Katherine Arden

Vasya, forced to choose between an arranged marriage and life in a convent, flees in the disguise of a boy before her defeat of a band of terrorizing bandits earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow.

The Girl in the Tower

Taryn

“Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet” ~ Morozko

“To small minds,” she told him, spine very straight, “any skill must look like sorcery” ~ Vasya 

“You are angry and not sure who to be angry with” ~ Kasyan 

“The living need you more than the dead. And they are harder to comfort.”

I did not know I was lonely, she thought, until I was no longer alone. 

“The more one knows, the sooner one grows old”

I’m not a morning person. This explains a lot. 

The part where they thought Vasya was a boy… So cringe I can’t 😭. 

How many times does it need to be emphasized that others perceive Vasya as ‘boyish’ AAAH. 

"The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home--but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege"--

A Novel

Mari

For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark: marriage or life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way: magic. . . The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse. Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical. . . A spellbinding fairytale full of magic and wonder, perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. *Make sure you've read all the books in the Winternight Trilogy* 1. The Bear and the Nightingale 2. The Girl in the Tower 3. The Winter of the Witch

(Winternight Trilogy)

The Girl in The Tower

Natasha Johnson

A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian wilderness, where snowdrifts reach the eaves of her family’s wooden house and there is truth in the fairy tales told around the fire. Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention of Morozko—Frost, the winter demon from the stories—and together they saved her people from destruction. But Frost’s aid comes at a cost, and her people have condemned her as a witch. Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey. But after Vasilisa prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself. Praise for The Girl in the Tower “[A] magical story set in an alluring Russia.”—Paste “Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review) “[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “[Katherine] Arden once again delivers an engaging fantasy that mixes Russian folklore and history with delightful worldbuilding and lively characters.”—Library Journal

She did it again captivating me before and after midnight, buzz and all

Annabella

Linara K.S

The ending was a bit too dragged imo. 
HOWEVER, other than that, it was a perfect sequel and i can't wait to read the last book.

Abigail

Book two in the Winternight Trilogy was much more plot driven than book one. I missed some of the atmospheric storytelling, but I enjoyed reading about Sasha and Olya again.

Cheri McElroy

Kelsey Munson

Like the first book in this trilogy, the atmosphere here is bewitching and entrancingly descriptive. If you enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale, you are likely to enjoy this one if not more. We see more action in The Girl in the Tower now that characters have been introduced and I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing more than I did compared to the first book and seeing characters that I liked grow into characters that I love. I couldn’t put this one down after I hit the second half of the story and I immediately reached for the third when I finished.

Denaiir

I really enjoyed the 2nd part of the story and more specifically the way the author blended the fantastical elements with what felt like a very realistic historical Russia. 
I really enjoyed Vasya's character development and loved Morozko even more in this one.
I didn't care that much for the other characters though, and the rythm was a bit slo sometimes but overall a very enjoyable experience. 
I am looking forward to reading book 3.

"Thus Vasilisa Petrovna, murderer, savior, lost child, rode away from the house in the fir-grove. The first day ran on as an adventure might, with home behind and the whole world before them. As the hours passed, Vasya's mood went from apprehensive to giddy, and she pushed the sour remains of loss and confusion to the back of her mind" (64)

So sets the basis for "The Girl in the Tower", the second book in the Winternight trilogy. Here, Vasya is shunned out of her home, and she chooses to become an adventurer. Disguising as a boy, and thanks to Morozko, she ventures out of her small town to see the world and everything it has to offer. However, this involves fighting bandits and meeting up with her family again, which provides for its own problems as she tries to maintain her independence.

In the first part, I thought it would be a story told from another point of view, but by the end of that, it reminded me of the beginning of the first book. We have a few stories, and life in the terem, before suddenly re-introducing Vasya. In retrospect, I really appreciated how it gave a look at Olga and Sasha's new lives, along with how they deal with the events at the end of the first book.

Of course, Vasya's journey and how she faces off with creatures and humans alike still intrigues me. One thing which stands out is her relationship with Morozko, who helps her out in the beginning and makes her promise to always wear that blue sapphire. In some cases, it gets really intimate--"The coolness of the winter night hung around his body, but his skin was warm. He wrapped them both in his blue cloak. Vasya sneezed when the fur tickled her nose" (85) Along with their kiss, I assumed that they might bet together, which makes the ending all the more surprising.

