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Book Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Book Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Quote:'Will you tell her? asked the mare. "Everything?" The demon said. "Of bears and sorcerers, spells made of sapphire and a witch that lost her daughter? No, of course not. I shall tell her as little as possible. And hope that it is enough."


One of my early twenty-fifth birthday gifts!
Marina dies giving birth to a girl who grows up to have magical powers like her grandmother. Dunya the nurse of both Marina and her children, is a teller of fairytales. Vasilisa knows these stories and creatures are real.
The novel is old wine in a new bottle, a community/religion against a strong spirited a girl who refuses conformity. Set in northern Rus' of 13-14th century, placed in a village protected by spirits and creatures of folklore.
The novel begins with the Dunya narrating the story of the Frost Demon. And this story is at the center of the entire narrative. For a debut the novel it was entertaining, a perfect refuge from the heat, it is a winter tale. The story is chilly and I love how Vasya tries to balance between her second sight and wildness, against the constant threat of marriage and social norms.
What I disliked was how Anna's character was not developed beyond the angry step-mother. A princess who had second sight and hoped for convent life but is forced to get married feared the domovoi and other spirits as demons, she was underutilized.
Our antagonist Father Konstantin: beautiful, blue eyed-blonde who uses his looks, voice and warmth to install fear of God. So vain that you love to hate him, discourages the pagan way of offerings to spirits, he sells salvation and prayers. I hate the use of "abuse the girl you crush on" trope, because his crush on Vasya is clear as daylight.
Pyotr as a Boyar is a strict but fair father the story needs, but he too could do better than heeding to the second wife, whom he didn't even love.
Sibling bonding was lovely to see, a sensible brother who is willing to dig graves for his sister when the whole village has almost branded her a witch. A little stepsister defies her mother to protect her wild elder sister.
Creatures: bannik, leshy, domovoi, night kind etc are well described

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