| Title | : | The Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1101885963 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781101885963 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 360 |
| Publication | : | First published December 5, 2017 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Fantasy (2018) |
In The Girl in the Tower, Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, she has only two options left: marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey.
But after she prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself.
The Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy, #2) Reviews
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Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.
Magical. Dark. Beautiful. Fans of
The Bear and the Nightingale should love this sequel at least as much as its predecessor.
The Girl in the Tower contains everything I loved about the first book, but I feel like Vasya has really grown as a character. She's still as spirited as always, but older and wiser, and I love it when characters naturally and gradually change and develop as a story progresses.
Here, the plot picks up shortly after the events of
The Bear and the Nightingale. When accusations of witchcraft leave Vasya with an impossible choice between life in a convent or marriage, she chooses option three: disguising herself as a boy and taking off across the wild and rugged landscape of medieval Russia. Vasya's journey leads her to her sister Olga, her brother Sasha, a monk, and her cousin Dmitrii, the Grand Prince of Moscow. She soon gets caught up in lies and deception, and even bigger unrest surrounding the Moscovian rulers.
How fabulous.
Arden just blends history and the fantastical so well. Supernatural elements exist alongside the politics and invaders, and the author incorporates both so naturally that it's easy to be convinced that 14th-Century Russia was a land haunted by spirits. Details of everyday life add to the novel's realism, such as the hygiene (or, I should say, lack of) and the dangers lurking in the woods.
As with the first book,
The Girl in the Tower gains strength from its atmosphere and strong sense of place. A very vivid picture is painted of this snowy and dangerous landscape, and I was able to plant myself straight inside Vasya's world. Add to this the stifling constraints placed on women of the time, and you have a very emotionally engaging experience.
I am being careful not to say too much, but this book is definitely worth the read if you enjoyed
The Bear and the Nightingale. It is just as gloriously atmospheric and, for me at least, more urgent and fast-paced.
Also, Morozko has my heart. Yeah, that's the frost demon. I'm not even sorry.
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God, I am so unabashedly in love with these books.
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4.5 stars.
Vasya lives in a time where women were not given many choices.
“Has the world run dry of warriors?' She asked...
'There were no heroes,' said Vasya between her teeth. 'There was only me.”A woman married. Or she became a nun. Or she died. That was what being a woman meant.
Wanting neither of the three, Vasya chooses to remake herself to create her own, fourth option.
She takes up the mantle of a warrior and sets off to do something about her dismal country.
What she didn't count on, is actually being really good at it (though with a winter demon one one side and a magical horse on the other, she certainly gets quite a bit of help).
With the help of the Russian fair folk and creatures (whom only a select few humans can see) and her own grit and determination, Vasya rises in power until she has the ear of her ruler.
But every second she spends in the limelight is a chance for her true identity to be found out - and if that is revealed, who knows what would happen?
Katherine Arden absolutely blows me away with her latest creation.
Vasya is incredible - her strength, her cunning and her fearless attitude all combine in just the right way. Watching her grow and develop in the past two books has been a joy.
Arden creates such a glorious and wonderful world that I was actually disappointed to see this book end. All of the little creatures she includes in her book - from the bathhouse spirit to the stable spirit - really transform this book into a classic.
I can hardly wait for the next one!
Audiobook Comments
Read by Kathleen Gati - she did a great job with the accents and tones for all of the characters.
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I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!
Did I tell you how I love this book so much?
Nope, words are not enough to express my feelings right now. This epic, lyrical, poetic, mythological fairy tale makes you feel every kind of feeling at the same time: amazed, courageous, playful, happy, energetic, liberated, impulsive, free, thrilled, spirited, animated, ecstatic, delighted, excited but at some parts: you also feel irritated, provoked, bitter, enraged, diminished, boiling, fatigue, paralyzed, tearful, mournful… You face your entire negative and positive feelings and as a result you feel so ALIVE!!!
If a book captures my heart, making me feel too much, leaving me speechless, shaken to the core that means this book is MASTERPIECE!
As I finish the first book, procrastinating to start the new one, so many of my reader friends told me, the second one is so much better. I couldn’t believe it because I already fell in love with the first book and author is only human, she cannot exceed my expectations, right? I couldn’t be so wrong because as soon as I dive into Vasilisia’s new epic journey, I started to scream “THIS IS FAN-F*CK-TASTIC”
And I’m afraid of starting to the last one because…
I didn’t want this journey end
I wanted more books for this series.
I heard the last book is even better than the second. I think my heart cannot tolerate dealing with too much joy and excitement.
Let’s get back to our story:
Vasilisia , the witch, the killer, the survivor , the one of the strongest, bravest soul as you may find at the literary world is back. Now she’s orphan, lost, shaken, exhausted but she is determined enough not to be anyone’s wife or trapped in a convent to become a nun! Her father sacrificed himself to give her a second chance to have a full filled, new life. She has to find WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS FOR HER LIFE, WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE IS DESTINED FOR…
So she rides on her -partners in crime – loyal horse Soloyev, disguised in boy’s clothes to discover the new worlds, broaden her horizons, sharpen her skills to stay alive. She takes her horse to the old town road, she rides till she can’t no more ( Don’t be angry! Just check in to make sure you’re still reading me! And I love this song, too!!!)
The second is more adventurous, full of action, and definitely darker, terrifying. I ache for Vasilii the Brave because she tries too hard to find her place in the earth and her own siblings have doubts about her motives. Especially the parts about her relationship with Olga, her own sister’s insulting, humiliating, harsh words broke my heart in tiny pieces.
Of course Soloyev the coolest, the most loyal and adorable creature charmed me so much. And of course her growing, intensifying, devoted relationship with Moroznov!!! I think I cannot take anymore, my emotions are everywhere! You’re reading an amazing dreamy folkloric fairy tale but also you read the most adventurous, exciting, fast, action book, full of conspiratorial throne games and tactics of being a real good warrior ,you also read a supernatural thriller with full of ghosts and mythological thriller, you read a genuine, emotional, heart-wrenching siblings story and finally you read epic, teary, heartbreaking, marvelous love story. I know I’m not the only one praying to read HEA of Moroznov and Vasilisia !
So the author is gifted magician who may combine different genres and uses mythology, folklore, urban tales , old Russian classics as her secret ingredients to create something UNIQUE, BEAUTIFUL, IMMORTAL!
Let’s finish the review: I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Did I say I love this book?
(The review turned into my Groundhog Day, I wake up and keep writing the say words over and over again! )
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ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
1.)
The Bear and the Nightingale ★★★★★“Vasilisa Petrovna, murderer, savior, lost child, rode away from the house in the fir-grove.”
Hi, my name is Melanie and I’m in love with a frost demon. You guys, please stop sleeping on this series. This is the best historical fantasy I’ve ever read in my entire life. And all of the Russian folklore is actual perfection. This is the type of book that reminds me that literature can be tangible pieces of magic, and this book is truly an enchanted masterpiece.
