The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is a fantasy novel set in medieval Russia, where the protagonist Vasya can see spirits and is caught between the world of Christianity and the old gods. The story follows Vasya's journey as she navigates the magical and mysterious woods, facing challenges related to family, courage, love, and magic, all while defying traditional gender roles.
The book is written in a lyrical and fairy tale-like style, drawing heavily on Russian folklore and mythology. It explores themes of resilience, tradition, family, and the clash between old and new worlds, creating an atmospheric winter setting that captivates readers with its intricate and layered storytelling.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes such as death (including maternal death), child abuse, and intense religious zealotry resulting in fear and violence.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present in the narrative, particularly developing towards the end and in subsequent books.
From The Publisher:
Katherine Arden's bestselling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.
"A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up."-Naomi Novik, bestselling author of Uprooted
Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse's fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil.
Then Vasya's widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya's stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village.
But Vasya's stepmother only grows harsher, determined to remake the village to her liking and to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for marriage or a convent. As the village's defenses weaken and evil from the forest creeps nearer, Vasilisa must call upon dangerous gifts she has long concealed-to protect her family from a threat sprung to life from her nurse's most frightening tales.
Praise for The Bear and the Nightingale
"Arden's debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical."-The Washington Post
"Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices."-The Christian Science Monitor
"Stunning . . . will enchant readers from the first page. . . . with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Utterly bewitching . . . a lush narrative . . . an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family."-Booklist (starred review)
"An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic."-Robin Hobb
Ratings (216)
Incredible (50) | |
Loved It (63) | |
Liked It (54) | |
It Was OK (26) | |
Did Not Like (18) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (534):
Read It (215) | |
Currently Reading (5) | |
Want To Read (240) | |
Did Not Finish (19) | |
Not Interested (55) |
9 comment(s)
Voto: 3,5 ⭐️
I’ve just finished The Bear and the Nightingale and well let me tell you that it did confirm my expectations. I knew that the beginning was slow, as an introduction to the story, and after reading it all I think that the whole book is just a mere introduction to what the story truly will be. It’s like reading a prequel. The beginning was interesting and the author introduced a lot of characters that I believe will come back in the next books. I hope that the whole story won’t end up in the usual clichés of the genre. So yeah.. 3,5 ⭐️ and hoping for a better and much more interesting sequel
It started so slow. Eventually I got more I to it, but I didn't like many of the characters and villians.
This book was lovely - a beautifully written Russian fairy tale with vivid characters. I was captivated -completely immersed in this world that was so different from my own.
3.5*
*****4.0*****
Review Soon
It took a while to finish this book, but it was a fine time! I have read many ~1000 page ebooks, but this one was one that actually felt worthwhile. I didn't end up skimming chapters either! Each part felt like it contributed something to either character or plot.
It was also really nice that this was character driven. Vasya was a great protagonist and it was really interesting to watch her grow. Her interactions with the spirits was intriguing since she gave her life blood and they returned it with protection.
"Come to me now," said Vasya desperately. "As I have ever loved you and you loved me; remember the blood I shed and the bread I gave."
Her dedication to these spirits and to her family was warming to see. I look back and reflect on this novel and compare it back to Vassa in the night and I feel the difference in the way they handled it astounding. One is a modern retelling and this one is a medieval pastoral novel. I just highly preferred this style to the modern version. I liked the swans and the paintings in it, but the Vassa described in that book would have been cowed by the fire in this Vasya.
I'm not sure if I will read the sequels but this was a great first book and the ending was tied off nice enough that I honestly feel satisfied with it.
I have always held an interest in other cultures--Their mythologies, their beliefs, their traditions. "The Bear and the Nightingale" provided a peek into the beautiful and dark stories of Russia. And while this book isn't a new favorite, it was definitely worth reading.
I love the names in this book. They look and sound so very different from what I am accustomed to, granting them an air of fantasy and magic. I also love the main character of this book. Vasya is a wild, passionate character that draws you into the story almost immediately. I say almost immediately because I am not usually a fan of mischevious characters, and Vasya took a bit of time to become a character I would like.
After reading this book, I was happy to find the sequel available on my library app. I immediately downloaded and read "The Girl in the Tower", and am now going to write a review for it as well! I look forward to seeing what else we see from this author in the future.
Characters, religion depiction, relationships
Complex, engaging plot. Great details and a refreshing untraditional ending!
What can you read after
The Bear and the Nightingale?
About the Author:
Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France.
Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrolment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature.
After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to serving as a personal tour guide. After a year on the island, she moved to Briançon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, stayed for nearly a year, then left again to wander. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.
She is the author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
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