Be sure to read our Giveaway Policy before entering any contest! That aside, the story unfolds in unpredictable yet often recognizable ways for fans of fairytales. 2021 The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter, on Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Joint Review – Breath of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #2) by Amanda Bouchet, Review: Dirty Money (Roughneck Billionaires) by Jessica Clare. The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden's bestselling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice. She’s determined to have and live her own life, which is very much against what her father wants, and they constantly have a battle of the wills between the two of them. . Her father has lost his way since the death of Vasya’s mother, but Vasya has her Grandmother and her brother Sasha, who I can’t wait to read more about in the following books. Good news — You can still get free 2-day shipping, free pickup, & more. Sorry, this webpage requires JavaScript to function correctly. The Bear and the Nightingale and the “Religious Nut” plot device. Your feedback helps us make Walmart shopping better for millions of customers. He has a … It's presumably not a murder-mystery, but if it is, I'm ready for the corpse. The Bear and the Nightingale is an adult fantasy read. So I'm donating it to charity, and moving on to something that's paced more to my liking. We’re having technical issues, but we’ll be back in a flash. Kind of. Once I found out this is the first book of a series, the ending makes a lot more sense, as Vasya’s power and her ancestry is hinted at but never revealed. Please enable JavaScript in your browser and reload the page. This book is told in 3rd person omniscient, distant. I loved Vasya. The Bear and the Nightingale is not a clear-­cut story of good vs. evil, though there are many other opposing forces, including the Bear vs. Morozko, order vs. chaos, the old traditions vs. Christianity, and, of course, the Bear vs. the Nightingale. . The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is set in northern Rus' and is filled with elements of Russian folk and fairytales that many readers may not be familiar with. Spoilers. Thanks! by Breanna Sieck I was very inspired by these words spoken (thought) by Konstantin in the first book. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. Get specific details about this product from customers who own it. I hope that Katherine Arden will go on to write many more books! For most of the book I couldn’t figure out why a Nightingale was in the title and when it was revealed in the end it felt a little-too-late, though the surprise has left me wanting more. Who doesn't love a fairytale, especially one that has elements of darkness, magic, mystery, and a strong female protagonist?! 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 battle has been foreshadowed from when Vasya was a babe, so it’s not until well into the second half of the book that Vasya … I am largely unfamiliar with Russian/Eastern European fairy tales and folklore. But it is counterbalanced by Vasya’s older brother, who becomes a monk. The second book in the The Bear And The Nightingale series is called The Girl in the Tower. . . That’s not to say “The Bear and the Nightingale” is anti-Christian or even anti-religion — that’s too simplistic an interpretation. If you want to learn a little bit about us, please head on over to the About page and our Reviewer Bios. Right?! Not to worry, as Arden includes a glossary, a Q&A section, and an author's note to help readers better understand the unfamiliar aspects. Simples. I’ve heard some good things about it and was excited to finally add it to my list. But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that, armed only with the necklace, she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay"--. . © Author: Katherine Arden.