The Girl in the Tower picks up right where
The Bear and the Nightingale left off. Vasya is leaving the only home she has ever known, and has chosen to see the world that is beyond the forest that surrounds her family’s home.
And since it is absolutely unheard of for a girl to go exploring the world on her own, and since the ways of men can be cruel to a girl traveling alone, Vasya disguises herself as a boy and ventures out to see what the world has to offer. Well, unfortunately, Vasya soon finds that the world has to offer many cruelties, and some of the surrounding forest towns have been burned down and had their young daughters stolen away.
Vasya can’t help but want to save these people that remind her so much of her own village back home. And soon her path crosses with her older brother, Sasha, who has devoted his life to God, and her older sister Olga, who has devoted her life to motherhood after wedding a prince. Vasya hasn’t seen either of these siblings for ten years, so it’s quite a reunion to say the least. And Vasya soon finds out that her niece is much more like her than the world would want.
We are also very quickly thrown into the world of Moscow, where political intrigue and betrayal is vast. Vasya is forced to masquerade as a boy in a city that is unlike anything she’s ever experienced while living in the safety of her forest. And even winter can’t protect her, because spring is arriving sooner and sooner every day.“You cannot take vengeance on a whole people because of the doings of a few wicked men.”
This book is so atmospheric! You will breathe in the cold, you will taste the food, you will break from the heartache, but you will feel the magic inside of this story. I truly believe this book is on parallel with none for atmosphere. The descriptions are lush, and gorgeous, and make me believe Katherine Arden’s words truly are written with sorcery.
And the characters are some of my absolute favorites, bar none. How am I so in love with a brooding frost demon, a sassy stallion, a brand-new ghost, and every single small-folk who reside in all the different ovens and bathhouses in Russia? On top of Vasya being one of the best female protagonists every to be created. I’m so enthralled, so captivated, and so invested in everyone’s story. Somehow, Katherine Arden has woven the entire cast into my heart and soul and I want to protect them all at all costs.“Do you think that is all I want, in all my life—a royal dowry, and a man to force his children into me?”
And this book is so wonderfully feminist! Give me all the books about girls choosing themselves and their wants for their own future. Like, this entire series is about a girl who doesn’t want to fit into women’s gender-norm for this time period. She is proud to be different, she doesn’t care what other’s say, and she always listens to her heart. She’s knows that being brave is more important than being beautiful. She knows that being smart is more important that being subservient. And she knows that being a woman doesn’t make her lesser than being a man. And all of these themes are constant throughout the novel.“…An aging woman, magnificent and solitary, whose tower door never opened, who would make her daughter a proper maiden but never count the cost.”
Vasya wants to explore, and go on adventures, and see the world, rather than getting married, having children, and managing a household. But Vasya never shames that life choice/path, she just knows that it isn’t for her. And even when she feels like she has the whole world against her, Vasya never backs down or changes who she is. I could honestly write a thesis, a book of my own, and a freakin’ sonnet to how much Vasya Petrovna means to me.“Perhaps I will die here, as others have died. But I will not die your creature.”
I loved this book with the sum of my being. This book is so very powerful, and I can’t even find the words to express how much this series means to me.
The Winter of the Witch is easily my most anticipated release of 2018 now. This series is such a magical treat, and I hope you all do yourselves a favor and pick it up. Just make sure you are prepared for the ultimate winter wonderland, that doesn’t hold back from heartbreak.
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Twitch
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication. -
Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.
When I first read this book’s description, I was afraid it would turn into a generic adventure, without the magical elements that made The Bear and the Nightingale so charming. I shouldn’t have worried! The story has all the wonder and magic of the source material and of the previous book.
Once again, we enter a wondrous world of magical creatures, good or mischievous protector spirits, ghosts and horses that are actually birds. The story is a lovely reimaging of the Vasilisa the Beautiful mythos:
But, unlike most retellings, the book actually reads as a fairy-tale. Also, I find it amusing how the Vasilisa the Beautiful stories really exist in this universe. In fact, Vasya often figures out what’s going on and what creatures she is encountering by remembering her old nursemaid’s fairy-tales.
These books are rich in love-to-hate antagonists. After reading The Bear and the Nightingale, I didn’t think I’d ever hate any fictional character more than I hated Konstantin. But here, a well-known folk character comes to life, and the author manages to make him even more repulsive. Yet, I could also see his magic and appeal:
The story is drenched in magic, and it keeps peeling off layer after layer, revealing more and more. Tales from the past, barely mentioned in The Bear and the Nightingale, reemerge and reveal so much that lies beneath, at the same time leaving us hungry for more.
So many things could have gone wrong with this story, but didn’t. One of my least favorite tropes makes an appearance—a character knows a secret, but doesn’t share it for no logical reason, which leads to easily avoidable disaster. Yet, here it was handled in a way that made sense and didn’t leave me banging my head against the wall. Also, showing a girl dressing as a boy can be tricky, and I’ve seen stories mess it up badly, but here I thought the implications were addressed well.
Still, the book is not perfect, and sometimes Vasya takes too long to figure out certain obvious points, just for the sake of the story. For example, early on she’s chased by bandits, and then never stops to think who sent them. And the answer seemed pretty clear, and figuring it out would have avoided a lot of trouble for everyone.
One thing that didn’t work for me in The Bear and the Nightingale, as mentioned in
my review, is how “old” women (read mid-20s) are demonized for social expectations out of their control. Unfortunately, this appears here as well, and in the very first chapter we see Olga, a positive character, make fun of the Grand Prince’s wife for not having any children. This is a woman married to an unloving husband, whose only role is to give birth to an heir, and her failure to do so must be very stressful for her, as it puts her at risk. Perhaps she had been unkind to Olga in the past, but in any case this was a dirty blow, and it is presented as if we’re supposed to cheer for Olga.
A certain character’s death felt a bit too fast and easy at the end, and I would have liked to see a better resolution, and some more reaction from Olga and Sasha after what Vasya tells them, but I realize we have one more book to go, and things might be better developed there.
The story wouldn’t be the same without my beloved winter-king. My mental image of him is the “Icy Blood” drawing by Venlian on DeviantArt:
His own story beautifully wove into the tale Olga tells in the beginning, and I can only hope this is not the last we see of him.
Also, I’m very excited about the young witch-in-the-making we met in this book! Her prophecy is chilling, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
Can I just say I’m not a fan of the title? “The Girl in the […]” is overdone, and it didn’t fit the story anyway. -
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Brave Vasya, older and wild as ever, is faced with a choice to either marry or live in a convent as a nun. Neither choice seems applicable to her and she would rather die riding in the frozen wintry forest than be stuck living a life that doesn’t fit her. She’s been deemed a witch and questions still loom regarding her father’s death. Vasya needs to discover who she is and as she embarks on a journey alone with her horse Solovey against Morozko’s wishes, she takes risks, experiences danger with violent bandits, witnesses burned and destroyed villages, meets the Grand Prince, and even reunites with family. Only time will tell if she’s made the right decisions and the commitment may be more than she can bear.
