The Bear and the Nightingale
The Bear and the Nightingale
The Bear and the Nightingale
Description
Description
Katherine Arden's bestselling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.
"A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up."--Naomi Novik, bestselling author of Uprooted Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse's fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil. Then Vasya's widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya's stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village. But Vasya's stepmother only grows harsher, determined to remake the village to her liking and to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for marriage or a convent. As the village's defenses weaken and evil from the forest creeps nearer, Vasilisa must call upon dangerous gifts she has long concealed--to protect her family from a threat sprung to life from her nurse's most frightening tales. Praise for The Bear and the Nightingale "Arden's debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical."--The Washington Post "Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices."--The Christian Science Monitor "Stunning . . . will enchant readers from the first page. . . . with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Utterly bewitching . . . a lush narrative . . . an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family."--Booklist (starred review) "An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic."--Robin Hobb
"A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up."--Naomi Novik, bestselling author of Uprooted Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse's fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil. Then Vasya's widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya's stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village. But Vasya's stepmother only grows harsher, determined to remake the village to her liking and to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for marriage or a convent. As the village's defenses weaken and evil from the forest creeps nearer, Vasilisa must call upon dangerous gifts she has long concealed--to protect her family from a threat sprung to life from her nurse's most frightening tales. Praise for The Bear and the Nightingale "Arden's debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical."--The Washington Post "Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices."--The Christian Science Monitor "Stunning . . . will enchant readers from the first page. . . . with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Utterly bewitching . . . a lush narrative . . . an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family."--Booklist (starred review) "An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic."--Robin Hobb
About the Author
About the Author
Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrollment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, where she worked every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crepesto serving as a personal tour guide. After a year on the island, she moved to Briancon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, stayed, got restless, and left again to wander. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know."
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
Advance praise for "The Bear and the Nightingale"
An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . A Russian setting adds unfamiliar spice to the story of a young woman who does not rebel against the limits of her role in her culture so much as transcend them."The Bear and the Nightingale"is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic. Robin Hobb
A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up. Naomi Novik"
"
Haunting and lyrical, "The Bear and the Nightingale"tugs at the heart and quickens the pulse.I can t wait for Katherine Arden's next book. Terry Brooks
"The Bear and the Nightingale"is a marvelous trip into an ancient Russia where magic is a part of everyday life. Todd McCaffrey
Enthralling and enchanting I couldn t put it down. This is a wondrous book! Tamora Pierce" Advance praise for The Bear and the Nightingale
An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . A Russian setting adds unfamiliar spice to the story of a young woman who does not rebel against the limits of her role in her culture so much as transcend them.The Bear and the Nightingaleis a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic. Robin Hobb
A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up. Naomi Novik
Haunting and lyrical, The Bear and the Nightingaletugs at the heart and quickens the pulse.I can t wait for Katherine Arden's next book. Terry Brooks
The Bear and the Nightingaleis a marvelous trip into an ancient Russia where magic is a part of everyday life. Todd McCaffrey
Enthralling and enchanting I couldn t put it down. This is a wondrous book! Tamora Pierce"
An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . A Russian setting adds unfamiliar spice to the story of a young woman who does not rebel against the limits of her role in her culture so much as transcend them."The Bear and the Nightingale"is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic. Robin Hobb
A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up. Naomi Novik"
"
Haunting and lyrical, "The Bear and the Nightingale"tugs at the heart and quickens the pulse.I can t wait for Katherine Arden's next book. Terry Brooks
"The Bear and the Nightingale"is a marvelous trip into an ancient Russia where magic is a part of everyday life. Todd McCaffrey
Enthralling and enchanting I couldn t put it down. This is a wondrous book! Tamora Pierce" Advance praise for The Bear and the Nightingale
An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale . . . A Russian setting adds unfamiliar spice to the story of a young woman who does not rebel against the limits of her role in her culture so much as transcend them.The Bear and the Nightingaleis a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic. Robin Hobb
A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up. Naomi Novik
Haunting and lyrical, The Bear and the Nightingaletugs at the heart and quickens the pulse.I can t wait for Katherine Arden's next book. Terry Brooks
The Bear and the Nightingaleis a marvelous trip into an ancient Russia where magic is a part of everyday life. Todd McCaffrey
Enthralling and enchanting I couldn t put it down. This is a wondrous book! Tamora Pierce"
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Thorndike Press Large Print
Pub date:
2017-01-18
Length:
pages
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