Title: The Bear and the
Nightingale
Author: Katherine Arden
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
Pages: 322
Publisher: Del Rey
Date Started: March 16, 2017
Date Finished: March 22, 2017
Format: Hardcover
Beverage of choice: Mulled Apple Cider
Of all the books set to
be published this year, this is one of the ones I was most excited about. And
after finishing it, that excitement remains.
This book casts a spell
and tells a story that is not unlike a fairy tale. The Bear and the Nightingale takes place in ancient Russia, where
the old gods and spirits are being replaced by modern religion. It follows a
young girl, Vasya, who is descended from women accused of being witches. As she
grows, she must protect the village spirits from the fear instilled by the
village priest, with the threat of an evil shadow ever looming on the horizon.
But it’s so much more than that. There is no way a review of mine can capture
the magic and feeling this book portrays.
The first half of this
book was slow, but still captivating. While there was constantly the threat of
tragedy, I was still surprised when events came to fruition. In fact, there
were points I had to put the book down because it was too intense for me to
take in at once.
And Vasya. While she was
still a young child through most of the book, and therefore probably didn’t
make the best choices, was an enjoyable main character. She is a strong woman
and will go against societal norms to protect her virtues. And she doesn’t need
a love interest.
I heard this may turn
into a trilogy, in which case I happily look forward to the next installment.
Overall, 4.5/5 moose
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