This second installment has more action and adventure, the addition of new characters, and clues that offer insight to some of the events in the first book. It’s just as enchanting and a little darker than the first. I enjoyed the characters and relationships, especially Vasya’s relationship with Morozko and her horse Solovey.
When I first began reading, I felt as though I was right back in the first book again and had to remember a few of the characters. It doesn’t take long to pick up and as Vasya’s traveling begins, there’s no telling what will happen next and the book is far from predictable.
The Girl In The Tower is written in the same enchanting prose as The Bear and the Nightingale and I did enjoy it, but it didn’t captivate me as much as the first. As this book closed with an unexpected ending, I’m even more excited for the third.
4 ****
I’d like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review. -
If you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, I see little chances of The Girl in the Tower failing for you.
“Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.”
The Girl in the Tower is the second book in The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. The events of The Bear and the Nightingale have left Vasya with an impossible choice: marriage or the convent. Vasya, however, cannot accept this fate. Dressing as a boy, she sets off on an adventure with her magnificent stallion, Solovey, until she encounters a skirmish with bandits. The Grand Prince of Moscow anointed her as a hero, and Vasya is reunited with her siblings, Olga and Sasha. Unfortunately, circumstances demand her real gender be hidden, and it will be difficult for her to untangle herself from the intrigues of Moscow. In the meantime, there's something even more threatening waiting for her. As you can probably guess, The Girl in the Tower is a different kind of novel from its predecessor. For instance, The Bear and the Nightingale showed Vasya's coming-of-age story. A lot of years passed in the first book. And this isn't the case with The Girl in the Tower. Almost the entire story of this middle book installment takes place in Moscow; it transpires in a much shorter time. But everything good about The Bear and the Nightingale is left intact here.
“Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.”
Vasya has been, and will always be, one of the driving forces of the narrative in The Winternight Trilogy. I did like Vasya so much already in the first book, and her character development in The Girl in the Tower just made me like her more. I have mentioned in my review of The Bear and the Nightingale that Vasya's relationship with her siblings was something that I highly enjoyed reading. This is why I'm so pleased to find out that Sasha and Olga are the key supporting characters in Vasya's story here. Family, friendship, trust, and religions were some of the most evident themes of the novel, and Arden did a great job of including them in the story. I did struggle a bit in keeping my interest in the first two parts of The Girl in the Tower, but the rest of the book was incredibly engaging.
“I did not know I was lonely, she thought, until I was no longer alone.”
Arden has crafted one of the most intense horse-racing scenes I have read yet. Also, it needs to be recognized that Vasya and Solovey's friendship is one of the things I treasured most about this trilogy. Having an animal companion in a fantasy book (or any book, really) is always the right choice. Just like The Bear and the Nightingale, this is another super atmospheric read. The danger of the situation felt palpable, the coldness of the weather can be experienced, and the scenery is seeable. The multiple nicknames the characters have also didn't distract me from my reading anymore. I'm not really sure, though, whether it's because I've gotten used to it, or maybe it's because this novel featured a smaller number of characters with multiple nicknames.
“I carve things of wood because things made by effort are more real than things made by wishing.”
I had a great time reading The Girl in the Tower. The only reason it didn't receive a 5 stars rating from me is that so far, the series still lacked the emotional impact I need for it to reach that rating. I think it's because the only character in the series so far that I feel fully invested in is Vasya and her siblings. If the other supporting characters can earn my utmost emotional investment in the third and final book, I'm sure it will become the best of the series. I look forward to finding out next month!
Picture: The Girl in the Tower by Afterblossom
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if ‘the bear and the nightingale’ is a comforting fairytale read right before falling asleep, then ‘the girl in the tower’ is an epic legend that is shared among friends sat around a fireplace. both are tales, rich in wonder and mystery; but where the first books strength is in its quiet enchantment, this sequel draws on its sense of daring adventure.
i think those who thought TBATN was too boring and slow will be quite pleased with TGITT, as this was the book that kept on giving. not only does it shed more light on things that were hinted at in the first book, but there is plenty of action and intrigue built within this story. with the threat of war and wanting to make her own place in the world, i love how vasya grew as a character - she is without a doubt one of my favourite female characters i have ever read. and again, i adored the russian folklore aspect of it. the book felt genuine and faithful to the tales of old, but wow. this book was a masterpiece in its own right.
having experienced the perfection of the last two books, my heart is eager for the next instalment as i know there will be many great things to come with the conclusion of this series.
↠ 4.5 stars -
oooh, goodreads choice awards semifinalist for best fantasy 2018! what will happen?
"You are immortal, and perhaps I seem small to you," she said at last fiercely. "But my life is not your game.”
this book is that rare second-in-a-trilogy novel that aspires to be more than just a bridge of clockwatching filler between two points. it actually does what the second-in-a-trilogy book should do, but rarely accomplishes - it progresses the action and allows the character some elbow room in which to grow; to become what the challenges of the third book will require them to be. many middle books seem content to wallow, bloated, twiddling their thumbs, waiting to cash that third-book paycheck, but this one allows for tremendous growth in vasya’s character, presents a situation steadily increasing in danger and complexity, and it is fiery and ferocious as all hell.
i loved this one every bit as much as
The Bear and the Nightingale. it is perfect historical fantasy, which is not a genre i read overmuch, but you don’t have to be an expert in a genre to identify when it is being pulled off perfectly - where the historical details are as quietly compelling as the mythological or fantastical ones, and the writing is lushly detailed in both the gauzy romantic moments and the grit and filth and boredom of the less-embellished realities of 14th century russia. boring for highborn women, anyway, who must live and die in towers.
the book is a perfect balance of classical and modern storytelling; descriptions pretty and poetic:
-Men lived too near the bone in winter to bother with things that did not concern them.
-Her fear was a wild thing's fear when the dogs are running.
heroine feminist and fierce:Sudden anger burned out Vasya's gathering hurt. She pushed back her chair and stood again. "I am not a dog," she snapped. "You may tell me to go home, but I may choose not to. Do you think that is all I want, in all my life - a royal dowry, and a man to force his children into me?”
vasya is a firecracker. accused of witchcraft, doomed by tradition to the confines of marriage or the convent, she decides “nahhhh, imma dress like a dude and ride a magic horse and boss around a deity and have badass adventures instead!*”
she’s had to leave so much of herself behind, but she really expands to fill her own heroic storyline. and yeah, having a deus ex machina on retainer does alleviate some of the personal risk, but it wasn’t an overused "out", and the vasya/morozko relationship has its own awkward learning curves:
"How did you take the rabbit?" she asked, turning the meat with deft, greasy hands. Nearly ready. "There was no mark on it."
