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The Winter Of The Witch

The Winter Of The WitchTitle: The Winter of the Witch
Author: Katherine Arden
Series: Winternight #3
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance
Spice: 1.5 / 5
Format: Kindle
Pages: 400
Reason Read: Play Book Tag
Rating:

Also in this series: The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower
My Thoughts

So many emotions while reading THE WINTER OF THE WITCH. So many. First, I take back what I said in my review of THE GIRL IN THE TOWER of finding someone else I hate more than Brother Konstantin Nikonovich. There is no other character I hate more in all of literature except for Professor Umbridge.

This story was beautiful and sad and intense and romantic and spiritual and ethereal all in one go. I’ve really learned to love the characters in this trilogy. I wish we got to visit some of the characters from The Bear and the Nightingale again, but I understand why Vasya stayed away. Instead I loved her brother and sister, Sasha and Olya, and the Grand Prince of Moscow, Dmitrii. I also loved little Marya and her propensity to act like Vasya. I loved Olya’s servant Varvara.

Then, of course, there’s the unseen characters. I adore Morozko and my only complaint about this trilogy would be that he wasn’t in the stories more. My favorite part of the story is when Morozko calls Vasya “beloved”–swoon. I love sweet Solovey, Vasya’s bay stallion. Pozhar was a force to be reckoned with and I enjoyed learning more about her and the other horses. I really loved the mythos of the chyerti; all they wanted to do was survive in a world of men and growing Christianity. I trusted them much more than the humans. Because of that, they quickly wormed their way into my heart.

I especially loved the fiction intermingled with the 14th century Russian history. I again adored the Russian setting. The language, buildings, scenery, clothes, food–they were a joy to read about. I also liked that the ending was left open enough that Arden can revisit this world again if she wants to.

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The Girl In The Tower

The Girl In The TowerTitle: The Girl in the Tower
Author: Katherine Arden
Series: Winternight #2
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance
Spice: 0.5 / 5
Format: Kindle
Pages: 362
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: The Bear and the Nightingale, The Winter of the Witch
My Thoughts

THE GIRL IN THE TOWER was just as enchanting as THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE. I’m still in love with the medieval Russian setting at the time when paganism and Christianity clashed, not knowing which culture would dominate, rather than both trying to coexist together peaceably as the main character, Vasya, suggests.

I loved meeting the new characters and didn’t realize I could ever meet a character I hated more than Brother Konstantin–Kasyan was horrible and I’m glad he got what he deserved. I need Morozko around more, but I fear that won’t happen under the current circumstances. I’m quite worried about what’s going to happen in THE WINTER OF THE WITCH. I’ll only be happy if Vasya and Morozko end up together for good. He’s the only one who can give her the freedom she craves while still loving her.

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The Bear And The Nightingale

The Bear And The NightingaleTitle: The Bear and the Nightingale
Author: Katherine Arden
Series: Winternight #1
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Format: Kindle
Pages: 347
Reason Read: Book Club Backlist
Rating:

Also in this series: The Girl in the Tower, The Winter of the Witch
My Thoughts

Right from the beginning, I adored THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE. I loved the setting of medieval Russia and the Russian words and names. I was all aflutter as I was taken back to my Russian class in high school. It actually took me a little longer to read than it should’ve because I purposefully looked up all the Russian words I didn’t recognize and even transliterated them back into the Cyrillic alphabet. It was so much fun! Я люблю русский язык.

I also loved the story. I loved the dichotomy of the magic and fairy tales with the new Christian religion and whether or not the two could coexist together. Of course, the whole conflict of the story suggests not. It was an interesting ride to see how the characters forsook their traditions because of an over zealous priest and a terrified princess who didn’t know what to make of the fantastical world around them.

I really liked Vasya. I thought she was a wonderful heroine. I enjoyed watching her grow up, see her be a strong and precocious girl who wanted to be just like her brothers. I also thought it was interesting how she just assumed the world around her was the way it was. If she saw something in the fairy tale world, she figured others could see it too until her awful stepmother came along and showed her otherwise.

I also adored Solovey and Morozko. I wish there had been more of them in the story. I hope they will be around more in the sequels. And, I hope Morozko is more than just a helper, if you get my meaning.

Anyway, it was truly a treat to read THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE and I can’t wait to read the sequels.

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City Of Heavenly Fire

City Of Heavenly FireTitle: City of Heavenly Fire
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: Mortal Instruments #6
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Spice: 1.5 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 725
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls
My Thoughts

Why did it take me so long to get to CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE?! It was so good! I absolutely adored it. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I wish I had read it sooner than this, but now I’m sad I’m done. It’s such a fantastic ending to the Mortal Instruments series. I’m so glad Clare decided to add the last three books to this series.

Because the Infernal Devices trilogy is so closely related to the last three books in the Mortal Instrument series, I love that Clare doesn’t spoil the reader and come out and say who Brother Zachariah is. She hints at it so if you’ve read the prequel trilogy, then you know. It’s stroke of genius on her part.

Update: When I read this for a second time, I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. I thought Sophie Turner was an amazing narrator. She’s really good with accents, which I didn’t know. Jason Dohring was awesome as well.

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Bitterblue

BitterblueTitle: Bitterblue
Author: Kristin Cashore
Series: Graceling Realm #3
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Spice: 1 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 563
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: Graceling, Fire
My Thoughts

I absolutely loved BITTERBLUE. I felt like it was so much deeper than GRACELING and FIRE. They all have awesomely strong female protagonists, but I felt like Katsa and Fire did everything they did for love, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Whereas, Bitterblue did everything she did because she wanted to help her people heal, become a better queen, and subsequently a stronger person. Her journey of self-awareness and empowerment was very moving and powerful.

I actually really enjoyed that there wasn’t as much romance in BITTERBLUE as there was in the previous two. There was still enough to satiate my need, but it didn’t impede the story in any way. Bitterblue realized that with or without man, she could be a whole person. Women–single, in a relationship, with or without children–can be whole and their own unique person. Their significant other and / or children aren’t the only reasons they have a purpose in this life. I really liked that Cashore portrayed that in this story.

I loved the characters. I loved seeing Bitterblue older. I loved seeing her grown up. I loved seeing how she fared after being given such a monumental task at such a young age. I loved seeing my old favorite characters again, especially Katsa and Po. And, I loved seeing them from a different POV. I also loved that all three novels were tied together and brought things full circle. While Leck was creepy, horrible, evil, etc., I enjoyed learning more about him and what happened during his reign. Learning about his atrocities and what the kingdom and its people had to overcome helped make their happiness and sorrow feel more powerful.

This story was well worth the wait. I hope Cashore continues to explore this world in future novels.