Incredibly late to the party, The Winter of the Witch takes off right from the first page with action and magic billowing through the pages like a winter storm. Although I loved this tale, I found the ending a bit lacklustre for my taste but enjoyed it all the same.

This was the perfect end to the Winternight trilogy. This book wouldn’t let me go, and I wanted to be reading it all the time. I have no idea what book to follow this with.

This is the third and final installment in The Bear and the Nightingale series, and it is every bit as good - if not - better - than the previous volumes. The story takes up on Vasya's journey through Midnight. To save her family and her country, as well as her love, Vasya needs allies to fight and win the war of all wars. This is one of the best fantasy series I have read in a while and it truly transports you into the magic world of medieval Russia and its battles between faith and pagan beliefs. I loved every minute of this series and this book especially.

I put off reading The Winter of the Witch, partly because I didn't want the series to be over but also because I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my high expectations. It's not often you come across a trilogy that is utterly fantastic from beginning to end, especially a debut one, but the Winternight books have been everything I could have hoped for and then some. The world Katherine Arden created is richly woven with both Russian history and folklore, it's like stepping back in time and falling into a fairytale at the same time and I've loved every minute of it.

Things have been getting progressively harder for Vasya as Father Konstantin has set out to turn the world against her. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that in a world full of magical creatures and monsters the most evil character is an old white dude who uses religion as a weapon to demonise a young girl who has done nothing to deserve it, it's what men have been doing for centuries after all. Really his character was utterly despicable and it makes my blood boil just thinking about him! Anyway, Vasya doesn't give up easily and even when the world has turned it's back on her she won't do the same, especially when her family are in trouble and need her help.

I don't want to say too much about the plot of this final instalment but I will say that Vasya continues to grow as a character. She has come such a long way from the lonely child we first met and is now a confident and powerful young woman who is wise beyond her years. Yes she's made mistakes along the way but she always learns from them and comes out stronger because of it. I like that she's not as reckless as she used to be but she'll always be an action first apologise later kind of character because that's her nature.

This is the perfect series to curl up with on a cold winter's night in front of a fire and with a huge mug of hot chocolate and it's definitely one I'm looking forward to rereading in the future. Katherine Arden is an author to watch out for and her name has been added to my auto-buy list.

This trilogy ending book truly lives up to its predecessors. As magical and fairytale-like as the previous books while still echoing modern concerns. It is magical realism at it's best!

I'm so glad this final book in the trilogy lived up to my expectations. I adored all three books, there was no filler and they were all three quite different as the settings changed and the characters grew. I'll definitely be re-reading these books at some point, they'll join the likes of Naomi Novik's Uprooted and Robin Hobb's books on my favourites shelf.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

Rather late with this review as Christmas got in the way! I enjoyed it just as much as "The bear and the nightingale" and "The girl in the tower". I slightly guessed how it was going to end, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. There just isn't enough fiction about this period of history. Katherine Arden is a great writer and I look forward to reading her next book.

I love love love love this series. I don't think I can say how much I enjoyed reading this series, I can say a little when I say that I own all three books but I also own the audiobooks and I listen to them often when I am working in my studio. The characters are all wonderfully well rounded and relatable, even the ones you're not rooting for; the baddies!

I can't wait to read more from Katherine Arden.

For it not to feel like I'm bringing work home, a book really has to capture my imagination, like the #WinternightTrilogy has. If you haven't read this series yet, do it now. January is the perfect time to get lost in icy (and magical) medieval Russia.

What a fast paced plot and the author plunges the reader straight into the action.

Vasya and other members of her family are moving inexorably towards their destinies but Arden has some plot twists to throw in before the end. There are times when Vasya is in mortal danger and there is a real sense that even her resilience isn't going to get her throug. (please don't read the glossary at the back as it could give a spoiler)

In the underlying subtext there is a message about tolerance and working together towards a common goal. Vasya must swallow her prejudices and pride as must her brother Sasha.. She must also deal with loss and grief.

One of the best features of this trilogy- ending book is the juxtaposition between the two brothers, Morozsko the Frost King and his brother the Bear. The characterisation of the Bear is more nuanced even with glimpses of humour.

Arden provides the reader with the perfect blend of fantasy, Russian history and folklore. Her characters are always fully rounded and vividly depicted. She questions female roles without being anachronistic.

This novel can spoil you for other fantasies due to the pace of the plotting and the intimate knowledge of the setting.