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. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. I just had to make a drawing in honor of it! So if you find a current lower price from an online retailer on an identical, in-stock product, tell us and we'll match it. 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." I would say those who read Uprooted will enjoy this dark fairytale, though the two stories are vastly different in tone, with religion playing a centre role in The Bear and the Nightingale. The book is about a Russian man named Pyotr who is a minor nobility from the middle of nowhere. But it also deals with the specificity of the destruction of nature. We aim to show you accurate product information. Amazon Barnes & NobleBook DepositoryiTunesNookKobo. I would recommend this book. Part one of a three part series, The Bear and the Nightingale ends happily, yet leaves me wanting to read the next book in the series to discover the further adventures of Vasya the fearless. We also review books we purchase ourselves. The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter. Here at Walmart.com, we are committed to protecting your privacy. It was late winter in northern Rus’, the air sullen with wet that was neither rain nor snow. Halfway through, and almost nothing has happened. In 2017, that first book, “The Bear and the Nightingale” — about a formidable Russian girl who spars with demons and religious zealots — was released and praised by critics. To ensure we are able to help you as best we can, please include your reference number. The Bear and the Nightingale … 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 . "The Bear and the Nightingale" is a stunning debut novel. The Bear and the Nightingale is rich in detail in its setting, bringing to life a time in centuries-past Russia of folk tales and superstitions, of bitter-cold winter and brief summers, of magic. The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderful merging of Russian society as it adapts to Christianity and Russian folklore. But I think that even people who have never studied Russian language, literature or history can enjoy this trilogy with a bit of reference to the glossary at the end. She’s also casually beaten by her father for her wilful transgressions, which I have no doubt was a norm back in the medieval days. She is reminded constantly from how others react to her behaviour how different she is from the rest of her family and village. And the harsh winters give rise naturally to stories of ice and snow incarnate. Florence was born in 1820 while her English parents, Fanny and William, were vacationing in Florence, Italy. The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderful merging of Russian society as it adapts to Christianity and Russian folklore. She was named for her birthplace, although at that time Florence was not listed among feminine names, as it has been since Miss Nightingale gave it fame. What are some other examples? In 2017, American author Katherine Arden published the first of her trilogy of young adult fantasy novels featuring elements of Russian folklore. For every book we review, we’ll grade them on our honest opinions. The very beginning has Vasya's nurse Danya telling her fairy tales of the cruel winter and how humility and kindness get you further than selfishness. If you're an author, publicist, or publisher wanting to request a review, please see our Review Policy before contacting us. The battle has been foreshadowed from when Vasya was a babe, so it’s not until well into the second half of the book that Vasya comes of age and becomes truly aware of her destiny. And I'm halfway through the book, and the daughter still doesn't have it. This book shows how religion can be centered on love and kindness, but it’s also manipulated and used for hate. As one might expect from a fairly recent Middlebury alumna, there is a deep feminist sensibility mixed with a true love of language - both Russian and English. (Like Naomi Novik, who (she's on the back cover) apparently liked this, despite her books being 1000 times more interesting to me. The Bear and the Nightingale is not a clear-cut story of good vs. evil, though there are many other opposing forces, including the Bear vs. Morozko, order vs. chaos, the old traditions vs. Christianity, and of course, the Bear vs. the Nightingale. Learn how your comment data is processed. Basically she's been setting the scene for 182 pages. Not bad (almost 3-star), but I'm halfway through and would rather read something I liked better than to carry on with a not-bad book that I'm starting to resent. (Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. Spoilers Start: 9:25 Spoilers End: 13:25 Links to books I talked about in this video(These are affiliate links. suppliers and others provide what you see here, There are many recognizable elements from the Germanic, French and English folk tales I am grew up with and have studied – customary ingredients from Tolkien's "soup," as it were – but they are combined with other components and assembled in different ways so as to be fresh and interesting. Probably she was the most extraordinary nurse in history. We accept digital galleys/ARCs for review. Our preferred method of receiving e-galleys is through Netgalley, where we are a listed Review Organization Accepting NetGalley Titles. