Winternight Trilogy

The Winternight Trilogy #1-3

by Katherine Arden

The Bear and The Nightingale:
In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, an elderly servant tells stories of sorcery, folklore and the Winter King to the children of the family, tales of old magic frowned upon by the church.But for the young, wild Vasya these are far more than just stories. She alone can see the house spirits that guard her home, and sense the growing forces of dark magic in the woods. . .

The Girl in The Tower:
The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse.

The Winter of The Witch:
Moscow is in flames, leaving its people searching for answers – and someone to blame. Vasilisa, a girl with extraordinary gifts, must flee for her life, pursued by those who blame their misfortune on her magic. Then a vengeful demon returns, stronger than ever. Determined to engulf the world in chaos, he finds allies among men and spirits. Mankind and magical creatures alike find their fates resting on Vasya's shoulders.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Russia, Magic

1168 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

A note to everyone who trips and falls upon my Goodreads page. First, welcome. Let us read and discuss all the books together. I review books I've read, everything gets five stars, if I didn't like it I don't put it up.

Second, Goodreads is wondrous, but contacting me through my Goodreads DMs is a good way to ensure a long wait for a reply. Your best bet is Twitter or Instagram (arden_katherine) on both.

Happy reading.

Born in Texas, Katherine studied French and Russian at Middlebury College. She has lived abroad in France and in Moscow, among other places. She has also lived in Hawaii, where she wrote much of The Bear and the Nightingale. She currently lives in Vermont.

Reviews

[Jaanaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written fantasy which will make us fall in love with winters in Russia ,a bay stallion Solovey and a tiny mushroom spirit Deb Grib who steals the show in the last book.The transformation of Vasya from a sweet wild child to a queen of the Cheyrti realm was stunning.
Katherine Arden has succeeded in mixing fantasy and Russian folktales with history .The narrative has lush descriptions and beautiful prose. Every character was unforgettable right from the idealist Sasha,the practical homemaker Olga ,the prince Dimitri and even ancient and mad Baba Yaga .
Still,it is not all milk and honey in this historic fantasy .Arden is brutal when she describes patriarchy in Russia and the fate of the women who are forced to manipulate,lie ,act and use their powers of negotiation to preserve their families and pride in a society that hardly gives them their due.The treatment of women who are considered witches is despicable and it always has been so .I have often wondered why they have never had warlocks burned ????🙄
This is a series that will be unforgettable for many years 😊

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those series that made my heart sing; Familiar, but fresh with an unusual culture and a unique heroine. Arden sets us in the middle of a battle where there is no good or evil, because both men and myth are far too great for such simplicity.

This trilogy follows a young Russian girl, Vasalisa, as she realizes she has the ability to see the spirits of the earth. (An unfortunate gift for a child in a Christian town.) This unusual talent causes a stir with two elder-spirits, Winter and Chaos. Over the novels, Vasya must navigate both the world of men and gods as she demands control over her own life and fights to save her family from war and destruction.

Arden has created beautifully nuanced characters and a fully developed new fantasy world. She isn't afraid to ask the reader for suspension of disbelief and you are only too happy to do so. If you enjoy a good fairy tale or just a well crafted historical fantasy, you won't be dissapointed.

[Samantha Pinazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Era da tempo che aspettavo di incontrare una storia come questa… Un po’ favola, un po’ fantasy, con il profumo della neve e lo scoppiettio del fuoco in sottofondo.
L’autrice è stata bravissima nel ricreare le atmosfere dell’antico folclore russo e nel riscoprire il fascino delle leggende che caratterizzano l’antica Rus’.
La protagonista mi ha completamente coinvolta, tifavo per lei ad ogni pagina, temevo che venisse scoperta o che non le credessero ed ero così orgogliosa di lei, vedendola crescere diventare una donna meravigliosa.
Questa lettura ha significato molto per me e credo che ripercorrerò queste pagine ancora e ancora.

[Karina Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all three, but there seems to be more stories/books there than just the trilogy. Come on and write a 4th and 5th!!

