The Winter of the Witch
Intense
Original
Vibrant

The Winter of the Witch A Novel

Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen. Reviewers called Katherine Arden's novels The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower "lyrical," "emotionally stirring," and "utterly bewitching." The Winternight Trilogy introduced an unforgettable heroine, Vasilisa Petrovna, a girl determined to forge her own path in a world that would rather lock her away. Her gifts and her courage have drawn the attention of Morozko, the winter-king, but it is too soon to know if this connection will prove a blessing or a curse. Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers--and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all. Advance praise for Winter of the Witch "Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy isn't just good--it's hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favorites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better. The Winter of the Witch plunges us back to fourteenth-century Moscow, where old gods and new vie for the soul of Russia, and fate rests on a witch girl's slender shoulders. Prepare to have your heart ripped out, loaned back to you full of snow and magic, and ripped out some more."--Laini Taylor
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Annabella
Annabella@onmyown
4 stars
Jan 1, 2025

Two books in 24 hours. Whoopsie

Photo of Linara K.S
Linara K.S@linara
5 stars
Jul 19, 2024

it took me wayyyy too long to finish this. Ngl, I think I had attachment issues. OVERALL, I loved the trilogy; hope to read more of Katherine Arden and yeah I'm now a big Russian folklore, witch-in-the-winterwoods kinda girl.

Photo of Hanna Rybchynska
Hanna Rybchynska@hannarbc
5 stars
May 3, 2024

After reading the last book of this trilogy, I can definitely say: "this is one of my favourite trilogies"! It was really good. I already told you about mythology and how good it was written. Now, I need to add that this book has an incredible fairy-tale atmosphere. It took me 2 books to understand why I was enjoying it so much. Now I know! The descriptions, the action, the politics and most important the characters. It all blent perfectly together, and the masterpiece was created.

Photo of kareem choucair
kareem choucair @kareem
2.5 stars
Feb 12, 2024

it dragged towards the end.

Photo of Mari
Mari@mythicalreads
5 stars
Jan 30, 2024

the 5 stars is for Solovey

+3
Photo of Kelsey Munson
Kelsey Munson@munnyreads
4 stars
Oct 11, 2023

While the plot line was sometimes lost on me, the writing in this trilogy is beautiful. There were arcs in this story that almost made it feel like I was reading two separate books instead of a single cohesive one. While I enjoyed what happened in The Winter of the Witch, this was not my favorite in the series. I adored (most of) the characters in The Winternight Trilogy. Vasya is a fantastic protagonist and I was sad to reach the last page of her story.

Photo of Denaiir
Denaiir@denaiir
4 stars
Oct 3, 2023

3.5 stars I was really happy to follow these characters for one more adventure and liked the relationship that Vasya had with both Morozko and The Bear, with the chyerti and all the supernatural creatures. However, I didn't care that much about the human characters (her family, the warriors) nor the human plots about the Tatars' invasion or politics, betrayals and scheming. Overall it was still very original and whimsical, but perhaps a little less charming and captivating. (view spoiler)[ I was extremely sad when Solovey died at the beginning of the book, and I always kept hope in my heart that he would be back, so the ending was just perfection for me. (hide spoiler)] The last thing that I want to mention is that I loved the accent of the narrator (so many audiobooks have narrators who don't know how to pronounce names.... looking at you Beartown and The Gentleman's Guide), however I didn't really like her overall performance, I think I would have preferred the paper version this time.

Photo of momo-reads
momo-reads@momo-reads
5 stars
May 4, 2023

Such a great ending to the trilogy!

