From the Bookshelf of Retro Chapter Chicks …

The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy, #1)

Katherine Arden

Start date: February 1, 2019

Finish date: February 28, 2019

Discussion: Past Book Discussions 2014-19

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Past Book Discussions 2014-19

Dec 2019: The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
By Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴… , Founding Retro Chick · 51 posts · 18 views

last updated Nov 30, 2020 08:05AM

December 2017 Buddy Read: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
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last updated Oct 29, 2020 11:12AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 01, 2017 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, fantasy-all

Very unpopular opinion time because it seems everyone in the world loves this book :-/

I liked certain things about the book but overall it wasn't for me. Don't know if it was the book or my mood but I'm glad there are so many people loving it.

I liked the characters enough and the storyline for the most part but I don't know. Sigh ... ...more

337 likes · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2017 Candi rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, russia

3.5 stars

This was an enchanting story based on Russian folklore as well as medieval historical fiction. What I loved most about this tale was the setting of northern ‘Rus’, or Russia, a place that infuses the reader with its feeling of biting cold and dark, magical atmosphere. The imagery is actually outstanding and I would have to say this is one of the most visual novels I have read this year. Your other senses will be stirred as well, such as in this striking image of Moscow – "They smelled t 3.5 stars

This was an enchanting story based on Russian folklore as well as medieval historical fiction. What I loved most about this tale was the setting of northern ‘Rus’, or Russia, a place that infuses the reader with its feeling of biting cold and dark, magical atmosphere. The imagery is actually outstanding and I would have to say this is one of the most visual novels I have read this year. Your other senses will be stirred as well, such as in this striking image of Moscow – "They smelled the city long before they saw it, hazed as it was with the smoke of ten thousand fires, and then the brilliant domes—green and scarlet and cobalt—showed dimly through the vapor. At last they saw the city itself, lusty and squalid, like a fair woman with feet caked in filth."

The people of Lesnaya Zemlya are perched between the old religion of the chyerti, the spirits and creatures of Russian folklore, and that of Christianity. Vasilisa Petrovna, or Vasya, has inherited her mother’s mystical gifts. Magnified to an even greater extent in Vasya, these gifts are not only a blessing but also a curse. In a land where witchcraft is feared and whispered about under the breath of its superstitious inhabitants, any special talent – particularly in a young girl or woman – can be quite dangerous. When the young and golden-haired Father Konstantin is sent to the wilderness to lead these people out of the dark and into the light, Vasya will become his greatest threat and her own freedoms will be put in jeopardy as the priest tries to transform his new flock to the new way of worship. Father Konstantin to me was an even greater evil than that of The Bear! He is determined to turn the community away from their ‘demons’ and takes advantage of their fear in order to promote his own power. "He’d thought to molder here, in the back of beyond. But here was battle indeed, a battle for mastery of the souls of men and women, with evil on one side and him as God’s messenger on the other."

I have to say that I loved the first half to two-thirds of the story the most. The bits of history mixed in with the mythical elements were perfectly balanced for my personal taste. Then, it seemed to suddenly jump quite deeply into the realm of fantasy. I don’t read a lot of this genre, but there are a handful of fantasy books on my favorites shelf – so I wouldn’t say that the problem in general was the fantasy itself. Rather, it just seemed a bit too rushed, with too many fantastical characters appearing on the scene at once. The aura of mystery and dread actually disappeared for me at this point.

Okay, back to the good stuff – including the character of Vasya! I really liked her. Strong-willed, bubbly, courageous yet not without fear (making her more realistic), and a bit of a wild-child in appearance (at least in my imagination!) I particularly appreciated and enjoyed reading the notes by the author at the conclusion of the story – it helped to put the folklore and Russian history into perspective a bit more. I would recommend this book to those that like to delve into the magical world of fairy tales with a sprinkling of historical fiction – and those that are not reluctant to reading some fantasy. My own rating seems to land at 3.5 stars . Definitely entertaining!

"I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed me."
...more

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Feb 15, 2021 Maureen rated it really liked it

Shelves: russia

This is a captivating tale set in the Russian forest in the freezing cold of winter. I read this book just as I was experiencing similar weather., snow, ice and sleet. It was the perfect time to read this book.
This is a magical and haunting story that sweeps you away to Medieval Russia.
We meet Vasya an enchanting girl who loves the wild if the Russian forest. She communicates with all the spirits, she hears and sees things that no one else does. The towns people think she is a witch.
Vasa’s jour ...more

32 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2019 Kelly rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, fantasy, 2019-52-book-challenge

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book. I loved the way the medieval, northern Russian setting was described and the bonds between some of the siblings in the story were heart-warming to read about. I struggled a bit with relating to the main character but stepping back to look at the wider picture, I'm able to empathize and better understand. For example, the main character describes God as "cold and silent". That statement has stuck with me because it's the opposite of what I experience! The context of ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2019 Tasha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, own, russia-reads, fantasy-sci-fi

I really enjoyed this dive into medieval Russia with all the folklore and Russian words. The first 2/3 of the book seemed mostly hist fic with a little fantasy (from the folklore and smattering of little creatures throughout the story) and then during the last 1/3 the story and action turned really quickly into what for me seemed like full out fantasy. In the early to mid-part of the story, there was lots of great anticipation growing for something big coming and the settings were so wonderfully ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2025 Sarah Brown rated it liked it

Shelves: own, 2025-want-to-find-time-for

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, but I don't think it was the right time for me. I recently listened to Crime and Punishment, the audios sounded similar (accents) and a lot of the names were the same. I just kept getting really, really confused. The beginning of the book I really liked, but as there were more characters is when I got confused. Around 70% was when I really got into the story, and some things started clicking. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2023 Lory Sakay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club-reads

So, as I write this, I see that it's book one of a trilogy. Will I read the others?...unsure. The scene at the end was gripping but the whole meandering path to get there was often slow and blah. The magical, spiritual, fantasy vibes were very neat. It gave me House of Spirits, Mexican Gothic, and Alice Hoffman vibes. Also, the protagonist was inspiring. Who couldn't help cheering and rooting for her and evil eyeing anyone who hampered her spirit?

Additional note: The narration was very well done ...more

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May 08, 2017 Theresa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: debut, fantasy, highly-recommended-by-me, z-pop-sugar-2017-reading-challenge, children-and-ya, first-in-a-series, noir, russia, arctic

Wonderful reading experience, amazing first novel! The story of a girl in medieval northern Russia assuming her destiny, wrapped in myth, folklore, history, and fantasy, against a cold frozen country. The story opens with the telling of the tale of The Frost King and the Maiden around a fire with all huddled close, entranced. Soon there is a birth, a death, a childhood filled with indulgence. The old gods are honored as the one God is also worshipped. Then all starts to change as strangers come ...more

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Jun 01, 2021 Kristin rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, slavic, folklore-fairytale

A very entertaining Russian fairytale, with dashes of 'Cinderella' and 'Beauty and Beast' and LOTS of snow, wildness, and death. There's an "evil" stepmother, a "beastly" frost demon, and a whole host of creatures fighting an invisible battle against the elements. I found it very entertaining. I'm not sure I'm going to read the second book though. I feel like this was a complete tale in itself, but maybe one day.

Old Magic clashes with New Religion. --- Note: Some Christians might not like how Ch ...more

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