[Sedna · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai adoré plonger dans cette Russie médiévale, en proie aux changements, notamment religieux, découvrir à travers l'histoire une partie des légendes et personnages du folklore et l'idée de cohabitation entre deux mondes de croyances qui permet l'équilibre d'une culture. Les personnages sont tous attachants, bien écrits. mention spéciale pour Vassia qui n'a rien de l'héroïne parfaite en tout point, mais qui brille et plaît pour ses valeurs et son courage. L'histoire d'amour est pour une fois très équilibrée et loin d'être cringe comme c'est parfois le cas.
Même l'antagoniste est équilibré, il est certes mauvais par nature mais dans le même temps il se bat pour la survie de son monde.
c'était un vrai coup de cœur !

[Mélaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je mettrais 4.5 étoiles si c'était possible.
Je ne pensais pas en commençant, mais j'ai ADORÉ
Je trouve ça hyper intéressant de créer une histoire sur la base de l'Histoire (avec un grand H).
On est plongé dans l'histoire de ce qu'on appelait (il y a vraiment très longtemps) la Rus' (qui n'est pas la Russie), mais tout est rendu magique, car les créatures et personnages de contes populaires russes existent.

Le début est un peu lent, car le cadre est massif et long à mettre en place. Même en prenant du temps, j'ai été un peu perdue au début. Il y a tout un vocabulaire conservé du Russe, que je trouve excellent car ça permet de ne pas oublier où se passe l'histoire (on a tellement l'habitude des contes plus ""européen""). Mais ça rend la lecture plus longue et compliqué au début.

L'écriture du personnage principal est vraiment bon et résonne avec les femmes que l'on peut être aujourd'hui. Vassia, qui est une petite fille condamnée a se marier, être abusée et négligée dans un mariage arrangée et enfermée, soit chez elle, soit au couvent, fini par prendre tout les risques pour pouvoir vivre libre. Elle fait beaucoup d'erreur et s'effondre un million de fois, mais elle fini par devenir incroyablement forte. Le personnage m'a vraiment parlé.

J'ai adoré voyager dans des contes que je connaissait pas, que j'ai découvert en lisant.
J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé la définition du bien et du mal, à savoir : il n'y en a pas. On est tous le monstre de quelqu'un, et même les "méchants" sont humains.

Point négatif: l'héroïne est mineure, et tout les personnages masculins du livre tentent de la charmer ou de l'abuser?? Je veux bien que ce soit une histoire dans un cadre ancien, et que les filles de son âge étaient déjà censées être mariée, mais ça m'a mit quand même mal a l'aise T.T

[Eventer79 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this trilogy so much I've already read it twice (and liked it even better the second time). The story of an unconventional woman making her way in the world, this adventure is delightful, painful, and bewitching. Stuffed full of wonderful characters, including the magical creatures of Russian folklore, it is steeped in a richly recreated culture at a time of deep conflicts. So many creative concepts that I loved with a strong lead character who is fighting to find her own voice and to be more than just a possession of someone else. Well told and well written, left me wanting to follow Vasya and her companions on more adventures and see more of their world.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spiderwick for adults! This tale draws you in deeply into a world of magic and fairy tales. The story draws the reader right into the forested world of a Russian village, with the household and woodland spirits who are struggling against the sermons of fear preached from the pulpit. The battle of good vs evil, human vs spirit, feast vs famine goes right until the final chapters.

[KuroNeko (Maud) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une superbe trilogie au sein de la Russe entourée de tchiortis et de chevaux magiques. L’histoire monte en puissance crescendo et le narrateur de l’audiolivre sur Audible est incroyable. Mention spéciale à l’esprit des champignons 🍄 C’était vraiment un joli voyage auprès de ces personnages attachants et courageux dans une ambiance hivernale parfaite pour la saison ❄️❄️❄️

[Nickole · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fav Trilogy. Have had some mant friends read this series

[Jasamine Dobbins]