One to rediscover over the years by returning to this magical world. It's like returning to Narnia.

I cannot praise this author enough. I will admit I am totally biased after reading the previous two books. Absolutely delighted to receive a copy from the publishers via netgalley. No way was I disappointed. I love the lyrical and imaginative narrative. The meshing of history and folklore I find to be excellently researched and adds up to an enchanting read. Make no mistake this has never been a sweet fairy story. A battle between warring factions and the stirred conflict between the newly burgeoning Christian religion against the old gods and creatures of home and hearth who are gradually becoming forgotten and are fading away. The old superstitions still exist and are whipped up by the charismatic and besotted priest Konstantin encouraged by the Bear who is free again and out to create chaos.
Following the events of The Girl in the Tower we find Vasya has had to face terrible events in the aftermath of the burning of Moscow. She is isolated and facing loss and hardship but finds herself growing in strength to face the conflict she has to resolve. As a bridge between the two worlds and perhaps to the cost of her very soul she has a daunting task ahead of her. Excellent world building and character portrayal both real and imaginary. Not wanting to give away the ending I will say I am slightly conflicted. Why you might ask basically sad that it has ended but I loved the characters and wish I could read more. Waiting to find out what the author offers us next.

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/01/10/the-winter-of-the-witch-winternight-trilogy-3-by-katherine-arden/
The Winter of the Witch brings to a conclusion Katherine Arden’s stunning Winternight trilogy. The complete series is positively a tour de force and a love letter to Russia from the author, who clearly writes from her heart and with a strong foundation of knowledge. I will start out by saying this is not a book to read as a standalone. I can’t conceive anybody wishing to jump in at this point as there is such a wealth of story building that would be missed as a result. Also, if you haven’t read the previous books this review may contain spoilers.

As with all the best trilogies, for me, this is a story of three different parts brought together with beautiful writing and wonderful creativity. We start with the hook, the first story – The Bear and the Nightingale. Immersed in wonderful folklore, glorious with detail that positively makes the characters and place jump off the page and also brings to us the strange and compelling relationship between a young woman, out of sync with the time in which she’s been born, and a frost demon. The second story, The Girl in the Tower, is jam packed with dramatic adventure, risks and reveals and culminates in a dramatic and fiery ending. The third book picks up immediately where the second left off. Moscow is reeling from fire and death and Vasya is the target for the fear and hate being whipped up into a frenzy by a religious fanatic. On top of this a further threat looms in the shape of a gathering army approaching Moscow.

This book brings to us all the characters that we’ve come to love (and not love). Vasya comes into her own, she finds out about her family and her abilities and discovers much more about the fantastical and unseen world in which she lives. Her sister Olga and her brother Sasha both play roles and Morozko, after commiting a huge sacrifice also plays a further role as the relationship between himself and Vasya takes real form. More than all of that is the creatures that take part in the story, not just the chyerti and the domovoi, but also Baba Yaga, her servant the mistress of midnight, legendary horses and the undead, the upyr. The final character, who really plays a huge role here is Morozko’s twin brother – the Bear of chaos. This is a fascinating character, he creates fear and panic wherever he treads. There are more characters of course but I’m not going to try to name them all here.

In terms of the setting. The whole book has a much darker feel this time round. We start off with Moscow, deep in the throes of chaos itself after the damaging fires from Book 2. People are half crazy with the desire for revenge and the tension is so thick you can almost taste it. Couple this with the very real threat of war, the need to gather armies and the ever present sense of the clock ticking and time marching onwards and it really is enough to create a crazy place. We spend a good deal of time in ‘Midnight’- a place which feels particularly fae where time almost stands still and travelling many leagues with ease can be achieved easily. It’s also an easy place to become lost and definitely a place of tricks and lies.

In terms of criticisms, well, not really a criticism but there is plenty going on here and sometimes there really is a palpable sense of chaos – which is quite fitting when you consider the Bear – but, at the same time some of the threads almost become tangled at points. I felt almost that there was such a lot taking place that it became a bit overwhelming. Personally, I think that this is deliberate on the part of the author and in terms of reading with your heart in your throat it undoubtedly works.