Twin flames danced in his crystalline eyes. "I froze its heart."
Vasya shuddered and asked no more.
so, not all hearts and flowers (and necklaces) and rescuing a (secret) damsel in distress. i appreciate that their interactions are shaped enough like romance to please romance fans without alienating me and my preferences for horseback battles and derring-do.
i’m unwilling to write a detailed review of this one. with two books on the table, it’s too easy to attract one of those “i am unclear about what constitutes an actual spoiler, but i’m going to scold you tirelessly about it for hours anyway!" folks. i will say that there was some foreshadowing in this one (carried over from the first book) that’s already got me bracing myself for despair.
which i welcome. i am ready for book three, whatever the emotional cost.
this was a buddy-read with tadiana and steven! here are their reviews:
tadiana:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
steven:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
* not, obviously, an actual quote. it’s not that modern.
***********************************
in what is certainly the most difficult decision anyone has ever had to make - i have been salivating for this book, and i was thrilled when i got approved to read it through netgalley at the beginning of the month, but i am only reading horror for october and i keep worrying about it over there waiting for me, thinking i am not interested in it, but i AM! i'm coming for you soon, book! after the horrors!
come to my blog! -
All the stars! Final review, first posted on
Fantasy Literature:
Medieval Moscow
The Girl in the Tower (2017), a medieval Russian fantasy, continues the story of Vasilisa (Vasya), a young woman whose story began in Katherine Arden’s debut novel The Bear and the Nightingale, one of my favorite fantasies from early 2017. That makes it a hard act to follow, but there’s no sophomore slump here. The Girl in the Tower is an even stronger novel, more sure-footed and compelling in its telling, and with more complex and nuanced characterization.
At the beginning of The Girl in the Tower, which picks up right where The Bear and the Nightingale ends, Vasya was leaving her childhood village of Lesnaya Zemlya in northern Rus’ to go to Moscow, where her sister Olga lives. Vasya’s life in Lesnaya Zemlya was threatened by villagers who view her as a witch. In a sense it’s true: Vasya has the rare ability to see and talk to the nature spirits and characters of Russian folklore, including the frost-demon Morozko, the Russian death-god. Morozko helps Vasya on her way as she travels toward Moscow alone, against all the norms for women and against Morozko’s advice, with only her stallion Solovey (the “Nightingale”) for company and protection.
The journey to Moscow is even more dangerous than usual. A mysterious group of bandits is making its way across the countryside, burning entire villages, slaughtering most of the villagers and kidnapping young girls for slavery. Vasya’s cousin Dmitrii Ivanovic, the current Grand Prince of Moscow, is out hunting for the bandits with the help of Vasya’s brother Sasha, a warrior-like priest. They’re unexpectedly joined by a red-haired lord called Kasyan Lutovich, who unexpectedly appears with his men to help with the search, explaining that his lands (called Bashnya Kostei, the “Tower of Bones”) have also been raided by these bandits.
Vasya’s refusal to comply with the customs and rules of 14th century Russia regarding the proper role and behavior of women ― in particular, highborn women ― gets Vasya into a lot of trouble, both on the way to Moscow and once she arrives. While Vasya is traveling alone through Russia, she dresses and acts as a young man for safety, hiding her long hair under a cap or hood. Once she runs into her cousin Dmitrii, she’s locked into that dangerous pretense. Dmitrii is charmed with the courageous young man that he thinks Vasya is, but Vasya ― not to mention Sasha, Olga and Olga’s family ― risk losing everything for carrying on with this deception. Meanwhile, there are also bandits to fight and Mongol conquerors to try to avoid paying heavy tribute to, and Vasya finds herself in the midst of that conflict.
Vasya is a spirited, fiercely independent young woman with no desire whatsoever to spend her life cooped up in a fine house with towers, as her sister Olga and young niece Marya do, or become a cloistered nun, which are the only options typically available to a highborn woman. It hurt my heart to see Vasya, in disguise as a boy, enjoying the freedoms men took for granted, knowing the terrible consequences discovery of her deception are likely to bring down upon her head. Olga, despite the restrictions on her life, is an intelligent woman who’s found a role in Moscow society that she’s reluctant to risk, not to mention her family’s status. Sasha, their brother, is another character who turns out to be more complex than he initially appears. The deeply conflicted priest Konstantin also reappears in The Girl in the Tower, but there’s far less of the “evils of Christianity” subtext that made The Bear and the Nightingale sometimes uncomfortable reading.
Traditional boyar dress
Katherine Arden weaves a magical tapestry of medieval Russia, but she doesn’t shy away from the harsh facts of life in those times. There’s a stark beauty to the land, its people and its folklore spirits, but the constraints on women are comparable to those on women in some of the stringent, restrictive cultures that still exist in our world today. Without dwelling overmuch on the point, Arden also makes you aware of the basic sanitary conditions and other aspects of day-to-day life in that age. Privileged princesses have rotten teeth; childbirth carries with it deadly dangers to mother and child.
The Girl in the Tower is entrancing: gorgeous and bleak and wonderful and terrifying, all at the same time. Arden immerses the reader in this vividly imagined world filled with both beauty and brutality. The WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY will conclude in The Winter of the Witch, due for publication in August 2018. I’ll be reading it as soon as I can possibly lay my hands on it!
Original post: The ARC of this book (the sequel to
The Bear and the Nightingale) just arrived on my doorstep today!! *does happy dance*
Nov. 2017 buddy read with karen and Steven. -
This is my 100th read of 2019 and I’ve now completed my reading challenge 😁
What an amazing book! 4.5 ⭐️
"Everytime you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet."
I found this second novel to be just as magical and frightening as book 1.
Vasya has fled the only home she has ever known. After the death of her father and her entire village turning against her. On her travels she comes across a group of bandits, kidnapping young girls from the surrounding villages. She manages to find one of the camps, rescue the 3 young girls and she rides away she rides into Moscow. The home of the Grand Prince, her monk brother Sasha and her sister Olga. In order to explain how she fought off bandits and rescued the girls, Vasya pretends to be a man. Sasha goes along with it, claiming she is his younger brother.
Vasya gains the respect of the Grand Prince, and is invited to stay in Moscow. But her secret cannot stay secret forever, and someone is watching her - someone who knows who she is, and plans to exploit her.
Meanwhile, her relationship with the Winter King Morozko, is just as bizarre as ever. I still can't fully get behind it - but that's just me. He keeps an eye on Vasya, and keeps her safe when he can. She still has Solovey, her loyal and powerful horse.
But it isn't long until the villain comes to light.