The best way that I can describe The Bear and The Nightingale is a book of chilling winter nights, frosty northern forests as the year turns, swirling snow, ice-topped trees, and bare branches. A stormy mystery that (if you are like me) will have you up all night in anticipation. Folk tales and fantasies that suddenly appear to be entirely real. One downfall is the reader would have to be kind of familiar with the phrases used considering it is based on Russian folklore. The main character, Vasilisa Petrovna, has shared her whole life with the family chyerti, and as her other siblings leave home these chyerti go from guardian to friend. For much time Vasya had openly acknowledged the chyerti, but after the arrival of her wildly overdramatic stepmother, Anna, shortly followed by the arrival of "Father Konstantin" the life of Vasya changed dramatically. This book gives us one more example of why we should never judge a person by their title. In this book, you can fight alongside the loyal Vasya, or you can whimper in fright and shame along with Father Konstantin. Amazing book, highly recommended read.
The second book in the Winternight trilogy (after The Bear and the Nightingale), this book through me for a loop. 3:00 am and there I am, in my bedroom, crying and pounding on my bed. I would give almost anything to have jumped in that book and change what happened, but I couldn't and for that, I cried. This book and the one before were probably my FAVORITE books that I have ever read. The intensity, the urgency, the adventure, the action. Everything about this book held my attention throughout the entire thing. Quite often my brows furled and I tapped my teeth together seething. It is all that I can do not to completely spoil the book... and I am thoroughly upset that there is only one more. This book tore my heart out, pushed it back in and duck taped it, and then ripped it out even harder, however, this time, Morozko was not there to repair it this time... and for that I cried, I cried with rage and with hurt and with anxiety.. and I cried because it was unfair. I fell in love with Morozko before Vasya realized that she had. The winter king... gone. Unfair, and absolutely angering. Vasya, being her stubborn self, rejected something that loved her... (to be honest, I wasn't upset.. but putting myself in Vasya's shoes I would have been thrilled the moment I discovered that there was a mutual love) I will not spoil the book, but my rating is 10 out of 10. This book completely achieved everything that I could possibly be looking for. I loved both books, anger or no anger.
Well, guys, this was by far the best book... no, the best book(s) that I have EVER read. I am definitely going to go buy the trilogy so that I can read them over and over and over. I was up from 11:00 to 2:00 this morning and finished this book (yes, in four hours). Some might be a bit dubious over this story, but I suggest that you go out of your comfort zone on this one because IT IS WORTH IT. I congratulate Katherine Arden, however, I am irate with her all the same. This series should have been a neverending supply and I would read every single one of them until I die because I AM ADDICTED TO THEM. This book was better than the other two (obviously, it is the last one) but they were all so good! Also, just so you are all aware, I am married to Morozko, so... back off. This book made me cry, throughout for the cruelty and in the end for the fact that there were no more books of this series to be read. I envy Vasya and her overconfident stubbornness is terribly irritating to me... I mainly dislike her because she is too often unappreciative and IF Morozko loved me (which sadly is not the case) then I would... nevermind that. What you need to know about this book is Vasya is a witch, and for that, she faces great torment from the "holy" people of the city of Moscow. Although they wronged her, abused her, hated her, attacked her, humiliated her, and turned her away, wouldn't you know it, Vasya just had to go back and help them. The eater was loose and it was (which is one thing I do appreciate) her duty to re-capture him... but Morozko. Might I say he broke my heart... For a death god to feel obliged enough to Vasya to risk what he had... stunning. Wonderful book. I will not spoil it for anyone, much-suggested book. I do love them. I wish there were more.

[Jasmina Ljubinković · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smatrate da je ženi mesto u kuhinji sa varjačom u ruci? Posle jela bacate mrvice? Verujete u jednog jedinog boga, ostalo je praznoverje i babske priče? Onda ovo nije priča za vas!!!
Saga zimske noći vratila me je u davna vremena, kada sam na selu, pored vatre koja pucketa u smederevcu uživala u prababinim pričama.
Vasja, to devojče sa divljinom stoletne ruske šume u očima i srcu, na leđima moćnog soloveja, otvorene duše i vida, pomirila je staro i novo, u odbrani ljubavi ( prema porodici, domovini, prirodi i onostranom). Likovi iz ruskih bajki, istorijske persone i događaji, maštovito uklopljeni u novu i sasvim originalnu priču, koja ravnopravno sa predivnim skaskama zauzima mesto na vrhu moje liste epske fantastike. Vasja umesto varjače nosi bodež od leda, plače za svojim pastuvom, voli kralja zime i odriče se i života radi boljeg sutra za sve...za mene uvek inspiracija i energija za dalje!
Knjige kojima se najradije i veoma često vraćam!
My favourite books ever!!!
Обожаю эту новую сказку!