As I mentioned above this book has a much darker feel. Loss, bloodshed, betrayal, mistrust, torture and struggles and death are rife – which you might expect at such a hectic time. Not only are the humans fighting amongst themselves but the creatures are also torn, they’re desperate to remain in a world that is increasingly forgetting their presence and they don’t know who to pin their hopes upon. Here is a strange young woman, a woman who sees them, who challenges conventionality and isn’t afraid to stand up for the downtrodden. She makes mistakes and sometimes she needs help but, at the end of the day, when what she really desires is to be swept off her feet and taken away from all the troubles she instead strides forth and champions the underdogs.

If you were to ask me which book is my favourite I think it would change by the week depending on my mood. All three instalments have a different feel and there are different elements that I love about each. What I can safely say is that this is one of the best trilogies I’ve read for a long time and Katherine Arden is an author that I will watch with eager interest. I have that bittersweet feeling of having reached the finish line of something wonderful and the glow that comes along with it but at the same time that slightly gut wrenching feeling of simply not wanting it all to end. Ah well. That’s the way it crumbles.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I’m running out of superlatives to describe the Winternight Trilogy. By far the most enjoyable and accomplished set of novels I’ve ever read by a “new” author. As of January this is my favourite book so far of 2019 and I’m pretty confident that it will remain so for the rest of the year. A beautifully descriptive and emotional immersion into the world of Vasilisa Petrovna and a great introduction to Russian folklore. There were many tears shed at the end, purely at the thought that I was coming to the end of the trilogy. Definitely a series to read and reread again and again. Amazing stuff.

I adored this beyond measure.

I am a huge fan of this trilogy, have been ever since reading the very first chapter of the first book. I was both super excited and a bit apprehensive before reading this book – but I didn’t have to worry because Katherine Arden absolutely sticks the landing here. This book is both a great conclusion to this brilliant series as well as a great book in its own right.

What Arden does better than most authors I read is building an atmosphere so immersive I become lost in her (impeccably researched) world. I found reading this book a very rewarding experience and I am definitely a life-long fan. Drawing on Russian fairy tales and real world figures to build a world uniquely her own, Arden tells a story of a girl and her choices. Whatever happens in this book is always filtered through Vasya’s lenses and her destiny and I am in love with this. Vasya is a difficult character but someone I could not help root for. I wanted her to find her place and be happy. She is allowed to be prickly and nurturing, she can be rash and caring, and altogether wonderfully rounded. Her relationship to the Winter King just worked for me in this book (I was not fully on board in the book before) and I really liked the overwhelming tenderness between those two.

I adore how the world becomes more complicated as Vasya grows and the scope increases. Things that seemed very black and white to her in the first book become more ambivalent, people grow while staying true to their characterization, and overall the world becomes ever more believable.

Arden has a very distinct and very beautiful writing style that hints at her influences while being very much her own thing and from the very first chapter I was glad to be back in her capable hands. There is a rhythm to her writing that I find very beautiful and this coupled with a story that wraps up strong makes this a strong contender for my favourite book of this year (I just know it’ll make the list).

I read The Bear and the Nightingale in early 2017 and I have been obsessing over the Winternight trilogy ever since. These have been the books I have literally devoured over night. That was the case with The Bear and the Nightingale and definitely the case with The Girl in the Tower. I tried to take my time with The Witch of the Winter because I knew it was the last one, and yet it was also gone within 2 days. What I’m trying to say is that this trilogy has been with me for a while and I’m sad to see it end. What am I going to look forward to now? Thanks to Penguin Random House, Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know if I made my love for the Winternight trilogy clear enough. This trilogy is a part of the fairy tale/Russian folklore revival that has swept through the bookstores lately and it is a definite standout for me. Although I’ve adored Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente and the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, none of them hit home the way Winternight did. Throughout her three books, Katherine Arden took a genuine passion for storytelling and Russian folklore and turned it into something that is both original and an homage. The whole story rests on the shoulders of Vasya, Arden’s brilliant main character, as she takes on the expectations of both the fantastical and the human world. Throughout all three books, Vasya continues to come into her own while encountering both magic and religion, cruelty and love, and freedom and imprisonment. I love the fantastical and I always have, so as I found myself waiting for the next installment that is what I expected myself to miss. But instead of hungering for more on the domovoi or magical horses, my mind kept returning to Vasya and her journey. I think it impressive that despite all the spectacle of the Winternight trilogy, Arden’s main character remains as central as she does, not once overwhelmed by her own narrative.