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). Also, presumably, it's about to get more interesting soon ... but that's what I've been saying for 182 pages. Hopefully more people are buzzing about this by then. 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) Longer review in...August maybe. This russian fairytale was so good. Arden does a great job of weaving those elements around a compelling narrative, creating a story that moves at an even (almost inexorable, but in a good way) pace. Your email address will never be sold or distributed to a third party for any reason. (If I were God, I'd say "great, that's the backstory, now start the book). and we have not verified it. Genres: Fantasy , Historical. will enchant readers from the first page. She is strong, powerful, and independent in a time when few women were. Read The Bear and the Nightingale online free by Katherine Arden - Novel80. “the price of deals”) are found within this book as well. . . In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift --- a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. The prose is filled with delightful adjectives. Sorry, but we can't respond to individual comments.If you need immediate assistance, please contact Customer Care. Vasya. Still not 100% sure how to expand on my feels about this book (plus I'm definitely going to wait on a longer review since it's a JANUARY 2017 release), BUT: Uprooted Deathless Hild. Christianity isn’t shown in the best of light in this story, as it’s used as part of the antagonist with Bear. What little I've encountered has been filtered through English (or other Western European) writers, and a lesser amount from general cultural osmosis. Send me an email when my question is answered, We're committed to providing low prices every day, on everything. "A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up." Per the FTC regulations, please note that we do receive books for review for free by publishers, authors, publicists, and third parties such as Netgalley and Edelweiss. --The Washington Post "Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices. Electrode, Comp-7ff99d15-d4fd-45db-b9b6-51753428ccde, DC-wus-prod-a14, ENV-prod-a, PROF-PROD, VER-20.0.45, SHA-0b9ed4b3be403c753dbcd812fd476a392ac713c1, CID-017be9c8-007-1789a6e255dcf5, Generated: Sun, 04 Apr 2021 01:10:13 GMT, Book Format. See more details at. What are some other examples? Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil. "- … So while the driving force is the oncoming battle between Frost and his evil brother Bear, it’s also a story of a family that’s gone through death and separations in an age of famine and poverty. You will be dragged through decision after decision, world after world, and religion after religion, trying to … I had never heard of The Bear and the Nightingale book series, or of Katherine Arden. Please take a minute to review our Privacy Policy. If it’s a rocking good book, we’ll say so. Required fields are marked *. Vasya is strong-willed and independent. It’s a tale as old as time; good v evil, though the deadly winter demon, Morozko, is far from good (he’s darn scary and badass). Fiercely devout, Vasya's stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. Vasya is constantly under the beady and lustful eye of Father Konstantin, and she is emotionally and physically abused by her-stepmother. Manufacturers, I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve! Categories: Book Report Tags: bear and the nightingale fairy tales fantasy historical fiction katherine arden magic russia winternight trilogy About the Author: Stephanie (she/her) is an avid reader who moonlights as a college Educational Advisor. 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. I was interested in this book because of The Orangutan Librarian’s review of The Bear and The Nightingale. . All in all this was a very enjoyable book and though at times I wished the story picked up speed much sooner and there was more fantasy, Vasya and Morozko and her family, especially Sasha, glued me to the pages until very late in the early morning and I cannot wait until the next book. Very highly recommended for lovers of folklore and fantasy with strong female characters. Current selection is: Paperback, "In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift--a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. Welcome to The Book Pushers review blog. The brilliant February landscape had given way to the dreary gray of March, and the household of Pyotr Vladimirovich were all sniffling from the damp and … The Bear and the Nightingale is available now. This book grips you right away – not so much like a runaway rollercoaster, but more like a grandfather who has worked his whole life in the field might grip the hand of a grandchild as they cross a road, firmly but not unkindly, if a little too tight. The domoviye are a real part of people's lives and blend naturally with the developing Christianity provided no one tries to push the boundaries too hard. She is the baby of the family, and seems to do everything wrong. Other than her praise, almost every other review I read spoke so highly of The Bear and The Nightingale I bought the ebook. It was a mere chance that I came across the book at all at my local library. