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kathrynmorrison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
squid_vicious's review against another edition
4.0
4 and a half stars. Probably should have waited for warmer weather to read this one...
I love me some fairy tales. The dark and creepy kind, obviously; which means that Russian fairy tales are just my thing. That country's folklore is bittersweet, often bloody but also always fierce, its characters cunning and willing to fight to survive. And this is basically what this book is about: the old pagan traditions' struggle to survive the slow and insidious takeover of Christianity.
Before Vasya's mother gave birth to her, she knew that her daughter would not be like her other children, that she would be like her own mother, imbued with wild gifts the others wouldn't understand. She also knew she'd have to give her life for hers. Years later, Vasya's father convinces himself that his children need a mother, and goes to Moscow to find a new wife he can bring back to his small northern village... Obviously, that's when it all goes to hell because Anna is a religious fanatic who thinks she sees demons everywhere. An equally fanatical priest is brought in from Moscow, and slowly convinces the villagers to abandon their old pagan customs in favor of strict Christian worship. But what if those customs were the only thing keeping a very dangerous darkness at bay? Vasya sees the world she has always known wither away, and she is the only one who can stop the evil sleeping in the woods from taking over her village.
The writing is elegant and atmospheric, the storytelling very vivid. The images Arden created as so alive with details and texture. The use of classic tropes like the horrible stepmother, is done just right because it's subverted perfectly: Anne is a crazy fundamentalist, but she is that way because people told her she had an evil gift instead of explaining some simple folklore to her. Someone used fear to poison her spirit and inadvertently turned her into a monster. Konstantine is also a nicely layered - if incredibly aggravating - character.
Many reviewers have commented on this book's similarities of "Uprooted" (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1397453036?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1), and I can see why. But I liked it better: the writing is more mature (even if there are a few confusing passages that could have used a touch of editing) and I preferred Vasya to Agnieska.
A very good, magical read: I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy!
I love me some fairy tales. The dark and creepy kind, obviously; which means that Russian fairy tales are just my thing. That country's folklore is bittersweet, often bloody but also always fierce, its characters cunning and willing to fight to survive. And this is basically what this book is about: the old pagan traditions' struggle to survive the slow and insidious takeover of Christianity.
Before Vasya's mother gave birth to her, she knew that her daughter would not be like her other children, that she would be like her own mother, imbued with wild gifts the others wouldn't understand. She also knew she'd have to give her life for hers. Years later, Vasya's father convinces himself that his children need a mother, and goes to Moscow to find a new wife he can bring back to his small northern village... Obviously, that's when it all goes to hell because Anna is a religious fanatic who thinks she sees demons everywhere. An equally fanatical priest is brought in from Moscow, and slowly convinces the villagers to abandon their old pagan customs in favor of strict Christian worship. But what if those customs were the only thing keeping a very dangerous darkness at bay? Vasya sees the world she has always known wither away, and she is the only one who can stop the evil sleeping in the woods from taking over her village.
The writing is elegant and atmospheric, the storytelling very vivid. The images Arden created as so alive with details and texture. The use of classic tropes like the horrible stepmother, is done just right because it's subverted perfectly: Anne is a crazy fundamentalist, but she is that way because people told her she had an evil gift instead of explaining some simple folklore to her. Someone used fear to poison her spirit and inadvertently turned her into a monster. Konstantine is also a nicely layered - if incredibly aggravating - character.
Many reviewers have commented on this book's similarities of "Uprooted" (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1397453036?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1), and I can see why. But I liked it better: the writing is more mature (even if there are a few confusing passages that could have used a touch of editing) and I preferred Vasya to Agnieska.
A very good, magical read: I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy!
buckeyebreezey's review against another edition
4.0
Katherine Arden weaves a story of medieval Russia with the best. The prose is beautiful and hooks you into the larger story. Her characters are deep and nuanced, with so many details of how each one reacts.
I loved the characters of Vasilia and the Winter King as well as seeing how a young girl who does not want a life of convent or marriage ends up in olden times.
I can't wait to read the next one.
I loved the characters of Vasilia and the Winter King as well as seeing how a young girl who does not want a life of convent or marriage ends up in olden times.