Considering she disguises herself as a boy, Vasya's misadventures also provide a show about to drop in when she would be exposed. It's interesting how she interacts with Kasyan and his crew; when she saves the three little girls from the Tatars, I always assumed that would be the plot. When she gets further entrenched with the machinations of the Grand Prince, it was a matter of time before she was exposed.

The climax was intense, as everything started clashing together. From Vasya having to choose between her sister and her niece in childbirth, to Moscow catching fire, it seemed like everything built up together for a final battle. The last chapter being "the day of Forgiveness" ties it up nicely.

"The Girl in the Tower" adds to Vasilisa's legend in a good way, and Katherine Arden shows off her writing and research yet again. The difference is how I felt like the first book had a bit more punch to it (9/10)

Elda Mengisto

"Thus Vasilisa Petrovna, murderer, savior, lost child, rode away from the house in the fir-grove. The first day ran on as an adventure might, with home behind and the whole world before them. As the hours passed, Vasya's mood went from apprehensive to giddy, and she pushed the sour remains of loss and confusion to the back of her mind" (64)

So sets the basis for "The Girl in the Tower", the second book in the Winternight trilogy. Here, Vasya is shunned out of her home, and she chooses to become an adventurer. Disguising as a boy, and thanks to Morozko, she ventures out of her small town to see the world and everything it has to offer. However, this involves fighting bandits and meeting up with her family again, which provides for its own problems as she tries to maintain her independence.

In the first part, I thought it would be a story told from another point of view, but by the end of that, it reminded me of the beginning of the first book. We have a few stories, and life in the terem, before suddenly re-introducing Vasya. In retrospect, I really appreciated how it gave a look at Olga and Sasha's new lives, along with how they deal with the events at the end of the first book.

Of course, Vasya's journey and how she faces off with creatures and humans alike still intrigues me. One thing which stands out is her relationship with Morozko, who helps her out in the beginning and makes her promise to always wear that blue sapphire. In some cases, it gets really intimate--"The coolness of the winter night hung around his body, but his skin was warm. He wrapped them both in his blue cloak. Vasya sneezed when the fur tickled her nose" (85) Along with their kiss, I assumed that they might bet together, which makes the ending all the more surprising.

Considering she disguises herself as a boy, Vasya's misadventures also provide a show about to drop in when she would be exposed. It's interesting how she interacts with Kasyan and his crew; when she saves the three little girls from the Tatars, I always assumed that would be the plot. When she gets further entrenched with the machinations of the Grand Prince, it was a matter of time before she was exposed.

The climax was intense, as everything started clashing together. From Vasya having to choose between her sister and her niece in childbirth, to Moscow catching fire, it seemed like everything built up together for a final battle. The last chapter being "the day of Forgiveness" ties it up nicely.

"The Girl in the Tower" adds to Vasilisa's legend in a good way, and Katherine Arden shows off her writing and research yet again. The difference is how I felt like the first book had a bit more punch to it (9/10)

Rohit Arondekar

Something about The Winternight Trilogy has me hooked. The fairy tale setting of a grim old-time Russia is surprisingly evocative and appealing. Vasya, the protagonist ventures out of her home for the first time and has an adventure of a lifetime. I might update this review with more thoughts on the book, but suffice to say that it is a very good read and builds on the previous book in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale, with great storytelling, world-building, and more Russian folklore. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

momo-reads

It was a little more predictable than the first book but still fun if you love fairy tales.

Colleen

5 Stars

This is my 300th review on Goodreads, and I am so happy it will be for such an amazing book!


  “Every time you take one path, you must live with the memory of the other: of a life left unchosen. Decide as seems best, one course or the other; each way will have its bitter with its sweet.”

First of all, this cover is absolutely gorgeous! It reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia with its soft style and vibrant colors. Just looking at it made me ready to gallop off on an adventure!