[~Tessa~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite fantasy series and I absolutely recommend it!

[Mike Abrahams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunningly well written fantasy trilogy set in medieval Russia. So different from other fantasy series which in some cases can become a little formulaic.

[Terry Stanislow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series entertained, informed and enchanted me on so many levels. Being of Ukranian descent, the historical aspects of the culture and places were captivating and led me to do further research on daily life there in the Middle Ages.

The feminist themes ran the gamut from grim to triumphant. The unvarnished descriptions of daily life for the women of the day caused me much contemplation and I was so happy to follow Vasya’s steadfast mission to chart her own path. As a horsewoman, I was captivated by the human/equine relationships and the critical role played by the various horses. The explorations around how the ancient spiritual traditions and the new Christian religion either conflicted or meshed with each other and how they affected the citizens were so interesting, as were a few intense deep dives into the state of the Christian clergy of the day. The old spirits were super interesting and often surprising in either their purpose or temperament. Finally, the on-again, off-again romantic energy was so well played out. The various relationships between siblings, parents, extended family and powerful rulers were in step with the vast and challenging geographical setting. There was plenty of breathing space to process them as characters rode, ran or flew in and back out again at various times.

The series starts with several settings, historical context and numerous characters, requiring some effort on my part to keep everyone straight, but as it progresses, key characters become familiar and the plot really takes over. It builds steadily in the second book where the various relationships, threats and helpers come into focus and ramps up in the third with lots of can’t-put-it-down action and magical twists and turns. I have heard the writing described as ‘lyrical’ and I have to agree. It’s a grand testament to the life of any girl/woman who chooses autonomy, courage, empathy, responsibility, discomfort, danger, uncertainty and comradeship over comfortable, unfulfilling subservience and endless domestic boredom while speaking – and acting - truth to power.

A few weeks after finishing this series, it is still on my mind and I can see myself doing a re-read in the future.

[Suzy Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contes, folklore, magie, sorcellerie… ah, que j’aime ces univers !
Revisitant les contes populaires russes, cette saga avait tout pour me plaire. Il n’est alors pas étonnant que je ressorte de cette lecture émue: c’est un coup de cœur.
Cependant, il faut avouer que c’était assez mal engagé. Les tomes de cette trilogie sont plutôt inégaux, et le premier m’a parut très introductif. Rien de plus logique, certes, avec un sujet si riche; mais l’action arrivant sur le tard, je redoutais de me plonger dans la suite, qui présentait alors un changement de lieu qui ne me plaisait pas de prime abord… pourtant, ce second opus m’a totalement embarquée. Le dernier, exploitant enfin dans toute sa mesure l’essence même de l’idée de base clôt cette histoire avec brio.
En nous immergeant dans la Rus’ médiévale, Katherine Arden nous présente l’ancêtre de cette Russie où les tsars n’existaient pas encore; les codes de l’époque, sa rusticité, ses forêts et leurs étranges ombres, les intrigues politiques, les superstitions et l’arrivée croissante de la nouvelle religion (le christianisme orthodoxe), sont dépeints comme un tableau dont on ne pourrait décrocher le regard. Mais c’est quand l’autrice laisse parler l’action et le sentiment qu’elle accroche le mieux son/sa lecteur.ice, et si elle se permet de prendre le temps de peaufiner chaque détail, c’est que ces derniers ont de l’importance. Les personnages sont tout en nuances, la romancière ne cache jamais les défauts sous les qualités de ses protagonistes. Et j’ai rarement vu décrite une si belle évolution que celle de Vassilissa – Vassia – Pétrovna. D’enfant sauvage à jeune fille naïve, se trouvant en danger de bien des manières, on découvre la femme et la sorcière émergeant dans la puissance, parfois à la limite de la folie. Quelle beauté ! Lumière et ombre se jaugent, s’affrontent, s’allient, et c’est diablement passionnant.
A l’heure où j’écris ces lignes, je n’en veux plus trop à Katherine Arden de m’avoir brisé le cœur dans son dernier tome – enfin presque plus – puisque toutes ces douleurs, peines, terrifiantes épreuves qu’elle inflige à ses personnages s’avèrent nécessaires pour parvenir à la conclusion de cette aventure.
C’est peu dire que l’autrice m’a fait passer par toutes les émotions possibles: excitation de la découverte, fascination, ennui, frustration, curiosité, inquiétude, esprit dubitatif, colère, espoir, désespoir, éblouissement… quelle aventure ce fut !

