Tuesday 31 October 2017

The Bear and the Nightingale - Katherine Arden

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales. 

Hardcover, 328 pagesPublished January 12th 2017 by Del Rey (first published January 10th 2017)The Winternight Trilogy #1YA/fairytale/fictionLibrary
My thoughts
I enjoyed this one and yes I was surprised because hype books, aye, they often fail me. But then it is a sort of fairy tale and I love them.

Vasilisa's grandmother was a witch, or so people said. And her own mother dies giving birth to he last child. The daughter she wanted to be like her own mother. A wild girl who runs in the woods and sees things in the shadows. And I liked all those things the in shadows, all known to me, except for that the Russians have a woman drowning people and we have a man. I always liked the stories of those taking care of houses and stables, and that you should feed them to make them happy. In the story they give bread, here it would be porridge. I have always loved folklore and it is so beautifully woven in and it makes you miss those times. But then came men with crosses and called them demons and they disappeared. And it made me sad.

Right so the mythology was obviously interesting. 

I liked the story of her growing up and being destined for something. I liked her spirit.

And then came that dang priest, arghhhh, and her evil stepmum, arghhhhh. Yes a book needs baddies but everyone was so happy before those two!

Conclusion:
'I enjoyed this tale and it does end well. But there will be more and I am happy for that. She needs more adventures, and at the same time I am happy there was no cliffie.

Cover
Not a fan, it looks so childish and this tale fits everyone

46 comments:

  1. Always nice when the hype is warranted. Glad there will be more of the story!

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  2. Yes, I prefer the US cover. I tried this on audio but set it aside. I need to revisit.

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    Replies
    1. It is much better.

      Hmm audio, I say read instead

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  3. I like how this sounds and who doesn't love an adult take on a fairytale, right? Happy Halloween! Hugs...RO

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  4. Glad you enjoyed. Happy Halloween

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  5. I liked this one too. I really loved the writing and the folk tales but argh the priest!!!

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  6. I kind of like the cover. :)

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  7. I'm typically not a fan of retellings and fantasy-like novels but I'm curious about this one.

    Happy Halloween!

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    Replies
    1. This is not really a story you would know so :D

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  8. ╠╣αppy Ѽ ╠╣αlloween
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    ┊ ┊┊ ┊┊ Ѽ ☻ Ù©(●̮̮̃•̃)Û¶
    ┊ ┊┊ ┊☻^v^
    .....┊ ┊┊Ù©(●̮̮̃•̃)Û¶
    Ѽ ☻
    Ù©(●̮̮̃•̃)

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  9. Oh thanks Blodeuedd this is right up my alley

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  10. skimmed this because I am looking forward to reading it one day, it looks like you enjoyed it, that makes me happy

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  11. Not fan of this cover but I like the US one. This sounds good but didn't know this will be a series. Like I need more series in my life...

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    Replies
    1. It's just so meh, I would not pick it up if I saw this cover

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  12. I really enjoyed this book too. I am looking forward to reading the next book very soon.

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  13. I usually don't do well with hype books either, but this does sound good.

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  14. Yay, I'm glad this one lived up to the hype for you! And I'm with you on the cover, I prefer the US/Del Rey version for this reason.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    Replies
    1. SO much better. I get where they are coming from with this one, but it fails for me

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  15. This sounds perfect for my sister.

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  16. No cliffie is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Sounds like an interesting read.

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  17. I don't think this is a book for me but it doe sound good and something I would recommend to my MIL

    For What It's Worth

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  18. I loved this! I need to reread and review so I can read her next book!

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  19. Anything with a fairytale feel to it is one I usually enjoy as well.

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  20. I should give it a try. There has been lots of hype, but everyone I know has also liked it.

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