My fears that the sequel would not live up to the first book were absolutely unfounded. The Girl in the Tower is as good as, and in some ways surpasses, The Bear and the Nightingale. It is amazing that this is only Arden's second book! If she keeps on writing this good, she could easily become one of my favorite authors. The writing in both books were atmospheric, rich, stunning, strong, and immersive. I could hardly put it down and resented every real-life thing that interrupted us. 

Once again, Arden revived that old fairytale feeling. Not the fluffy modern day meaning of the word. No, these stories harken back to the days when fairytales had lessons and people had brutal fates. The emotions were raw, and the tone was ominous and dark like old fairytales. The winter was not the cheery let's-build-a-snowman-and-drink-hot-cocoa type, but rather the bone-chilling, freeze to death type. It was so atmospheric and enchanting. I practically expected to look up and see a domovoi peeking around the corner. 

The one main thing I wanted more of from the first book was insight into Vasya. She was not in the beginning of this story which worried me at first. But again my fears were unfounded. The story features plenty of Vasya. Her storyline was so empowering and absolutely wonderful to read! Like The Bear and the Nightingale, this story is just as much about Vasya's family as it was about her. I enjoyed getting to know them better as well. And then there were Solovey and Morozko. Damn did I love them both. There were so many poignant moments in this book. It was truly a beautiful and haunting story. I don't like that people keep trying to compare this series to so many other books, because it is unique and deserves more recognition. 


  "She was the wind, the clouds gathering in the smoky sky, the thick snow of deep winter. She was nothing. She was everything. The power gathered somewhere in the space between them, between her flickers of awareness. There is no magic. Things are. Or they are not. She was beyond wanting anything. She didn't care whether she lived or died. She could only feel; the gathering storm, the breath of the wind.”

I can't say much about the plot without spoilers. It does continue on from where the first book ended. It was definitely faster paced and had a more linear plot. And while it was absolutely a page turner, there were times when I missed the slow build of the first book and the deeper exploration of Russian folklore. There was still plenty of lore in the story but less of the storytelling air to it. That did not detract from my enjoyment of The Girl in the Tower at all, but I did think fondly of those moments. 

There was also a note about Russian names and a glossary at the end. These would have been better at the front of the book, but that's just nitpicking. People would insist on putting glossaries at the end books where you don't find them until it's too late. But it was still useful. Between that and Arden's many source references, it is clear that she put a lot of time and effort into bringing both a culture and a time period to life. Indeed, the combination of the vivid historical detail and the haunting folklore was gorgeous. 

The Girl in the Tower absolutely no middle book syndrome. You should definitely read The Bear and the Nightingale first, but The Girl in the Tower is a full book on its own. Yes, it does build up for the third book in the trilogy, but it is not just filler the way many middle books are.

This was definitely of the best books I read this year, and I am undeniably excited to read The Winter of the Witch!!


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 5 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 5 Stars

I liked this more than the first book! Let me try to explain why. 

 - Most of the events in this story seemed to actually serve the plot. That was one of my problems with the first book: to me it just felt too long and unnecessary. It’s okay to have events or descriptions that are just there to ‘set the scenery/mood’. But sometimes it can be too much. 

- It created questions, which I wanted answered. This kept me reading. 

- Interesting characters, with dept and own motivations and lives. 

But, there were still some things that I didn’t like. 

For example, the extreme repetition of character descriptions. Again I got the ‘yeah I get it already’ thought in my head. 

I liked this more than the first book! Let me try to explain why. 

 - Most of the events in this story seemed to actually serve the plot. That was one of my problems with the first book: to me it just felt too long and unnecessary. It’s okay to have events or descriptions that are just there to ‘set the scenery/mood’. But sometimes it can be too much. 

- It created questions, which I wanted answered. This kept me reading. 

- Interesting characters, with dept and own motivations and lives. 

But, there were still some things that I didn’t like. 

For example, the extreme repetition of character descriptions. Again I got the ‘yeah I get it already’ thought in my head. 

Natalia Henriquez

Lauren Nicole

Rarely, have I been able to say I enjoyed a sequel the same, if not more than the first in a series. While I’ve noticed that both The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower have slow—and at times, dragging—beginnings, this novel definitely did not disappoint. 

