of the story and I waited at least three weeks after I ended the second book because I know that I didn’t want to say goodbye to Vasya, Morozkov, even Sasha, Marya, chyerti of the heart and of course Solovey!

Vasilisa grows, and with her, so does his desire for Pyotr’s wild, irreverent, green-eyed girl. Language: English Words: 1,414 Chapters: 2/? Comments: 8 Kudos: 17 Bookmarks: 2 Hits: 439 There are no monsters in the world, and no saints. Only infinite shades woven into the same tapestry, light and dark.” A demon who delights in chaos has set his sights on Vasya's beloved Moscow. Magic makes men mad. They forget what is real because too much is possible. A priest whose beautiful exterior hides a rotten core has almost completed his vendetta against Vasya. Death of the Old Gods: The figures of old Russian mythology are increasingly pushed aside by the Orthodox Church. Vasilisa has the power to see both household and wild spirits, and grows up in the deep country, where those spirits are still given at least some belief. Later, as she travels elsewhere in Russia, she sees that the Church has almost wiped out belief in these figures, and as such they are rapidly fading from the world entirely.I hope you appreciate my attempts to make this review more atmospheric by adding some pictures of my travels through Russia – this one was taken in Великий Новгород (Veliky Novgorod), and the beautiful wooden architecture helped inspire how I imagined Vasya’s village Lesnaya Zemlya. There is nothing but power in this world. People are divided into those who have it and those who have it not. Which will you be....." A magical and captivating coming of age novel set in medieval Russia - perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Oh and the bathhouse scene… I’m so glad you mentioned that because I think that might be my favorite scene in the entire trilogy. The way that was written was so mesmerizing. I completely forgot where I was when I read it. It is not for men and women to presume what the Lord wishes. That way lies evil, when men put themselves too high, saying, I know what God wants, for it is also what I want.