The Bear and the Nightingale

By Katherine Arden

Book Overview

Katherine Arden's bestselling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice. "A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up."--Naomi Novik, bestselling author of Uprooted Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse's fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil. Then Vasya's widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya's stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village. But Vasya's stepmother only grows harsher, determined to remake the village to her liking and to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for marriage or a convent. As the village's defenses weaken and evil from the forest creeps nearer, Vasilisa must call upon dangerous gifts she has long concealed--to protect her family from a threat sprung to life from her nurse's most frightening tales. Praise for The Bear and the Nightingale "Arden's debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical." -- The Washington Post "Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices." --The Christian Science Monitor "Stunning . . . will enchant readers from the first page. . . . with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Utterly bewitching . . . a lush narrative . . . an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family." -- Booklist (starred review) "An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic." --Robin Hobb

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1101885939
• ISBN13: 9781101885932
• Release Date: January 2017
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The Best Book I've Ever Read!!!

This is my all-time favorite book! It's perfect for curling with a cat and a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter night. I would definitely recommend to everyone!

The Best Book I've Ever Read

I loved this entire series; from the writing style to the plot nothing is basic about this book. I loved the story-telling aspect of it and the way that Arden brings Russian folklore to life. It was very different from the fantasy books I'm used to reading; it's a very fresh approach and concept for this historical fantasy. Beautifully told and made me feel like I was living this experience with Vasya herself

I devoured this book, ordering the second and third books before I was half through.

A captivating telling of Russian folklore, the tale weaves itself around you until you don’t want to put the book down. I have firm imagery in my mind for all of the characters and the settings, the writing is spellbinding.

A great read

A strong independent heroine. Intriguing writing style

Such a lovely book!

This is one of the most amazing books! I loved how the author tied Russian folklore and vocabulary into a such an enticing story. A little dark but truly a story to remember.