I’m just going to keep talking about Vasya as I review The Winter of the Witch, I think. The novel picks up almost exactly where The Girl in the Tower left off, with Moscow saved but burning. The end of The Girl in the Tower was both a victory and a loss for Vasya, and it is in this confusion that we find her. The first few chapters of this novel are intense, as Vasya faces an angry mob out for her blood. When I say intense, I mean intense. Arden does not sugarcoat the violence of mobs nor the damage of their fired up fear. Neither does she forget about it once the book passes. Much of The Winter of the Witch is dedicated to Vasya trying to overcome her trauma by taking one step after the other, facing her own fears and remembering why she does what she does. In the end, she has to find an answer to the question of who is good and who is bad. The answer Arden, through Vasya, gives us surprised me initially until I realized how true it is. In The Winter of the Witch Vasya comes into her own, with all the good and evil that entails. It is a whirlwind of a book that not only brings together all the different story threads Arden so carefully arranged in the last two books, but that also brings us to a crucial point in Russian history, the Battle of Kulikovo. Vasya’s path is on a collision course with fate and throughout she remains as resilient and loveable as a witch can be.

So what is there left for me to say about Katherine Arden and her writing in The Winter of the Witch. I really think I might have said all of this before but here we go. I adored the way she writes about the Russian landscape and how her love for folklore comes through in how she describes it. I was impressed that she didn’t shy away from the ugly, but also didn’t let it outshine the beautiful. I raved about the way Arden continues to mix history and fantasy together in her narrative in my review of the first book. I’m sure I managed to work it into my review for the second book as well but here we are, the third and final book and I’m still not over it. It’s hard to strike a good balance in Historical Fiction between the historical and the fiction, let alone if you actively mix in fantasy and folk lore. It has never felt disingenuous though in the Winternight trilogy. Neither the history nor the fantasy is crammed into the narrative by force. The strict gender laws of 14th century Russia are present and accounted for, but so is the magic that flows through its country side. The only criticism I have for this book is that as Vasya travels through Rus, the timeline of the novel gets a bit confused here or there. Partly this is on purpose, I believe, and partly I can’t talk about it because spoilers. So this is all you’re going to get from me when it comes to negative things.

All in all I simply can’t end this review with saying just how much I adored The Witch of the Winter. Much of the above words are dedicated to the trilogy as a whole, but The Witch of the Winter is full of highs and lows, moments of exploration and adventure, but also moments of loss and bitterness. We truly get the full range of human emotions here and that is what has made all three books so masterful. I’m going to miss waiting for the next Winternight book to come out.

If you’re a fan of either Fantasy novels, Historical Fiction or just good writing, please check out The Winter of the Witch. But not until after you’ve read the other two books of the Winternight trilogy. Truly, do yourself a favour, love yourself in 2019 and get started on these books. Also, someone tell me what Katherine Arden is writing next because I can only wait so long.

This is simply one of the most beautiful series I have ever read. Actually, probably the most beautiful.
As this is book three I will try to avoid spoilers.

This book made me cry, smile, sigh, angry,hopeful. It wrenched my heart out and only an incredible book could do that.

Vasya goes through such difficult times and never gives up. She discovers different worlds, still gets harassed about being a witch, has to help her country, makes bargains. I love strong female characters but she, especially, felt real to me. She goes through a lot of pain and suffering and yet, always has that spark of hope to keep her going.

If you like well written books, folklore, magic, an incredible atmosphere, strong female characters then this series is for you. It’s my favourite and I have already reread books 1 and 2 again this year, it is so utterly enchanting you will not be able to put it down.

Having read the previous two books, I was very much looking forward to this one and am extremely happy that I got the chance to read this before release! The author has maintained the coherence of the Russian environment and folklore she used in the previous books, building on her previous success. I still love the characterisation, the attention to detail with the descriptions of the various dhomovoi (?), and the way the Russian folklore and history has been woven into the story which is very much her own. A must-read for fantasy lovers!

I think this is the strongest book in this Russian inspired folkloric trilogy – and I loved the first two instalments. It’s a grittier read in terms of setting – I mean Moscow is in ashes so it’s a bleak and harrowing start! But there is still that whimsy and very visual component to the prose and the story. The fairy tale feel, in fact. Vasya is a delight and I love how her character has grown throughout the series. Simply beautiful – highly recommend.

