The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden RELEASE DAY!

It’s release day for this beautiful, moving story!  A Must Read!

The story takes us to Northern Rus’.  Where winter is about 8 months long and not everyone survives. At a time when old gods mixed with the new. A tale of bitter, cold winters, long nights huddled by the fire listening to old fairy tales. Tales of Frost, the winter demon. The king of winter who came in the cold, dark night to take the naughty children away.

Marina, wife to Pyotr and mother of his children, wants another child. A daughter, like Marina’s mother. A powerful woman that few really knew but many spoke of. Marina also has some power, but not like her mother and she will have her powerful daughter, even if it means she loses her life.

Vasilisa, a motherless child, is different from her brothers and sister. She sees things. She talks to the small gods of the house, the forest and the lake. She is not afraid of the cold, or the thick forests that surround her home.

When her father takes another wife, one who also has the power of sight, and then a priest of the new gods arrives in the village, Vasilisa’s life and the lives of the entire village will change. As the new gods try to push out the old, something cold and cruel is waiting. Something that needs the powers that Vasilisa has to break free from his prison. Something that needs for the people to forget the old gods.

Will she choose the right path for her? Will she be able to convince her people of what she sees?

This story, based on fairy tales was one of the best things I have read in a long time. For a debut novel, it is an extraordinary. The writing was superb. The descriptions and the characters were all spot on. I’ve already read it twice. Ms. Arden definitely knows how to tell a story and I for one am hoping there are more to come!

When I first saw this book in the Penguin Random House sneak peek at books coming out in 2017, I wanted it. From the cover to the description, I knew I wanted this book. And I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review. Thank You!

Book Release January 10 2017.