Vasya must do everything in her power to protect those she loves, with help from the creatures she can see. She is a fantastic protagonist. She will not bow to authority just because she was born a woman, she will be herself whatever the consequences, and I LOVE that.
I loved this installment, this series has everything you could need. Sorcery, sword fighting, faith, magical creatures and being true to yourself no matter what.
I can't wait to read The Winter of the Witch.
"They are all smiles in the court of Sarai -until they set their teeth into your throat and pull." -
Book Two in a Trilogy.....
"The Girl in the Tower", is the sequel to "The Bear and the Nightingale".
which is DAZZLING- GLORIOUS - and SENSATIONAL!!!
Once again, author Katherine Arden has done something really extraordinary--
she gives us an historical fiction medieval Russian Fairy Tale.....Incredibly creative and breathtaking.
The history itself is educational and fascinating....also barbarous-and complex. It's dangerous times: villages are burning - and people have been killed.
From start to finish -I was totally melting into this story. Before we enter the wilderness-with Vasilisa Petrovna...(Vasya/Vasilii)....we meet her older sister, Olga Vladimirova -who has two young children and a third one on the way. Olga holds the context of 'the worries' for all her family members -in the way I imagine many first born sisters do.
We also meet brother Aleksandr -Sasha... and The Grand Prince of Moscow - Dmitrii- a Priest from Olga's and Vasys's home town of Lesbaya Zemlya. It's at the beginning when we learn from Sasha about the bandits and how strong and organized they seem to be raiding villages. The Priest brings sad news about their father as well.
Sasha tries to warn his Royal cousin - Dmitrii...that there must not be a war come spring with the Khan's. It's brutal out there. They need more time to gather more men and he wants Dmitrii to go back with him into the woods.
Vasya is already out in those woods - with her Bay Stallion named Solovery. Vasya has a fire for freedom in her belly to explore - to not be confined to marriage or live as a nun in a convent. Taking on the disguise as a boy ( completely sexless)-at times Vasya ---named changed to Vasilii--finds it challenging playing the role of country boy. She knows she shouldn't blush - for example.
Vasya is often intrigued by all the new things she sees ( the city was almost too over-stimulating)--yet she is also frightened as can be at times --and COLD. There were times she was shivering convulsively in the night air - with snow falling thicker than ever.
I don't want to spoil the story itself --but Vasya with her mare - traveling - and putting herself in dangers way - maturing day by day - and all the supporting characters are absolutely dazzling. There is adventure - suspense - tension - warmth - laughter- and love!!! There was one spot - where I laughed and cried at the 'same' time. My emotions exploded for a few minutes.
I'm blessed with the physical books. They are both GORGEOUS!! MANY Thanks to Random House Publishing...... plus, thank you Netgalley!
The last person I must say a HUGE THANK YOU TOO is Katherine Arden!!!!
The lovely prose had me STOP- RE-READ -and......BASK-with PLEASURE!!!
......from tinkling of bells, a line of sleighs, lumpish strangers, bristling beards, mittened hands, honeycakes to soothe an irritable Bay Stallion....etc. etc. etc. I was kept in 'aw'!!
I can't wait for book Three! -- Sons and Daughters will love these books too!! -
I don’t know what to say other than Vasya has my heart.
-
Vasya's saga continues.
Alright, I was convinced to continue with this series because several friends told me that this book was even better than the 1st book. I wasn't all that sold on the slow pace of
The Bear and the Nightingale but this one was supposedly where the action happened.
But it didn't.
The Girl in the Tower wasn't any better or any worse than its predecessor. It was, for me, exactly the same.
In my opinion, if book 1 didn't rock your socks off then this one won't either.
Or maybe it will? <--I'm only ONE person, what the hell do I know?
Still, there is no getting around the fact that is a very well-written story.
Now, the main draw for books like this (to me) is fairytale/folklore stuff. But this one is too rooted in the mundane to get me really excited. Magical snow and wind, understanding horses, or little creatures that live in your oven and protect your house if you feed them bread are all cool, but none of that could really make up for the plodding pace of a story that doesn't really go anywhere super interesting.
The gist of the story is that Vasya doesn't want to be hemmed in by the constraints of society because she's a woman. She wants to live her life. Rightly so. But no one else seems to understand why a young woman would want to be anything other than a wife & mother or (better yet) a nun.
I thought The Girl in the Tower was excellent at showcasing what it must have been like for any woman who was different in old-timey Russia.
There's a budding romance between Vasya and the Frost Demon dude, but it feels kinda weird & boring - not in any way a relationship that I would want to partake in. It's fine for her, I guess, but I certainly didn't catch any feels for him.
There's only one book left and it's not like I hated this one, so I suppose there's no real reason that I shouldn't go ahead and finish the story out.
Again, I am NOT saying this is at all an unreadable book, but for readers who are very action-oriented (like me), this one may not seem as enchanting as it might to readers who enjoy dense prose and lush settings.
Kathleen Gati - Narrator <--she did an excellent job reading this. -
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The Bear and the Nightingale ★★★ 3/4
The Girl in the Tower ★★★★
I can't feel sorry for this girl in the tower because we all are
S O C I A L D I S T A N C I N G !!
Reviewed together with the last book! -
4.5 I have never been a fantasy reader, not sure if this is even considered fantasy. I have, however, always enjoyed history and ancient myths. I like to consider these books folklore and legend brought to life, but may be fooling myself. Either way I fell in love with book one, eagerly awaited this book two, fell into both with immense interest and joy.
Medieval Russia, superstitions at the forefront, many believe but few can see these creatures of ancient myth. Those who can risk being labeled and burned as a witch. Vasya is one, but she is also a young woman who refuses to slot herself into the limited role available to women. Marry young, bear many children or get thyself to the nunnery. I adore this young woman, her fearlessness, how she refuses to settle for less than she thinks she is capable of, and the way she incorporates and uses what she sees. Her magical horse Solovney, who can hear and understand human speech, who protects Vasya,time and time again. The strange background of her own family which comes into play in this outing, when she finds herself in Moscow, disguised as a young boy. The winter king, the man made of ice and snow, death disguised, with his chilling pale blue eyes, who comes to her aid many times.
Arden has done such a magnificent job, creating this time period and inserting the reader into the magic that lives all around us if we could only see. There is magic, family, folklore, the arising power of the church, battles, adventure, political uprisings so much. All done cleverly, fitting pieces within pieces to bring color, and personality into this cleverly crafted world. She notes that she has tried to stay true to the history of this period, and this adds an authentic feel to this entertaining story. Such a harsh, bewildering time, so much uncertainty for those in power and those who are not. Now I eagerly await the third in this trilogy, but I already know I will be sad to read the end.
ARC from Librarything and edelweiss. -
Morozko is my book husband. That is all.