Katherine Arden completes the wonder that is the stellar Winternight trilogy, and leaves me in pieces, distraught with a deep sense of loss that this is the end. This is epic storytelling as it begins with the ashes of Moskva and a traumatised people susceptible to the charismatic priest Konstantin, a man overcome by a maelstrom of feelings, with fear of Vasya dominating. Branded a witch and pariah, Vasya is to be tested beyond human endurance, acquiring a fire within, wracked with grief and loss. Immersed in magic within the vast enchanted lands of Midnight, she travels exhausted and broken, becoming aware of her family history and legacy, making her the heir to her unforgiving great grandmother, but Vasya has much to learn. The winter king, the death god Morozko, has sacrificed himself for Vasya, but at a terrible price as the spirit of chaos, the bear, is unleashed on a Moscow already on its knees, as the diminished power of the chyerti leaves its open to the further incoming bloodlust, death and destruction.

The Grand Prince of Moskva, Dmitrii, Vasya's cousin is beseiged by dangers from all sides, the rising power of Konstantin, now discarding all remnants of his Christian faith for a devil's bargain with the bear in return for power. The Tatars with vast forces of fighting men, under the leadership of Mamai, seek silver from Dmitrii, with plans to decimate and conquer Rus through war, if the silver is unforthcoming. Terrified for her family and Rus, Vasya seeks Morozko, unprepared for what she finds. In this dark fairytale, Vasya comes of age, becomes a woman, becoming aware of her abilities, exercising her magic and rallying to become the third force of power as many chyerti, and Pozhar, the firebird, form an alliance with her. Magic, however, is a gift and a curse, rich in its temptations, but exposing her to an all consuming madness that threatens all that ties her to her family, Rus, humanity, and love. To fight the forces that threaten Rus and her family, Vasya ventures into unthinkable terrritory, making common cause with the spirit of chaos, revealing they share more more than she has forseen. Only unity can offer the miniscule hope of winning the David and Goliath battles that loom, offering a future for co-existence between Christian, Pagan and the Grand Prince, and the foundation for an independent Rus.

War rallies disparate parties but inevitably horror, loss and grief are its repercussions, and nothing Vasya can do can prevent the gravest of loss as her grief overflows. The waters of death and the waters of life offer some much needed amelioration as a close spirit joyfully returns. Katherine Arden has taken the framework of actual Russian history, and weaves a spellbinding tale of Vasya, a young woman unwilling to accept convention on the role of women, challenging the path of either marriage or the convent, the only options available. Arden's storytelling is atmospheric, vital, vibrant and unforgettable. It is outstanding, feminist, conjoining the mortal with the immortal, and located in the rich mythology and legends of Russian folklore. I don't know what Arden will do next, but I guarantee whatever it is, I will be reading it without fail. What can I say?? Just read this. Many thanks to Random House Ebury for an ARC.

Firstly, I have not read the previous two entries in this trilogy. I had not realised this was part of a trilogy until after I started to read the book so I am very late to the proceedings but I will look at the book on its own merits.

Arden’s novel is very well written with very memorable characters. The reader is put in the middle of a situation from the get go and I spent the first third of the book playing catch up. Arden has excelled at doing this far better than say someone like J K Rowling who would spend up to two hundred pages rehashing plot points from previous points to the point where one found their eyes glassing over. Arden doesn’t do this but cleverly mixes them in whilst keeping the plot moving forward. In fact, it is very rare that anyone characters or writers ever come up for breath which is a testament to her writing style.

The characters are fully developed and lead you by the hand with their emotive detailing. Her characters emote some strong emotions from the reader which what captivated me. Arden also doesn’t make some easy half hearted decisions but informed hard hitting ones that leaves the reader devastated but satisfied by the character arcs.

The plot is thrilling and moves forward and is embroiled in intrigue, mystery and politics of the land. She has an excellent style of bringing these to the fore and given the reader some real meat to sink their teeth into. This is a excellent novel that really captures the imagination mind and soul.

Overall, this is a very accomplished novel that hits all the plot points very well. My only fault is with myself that I hadn’t read the first two in the series because it would have kept me more in the loop. This didn’t necessarily ruin my enjoyment of this book, but after reading the finale, it gave me little cause to read the first two. Saying this, at some point, I will be scoping these out to see how the story began. This is a phenomenal work of art that captures the heart and the thrilling adventure kept the pages turning well through the night. Unstoppable piece of fiction that keeps going until the end which broke my heart as I was totally immersed in the character’s fates.