The Bear and the Nightingale

by Arden, Katherine
ISBN: 9781101885956
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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: TradePaperback
  • Author: Arden, Katherine
  • ISBN: 9781101885956
  • Condition: Used
  • Dimensions: 8.25 x 0.81
  • Number Of Pages: 368
  • Publication Year: 2017

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  • Magical fairy tale retelling set in medieval Russia

    Sarah S. - 2 years 11 months ago

    This enchanting retelling of an old Russian fairy tale had me hooked from the very beginning. Arden weaves a magical plot of Russian folklore with atmospheric world building that is perfect for a dark winter's night of reading by the fire. I highly recommend this novel to fans of The Night Circus, and to fans of strong female protagonists and fairy tale retellings.

    HPB Staff Review

  • Russian fairy tale with historical and fantasy elements

    Carol P. - 5 years 1 month ago

    The Bear and the Nightingale is a fascinating mixture of Russian fairy tales and folk beliefs in a medieval Russian setting. Even if you're not familiar with the fairy tales referenced it is still a compelling and dark fantasy story that will leave you wanting to read the next part of the tale. Though it does have some elements of a coming-of-age story because it is centered around a young woman struggling to find her place in the world, it goes far beyond that with its complexity and varied cast of characters. Excellently done and not for the faint of heart.

    HPB Staff Review