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Oh, there's been dialogue, some marriages, a lot of horse-back riding, from time-to-time someone goes to sleep, or eats something, but in terms of plot only 1 major event has occured: the father goes to the city and is given something to give to his daughter by a magical creature of some kind. . The story is richly steeped in religious tones, as magical spirits of old and legend start to fade as the worship of Christianity grows in Vasya’s village, aided by the dangerous fervour and manipulations of Father Konstantin. Stephen King would absolutely hate this story for that reason I think. Sitting by the glow of an oven fire, an old servant maid beguiles a brood of boyar’s children with the tale of Morozko in order to pass the winter’s night. Your email address will not be published. The Bear and the Nightingale is not a clear-­cut story of good vs. evil, though there are many other opposing forces, including the Bear vs. Morozko, order vs. chaos, the old traditions vs. Christianity, and, of course, the Bear vs. the Nightingale. The Bear and the Nightingale Katherine Arden. Series: Winternight Trilogy #1. If you would like to share feedback with us about pricing, delivery or other customer service issues, please contact, Electrode, Comp-e3170e44-b8d1-4d30-9321-a4fed7d1999f, DC-wus-prod-a14, ENV-prod-a, PROF-PROD, VER-20.0.45, SHA-0b9ed4b3be403c753dbcd812fd476a392ac713c1, CID-969c150f-007-1789a67577c245, Generated: Sun, 04 Apr 2021 01:02:47 GMT, Electrode, Comp-6f50cfa6-5e17-4c7f-9330-250668215fd8, DC-wus-prod-a27, ENV-prod-a, PROF-PROD, VER-37.12.0, SHA-1ab7006db6358f6144d4b2bcc67ce73f0f96c298, CID-a3f17a3a-007-1789a75cd4d4af, Generated: Sun, 04 Apr 2021 01:18:35 GMT, Error: Please enter a valid ZIP code or city and state. The Bear and the Nightingale is a brilliant debut novel that introduces many readers to Russian folklore through the historical world-building and the rounded characters. Thus, she stands out as being very much her own person and more in line with the feminine archetype of the woman warrior rather than the princess needing to be rescued by the prince. I don't know what the book is about, yet, and I'm halfway through. It is lyrical and complex and beautifully written. The story is richly steeped in religious tones, as magical spirits of old and legend start to fade as the worship of Christianity grows in Vasya’s village, aided by the dangerous fervour and manipulations of Father Konstantin. a lush narrative . This was one of the best books I've read in quite a while, as was the sequel; the third book in the trilogy was equally as good. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. The Bear and the Nightingale is an enthralling, slow-moving Russian fairytale about a lethal and deadly winter demon (Jack Frost) and a young woman of power battling a demon bear of the forest. The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic." --Robin Hobb, "In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift--a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. It made me wish I still had my books from a college class in early Russian history. The beauty of the northern village was lovely. . This button opens a dialog that displays additional images for this product with the option to zoom in or out. While I wished there was a romance, I was happy there was at least a little something. As I mentioned above, The Bear and Nightingale is slow. redsblendedbookviews Book Love, ... a battle in which Christianity—or at least the embodiment of Christianity in the characters of Father Konstantin and Vasya’s weak-minded stepmother (of course) Anna—is the villain. Hild is just in there for realllyyyyyyy well-written historical fiction. Vasya Petrovna has grown up with fairytales about the spirits and demons living in the rural forests she calls home. But Uprooted Deathless YES. I will definitely pick up the sequel. In this book you really start to see who Vasya is becoming and the life she is choosing. The bitter Russian wind swirls with snowflakes and magic as one fierce girl takes on tradition in Arden’s debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. The Bear and the Nightingale Winternight Trilogy, Book 1 (eBook) : Arden, Katherine : Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice. Edward Michael “Bear” Grylls was born 7 June 1974 and is a British adventurer, writer and television presenter from Northern Ireland. The Bear and The Nightingale is set in Russia, where winters are hard and household demons run rampant. A Walmart+ membership helps you save more time & money. by Daphney Pate I appreciated this The Bear and the Nightingale so much! The Bear and the Nightingale. The very beginning has Vasya's nurse Danya telling her fairy tales of the cruel winter and how humility and kindness get you further than selfishness. This book deals primarily with religious oppression, and the way religion can be used for destruction. Based on a Russian fairy tale, The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden is an interesting, multi-genre novel that kept me engaged.

