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A review by andra_mihaela_s
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
From me, The Bear and the Nightingale gets 4.5 stars!π₯³π₯°
This was an interesting reading experience π§..due to the holiday rush ( cleaning, baking, hanging out with friends), I read this book in 2 sittings that were days apart!π€£π π€·ββοΈ...thankfully, it didn't affect my opinion on it!π
We follow Vasya and her family as they live at the edge of the Russian wilderness, where winters last most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses.
After our MC's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, the stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits, but Vasya, sensing that more is hinged upon these rituals, refuses to give them up!
CW: gore, death, murder, horror ( supernatural) and other triggers specific to fairy tales π
This book is first and foremost a tribute to Russian folklore with lots of atmosphere and beautiful descriptions.
The action takes place before the fall of Constantinople and is very focused on the human experience : custom, role of men and women in society, food, beliefs, dress and conduct, the struggle between responsibility / duty and dreams....and finally...the role of religion π
I truly enjoyed the characters in this novel! Both Vasya and Anna were very dear to me, as they mirror each other and give you both perspectives on something essentially ingrained in the way of life : myths / folklore.
As always, discussion on religion/ beliefs are a weakness of mine and Konstantin pov was appreciated.
The author manages to bring you sufficiently close to each character ( according to their importance to the plot) while maintaining a distance specific to fairy tales.
I also enjoyed reading from the perspective of Pyotr, Alyosha, Konstantin and Morozko, and I strongly believe that getting only Vasya 's pov would have been a mistake βΊοΈ
All this personalities coupled with different circumstances, getting into the same 'pot' to cook while the sauce is wintery....perfection π₯°π
Soooo..if you love retellings energy with magical realism and character based plot...I highly recommend you try this one!
This was an interesting reading experience π§..due to the holiday rush ( cleaning, baking, hanging out with friends), I read this book in 2 sittings that were days apart!π€£π π€·ββοΈ...thankfully, it didn't affect my opinion on it!π
We follow Vasya and her family as they live at the edge of the Russian wilderness, where winters last most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses.
After our MC's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, the stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits, but Vasya, sensing that more is hinged upon these rituals, refuses to give them up!
CW: gore, death, murder, horror ( supernatural) and other triggers specific to fairy tales π
This book is first and foremost a tribute to Russian folklore with lots of atmosphere and beautiful descriptions.
The action takes place before the fall of Constantinople and is very focused on the human experience : custom, role of men and women in society, food, beliefs, dress and conduct, the struggle between responsibility / duty and dreams....and finally...the role of religion π
I truly enjoyed the characters in this novel! Both Vasya and Anna were very dear to me, as they mirror each other and give you both perspectives on something essentially ingrained in the way of life : myths / folklore.
As always, discussion on religion/ beliefs are a weakness of mine and Konstantin pov was appreciated.
The author manages to bring you sufficiently close to each character ( according to their importance to the plot) while maintaining a distance specific to fairy tales.
I also enjoyed reading from the perspective of Pyotr, Alyosha, Konstantin and Morozko, and I strongly believe that getting only Vasya 's pov would have been a mistake βΊοΈ
All this personalities coupled with different circumstances, getting into the same 'pot' to cook while the sauce is wintery....perfection π₯°π
Soooo..if you love retellings energy with magical realism and character based plot...I highly recommend you try this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
Moderate: Murder and Classism