Reviews

De Beer en de Nachtegaal by Katherine Arden

allyson_e's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense fast-paced

4.25

ellakostka's review against another edition

3.0

★★★☆☆ 3/5

walter_the_wombat's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

a_chickletz's review against another edition

5.0

What an absolutely gorgeous book to read during the worst snow Michigan has to offer.

I sat in my room, bundled in blankets each night, reading a gorgeous tale that infused Russian folklore with a headstrong girl with a destiny and a mysterious demon in her future.

I really don't want to spoil this book for you, but if you love reading gorgeous prose and a fresh voice to fantasy - pick this book up!

snowdustfairy's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Well do you want to read a whole book where people are suffer from a harsh winter. Patriachy slapping you at every corner. Then this is the book for you. Honestly the amount of times I heard a character talk about the woman fate to be caged at home and be pregnant would be atleast 10 times maybe more. The book advertizes itself to be a dark fairy tale, but that’s only really the case for the first few chapters and then in about 80% of the book. A little bit is sprinkeld  in between but with all the trauma happening you do not really notice it..  Between dad sa’ing his second wife and priest lusting for a 13 year old. I just don’t know why there had to be so much attention to it. I feel like the story should focus on Vasja and the fairytale part. Instead dad pov, priest pov, brother 1&2 pov, stepmom pov… 

The possitve is that is well written and kept reading because I wanted to know how to possibly could end this. Honestly the first few chapters and the last were quite good. But I wouldn’t reccomand it to anyone

sminismoni's review against another edition

4.0

A Russian Fairytale

A highly entertaining blend of folk tale and fantasy, a fairytale set in the icy wilderness of medieval Russia. Despite a slow, conventional start it begins to grip you and build in mystery and magic. One message is that the definition of evil is in the eye of the beholder. Witches, priests, enchanted stallions, sprites and hearth gods all make an appearance. Their motives are complex and contradictory; allegiance is often only determined by the best current chance of survival. The only downfall is the rather rushed ending, with a neat finish in which everyone seems to get what they want. But I suppose that is the nature of fairytales.....

honeygirly211's review against another edition

adventurous reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lyraggs's review against another edition

4.0

4.3

Una mezcla de magia, sucesos y cuentos del folclore ruso.

mybooksarenovel's review against another edition

5.0

I might have to reevaluate my whole rating system after this one.

This was everything I ever wanted to read:
-Perfect writing and engaging storytelling
-Fairytales set in medieval history
-The juxtaposition of Christianity and paganism
-Low romance

I this is destined to become a forever classic. Absolutely perfect. I hope I'm not in a reading slump after I finish this series.

phoebeneedsalife's review against another edition

3.0

a solid winter book, for when you want to curl up indoors as the weather rages on outside. sadly, because it feels too much like a prologue, the book feels as though it can drag at times.