[Jana Rađa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing reading experience! There are books you read for pleasure and there are those you read for your own personal erudition. Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, and The Winter of the Witch belong to the former category: pure, unadulterated reading pleasure. If you are into fantasy, especially fairy tales, this is for you.

I loved the way Katherine Arden tells the story of a young girl called Vasya and her family: She writes beautifully. I also loved the way she sets the stage for the seemingly inevitable disappearance of traditional Slavic beliefs, tales and mythical beings of medieval Russia—Baba Yaga, Morozko, Vasilisa, the Beautiful, Medved, household spirits (domovoi), courtyard guardians (dvorovoi), guardian spirits of stable and livestock (vazila), vampires (upyr), and water nymphs (rusalka), to name but a few—juxtaposed with the rising power of Christianity, and the way she introduces real historical characters and political events and manoeuvring in The Girl in the Tower and The Winter of the Witch.

The whole Winternight Trilogy experience is so far removed from our daily drudgery, domestic or otherwise, that it leaves you completely and amazingly invigorated. The fantasy genre is known to do that, but Katherine Arden ups the ante. At one point, I thought: "I would have adored these books as a young girl!" It is true: I would have surrendered and lost myself readily in the phantasmagoric worlds of Katherine Arden's making, the way teenage girls often do. At the age of 47, some mindfulness and imagination were required to walk in the shoes of a 17-year old girl in the 14th century, but the experiences of women through time and space are not that far removed from each other, so that once I decided to unwind and let myself go it was a spectacular journey.

They are all available in Croatian translation from Mitopeja (https://mitopeja.com/).

[Kelly Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this trilogy back in high school and I still cry when I think about it. No trilogy has ever touched my reading soul the way this one did. I am a huge lore fan, I love Gods/Goddesses and history and while I love a trilogy like The Folk of the Air by Holly Black, this one took it one step further. It is a rich and accurate retelling and understanding of a countries lore that I didn’t know much about leading up to reading this. Is it 100% historically accurate? I couldn’t say nor do I care, I lost myself in this trilogy and haven’t looked back since. With all the push for heavy smut these days, I wouldn’t say this trilogy is for everyone. Romance is such a small part of the overarching themes. But to me, it showed me what it truly meant to sacrifice and be strong. And there is no “good guy” because there is always grey area in life. Good and evil live hand and hand, you can’t have one without the other and this trilogy challenges the reader to understand that the protagonist isn’t inherently good all the time while the antagonist isn’t always evil. Choices are what make us who we are, swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other. Just because someone makes a good choice doesn’t mean they are good and someone who makes a bad choice isn’t a bad person. This trilogy explores the concept that freedom is being able to choose and how these choices ultimately shape who we are. When I tell you it changed me as a human being, it genuinely did and this trilogy deserves all the hype. If you liked Percy Jackson growing up, this is the trilogy for you. Mostly lore and history with some magic and difficult choices along with a pinch of romance, what more could you ask for?

[Sbooky_witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plongez au cœur de la Russe médiévale et dans son folklore. Dans un monde où la religion est très présente, les anciennes croyances et pratiques, peinent à disparaître. Vassia est une jeune fille, intrépide et qui peut voir toutes les créatures qui l'entourent.
Découvrez dans cette trilogie son histoire et ses défis dans le froid éprouvant de l'hiver. Sa relation avec le Démon du Gel qui semble lui témoigner une grande attention et les difficultés qu'une fille peut rencontrer lorsqu'elle décide de se lancer seule à travers le pays contre la bienséance et les mœurs de son temps.