I find Katherine Arden’s writing compelling and eloquent as is usually found in the fantasy genre, but it remains to hold your attention through its complexities. In her author’s note, Arden speaks to how much historical detail is lost in the novel, though she does her best to create depth within the personalities of her characters and the politics of the time period. I think she balanced it perfectly in a way that I often have not seen done so well. I also appreciate the dedication Katherine Arden puts into researching for her novels and (at least for someone who does not know Russian history all that well) seems to produce fantastic writing, in my opinion. 

I found The Girl in the Tower to be more interesting than the first of the trilogy; it felt much more action packed and the personalities and relationships of the characters evolve further. We got to see more of the Russian folklore play into this sequel and I’m anticipating even more as I close out the trilogy with The Winter of the Witch.

I really enjoyed this read. I have no idea why I waited so long in between books, though I am a second-hand book buyer so it's likely I waited around for a while before I found my copy. I am also DISTINCTLY MAD that I don't already own the third book. (You see the problem. I'll get there.)

If you enjoyed the first book, you'll enjoy this second one. It's a very different narrative, but still consistent with the first book's style and world. This one goes hard on what it means to be a woman in 1450s Russia, which was definitely an element in the first book as well that was fairly important. But in this one, Vasya is dealing with all the different kinds of expectations as an adult woman who wants to heed literally none of them. (Good for her.)

I don't want to spoil anything, but I must say the villain infuriated me and that I'm looking forward to seeing how the third book picks up after the ending of this second book.

There's nothing about this book that I'd change, but I will say it can be depressing at times due to just how poorly society treats women in the books which made it just not quite my perfect vibe. But this is not fiction, and I fully know this is history. This is just a personal preference note.

Kirsten Simkiss

I really enjoyed this read. I have no idea why I waited so long in between books, though I am a second-hand book buyer so it's likely I waited around for a while before I found my copy. I am also DISTINCTLY MAD that I don't already own the third book. (You see the problem. I'll get there.)

If you enjoyed the first book, you'll enjoy this second one. It's a very different narrative, but still consistent with the first book's style and world. This one goes hard on what it means to be a woman in 1450s Russia, which was definitely an element in the first book as well that was fairly important. But in this one, Vasya is dealing with all the different kinds of expectations as an adult woman who wants to heed literally none of them. (Good for her.)

I don't want to spoil anything, but I must say the villain infuriated me and that I'm looking forward to seeing how the third book picks up after the ending of this second book.

There's nothing about this book that I'd change, but I will say it can be depressing at times due to just how poorly society treats women in the books which made it just not quite my perfect vibe. But this is not fiction, and I fully know this is history. This is just a personal preference note.

Sofia Nunes

“Think of me sometimes," he returned. "When the snowdrops have bloomed and the snow has melted.”
  


  
    “Only boys and fools think men are first in courage. We do not bear children.” 
  

A dazzling and very cold adventure set in medieval Russia!! I mean, could I ask for more? Katherine Arden just blends history with fantastical so well, it's true magic.

Morozko has my heart. Vasya is a badass in whatever she does.
But Konstantin was by far the most interesting one.




  
    “Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.”

(Bre)anne✨

Izza

Aditi

True to form, I read this book before I read the first one in the series. I mistook this to be the initiation of the trilogy, and was momentarily confused with I started reading The Bear and the Nightingale (Book 1), until I realised what had happened. I enjoyed both the books, but I liked this better because I suppose it implies so many things about book 1 that when I read it, I had nothing to look forward to. Oops. 

The author is astonishingly assured, and since I've never previously read up on Russian folklore, all the elements of fantasy were new to me, and I loved it. It's been a long time since this has happened (perhaps also because I haven't read to much in the past few years. Still.). I was cheering for all the characters.

Jenna

This SERIES is so beautiful, it's like time doesn't exist when i'm reading it. 1 star off because I wish there was a more in depth view into some characters especially Kasyan but I had the same critique with the Bear in book 1, I just like villains lol.

