hobbit_at_heart's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, but the way this story gripped me from the get-go. I just...it left me nearly speechless.
It is a fairly slow burn at the start, but as the story progresses, it leads with a lot of inquisition for the reader. It's almost as if each sentence leaves the reader with more for wanting. That's the kind of stuff I'm here for as a reader. Curiosity and the want to know of 'what the heck is going on here? What's going on with Vasya? Why the heck is this priest such a turd?' kept me reading; I couldn't put it down, and when I did, I desperately looked forward to being able to pick it back up again.
The Russian lore being a main baseline for the story is absolutely wonderful. As someone who didn't know a single thing about Russian fairy tales or anything, I adored this aspect.
Vasya is such a wonderful character. You grow to love her. You grow to hate the priest. The step-mother becomes...a thing (trying to avoid spoilers is so hard!).
The ending caught me in unexpected tears. I think it was more out of surprise of the ending itself, and I hadn't expected it to end the way it did. It was SUCH a beautiful story.
I HIGHLY recommend!!
It is a fairly slow burn at the start, but as the story progresses, it leads with a lot of inquisition for the reader. It's almost as if each sentence leaves the reader with more for wanting. That's the kind of stuff I'm here for as a reader. Curiosity and the want to know of 'what the heck is going on here? What's going on with Vasya? Why the heck is this priest such a turd?' kept me reading; I couldn't put it down, and when I did, I desperately looked forward to being able to pick it back up again.
The Russian lore being a main baseline for the story is absolutely wonderful. As someone who didn't know a single thing about Russian fairy tales or anything, I adored this aspect.
Vasya is such a wonderful character. You grow to love her. You grow to hate the priest. The step-mother becomes...a thing (trying to avoid spoilers is so hard!).
The ending caught me in unexpected tears. I think it was more out of surprise of the ending itself, and I hadn't expected it to end the way it did. It was SUCH a beautiful story.
I HIGHLY recommend!!
mimtown's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
tamarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mckaywilde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
coutures1513's review against another edition
2.0
Je ne sais pas si c’est parce que je l’ai écouté en version audio, mais c’est très lent et atmosphérique comme histoire & je préfère quand il y a davantage d’action.
J’ai aussi trouvé qu’il y a avait énormément de personnages qui ont plusieurs noms/surnoms différents. Ça n’a pas aidé ma compréhension.
*écouté en version audio
J’ai aussi trouvé qu’il y a avait énormément de personnages qui ont plusieurs noms/surnoms différents. Ça n’a pas aidé ma compréhension.
*écouté en version audio
papercrowns's review against another edition
5.0
I've had the audiobook for this one sat in my Audible library for over a year, and at the prompting of a friend, I finally got around to getting the library book. I'm kicking myself for taking so long to get around to reading this, because I am in LOVE with this book.
Vasya is such a wonderful hero, plucky, compassionate, wry, and brave and her interactions with all the horses and magical creatures of Russian folklore are just delightful, and quickly become the backbone of the story.
So, I have this thing where, when I watch the live action Narnia movies, my eyes just start involuntarily streaming tears whenever Aslan is on the screen. He's just so beautiful and wondrous, and just touches my heart in a certain way that I can't help it. Well, when Vasya meets a character named Solovey (I won't give more away) I had the same experience, and after reading the descriptions of Solovey and his conversations with Vasya, my cheeks were damp and my soul was happy.
Yah, I know, that's weird, but I couldn't think of another way to describe just how much I was totally in love with book.
It's beautifully written, perfectly paced, and bursting with magic and suspense and heart. Truly, The Bear and the Nightingale is now on my list of all-time favorites, and I cannot wait to read the next two books.
Vasya is such a wonderful hero, plucky, compassionate, wry, and brave and her interactions with all the horses and magical creatures of Russian folklore are just delightful, and quickly become the backbone of the story.
So, I have this thing where, when I watch the live action Narnia movies, my eyes just start involuntarily streaming tears whenever Aslan is on the screen. He's just so beautiful and wondrous, and just touches my heart in a certain way that I can't help it. Well, when Vasya meets a character named Solovey (I won't give more away) I had the same experience, and after reading the descriptions of Solovey and his conversations with Vasya, my cheeks were damp and my soul was happy.
Yah, I know, that's weird, but I couldn't think of another way to describe just how much I was totally in love with book.
It's beautifully written, perfectly paced, and bursting with magic and suspense and heart. Truly, The Bear and the Nightingale is now on my list of all-time favorites, and I cannot wait to read the next two books.
katha_mrtn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
I needed some time to get into the style of wrinting because while it was really beautiful from the start it was also unfamiliar to me. But I didn't regret spending that time one second. I really loved this book and it really felt like a dark fairytale. I can't recommend it enough.
palinss's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. The atmosphere and world Arden has created is beyond measure.
This book is atmospheric, whimsical, and beautiful. Arden's writing is truely spectacular. I felt like I was reading poetry beginning to end. The plot felt like a dark fairy tale, which I loved. Vasya might be one of my favorite main characters I ever read. Arden perfectly captured the time period and created a lead that felt traditional, but against the grain. Vasya was strong, but not in a way that felt unrealistic or contrived. She was created with an innate strength and a fierceness that I always greatly appreciate to see with female MCs.
I could feel the cold in my bones as I read this story. Everytime I opened the book I was fully transported to the world held within the pages. I loved this and cannot wait to read more of Vasya.
This book is atmospheric, whimsical, and beautiful. Arden's writing is truely spectacular. I felt like I was reading poetry beginning to end. The plot felt like a dark fairy tale, which I loved. Vasya might be one of my favorite main characters I ever read. Arden perfectly captured the time period and created a lead that felt traditional, but against the grain. Vasya was strong, but not in a way that felt unrealistic or contrived. She was created with an innate strength and a fierceness that I always greatly appreciate to see with female MCs.
I could feel the cold in my bones as I read this story. Everytime I opened the book I was fully transported to the world held within the pages. I loved this and cannot wait to read more of Vasya.
novel_nomad's review against another edition
5.0
So ridiculously addictive. Set in medieval Russia but filled with folklore and fae creatures, humans must have the sight to see them. In the far north of Russia amongst the ancient forests, a young girl is born at the cost of her mother’s life. Vasya grows up with the forest, where she is most comfortable and befriends many of the forest and house dwelling fae. Not only is the setting rich with detail and authenticity, but the folklore weaves perfectly into the shadows of the world.
Vasya’s character development is brilliant, from the curious young girl to the courageous woman, fighting religious fear, malignant spirits and the traditional expectations of women the entire time.
Vasya’s character development is brilliant, from the curious young girl to the courageous woman, fighting religious fear, malignant spirits and the traditional expectations of women the entire time.