Une trilogie qui change de mon registre habituel. J'ai aimé l'univers du folklore russe. L'auteure a réussi à nous insufflé un rythme hivernal et fait ressentir le dur froid de ces contrées. L'ensemble est assez lent, et les chapitres ne sont pas très calibrés et plutôt long, et contrairement à mes préférences, je n'y ai pas prêté grande attention. Je me suis attachée aux personnage sans m'en rendre compte et l'auteure m'a fait passer par un sacré ascenseur émotionnel.
Je dois tout de même avouer que j'ai eu de la peine avec cette version intégrale, pour deux raisons. La première, le poids. Je vous jure il est atrocement lourd! Mais j'adore la couverture donc RIP mes bras. Et l'autre bémol, le glossaire et petites précisions qui aident à comprendre le fonctionnement et langage russe se trouvent en fin de chaque tome, ce qui n'est pas le top pour chercher les infos.
Cela dit, c'est une jolie œuvre que je recommande pour son côté fantastique qui change de l'ordinaire.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I've been getting it from the library, and I have to get my own copies of it now because I know I'll want to read it again in the future. It's fantastic, a mash-up of Russian history and fairy tales.

I read and reviewed each book separately, so this is basically just for my own records, but I think what I liked best about the series overall was how hard and brutal it could be. That's unusual for me: I generally think, in historical fantasies, that the so-called realism of their crapsack world presentations tends to be unbalanced and highly gendered. As such, I have little patience for it. Here, however, the violence and threats against the characters feel less targeted. They also feel as if they've been presented in a way that emphasises the difficulty of moral choices and the cost of action (or inaction), instead of as a way to shock the reader. The story can be cruel in places but it never comes across as edgy or explicit, I think is what I'm saying, and it's always balanced very well with Vasya's compassion and the certainty she has in her own right to agency.

If only more fantasy epics were so well-considered.

[Olivia Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute definition of an atmospheric fantasy series!

The Russian Empire is my "Roman Empire," so I found the mystical/folklore element of this series irresistibly intriguing! It is poignant in addressing issues of religion, power, and freedom without being preachy or absolutist. It is thematically intense without being frightening/stressful.

It is definitely a "slow burn" and the plot is a bit meandering and evolves throughout- yet it never ceased to be utterly compelling. I devoured all three books in the space of a couple of weeks (in front of the fireplace, which never hurts!) this past winter and it was a transcendent experience.

I recommend reading it during the winter if you can, especially if you're someone, like myself, who likes to lean into the seasons with fiction reading.

ENJOY!

[Stef Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is fast-paced, immersive, and well-written. I love it that it’s fantasy, but puts the story alongside real historical events and even personalities! The author doesn’t slow down to explain everything but gives you enough information to understand what household/forest spirit is, plus she helpfully provides a glossary at the back, some historical background on the events of the time period, and even a section on the Russian terminology and names which are all very fascinating. I blazed through the three books in a little over a week (because I had to work too!).

10/10 will reread. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy strong but flawed female leads, fantasy, folklore, and just enough romance to make things interesting.

[Alealea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I read the three books all at once, I will review them together.
The first book was a bit too slow for my taste, but the writer succeeded in creating an atmosphere of uneasiness that slowly but surely becomes enticing. The two next books are a mad scramble and pure delight (if somewhat horrifying).
And it's logical, when you think about it, as the first one goes over at least 15 years, while the other two covers, the both of them put together, less than half a year.
I didn't know if I would like a fantasy book without queer characters, but they felt queer. A lot! The magic is both weird, cold, fairytale like and the small touches of Russian culture, history, trivia, words.... that was a really nice touch.

[Lori.Willeybereps.Com · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reviewing this as a trilogy. The author is obviously a fan of Russian history, culture, and folklore. It seemed to me she tried to combine everything she knew about all three of these into a story. It was at times a little confusing and scattered to read. The writing was fine and she made some occasional insightful comments that made me stop and reflect on them. I actually finished the first two books fairly quickly. The third book took me a while to get through. They were OK, but, since I had no problem putting any of the three of them down and picking up again later, not great. I probably finished three or four other books while I was trying to finish this last one so they just didn’t come up to the standard of a four or five star read for me.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are probably my favorite books I have ever read. When I finished them I couldn’t bring myself to finish another book for around a month (I usually read 1-3 books a week) because I would start the book and then put it down because I was sad it wasn’t the Winternight Trilogy. They’re all so fantastic. There isn’t a single bad book in the trilogy. There isn’t even a single “okay” or “good” book in the trilogy. All three are amazing. The writing is so lush and immersive, and the I love the plot and the characters. I feel like I didn’t just read these books, I EXPERIENCED them.