Ohh, this beautiful book. It was everything I hoped for and more after falling in love with The Bear and the Nightingale earlier this year. It brings into sharp focus many things only hinted at in BEAR, and is packed with action, intrigue, and yes, even some R O M A N C E (I can't spoil the surprise but I must say, I'm a happy little toaster strudel). Now excuse me while I go into a cozy book coma for a while.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen
An adventure Vasya started in book 1 continues in The Girl from the Tower. More action, more folklore, more romance, more political intrigues - book two suppresses its predecessor in every aspect or is it?
One of the most amazing things i loved about the bear and the nightingale - its darkness. Without a doubt the book was a visibly darker interpretation of Russian folklore, which made the story alive with images of night creatures crawling in the cold cold northern winter, growing even more colder, if possible, with every nightmare coming alive in the darkness. The other thing that made the first book memorable for me is the cast of characters. None of them were a hero; they had struggles on their paths and it was clear book 2 would continue with the question: what will become of Vasya, Morozko, Konstantin, Sasha and Olga? I was extremely curious about this question as well.
The girl in the tower starts with Vasya on the run from her home where she was considered a witch, thanks to the priest Konstantin's vigilance. She has two choices: either be burnt on pyre as a witch or to be send to live in a convent. Free spirited Vasya, of course. chooses the third option: to run away and ask help from Morozko, the frost demon. But Morozko has his own secrets and Vasya's path will lead her to a different from the initial goal direction.
I was highly excited about Vasya going into Moscow. The capital as beautiful as it is dangerous for someone with Vasya's gifts. Everywhere eyes, everywhere plotting and danger behind corners. Even Vasya's siblings Sasha and Olga are not the same people as they were when they left home. And a new mysterious lord Kasyan Lutovich— who seems to be hiding something very important- adds to the pile of intrigues Vasya encounters in the capital. To say that I am satisfied with the direction the plot took in this book? Yes. But was it what I wanted from this book? Not exactly. Let me explain. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Katherine Arden twisted the plot, but I cannot say it was enough to make me surprised or to call political intrigues in this book actual intrigues. Of course, without a doubt, for Vasya it was a new experience as she started as a naive country girl who wanted to see the world, and it's quite understandable that the level of intrigue suits Vasya's perception of the world at the given moment. Alas for me, spoiled with a more prominent subplots and vicious twists in books I am reading, it was not enough to be fully engaged in the mystery Vasya tried to unravel. I already predicted the outcome and knew beforehand every secret that this or that character hid from Vasya. It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story or characters, but it made it a little bit paler, not so vibrant as it was with the first book.
But if the plot failed to surprise me, the characters showed a great deal of potential in this book. Especially Morozko. I already said in my review for book 1 that he is the one character I was intrigued by the most. Well, well, finally we have a glimpse of true frost demon in this book and I loved that he is not so pristine clear and goodie-two-shoes as it might've seemed in book 1. I loved every scene he shared with Vasya in this book and I am looking forward to his role in book 3, which I've heard from the author will be a significant one.
As for Vasya herself, I can say the girl is getting older and wiser. In book 1 she was still that naive young child who only was learning her strengths and the world around. In book 2 Vasya shows herself as a very reliable and strong character who learns from her mistakes and opposes those who wish to harm her or people she loves; she turns into a woman: strong and independent *whisper * though I still love that Morozko is always there to save her. Vasya is a female character I can add to my list of favorites. As for the romance, things are getting more clear and steamer, but still I need more development from that side. And judging by the way the book ended, we will have something in book 3 *excited giggle*
I don't want to beat around the bush: The bear and the nightingale is fresh and masterly crafted new series that already has a special place in my heart. I recommend it to everyone who wants something new and something magical with a bit of crisp white snow to clear - metaphorically - their minds from everyday problems. -
So this is how one follows up a great book with a great sequel... while reading my mickey-taking brain cells were fully awake, yet I can find no reason to criticize this book, except for its name, which has the word 'Girl' in its title.
The story progresses seamlessly. Vasya does the type of things that even the most rebellious of princesses would balk at. She wants to be free, and so she disguises herself as a guy and makes her way into the world.
Only there's a twist. I'll let you read the book and find out for yourself. I haven't rated two consecutive fantasy books 5 stars since Game of Thrones and the first two books from the Stormlight Archives. Suffice to say that you'll be thoroughly... insanely and obscenely entertained when reading this book. -
"Close your eyes," he said into her ear. "Come with me."
She did so, and suddenly she saw what he saw. She was the wind, the clouds gathering in the smoky sky, the thick snow of deep winter. She was nothing. She was everything.
✨ I wish I had thought of a way to create a magical gem in which I'd have kept all the beautiful words because let's face it, my ability to write a review has been seriously fading these past months.
I want to say that
Katherine Arden's writing is so gorgeous and enchanting that its brilliance inspired me to delve into my forgotten idioms but today, more than ever, my fingers hover above the keyboard and I don't know how to express my love?
Where are chierti when we need them?
Oh, well, I'll do my best.
✨
The Girl in the Tower begins right after the events of
The Bear and the Nightingale, when our beloved Vasya must escape her village, failing which she'd end in a convent, married, or worst if the frightened whispers and the accusations of witchcraft take precedence. She's not about to fulfill the role set out for women in this misogynist society, and would rather explore the world as a boy, thank you very much. But it's without counting on the dangers creeping in, and soon she finds herself in the midst of Moscow's political and magical intrigues.
If you enjoyed
The Bear and the Nightingale, I can't see why you wouldn't enjoy
The Girl in the Tower, given that this sequel keeps everything that made the first book captivating - the fabulous atmosphere, the complex characters, the fascinating folklore - but the stakes are higher and it's just so much more exciting.
I loved everything about it.
✨ If Vasya has a special place in my heart, it's important to note that none of
Katherine Arden's characters are wasted, or one-dimensional. All are complex beings caught in a tug of war between opposite forces and reading
The Girl in the Tower made the differences with other fantasy works so much more profound because how rare is it, really? We readers are slowly struck by the realization that there's no such thing as a right choice and actions we support could - and will - have dire consequences.
And what about the incredible characters' dynamics? The family relationships? It's perfection.
Above everything, I love how
The Girl in the Tower puts great emphasis on the utter brilliance of women, regardless of their choices. Indeed it would have been so easy to praise Vasya and Vasya only, but that's not what this story is about : with Olga, and others,
Katherine Arden shows other forms of strength, and explores the complex threads of what it means to be a woman in this world, to be brave.Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so because we have no other name.
As for men, they unsurprisingly don't have a clue what they're doing, but they do it anyway, because #patriarchy. Yet they're still complex, villains and allies alike, and again, that's what makes it so hard to dismiss them entirely.
With this in mind, it's no surprise that my favorite male characters are a sassy horse and a frost demon, isn't it? I adore them. I'll protect them at all cost. I am so,so scared.