Photo of Colleen
Colleen@mirificmoxie
5 stars
Apr 15, 2023

5 Stars and all the hearts! **My #1 best read of 2018** *ARC provided by Random House / Ballantine via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.* I was over the moon to get an ARC of The Winter of the Witch. I adored the first two books and was so eager to read the final book of the series. I was a little nervous about whether or not it would live up to my expectations, but The Winter of the Witch was absolutely everything I hoped it would be and more! Actually, this is my top read of 2018! If you haven’t heard of the Winternight trilogy, it is a series set in medieval Russia involving Russian folklore. It is a wonderful, richly told, atmospheric story. Arden expertly weaves historical facts with classic lore and cultural exploration. This series has so many things I love: a powerful yet flawed heroine, adventure, mythology, magic, emotion, and thought-provoking ideas. The writing has just the right balance between action and character development. There are humorous moments and heart-wrenching ones. And through is that undefinable essence of old storytelling like something deep and elemental springing up from a time gone by. It’s so astounding that this was Arden’s debut series! (And I will also add that I greatly appreciate that each book was released in a timely manner!) There are three conflicts entwined within the stories: The political machinations between Rus’ and the Tatars, new religion versus old beliefs and customs, and Vasya’s struggle to find her place between societal expectations and her own desires. This is such a powerful story. It reminded me of why I love to read. I really could go on and on and on about how much I love this book, but I don’t want to give away much more about the story. You can read my reviews on the first two books ( The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower ) if you would like more details about the series. But I highly recommend it! I cannot wait to see what Katherine Arden comes out with next!! 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

Photo of Lauren Nicole
Lauren Nicole@nebula
5 stars
Feb 22, 2023

What can I even say about this book? It’s been a long time since I started it and a full year of a reading slump to get to here, but when I say this series is my absolute favourite, I truly mean that despite how long it’s taken me to finish. The Winternight trilogy is stunning in so many ways and The Winter of the Witch might have been my favourite of the three. Everything about it absolutely beautiful and Vasya has to be one of, if not my absolute, favourite heroines. Also that ending, though? My HEART.

Photo of Sofia Nunes
Sofia Nunes@sofianuns
4 stars
Jan 23, 2023

“I have plucked snowdrops at Midwinter, died at my own choosing, and wept for a nightingale. Now I am beyond prophecy.” This was a most definitely stunning and fitting ending. I didn't know much of Russian folklore before reading this trilogy, and to have followed Vasya's journey through loss, victory, and sacrifice, I'm happy to have traveled those worlds with her. I loved the lands of Midnight most (Deb Grib is the cutest mushroom companion anyone could ask for) and the prose of this book transported me right to winter and battle. To see that the Battle of Kulikovo was featured was a great surprise and it just astonished me how much research and studying must have happened behind the writing. This is one of my favorite trilogies for sure, and one to return to every winter. Who knew demon-frost kings would be so kind? “As I could, I loved you.”

Photo of Rachel Kanyid
Rachel Kanyid@mccallmekanyid
3 stars
Jan 15, 2023

Overall enjoyed this series, but I thought that this last book just did not hold as much charm as the other two books.

Photo of (Bre)anne✨
(Bre)anne✨@breanne
4.5 stars
Dec 27, 2022

TW to be added later


RTC

This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Izza
Izza@m0thermayi
3 stars
Dec 9, 2022

3 stars |

Photo of abi a
abi a@abiblu
5 stars
Nov 15, 2022

this series was so good

Photo of Aditi
Aditi@syahitya
5 stars
Nov 10, 2022

An astonishingly self assured author. A book worthy of the first two books of the series. I'm so glad I stumbled upon it, and all the three books pulled me into themselves so that I forgot I was not there with the characters. Ms. Arden is a find and a keeper.

Photo of Jenna
Jenna@jenkew
4 stars
Nov 9, 2022

Still not as good as book 1 for me but still amazing

Photo of Sophie L Smith
Sophie L Smith @soph_reads
5 stars
Oct 7, 2022

This trilogy was been everything I've ever wanted in a book, it has taken to me to another world which I want to get lost in with prose so beautiful I often found myself rereading chapters just to be caught up in this world a little longer, it handles subjects like death and faith with a beautiful perspective that made me cry at times, the tension between characters is tangible and electrifying it brings everything to life. Vasya isn't just some beautiful maiden and that's what I loved the most about this she is frequently referred to as frog mouthed and yet she enchanted so many people and constantly rose to any challenge in her path. Growing up I read fantasy books with boys as the lead and longed for a story to represent a girl as the hero. This series will always be so close to my heart and I will reread it again and again to revisit this world and share in her triumphs and losses.

