R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight, Bk 1) on + 1451 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Sometimes it's hard to write about a book loved enough to rate five stars. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres and I often pick up a fantasy read when I want a release from life and other reading choices. This one was so well done and drew me into the tale so quickly that I knew it would be outstanding.
Having read a few Russian folklore and/or fairy tales previously, a number of the the mythical characters were not new but the way the author developed the story, the conflict, the relationships, and the terror that gripped characters throughout was fascinating. Depicting the crowd mentality against the heroine was indicative of what has happened throughout history (Hitler and the Nazis) and is more recently seen in other political situations.
The heroine is beautiful, strong and brave as heroines should be. Her own magical abilities enable her to cope with death and chaos. Of course, she has help but rather than explain what happens I will focus on the beauty of this book. The author writes flawlessly linking one incident to another without pause. I found I could not put the book down as the story unfurled. I loved her brother, her father, Frost as forbidding as he could be, and detested the bear who thrives on fear and brings fire. It's a magically enthralling read. If one likes fantasy blended with love, conflict, bravery, and adventure this is a read for you.
Having read a few Russian folklore and/or fairy tales previously, a number of the the mythical characters were not new but the way the author developed the story, the conflict, the relationships, and the terror that gripped characters throughout was fascinating. Depicting the crowd mentality against the heroine was indicative of what has happened throughout history (Hitler and the Nazis) and is more recently seen in other political situations.
The heroine is beautiful, strong and brave as heroines should be. Her own magical abilities enable her to cope with death and chaos. Of course, she has help but rather than explain what happens I will focus on the beauty of this book. The author writes flawlessly linking one incident to another without pause. I found I could not put the book down as the story unfurled. I loved her brother, her father, Frost as forbidding as he could be, and detested the bear who thrives on fear and brings fire. It's a magically enthralling read. If one likes fantasy blended with love, conflict, bravery, and adventure this is a read for you.
Shannon M. (confuzzledbooks) reviewed The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight, Bk 1) on + 486 more book reviews
Vasilisa and her family live in the Russian wilderness. She and her siblings love to sit around the fire and listen to tales of magic, myth, and fairy tales. They live in a time when some still left food to honor the spirits of hearth and home. Vasilisa's mother passes, and her father remarries a woman who does not believe in the old tales and refuses to leave things to spirits. The town and its crops start to fail, and Vasilisa, who has magic in her blood, must become part of myth and fairy tales to save her family.
I read this before I read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and there are some similarities in the main character. Vasilisa, like Feyre, loves her family and fights for them, and they both become part of the fairy tale. I love stories like this, with magic and mythology mixed. Some of the book comes close to a horror-like feeling I enjoyed. It reminded me of a Mike Flanagan TV series.
I wished Vasilisa's stepmother had avoided the evil stepmother trope, but the story would have been very different without her.
If you enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses, you might also like this. It is not as spicy as ACOTAR, but there is some romance.
I read this before I read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and there are some similarities in the main character. Vasilisa, like Feyre, loves her family and fights for them, and they both become part of the fairy tale. I love stories like this, with magic and mythology mixed. Some of the book comes close to a horror-like feeling I enjoyed. It reminded me of a Mike Flanagan TV series.
I wished Vasilisa's stepmother had avoided the evil stepmother trope, but the story would have been very different without her.
If you enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses, you might also like this. It is not as spicy as ACOTAR, but there is some romance.
