The Girl in the Tower

The Girl in the Tower is the second in the Winternight Trilogy, after the acclaimed debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. It's always hard to talk about sequels without giving too much away about the preceding books, so forgive me if I'm vague. One advantage to waiting so long to read The Bear and the Nightingale was that I got to jump straight into the sequel! Now I have to several months for the third.

The Girl in the Tower revisits our heroine, Vasya, from the first book. Now she has left home to begin her adventures - though her travels are curtailed pretty quickly, and she's roped into going to Moscow with her brother and the Grand Prince, while disguised as a boy. While in Moscow she learns a little bit more about her family history, and I'm hoping the rest will be revealed in the third book this summer. (The Winter of the Witch is scheduled to release in August 2018.)

In this second book, Vasya has done some growing, and has learned to make use of the spirits she sees - she knows the hearth spirits can always find their families, and uses that trait to track a kidnapped girl when no one else can. So long as no one realizes what she's doing, she's fine. But Rus is in the crossover period between the old ways and the new, and if she's found talking to spirits, she'll be branded a witch all over again. She keeps her masquerade going through the first two-thirds of the book, but it's obvious it's going to fail eventually. The way in which it does is sudden and unexpected, and the repercussions are harsh.

And then there's Morozko, the Frost Demon, the god of death. I love Morozko. He's by necessity enigmatic - and in a rough position. I want he and Vasya to fall in love and have a happy ending - the attraction between them is impossible to miss - but immortal beings, in this world, can't love. If they love they lose their immortality. And, possibly, their lives entirely. I hope the author has a solution in mind for these two, because I currently don't see one.

I actually liked this one more than the first book, which is unusual. I liked the first one, but I wasn't blown away. This one pulled me in and didn't let me go. Amazing sequel, and I hope the third one lives up to this standard!

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

So.. I didn't hate this one. But I didn't love it. Everything that made [b:The Bear and the Nightingale 25489134 The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) Katherine Arden https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470731420s/25489134.jpg 45268929] amazing for me was stripped out of the second in the trilogy. Which doesn't meant to say Vasya's story doesn't follow the natural progression, in the way that fairy tales do, but there was not enough of my particular boat-floating, and I probably won't be picking up the final (although, if it goes where I think it will/should, it will be a great finish to Vasya's character arc).Katherine Arden does provide a reading list for Medieval Russia at the end, though, which has definitely been added to my wishlist.

The Girl in the Tower continues the story of Vasilisa Petrovna begun in The Bear and the Nightingale. After the deaths of her father and stepmother, Vasya has few options open to her in the tiny village where many now think her a witch. With the help of the frost demon she takes to the road, seeking adventure. Along the way she stumbles upon a mysterious evil that she may be uniquely suited to help defeat. However, she will have to overcome the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated world in order to save those she loves.
The second installment in the Winternight series is as magical as the first, with colorful characters and a backbone of fairy tale. The author is careful to infuse as much historical accuracy as possible into the story, so that readers feel they have been transported to old Russia. Great for fans of fantasy and fairy tale retellings.

The Girl in the Tower is not just my favorite book in the Winternight Trilogy but also one of the best books I've read. It's beautifully written and atmospheric, and I loved Vasya, the focus on sibling relationships, the incorporation of more Slavic myths, Vasya's fiercely protective stallion Solovey, and Morozko. The start is a little slow, though it's not dull???it's just not as engaging as the rest of the book, which is phenomenal.

Full Review on My Website

‘'Think of me sometimes'', he returned, ‘'When the snowdrops have bloomed and the snow has melted.''

Moving on to the 2nd book of the trilogy immediately after finishing the 1st volume was a no-brainer and from the very first pages, I knew that this would prove to be an exciting journey. Well, ‘'exciting'' is an understatement actually. In my opinion, this was a rollercoaster of images, of characters and emotions. It was better than that the 1st part of the Winternight series and its atmosphere was more ‘'Russian'', more faithful to the original legend, more authentic.