Photo of Cheri McElroy
Cheri McElroy@cherimac
4 stars
Sep 5, 2022

This was a satisfying conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy. It wasn’t a bed of roses, and the cost of war came at a price. I liked the evolution of Vasya to a strong and smart woman who stood with a foot in two worlds, caring for both. And, be still my heart, Solovey.❤️

Photo of Aditi Verma
Aditi Verma@mixedblessings89
5 stars
Aug 28, 2022

An astonishingly self assured author. A book worthy of the first two books of the series. I'm so glad I stumbled upon it, and all the three books pulled me into themselves so that I forgot I was not there with the characters. Ms. Arden is a find and a keeper.

Photo of Shay Henrion
Shay Henrion@shaysbookshelf
5 stars
Aug 28, 2022

This trilogy just speaks to me on some deep level i can’t identify. I love it so much.

Photo of Megan Paterson
Megan Paterson@beirabooks
5 stars
Aug 23, 2022

Sad to say goodbye but the perfect end to this incredible trilogy.

Photo of Savannah Winchell
Savannah Winchell@savantagonist
5 stars
Aug 14, 2022

😭😭😭👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🔥🔥🔥👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻😭😭😭

Photo of Livia
Livia@livinginsolitude
5 stars
Aug 13, 2022

That was probably one of the most satisfying final book i have read. The characters are all well-rounded and went through great character arcs, the plot is amazing and, at some parts, unexpected, and Vasya as a main character truly is what brings it all together. I love how even though she is still reckless, she became smart and owns up to her mistakes. She's morally gray, because she would do what it takes to achieve something, but even then she has the best intentions at heart. I truly hate Konstantin throughout the series, but i just realized how misguided he is. He is a man of faith, and not being sure at what he believed in and being left by the people he thought cared for him leaves a mark, which leads him to graps on anything he could. Needless to say, I love Sasha. And to me, what happen to him at the end is fitting for this series.

Highlights

Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘Men make themselves afraid,” the Bear told her, smiling. “Imagining is worse than anything they actually see.’

Page 311
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘All her life she would mourn something she did not know she’d lost.’ - Vasya

Page 211
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘If you spend all your days bearing the burden of unforgotten wrongs you will only wound yourself.’ - Morozko

Page 198
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘I do not like him.’


‘I fear,’ said Sergei, ‘that he does not care in the slightest.’

Page 191
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘There are things that have no words’ - Vasya

Page 189
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

She felt like a girl hurled unwary into a tale she didn’t understand, with folk all around waiting for her to take up a part she didn’t know.

Page 106
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘The more one knows, the sooner one grows old,’ snapped the domovaya.

Page 90
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

She was going to die after all, with only the dust of someone else’s life for company.

Page 85
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

Chapter: To Travel by Midnight


The chapter of gritting teeth and doing everything ‘gingerly’

Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘There are no monsters in the world, and no saints. Only infinite shades woven into the same tapestry, light and dark. One man’s monster in another man’s beloved. The wise know that.’ ~ Medved/The Bear

Page 62
Photo of Taryn
Taryn@tarynhakvoort

‘She really was ugly. Big eyes, wide mouth, jutting bones. But he could not look away’.

Page 29

Really. You wouldn’t say.


-> That’s called sarcasm. How many times can this be repeated??? YES I KNOW, I UNDERSTAND.

Photo of Lisa van der Heijden
Lisa van der Heijden @littlemeadowreads

I am a witch. I have to plucked snowdrops at Midwinter, died at my own choosing and wept for a nightingale. Now I am beyond prophecy

Page 151
Photo of Lisa van der Heijden
Lisa van der Heijden @littlemeadowreads

I am not afraid to die.

Page 147