If I could give this series 1000 stars I would.

[Kate H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It was an enjoyable blend of adult fairytale and historical fiction. I learned a thing or two about Russian history and mythology, which was really interesting. and got thoroughly lost in the world she created. I gave it 4 stars and not 5 only because I think there is room for improvement. I'm not sure what exactly, but... something. I suppose I felt something was a bit off and I was slightly unsatisfied when it was all over somehow. But overall, they were quite good, worth my time, and I recommend them to others. I look forward to reading more of this author's work as she continues to grow.

[Mélaine BRDYS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le tome 1 est un huit-clos en plein coeur de l'hiver de l'ancienne Rus', emplie de magie païenne, du petit peuple issus du folklore slave et de l'impact spirituel et religieuse orthodoxe. Un récit dont l'ambience prend son temps pour nous faire découvrir la très jeune Vassilisa. Une écriture bouleversante qui décrit à merveille le dualisme de l'ancienne et nouvelle religion, du poids de la conformité sociétale et du danger des superstitions et de la bigoterie. La fin était épique.

Le tome 2 reprend les évènements survenus. Toujours un plaisir de plongée dans l'écriture et le récit envoûtant slave de l'autrice. La relation avec le roi de l'hiver est amené progressivement de façon logique. Les scènes d'action sont bien rythmé avec les scènes de complot et les moments plus léger. La trame principale reprend les bases du livre un mais comme ce premier j'ai été ravie, bercée par les personnages, le tout soupoudré de la neige oubliée d'une Rus' ancestrale grandiose et tragique.

Une apothéose littéraire et culturelle d'une aventure slave digne héritier des romans d'initiation. L'action de ce dernier tome ne nous lâche pas jusqu'au dernier moment. La fin douce amer était réaliste et satisfaisante mais Vassia et Morozko vont terriblement me manquer. Finalement ce livre est le combat de la dualité entre deux religions, l'une chrétienne et l'autre païenne, leur pendant se sacralisant dans les hommes et les créatures ancestrales des contes russes. Le concept de dvoevierie, la fouble foi liant orthodoxie et paganisme était fascinant. Enfin les éléments historiques s'entremêlant étaient bien amenés et découvrir que le frère de Vassia avait vraiment existé était un coup de maître. Le désir de liberté de Vassilisa m'a bouleversé et même si le premier tome de la trilogie restera mon préféré de la série, l'écriture de l'autrice présage de belles heures de lecture en perspective.

Cette saga est un récit initiatique qui évolue avec la protagoniste.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winternight trilogy is a fable in three parts set in pre-Russia during the dark ages where Christianity is starting to take hold and clash with the old pagan beliefs. It is also a story of a young noble-born girl who is a witch coming into her powers and finds herself at the center of this clash. There are small liberties taken with the actual history but that is true of much historical fiction. The Russian-esque words give the fairy tale an exotic flair. But the story at the heart of this trilogy of the maturing of a young girl and overcoming obstacles was told well and was a pleasure to read.

[Delia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favourite trilogies.

Characters so well rounded. Solid storyline that makes you fall in love with the characters, the landscape and the little idiosyncratic details of the magic within it.

Incredibly well written. A bit of romance without taking the central stage, but feeling its intensity.

Bittersweet, enraging, endearing, surprising, frustrating, fanaticism, obsession, freedom, repression. You feel all those emotions through the hand of all the characters.

My all time favourite was the third one. It started 🤯

I cannot recommended more. Read them!!!!

[Irim Sarwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the beginning with the lyrical prose and the beautifully drawn, fully realised characters and relationships. For those three books, I was immersed in Vasya's life, the Russia of that time and its folklore, caught betwixt and between the world of ascendant Orthodoxy and the magical chyerti.