In the rare cases in which I have dedicated my reading time to a trilogy, I've found that the 2nd book is usually my favourite. It happened with ‘'The Lord of the Rings'' and with the Grisha Trilogy.So, ‘'The Girl in the Tower'' was no exception. We delve right into action from the opening pages and continue in a whirlwind, because Arden achieves a much-needed balance between the action parts, the interactions of the characters and the descriptions of the life in the rural communities and the glorious city of Moscow. The lavishness of the capital juxtaposed with the threats that are lurking in the frozen woods is beautifully executed. In fact, I have nothing but praise for Arden's writing in this installment.

What I really appreciated is the fact that Arden doesn't dwell much in the events of the 1st part and prefers to refer to them occasionally and in context with the current events and their implications. After all, it wouldn't be wise to start a trilogy from the 2nd part. She is a really capable writer and her writing here is mature, engaging and haunting, fully doing justice to the beautiful wintry fairy tales from the land of the Rus.There is not a single trace of YA tropes and norms in this novel, and despite the extensive presence of characters of a world beyond our own, this reads more like a Historical Fiction book, rather than a fantasy. The elements of legends are here, but they are finely woven into the narration and they are part of the action, not mere gimmicks. There is a beautiful reference to the Snow-Maiden, the fairytales that provided the inspiration for Eowyn Ivey's masterpiece ‘'The Snow Child'' . You'll read about the Firebird, the horse with the golden mane, the goddesses of Morning, Midday and Midnight, the Gamayun and many familiar Russian mythical figures. I also have to say that I was impressed with the way Arden treated the Tatars' raids subplot. Without being too graphic, she creates a shadow that looms over our heroine and over the residents of the country. The shadow of a threat that is far more real than any demons or evil spirits.

The characters are extremely well-written. Vasya is more mature, but no less intelligent, feisty, brave and kind than we knew her. Still, the complications that come from experiencing certain disturbing feelings may weigh down on her. Morozko's presence is electrifying, a larger-than- life figure and a battlefield in which the man and the immortal try to prevail against each other. The moments between him and Vasya are the highlights of the novel. We meet a few new characters and come to know certain previously introduced ones even better, but I'd be thoughtless if I didn't mention Sergei, a monk who is Sasha's mentor and a wonderful character that really stood out. Olya, on the other hand, was too irritating for my troubled patience...

So, those of you who have read the 1st book, don't tally:) Read the 2nd volume as soon as you can, because you don't want to miss the experience. I loved this book, you know. I really, really loved it. As a Historical Fiction, as a beautiful fairytale, as an avid reader and lover of Russian Folk tradition and Literature. This is a book that celebrates womanhood, love, the fight to surpass the obstacles and remain true to your principles...

‘'You are immortal, and perhaps I seem small to you'', she said at last fiercely. ‘'But my life is not your game.''

Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com

The Girl in the Tower continues the story of Vasya, the child called a witch and shunned by her own rural village. This time it takes place mostly in Moscow, and at last we are able to continue the stories of some of Vasya's other family members as well. A great evil is stealing across the land, stealing the daughters of the people, and someone must do something about it. The lords are growing restless and angry with the tzar for not keeping their people safe.The detail and atmosphere in the story have once again managed to amaze and enthrall me. Arden manages to blur the line between fantasy and fiction in such a way that, while the mind “knows” that these things could not happen as written, perhaps...perhaps...perhaps they might have, or could. Taking old stories, and superstitions and tales that are Russian in origin, but often familiar in some form across the globe, the tale told is one that resonates on a deep level and often sends chills down the spine.Vasya is still my sister from another mother, with spunk and intelligence far beyond her age. She refuses to be discouraged or held down by societal expectations, choosing instead to carve her own path in the world. It's a difficult way, but one that sets her soul on fire. She is growing older in this part of the story, coming into womanhood with all of its medieval troubles, which typically far outweigh its charms.The plot does seem to be a little slow, but that only occurred to me later after I finished reading. While I was reading I was so immersed and entranced by the Vasya's world that I did not care. There is action, emotion, and worldbuilding in this book and all are artfully done. Highly recommend.Many thanks to Del Ray for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. ~Full review here on The Bent Bookworm!~2019 - Still in love with this series!Blog Twitter Bloglovin Instagram Google+