The Bear And The Nightingale review!

The Bear And The Nightingale
by
Katherine Arden
​

​'Frost-demons have no interest in mortal girls wed to mortal men. In the stories, they only come for the wild maiden.' In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, an elderly servant tells stories of sorcery, folklore and the Winter King to the children of the family, tales of old magic frowned upon by the church. But for the young, wild Vasya these are far more than just stories. She alone can see the house spirits that guard her home, and sense the growing forces of dark magic in the woods...

BUY HERE!

---

My review

~I was sent a copy from the publishers - all opinions are my own~

I give it - 4/5

My review - What a wonderful, wintery, magical story! I felt like I was transported into the heart of the story, next to Vasya.

One thing I adored about this story was that it wasn't rushed. I felt it built up nicely to the main part of the story. We got to see life before Vasya and then when she was born and growing up. What was going on with her family and things around her and it worked perfectly! I felt the story was perfect they way it was set. 

There is something dark growing in the woods. When Vasya was younger she got lost and saw something in the woods-something that would come after her when she is older. She also sees spirits around her house and is usually caught talking to them and before she knows it, people think she's a witch. Her stepmother wants to marry her off or send her to a convent but she knows she can't leave the forest. Can Vasya save herself and her family before the dark magic starts to descend?

I loved Vasya. She is born in a time where she has do what she's told and has to marry by a certain age and be spoken too as if she is beneath others but, she is so strong and is able to stick up for herself.

I haven't read many books inspired by Russian Folklore so I was really intrigued when I got this book and it exceeded all my exceptions. It was so interesting to read and I enjoyed reading about all the stories within this book. It was very gripping from the first page and I just didn't put it down until I finished it and I didn't want it to finish. It was a brilliant story that I believe everyone will enjoy and love. I'm so sad it's over but, I can't wait to re-read it over and over again and go on this journey with Vasya again and again. She is so fierce and I just loved this book!