✨ 5 stars, and I couldn't recommend
The Girl in the Tower enough. Again, if you liked
The Bear and the Nightingale, I can't see why you wouldn't fall in love again, and if you haven't read the first book yet? God, what are you waiting for?
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Art created with the graphics provided by Vecteezy
prereview : Why am I not surprised that a fantasy novel that puts great emphasis on the utter brilliance of both women and demons thoroughly won my heart? Also, how come I hate Spring now? -
We return to the entrancing and magical world of Vasya in medieval Russia. A grief stricken Vasya mourns the loss of Dunya and her father, wanders the icy forests, unable to return to her family home of Lesnaya Zemlya, branded a witch by the locals, threatened with marriage and the convent, choices that are anathema to her. She is naive to the ways of the world, men, political intrigue, ghosts, the fire bird, sorcerers, Moscow and more but she is hungry to see and know more than the small corner she has grown up in. She reaches for a new identity and role, despite being exhorted to make other choices by Morozko, the Winter King, the death and frost demon, her monk brother, Sasha, and her sister, Olya, pregnant with her third child. Olya has accepted her fate as a highborn woman, married to an important prince, closeted and restricted, confined to the tower with her two children, Marya and Daniil. The contrast between the two sisters could not be greater, with Vasya caught between two worlds, where she sees what others cannot, her grandmother, Tamara, was the same and another family member is to continue in this tradition.
Vasya walks amongst danger, her only recourse for support and help remain the spirits and guardians of the older pagan world, to whom she offers blood tributes, Solovey, her faithful and trusty horse and Morozko. A battle hardened Vasya emerges with a redefined relationship and understanding with the Winter King with the taste of pine on her lips growing ever stronger, in possession of a knife of ice, and her sapphire talisman. Morozko faces the age old quandry, for you cannot love and be immortal. Vasya wants to be a traveller, a feat she can only achieve in disguise as a boy, never a woman. She ventures into villages that are burned down by Tartar bandits and residents murdered, and abducted girls. Vasya joins her cousin, the Grand Prince of Moscow, Sasha and Kasyan Lutovich to find the bandits. An impenetrable shadow hangs over Moscow and the Khans want their contribution, the Grand Prince faces threats, political intrigue, a web of deceit and lies, and where the spirits and guardians hang by a merest of threads. Vasya is surrounded by forces determined on her downfall, both mortal and immortal.
This is a much darker tale, remaining faithful to Russian history, whilst drawing on the supernatural magic of its folklore. Arden is a gifted writer, creating a deeply compelling narrative simply drenched in atmosphere that blends the differing threads present in the novel beautifully. She makes the period come alive, the growing influence of Christianity, the strongly entrenched prejudices and attitudes to women, the battles for power and land, and the prominence of the dark fairytales that enchant, like that of the snow child. Vasya is tested to her deepest core, and emerges as woman who knows what she wants and an awareness of the depth of her emotional feelings. She has to negotiate the complexities of sibling relationships and the fantastical world, learning the hard way about the nature of the medieval world she is a part of. All in all, this has turned out to be a worthy sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale, a superlative read that I cannot recommend highly enough. Cannot wait for the final book. Many thanks to Random House Ebury for an ARC. -
Book 2 of the Winternight Trilogy, The Girl In the Tower, is a solid sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale. The story of Vasya continues as she makes her way through the forest and to Moscow on her great adventure. She must dress like and present herself as a boy to travel unhindered. Vasya kept me angry through a lot of it. Her poor decisions get her into trouble time after time. Yes, she is her own woman, she's independent and strong, but if only she showed a little thought before she plunged in, I would not be so exasperated with the character. She continually places herself in the center of attention, even as she is trying to pass as a boy.
She does get reunited with her beloved brother and sister in this story and we learn a little bit more about her ancestors. Katherine Arden has beguiled me again with her lovely imagery and the fairy tale folk of medieval Russia. I can't wait for the conclusion. -
I adore the world Katherine Arden has created here. The things I loved, loved, loved about the first part of this series are still all here:
- brilliant characters with believable interactions,
- sibling relationships that are complicated and true,
- an atmosphere so all-encompassing that it makes you forget your own surroundings,
- wonderfully immersive descriptions,
- a surprising and wonderful way to construct sentences that just sound like nobody else (in the best possible way) while still retaining that fairy-talesque rhythm that makes this series so readable,
- an understanding of the essence of fairy-tales that shows itself in the brilliant way the familiar tropes are both used and subverted, and
- the wonderful setting of Medieval Russia.
- And many more things.
From the very first chapter I was fully immersed in the story as we follow Vasya fleeing her home town after the events of the last book lest she be burned as a witch. Having only herself and her horse Solovey to rely on, this book has much higher stakes than the first one. Vasya pretends to be a boy and gets not only herself but her older siblings Sasha and Olga caught up in a web of lies.
I was not quite as enamored as I was with the first book (although to be fair, that book was one of the best things I have read in years…). Most of that comes down to simple genre preferences. This second book is a lot more fast-paced while the first one created a wonderfully slow narrative with clever twists on familiar fairy tales; this book reads more like a conventional YA-Fantasy (albeit a brilliantly written and very beautiful one). My biggest problem was the “pretending to be someone else”-trope. This is one of my least favourite tropes and stresses me out to no end. The dread this built made this a very different read for me.
But beyond this tiny little issue, I was wildly pleased with this book; I adore what Katherine Arden has created here and I find her vision and her voice beyond exciting. I am happy to have been there from the beginning and I cannot imagine not reading each and every single thing she will ever write.
First sentence: “A girl rode a bay horse through a forest late at night.”
_____
I received an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and Random House, Ebury Publishing in exchange for an honest review. -
I was loving this till the moment Vasya decided to come to Moscow. There was uncertainty in the story before this decision was made. Perhaps she could have remain in forest and author could have so in some other tale in there but once she entered Moscow, her fate was sealed and so of the story. The tried formula of her becoming a sacrificial lamb for the safety loved ones, the guilt, and foolishness of being so full of herself... It was predictable.
-
!! NOW AVAILABLE !!
Fairy tales were passed from generation to generation through their telling, oral traditions, lessons, cautionary tales. Most fairy tales were born this way, through stories told generation after generation, and then eventually put to print. The original versions of these fairy tales, the ones that we were typically raised on, are not the Disneyfied ones that we think of, cleansed of sex, rape, incest, murder, but still contain a darker side. To balance that darker side, typically there is the use of enchantment, and often, folkloric characters – fairies, witches, and such, fantasy.
As a child, I loved the fairy tales I was read, and then not much later read on my own. A set of 12 books, “My Book House” books, filled with wonderful illustrations from, I believe, the 1920s / 1930s. Darker than the Disney versions, but enticingly lovely in their telling, these wooed me in.
