olma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A dark, magical read set in 14th century Russia. I enjoyed the main character, Vasya, who is described as wild and frog-like.
I will say that I disliked that the step-mother was implied to be a teen. Yes, I know that’s historically accurate, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy reading it.
I will say that I disliked that the step-mother was implied to be a teen. Yes, I know that’s historically accurate, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
vigil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
*re-read, even better than i remember it to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Death, Grief, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
bannedfrombookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
This was very immersive and Arden has such a strong and engaging voice for this story set in medieval Russia where the fairytales are real. Characters push the edges of their folklore archetypes to become more real and grounded. Themes include the battle between old and new gods, family, the question of sacrificing one for the good of the many, the lot of women at this time, and low-key romantic tension with a winter demon.
I picked this up at total random from a library shelf and getting to the end I was like - hmm some of these character threads and set ups haven't been resolved - but it's a trilogy, a completed trilogy. So we can all relax.
Also this is great but it is not a cozy fantasy. It's not grimdark fantasy either. I'd say it's norm-core level of fantasy sad/badness.
I picked this up at total random from a library shelf and getting to the end I was like - hmm some of these character threads and set ups haven't been resolved - but it's a trilogy, a completed trilogy. So we can all relax.
Also this is great but it is not a cozy fantasy. It's not grimdark fantasy either. I'd say it's norm-core level of fantasy sad/badness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Child death
Minor: Blood
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Hey look, I finally read this! And then proceeded to devour the next two books immediately, so pretty safe to say I loved it.
Definitely going on my new faves list.
CW: y'all it's set in like the 14th century so
Definitely going on my new faves list.
CW: y'all it's set in like the 14th century so
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Violence, Sexism, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Animal death
readwithria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Bear and the Nightingale is a beautiful fairytale retelling that missed the mark for me.
I’m not gonna lie, I considered DNFing this book for most of Part 1 and about 2/3 of Part 2. I didn’t because of all of the amazing reviews that I’d seen, and I did enjoy the last 60-100 pages a lot more than the first 200, but they didn’t make up for the slow beginning.
One of the people I was buddy reading this with said this book felt like a prequel, and I could t agree more. There doesn’t seem to be much of a plot until Part 3 of the book, and that’s also when we get a better understanding of the magic system and truly meet one of the most important characters in the book. The pacing was slow, and while it felt deliberate I didn’t enjoy it.
I also, controversially, didn’t like how much this book was tied to a real-world religion. If I’d know that one of the main antoginistic characters was a literal Christian Orthodox priest I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up. I really hate having real, contemporary religions in my books of any genre, it’s one of my biggest icks. That’s definitely not a fault of the book, but if I had know I never would have read it in the first place. Give me all the ancient religions, fake religions with real world analogues, or mythology retellings!
Anyway, I think that’s also part of why o kept reading. I knew that aspect of the book was a me issue, so I was hoping something else would make up for it. Unfortunately, while I really enjoyed the ending it wasn’t enough for me to continue the trilogy. 3 stars.
I’m not gonna lie, I considered DNFing this book for most of Part 1 and about 2/3 of Part 2. I didn’t because of all of the amazing reviews that I’d seen, and I did enjoy the last 60-100 pages a lot more than the first 200, but they didn’t make up for the slow beginning.
One of the people I was buddy reading this with said this book felt like a prequel, and I could t agree more. There doesn’t seem to be much of a plot until Part 3 of the book, and that’s also when we get a better understanding of the magic system and truly meet one of the most important characters in the book. The pacing was slow, and while it felt deliberate I didn’t enjoy it.
I also, controversially, didn’t like how much this book was tied to a real-world religion. If I’d know that one of the main antoginistic characters was a literal Christian Orthodox priest I probably wouldn’t have picked this book up. I really hate having real, contemporary religions in my books of any genre, it’s one of my biggest icks. That’s definitely not a fault of the book, but if I had know I never would have read it in the first place. Give me all the ancient religions, fake religions with real world analogues, or mythology retellings!
Anyway, I think that’s also part of why o kept reading. I knew that aspect of the book was a me issue, so I was hoping something else would make up for it. Unfortunately, while I really enjoyed the ending it wasn’t enough for me to continue the trilogy. 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
3.5
Obsessed with the atmosphere and setting of the book, I loved the wintery medieval Russian setting and the pastoral, quaint, and lyrical writing style. It was giving very much folk tale, very much warm and cosy, and I was just fascinated by the world and magic that the author created.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Animal death, and Sexism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
olivia_piepmeier's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
This was a very readable, cozy winter fairy tale that left me wanting more. I sometimes felt confused with the names, and some of the action sequences were hard to “see,” but these elements can be overlooked. I realize the age of marriage thing is trying to be historically accurate but I’m tired of it. Vasilia is an endearing lead and certainly carries the story well. More please!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
mnerd63's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Injury/injury detail, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Religious bigotry, and Adult/minor relationship
katieluvs2read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Animal death, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
ireadinbed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
This book has been reccomended to me a lot and i see why!
A wonderful start to the year. I really wnjoyed the general vibes and many of the characters. The folklore influences are familiar yet not. It is refreshing.
The villains are frightening and the heroes strange. I look forward to continuing the series
A wonderful start to the year. I really wnjoyed the general vibes and many of the characters. The folklore influences are familiar yet not. It is refreshing.
The villains are frightening and the heroes strange. I look forward to continuing the series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Blood