The Bear and the Nightingale

This book thrilled me in a way few have done since childhood.

It reminded me of why I love reading, because a great book opens a portal into another world. In this one, snow is blowing across the plains of medieval Russia, where there are deep forests, ancient magic, and characters who may be either heroes or monsters depending on how you squint.

Built on a scaffolding of history and legend and fleshed out with a searingly emotional and romantic story, I found myself turning the pages so fast I had to read it again immediately after I finished so… show more.

Set in medieval Russia, The Winternight Trilogy is sure to transport you out of your current location into a land of snow and ice, rich with fairytale lore.

What I remember most about these books is the captivating scenery—I was completely drawn into the enchanted forest and harsh, winter wonderland detailed within. Vasya was a strong, female character that I could root for, and I heartily enjoyed coming of age with her and fighting her battles.

These books are best enjoyed on a blustery winter’s day under a plush blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. 

It is always a delight to come upon stories based in non-Western folklore like this tale with elements of Russian and Slavic fairy tales.

I easily I fell under the spell of myths that were mostly unfamiliar to me: spirits of the household and of the endless forest, spirits that guard or betray. I was surprised at how much I cared about the nature-spirits growing weaker and growing despised. And we view this world through the eyes Vasya, a young woman yearning to live by her own agency.

The milieu was surprising and, while not subverting, totally captivating. All in… show more.

I was living in Russia when I read this, and was instantly captivated by the lush narrative. It echoed my feelings of being a stranger in a country so far removed from home—I would eventually write a story about Russia in my book to further explore this feeling of alienation through a fantastic lens.

I love this book particularly because it blends several different Russian fairytales to create something new. (Something I do quite a lot in my own book!) This book is the first in a trilogy, the entirety of which is a must read.)

The Bear and the Nightingale expertly intertwines folklore into the real world.

Set at the edge of medieval Russia, Arden infuses the novel with fairy tales and folklore told by the hearth. After her mother dies, Vasilisa’s father returns with a new wife from the city. She quickly forbids Vasilisa and her grandmother from honoring the old spirits or sharing legends of the forest. But as omens start to befall the town, Vasilisa realizes the old stories are more than just fables; they hold truth.

Arden uses history, lore, and cold winter nights to create such a strong sense of… show more.

Like Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden is a master at weaving folklore and fantasy together, this time with a touch of history, too. The touch of Russian folklore woven throughout a coming-of-age story is gripping, each character grappling with their own social, cultural, and political struggles alongside a dangerous world of magic.

And, again, for all its fantasy and fiction, this whole series gave me some insight on how to understand the power of magic and faith itself in the world we live in right now—the modern world full of stresses and struggles and seemingly inexplicable situations. As a Christian witch… show more.

The Bear and the Nightingale takes place in a fantasy version of medieval Russia, and it’s one of the most atmospheric, well-written fantasy novels I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Magic is deeply embedded in this book, and creatures veer between monstrous and mundane depending on the views of the character who sees them. Religion and mythology are combined and wrapped in a riveting, emotional story, filled with characters I fell in love with, or loved to hate. While it might contain less mystery than the other books on this list, I couldn’t guess the way it would end, and… show more.

The first in the Winternight Trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale takes place in medieval Russia. Despite its historical setting, it feels like reading a fairy tale. Magical realism permeates the narrative as the main character Vasya, the granddaughter of a swan maiden, deals with serious real-world dangers alongside mythological ones. And where the first book struggles with pacing a little at the end, the second book more than makes up for it.

This is a book that feels like it was written just for me, and indeed I was surprised at so many striking thematic similarities between it and… show more.

I’m a sucker for beautiful, lyrical writing, and this book brims with it. I was underlining the paperback like a mad woman, luxuriating in the eloquent prose that brought this Russian fairytale retelling to life. The details are richly rendered, a feast for a reader’s imagination, and all set against the beauty, magic, and deadly cold of winter. Aside from the exquisite writing, Arden’s storytelling shines with deeply drawn characters, complex emotions, and a riveting plot that had me flipping the pages deep into the night. 

This book brings to life Russian folklore and the world of magic that many have forgotten. I specifically enjoyed how this book includes you in the magic, as if you had been born knowing the tales and creatures taught about. Our character Vasya has a rebellious nature and fierce wildness in a world of order and strict obedience. It’s liberating to read of her wild heart.