Aditi Verma

For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark- marriage or life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way- magic. . . The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse. Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical. . . *The next book in the series, The Winter of the Witch, is available to pre-order*

(Winternight Series)

Shay Henrion

Livia

I'm debating on whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars, because I love the overall story and even though I'm not sure how accurate it is, it feels accurate. This book felt more like an epic story than the previous book which just gives off comforting vibes, and I thoroughly enjoy it. But half of this book plot wouldn't happen if Vasya isn't being impulsive, which is a bit iffy to me. I do love how the characters, even the side ones, are really fleshed out and being given a voice rather than just letting them stand on the sidelines and slowly fade to the background. So, yes, I have decided to give this a 4🌟

Lauren

The Girl in the Tower took a running leap off the lengthy setup and world-building of The Bear and the Nightingale, delivering a classic adventure story all the way through.
Arden's writing is much the same here, not overtly beautiful but captivating still--much the same as Vasya herself is constantly described. It isn't full of imagery or metaphor but still feels lovely and, also like its protagonist, benefits from the new pace.
If you grew up on the 80s and 90s stories of brash young women disguised as men and still feel fondly about them, Vasya's adventures to Moscow will not disappoint. She reckons with her place in a world where women have only two options, brushes up against romance, and faces her own flaws to protect what she loves. Compared with the first book, The Girl in the Tower's story places a bit less emphasis on supernatural encounters with monsters and more on Morozko, magic, and the domovoi. This is more magical and political adventure than banishing risen corpses.
The sequel was a joy to read and I've only not moved on to the third book immediately so I won't feel like I've gobbled down something so enjoyable without taking time to taste it.

Celeste Richardson

The Girl in the Tower is the second installment in Arden’s Winternight trilogy, and I found it just as strong as its predecessor, if not a little stronger. Vasya’s story is well paced, populated with interesting character and lore, and has a lot of heart. Those building blocks mixed with the adult fairy tale vibe made for a very enjoyable reading experience.

Arden does a great job with her characters. Vasya continues to be a force of nature, well developed and likable and compelling. I enjoyed getting to see more of her older siblings, Alexander and Olga, in this portion of the story. Morozko is fascinating, and while he remains mysterious, I felt like some light was shed on his personality and motivations and inner struggles in this book. The few supporting characters who were given any amount of time on the page were colorful. However, my favorite character apart from Vasya was Solovey, without contest. Arden is one of those authors for whom writing lovable, multifaceted animal characters seems to come naturally. All of the horses in this book have plenty of personality, but Solovey wins. He has so much sass, and is such a perfect friend and companion to Vasya throughout their adventures. I deeply wish that such a magnificent, magical horse would appear in my life.

Historical fantasy isn’t a genre I read a lot of, but like other works of historical fiction it always makes me deeply appreciate the time and place in which I live. While there are definitely a plethora of problems in our modern society, there has never been a better time or place to be a woman. Thank God we have more rights and freedoms and options than the women of Russia during this period. The life Vasya’s sister, Olga, leads, the kind of life that is expected for Vasya and every other woman in Moscow at the time, sounds absolutely dreadful. Living your entire life in a tower, getting to leave only to attend church or attend to your husband once married, sounds appalling. 

The writing here is polished, and captures the feel of a fairy tale incredibly well. So well in fact that, while I very much enjoyed the story and the characters, they never felt quite real to me. The stories and characters I come to love most are those that invade my mind when I’m not reading, when I’m doing housework or walking dogs or dreaming. This series doesn’t do that for me. Which is totally fine, as fairy tales never have, either, but it keeps me from making a deeper emotional connection to them.

The lore and mythology remain my favorite aspect of this trilogy. Arden has done a brilliant job at capturing the setting in such a way that the cold is palpable and you can almost see the domovoi Vasya sees. The world building is truly excellent, and I love how Arden builds on the actual history of Moscow in such a way that you can feel both her respect for and infatuation with the area. The concept of modern monotheistic religions like Christianity chasing away traditional pagan beliefs isn’t a new one, but the way it’s handled in this series is very compelling.

I really like both The Girl in the Tower and The Bear and the Nightingale, and I expect The Winter of the Witch to deliver more of the same. So far, it’s a solid, strong series with a multitude of strengths and very few weaknesses. I don’t quite love it, for some reason, but I can see that opinion changing when I revisit it in the future.

The Girl in the Tower

Reviews

Highlights