“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.”
The Bear and The Nightingale is about a girl named Vasya who must save her village and loved ones from a threat that should belong in the fairytales her nurse Dunya told her. But more than that, it’s about family dynamics, gender roles in society, and the courage to stand up for what you believe in.
“In the north, the wind had teeth that bit after sunset, even in summer.”
This book’s strengths really come through in the setting. Katherine Arden has created a rich and atmospheric world. A hybrid of a Russia rooted in history as well as fantasy, you feel as though you live in this world with the characters. As I was reading I could feel the cold, the chill of the Winter Demon’s words in my ear.
In terms of characters, I loved Vasya, it was impossible not to. She’s wild, she’s fearless, she stands up for what she believes in, she doesn’t conform to what society expects of her, and she has a kind heart. She endures a lot from not only her stepmother, but also her village, but does so with such strength. She has a wonderful relationship with her brother, Aloysha, which was wonderful to read, because so often the most important relationship for a female character will be the one between her and her romantic interest.
“Sleep is cousin to death, Vasya. And both are mine.”
Speaking of romantic interest…I really hope something more develops between Vasya and Morozko because between the scene with them after her nightmare and the kiss, I’m dying to see more interactions between them in the sequel.
Overall, I loved this book so much and I can’t wait to pick up the sequel, The Girl in the Tower! I’ve left more of my favorite quotes below!
“Wild birds die in cages.”
“Vasya felt cold despite the steam. ‘Why would I choose to die?’ ‘It is easy to die,’ replied the bannik. ‘Harder to live.’”
Unseelie Queen of Crows 