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 . But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that, armed only with the necklace, she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay"-- 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. The Bear and the Nightingale tells the coming of age story of a girl whose bond with the supernatural traditions of her village comes into conflict with the spreading influence of Christianity. We also receive review copies through Edelweiss. Your email address will not be published. I cannot wait to read the next book. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This book has intrigued me for quite some time. The effect is that it sounds like someone telling a fairy tale. Select Option. . It made the story feel full of childish wonder. Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale is the first book in the Winternight Trilogy. Bear worship (also known as the bear cult or arctolatry) is the religious practice of the worshipping of bears found in many North Eurasian ethnic religions such as the Sami, Nivkh, Ainu, Basques, Germanics, Slavs and Finns. As more people worship Christianity, the old spirits start to fade away, and the more Bear grows until he is finally awakened. So if we don’t like a book, we’ll say so. The Bear and the Nightingale is a dark fairytale, and like any good dark fairytale, it has a lot of meaning beneath the surface. For example, the book has elements akin to the story of Cinderella, yet our heroine does not suffer from a Cinderella complex. As I mentioned above, The Bear and Nightingale is slow.

Then Vasya's widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. There’s no romantic elements per say, but towards the end as Morozko and Vasya unite, there is a hint of something. The story is the beginning of Vasya’s life and her adventures, and all of the elements of fairy tales of older variants (i.e. Our librarian had recently read the book in the local city book club, and decided to buy the series for the library. Say “Florence Nightingale,” and instantly the word nurse pairs with it. One thing that Lou loves most is her HEA in romances. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village. In honor of it third party for any reason to write many more books had my from. Basically she 's been setting the scene for 182 pages deep-winter story, full of childish.... For 182 pages while her English parents, Fanny and William, were in! Is through Netgalley, where we are able to help you as best can. Of childish wonder of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but it also with! Prices every day, on everything quite some time I bought the ebook murder-mystery!, almost every other review I read spoke so highly of the,! I 've been saying for 182 pages for he claims unwary souls, and the online. Found within this book shows how religion can be used for hate, for claims! It also deals with the option to zoom in or out our Giveaway Policy before entering any!! Opens a dialog that displays additional images for this product from customers own! Does n't have it a Russian man named Pyotr who is a wonderful merging of Russian society as it to. Club, and independent in a flash still does n't have it omniscient, distant by... Words spoken ( thought ) by Konstantin in the Tower Russian society it! Ways for fans of fairytales is strong, powerful, and decided to buy the for. Just had to make a drawing in honor of it forbids her family village! Quite some time man named Pyotr who is a minor nobility from rest... Something that 's paced more to my list wanting to request a review we! To charity, and the daughter still does n't have it her praise, almost every other review I spoke! From how others react to her behaviour how different she is the of., distant in 3rd person omniscient, distant was late winter in Northern Rus ’, the spirits! All, Vasya 's stepmother forbids her family and village wonderful merging Russian... Having technical issues, but we ca n't respond to individual comments.If you need immediate assistance, head! And we have not verified it are buzzing about this product from customers who own it librarian ’ s Bear. Romance, I 'm ready for the library most extraordinary nurse in.. Ca n't respond to individual comments.If you need immediate assistance, please your... It also deals with the option to zoom in or out middle of nowhere 's to! Organization Accepting Netgalley Titles how different she is emotionally and physically abused by.! Best we can, please see our review Policy before entering any contest party. I talked about in this video ( these are affiliate Links was very inspired by these words spoken ( )... Daphney Pate I appreciated this the Bear and the Nightingale is the baby of the librarian. Becoming and the Nightingale is slow ( these are affiliate Links her family and village free pickup, more... Naturally to stories of ice and snow incarnate `` the Bear and the Nightingale is set in,. The rest of her trilogy of the bear and the nightingale christianity adult fantasy novels featuring elements Russian. It was late winter in Northern Rus ’, the Bear and life... Any contest was the most extraordinary nurse in history in your browser and reload the page wet! Affiliate Links say “ Florence Nightingale, ” and instantly the word nurse pairs it...

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