So, when I first read Katherine Arden’s “The Bear and the Nightingale,” it was like revisiting those pages, and those feelings. When I heard there was a second one on the horizon, I knew I had to read that one, too, but I was somewhat wary. Could it live up to her first? For me, it did; in some ways, it may have even surpassed it. “The Girl in the Tower” flows more evenly, at least it did for me, and the story has a sense of urgency, while still retaining that aura of otherworldly beauty that drew me in with her first. There are a few new characters, but if you’ve read her first book, you’ll be familiar with most of the cast. If you haven’t read her first, I would recommend you do so before reading this. I think you would appreciate this story more if you read the first in the series prior to reading this.
While accusations of witchcraft are still hovering against her in her village of Lesnaya Zemly, in medieval Muscovy, Vasya flees on her trusty steed, Solovey, knowing that he will take her to the places she longs to go, to see the world outside their village. Safely away from the villagers whose wish is to see her be burned as a witch. Vasya leaves with few regrets, she wants to see more than their forest, the church, the bathhouse; she longs to see palaces, cities and the sun on the sea together with Solovey. She wants to see the world and all it has to offer, for she was once shown the world through the eyes of Morozko, the frost-demon; and ever since, she’s known she wants more. Everything she’d been taught about being a woman has chafed at her; she wants more for herself than to marry or to become a nun.
Determined, but cautious, she poses as a boy, Vasilii, the masculine form of her name, the feminine formal being Vasalisa, or Vasya, as a nickname. In her journey, she rights some wrongs, attempts to rescue the kidnapped, and through these tasks, her journey brings her into the world of her brother, Sasha, a priest, a monk. Reluctantly, Sasha keeps her secret, no easy task as time goes by and young Vasya begins to mature. Still, she’s proven her worth on the field of battle, and is accepted among the men as Sasha’s young brother. As the court of the Grand Prince shows signs of unrest amidst those determined to take his power, Vasya’s equally determined to prevent that which may prove to be her undoing.
Historical facts merged with fictional fragments of fantasy. Fantastical – conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination. That sums up what Katherine Arden has given us once again; a luminous, fantastical story conceived by her unrestrained imagination.
Pub Date: 05 Dec 2017
Paperback Available: 28 JUN 2018
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House -
Here comes the party-pooper.
Yeah, that’s me.
While reading Bear and the Nightingale I was charmed with the story and Vasya and couldn’t wait to dive into book two. After finishing the second book, I’m still not sure what to make of this story. It started in an interesting twist, but when it came to the new Vasya and her role…… I couldn’t get into Vasya’s new role fully as it felt like a weakly based one, like an unfinished painting. Sometimes it even felt silly and simple. Next struggle I had is politics, what was the reason putting Vasya into this, Wtf, I had almost stopped halfway through. I’d have wanted more of the Russian folklore, too. So, I guess, book 1 spoiled me too much and Malazan didn’t help either 😆
Don’t get me wrong, if the book was that bad for me all the way, I’d DNFed it with relief, but it wasn’t. After some time, the incredible Vasya, I fell in love in book 1, was back. The story came back to the suspenseful part with twists where I found myself sitting on an edge of my seat and couldn’t stop reading. The ugly behavior was still there, but instead of being ranty I concentrated on Vasya more and well, I was fascinated by her again. I even got more of Russian folklore and tasty bits from the tales.
Prince Ivan and the Firebird
Kaschey the Deathless
To sum up, I don’t think that I enjoyed this book as much as book 1. The last third of “Girl in the Tower” really was amazing. There were some really great moments with magic, mystique and action, but being spoiled as I am, I would have liked it to be more like the first book. I am glad that I decided to go on and that left me looking forward to book 3 to be released. -
5 stars for this beautiful, medieval Russian fantasy!
The story of Vasya continues! Orphaned, and exiled from her village in the woods following her fathers death, she longs to see the world, and to not be put in the traditional role of wife, that would be for young girls of her age. She takes off on her magical horse, dressed as a boy.
There are such dynamic characters in this story. I was very taken by this second book of the trilogy!
A very grateful thank you to Random House for sending this book to me! -
Absolutely loved my reread of this!!
”Only if you are dying. Nothing could keep me from you then. I am Death, and I come to all when they die.”
Original review:
4.5****
I raced through the rest of this book today- it was highly addictive and impossible to put down!
This is the second book to The Bear and the Nightingale trilogy. This book delved more into political unease and action, however the Russian folklore we were introduced to in the first book does appear and it was such a treat for the imagination.
The first 50 pages of the book I was thinking that this wasn't for me- it focused on what was happening in Moscow with political unrest and bandits that burn villages and take girls. So I was wondering.... Where is Vasya!?
But then BAM she makes a grand entrance and all was forgiven.
The book further explored Vasya's interactions with Morozko and explored her relationship to her siblings.
Vasya has changed a bit since the first book, she is much more self aware and aware of those around her, questioning who to trust. However, very much like the first book, Vasya is still head strong in her beliefs for freedom- which I love !
I don't want to go too much into the plot of the story as I believe it is a book that the reader should experience and uncover.
I found that this book invoked emotions such as dread, anger and wonder (as well as some others!) whether it was because Vasya experienced them or because her circumstances deserved those emotions, you find yourself involved with her story.
This book was such an exciting read and stayed true to the magical literary fairytale introduced in the first book.
I cannot wait for the third book... I'm craving it! 😍 -
4.5 / 5 ~
Another brilliant novel by Katherine Arden. After reading three books of hers, I’m beginning to think there’s nothing she can’t write well.
The writing, as expected, was flawless and lyrical. Though, unlike the first novel in the series, this installment moved at a much quicker pace. And although I enjoyed the slow pace of The Bear and the Nightingale, the faster pace in The Girl in the Tower was more fitting since more happened. Or, at least, I felt like more happened. I mean there’s traveling to Moscow, more meetings with the Winter King, new characters and storylines, betrayals, magic, deceit, etc. Truthfully, a lot goes on during Vasya’s travels.
Unfortunately (but not really), The Girl in the Tower while magical and exciting, didn't hold up to the lyricality and magical feeling I got while reading The Bear and the Nightingale. Both novels are phenomenal, but I felt as though the first book made me feel more; a teenie bit more. Not much.
Now, of course, I’m going to continue this lovely series and start book three tomorrow. I must know what’s going to happen to Vasya, Sasha, and Morozko. I’m even curious to see how all the other character storylines are going to end; I can’t wait to see where Arden takes everything. There are so many possibilities!
Overall, it’s bittersweet to think this fairytale will end with the next book, and that I won’t be able to read about Vasya and Morozko anymore. It’ll be upsetting for sure — but right now, my mind is just set on starting the next installment and figuring it all out. I need to know.