I can't wait to read the next one.
emlyyates's review against another edition
4.0
Very cool story. Creepy as well! I love a misbehaved woman.
dllluebbe's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written--loved the voice, the descriptions, the characters. Utterly charming!
annarosereads's review against another edition
5.0
This was a magical read. The last few days have been below zero here in Chicago. As I huddled close to my fireplace with my knitting I felt like one of the children at the start of the book being told a story. The vivid descriptions transported me to the Russian winter. The world was richly detailed. I am not really familiar with Russian folklore and found the descriptions of the various spirits fascinating.
kara_bianca_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Summary:
The Bear and the Nightingale is the first in a trilogy of Russian-based folkloric fantasy, and follows out main character Vasya, a young girl who can see the spirits of the house and woods, and who is fighting back against the sweeping changes to Christianity. This reminds me a lot of books like Deathless by Katherynne M Valente and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
Characters 5/5:
I absolutely adored the characters in this. A lot of the focus of the novel is character (and world) development, so it's definitely a very character focused story. I thought Vasya was very smart and brave, but I also really appreciated that she didn't consider herself out of the ordinary. It was a gentle kind of strength that I loved. I also was really impressed by the amount of development that was dedicated to the supporting characters. This has a LARGE supporting cast with a big focus on family and I cared so much about Vasya's family and community!
Plot 4.5/5:
I really enjoyed the plot of this, though I will say it's not a prominent focus of the entire novel. The majority of the plot happens in the final third of the novel, with the first two thirds focusing more on character and setting development. But what we did get of the plot, I really enjoyed. I love the tension between nature/urbanisation, and folklore/christianity and I just really liked it so much. I'm definitely keen to see where book two goes (I'm going to purchase that today!).
Setting and atmosphere 5/5:
This book is OBVIOUSLY a love-letter to the Russian setting, and a lot of time is spent describing the atmosphere and the connection to nature. The village/forest setting felt a little richer than the descriptions of Moscow, but I think Moscow is going to play a bigger role in Book 2. The descriptions were just so rich and beautiful and I absolutely loved it.
Writing style 5/5:
I personally love a really good character driven story, and I love spending a lot of the prose talking about characters and visuals and careful complex emotions and Katherine Arden DELIVERED on this front. I don't think it's a writing style everyone will like, but I LOVED it.
I had this book on my 5 star predictions list so uh-- good job me!
The Bear and the Nightingale is the first in a trilogy of Russian-based folkloric fantasy, and follows out main character Vasya, a young girl who can see the spirits of the house and woods, and who is fighting back against the sweeping changes to Christianity. This reminds me a lot of books like Deathless by Katherynne M Valente and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
Characters 5/5:
I absolutely adored the characters in this. A lot of the focus of the novel is character (and world) development, so it's definitely a very character focused story. I thought Vasya was very smart and brave, but I also really appreciated that she didn't consider herself out of the ordinary. It was a gentle kind of strength that I loved. I also was really impressed by the amount of development that was dedicated to the supporting characters. This has a LARGE supporting cast with a big focus on family and I cared so much about Vasya's family and community!
Plot 4.5/5:
I really enjoyed the plot of this, though I will say it's not a prominent focus of the entire novel. The majority of the plot happens in the final third of the novel, with the first two thirds focusing more on character and setting development. But what we did get of the plot, I really enjoyed. I love the tension between nature/urbanisation, and folklore/christianity and I just really liked it so much. I'm definitely keen to see where book two goes (I'm going to purchase that today!).
Setting and atmosphere 5/5:
This book is OBVIOUSLY a love-letter to the Russian setting, and a lot of time is spent describing the atmosphere and the connection to nature. The village/forest setting felt a little richer than the descriptions of Moscow, but I think Moscow is going to play a bigger role in Book 2. The descriptions were just so rich and beautiful and I absolutely loved it.
Writing style 5/5:
I personally love a really good character driven story, and I love spending a lot of the prose talking about characters and visuals and careful complex emotions and Katherine Arden DELIVERED on this front. I don't think it's a writing style everyone will like, but I LOVED it.
I had this book on my 5 star predictions list so uh-- good job me!
tmaltman's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely, literary fairy tale brimming with Russian mythos, history, and culture. Arden's lyrical prose brings all of this together in an enchanting fable that shows the enduring power of fantasy.
theshelfofshelb's review against another edition
5.0
There will always be a special place in my heart for fantasy novels, and this one was KILLER. This story takes you to a village in the woods of medieval Russia where the villagers believe in ancient magic and spirits that protect their small town. When a priest arrives trying to deem their protective spirits as demons, the wards sheltering the town weaken. The main character, Vasya, is adventurous, stubborn, and set on paving her own path with a long hidden gift. She is determined to protect her village and the woodland spirits.
This novel is SO beautifully written, and will transport you to a world full of magic. I can’t wait to continue this series of adventures in the second installment, “The Girl in the Tower”.
This novel is SO beautifully written, and will transport you to a world full of magic. I can’t wait to continue this series of adventures in the second installment, “The Girl in the Tower”.
ravenouskitty's review against another edition
5.0
Just an amazing tale. Arden's writing is like hearing a traditional folktale. There are just beautiful moments of writing that stay true to the oral tradition of storytelling. I know very little about Russian story telling but it came across as many stories do. A brave girl, forces of nature, gods, and human error. I was just spell-bounded throughout and my heart only wants more.