A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale.Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian wilderness, where snowdrifts reach the eaves of her family’s … reach the eaves of her family’s wooden house and there is truth in the fairy tales told around the fire. Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention of Morozko—Frost, the winter demon from the stories—and together they saved her people from destruction. But Frost’s aid comes at a cost, and her people have condemned her as a witch.
Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey.
But after Vasilisa prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself.
Praise for The Girl in the Tower
“[A] magical story set in an alluring Russia.”—Paste
“Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)
“[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[Katherine] Arden once again delivers an engaging fantasy that mixes Russian folklore and history with delightful worldbuilding and lively characters.”—Library Journal
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Amazing, I want the third book now, in this book Vasya goes with her brother Sasha and sister Olga to Moscow, and meets the Grand Prince, she wants to travel and be free, so… in order to achieve that she disguises herself as a young man, risking with this deceive not only her life but the future of her family…
This is dark fantasy, packed with action, a must read and a favorite for me.I loved Sasha, Solovey and of course the winter king Morozko.
Second book from “The Bear and the Nightingale” and loved that book, but this one was even better. Can not wait for book 3 to come out!!
This richly layered tapestry of early Russia reveals a deeply researched history which flows smoothly into the supernatural fantasy world of early fairy tale and fable. Even with a fully embraced religion, the beautifully decorated orthodoxy of Russia, the harsh weather and life of the times demanded its own explanations of nature. Into this background is introduced a cast of complex characters, many of whom we met in Book 1, but who are now adults (or older adults) rather than children. The second book stands well on its own; you are probably going to prefer to read the books in order, however, to enjoy the full vision of author Katherine Arden (think Tolkien!).
Among other topics explored, although somewhat subtly, is gender identity and what it meant to be a woman in medieval Rus’ (we are well pre-Russia!), including cloistering of noblewomen in a terem with limited access to the outside world. But largely this is a novel of adventure and exploration of both the seen (the frozen rivers as highways for six months of the year!) and unseen (household figures such as domovoi–a pagan concept seen in many cultures (think Roman lares or “Anglo-Scottish” brownies), and the connections between them.
As with the first novel in the series, “The Bear and the Nightingale,” I was enthralled cover to cover, including the endnotes which discuss Russian naming conventions and give definitions for various words. Give yourself time to enjoy this many-textured, fully imagined tale.
Writing: 5 Stars;
Characters: 5 Stars;
Plot: 5 Stars;
Entertaining: 5 Stars;
Read Again? No.
Total: 5 Stars;
Finally! All the promise of the first book was realised in the second. This story reminds me why I love Russian fairytales. Unlike the first, this book has the perfect balance of adventure, humour, romance, terror,…
Unlike most books written today, the story takes its time, allowing me to sink into the imaginative world of Medieval Russia. The slightly accented performance by Kathleen Getty (not sure if I spelt that correctly) makes the audiobook feel even more authentic.
Get through the first book and then indulge in the second.
I’ve borrowed the audiobook from the Toronto Public Library/OverDrive.
I was introduced to this series by a book club I’m in. I devoured the first book over night and had to get the second one. The Bear and The Nightingale was amazing and The Girl In The Tower was just as nice. It took a little longer to get into than the first book but I absolutely love the world building and story line.
Cast in shadowed tones and told with lyrical prose, Arden beautifully blends fantasy and history while capturing the stark landscape and mysticism of Russia. The tale of the frost demon ensnared me from book one and the magic continues on with the second! Definitely start with The Bear and the Nightingale, but if you enjoy fairy tales with a darker twist, this is one series I will easily recommend!
I loved Katherine Arden’s “The Bear and The Nightingale,” the first book of this trilogy, and I enjoyed “The Girl in the Tower” even more.
Like the first book, this one is full of magic, haunting, richly vivid and fleshed out with fascinating historical detail. However, in this second book, there’s less of the frustrating Father Konstantin, and more of Vasya’s thrilling adventures (more Morozko too!). We get more details on Vasya’s family history of “the sight,” and learn more about the history and origin of the magic and characters of the “older pagan world” – Morozko, the Chyerti, Solovey, and more.
Spell-binding and beautifully written, this is the perfect book to curl up with on a snowy winter evening.