The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherin Arden

Reviewed by Angela

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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.

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.

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.

The Bear and the Nightingale began with quite a bit of world building. This set up required more patience as a reader than I am usually willing to give. But I am so glad that I did not give up! My typical chosen books hook you fast and never let go. This story was like a growing snowball that picked up speed and ran away with you! Once Vasilisa started to use her gifts to protect her town, I could not put it down. I quickly finished and began the next in the trilogy. I enjoyed learning about the Rus’ culture and can’t wait to finish the series!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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