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bookycnidaria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden is the third and final book in the Winternight Trilogy. This series is so freaking good. Every time I read one these books, I'm struck by beautiful prose and the unflinching way she wrote the MC Vasya. This book devasted me, cranked up the stakes, and then pat me on the head in the end with a morally gray message.
We pick up with Sasha, Dimitri, and Vasya after the events of the previous book. When Vasya set the golden mare free, she accidentally set fire to Moscow, making the inhabitants, goaded by that self-loathing jerk Konstantin, mob Vasya and try to burn her for a witch. All the while Konstantin is being aided by Medved, The Bear. A lot happens, there is tragedy. Now Vasya must escape and bind Medved again for good and thwart the priest, but when that is done, a whole new enemy awaits.
Looking back, a lot happened in this book! At it's heart this book was about unity. Unity for all of Rus' and unity for the chyerti. Vasya is sort of a bridge between worlds, an equalizer. She is the definition of morally gray. I love how wild she is and how wild she stays. Nothing changes that, not even the romance with the Winter-King. She's such a great character. I'm also gonna need some short stories about my mushroom buddy Ded Grib. He's adorably fierce, and I love him.
This is a great series set in medieval Russia, and examines through historical fiction the coexistence of Christianity and paganism. It also gives us a look at what things might have been like politically during the time of the Tartars invading Russia. We get so much Russian folklore about hearth spirits, forest spirits, and Baba Yaga. There are even really creepy vampire creatures.
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Self harm, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
fatherprozac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
decembermagpie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Self harm, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury