NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen.“A tale both intimate and epic, featuring a heroine whose harrowing and wondrous journey culminates in an … and wondrous journey culminates in an emotionally resonant finale.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF THE DECADE
Vasilisa Petrovna is an unforgettable heroine determined to forge her own path. Her gifts and her courage have drawn the attention of Morozko, the winter-king, but it is too soon to know if this connection will prove a blessing or a curse.
Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.
Praise for The Winter of the Witch
“Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy isn’t just good—it’s hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favorites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better. The Winter of the Witch plunges us back to fourteenth-century Moscow, where old gods and new vie for the soul of Russia and fate rests on a witch girl’s slender shoulders. Prepare to have your heart ripped out, loaned back to you full of snow and magic, and ripped out some more.”—Laini Taylor
“Luxuriously detailed yet briskly suspenseful . . . a striking literary fantasy informed by Arden’s deep knowledge.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy isn’t just good — it’s hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favorites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better. The Winter of the Witch plunges us back to fourteenth-century Moscow, where old gods and new vie for the soul of Russia and fate rests on a witch girl’s slender shoulders. Prepare to have your heart ripped out, loaned back to you full of snow and magic, and ripped out some more.
This was a beautiful, burning conclusion to one of my favorite-ever trilogies. Each page burst with bravery and strange magic: little mushroom spirits and eternal midnights and talking horses. I’d bemoan that the series is over (this is one of those so-good series that you mourn the loss of), but it ended so perfectly that I have no grounds for complaint.
Absolutely without a doubt one of the best books ever. I am at a loss of words to describe this trilogy which others have called “lyrical,” “emotionally stirring,” and “utterly bewitching.” It’s all that and more and book 3 has some laugh out loud moments. Vasya and Morzoko are two characters you will never forget. The supporting cast is just as endearing and one of my favorites was a little mushroom spirit. As much as I wanted to know how it all would end, it was bittersweet to leave behind this magical story. Truly one of the best trilogies I have ever read
If you want to read review of this book on my blog, then click https://mistyaquavenatus.com/2019/01/07/why-you-need-to-read-the-winter-of-the-witch/.
“The Winter of the Witch” is the third and final book in Katherine Arden’s “Winternight Trilogy.” What started with “The Bear and the Nightingale”—and yes, readers need to read that book and the second book, “The Girl in the Tower,” in order to know what is going on in the third book—ends with this beautiful end to a beautiful trilogy. This historical fiction fantasy starts where the second book ended, with Moscow recovering from both a fire and the actions of a wicked magician. Once again, Vasilisa Petrovna’s actions have caught up with her, and she barely escapes with her life. Then, she must come up with a plan to unite ALL of Russia—humans and chyerti—to fight against the invading Tatars, and to find balance between two belief systems.
Christianity is now the dominant religion in Russia with the amount of people who keep the older traditions decreasing, the Tatars continue their campaign to take over Russia, ancient feuds continue to play on, and Vasya is a step closer to coming into her own and accepting her destiny. Arden presents the conflicts and then shows how all of her characters deal with them within the story. Since the narrative is given from multiple viewpoints without the other characters knowing what is happening to other characters, readers know that each narrative is reliable and realistic. The resolution does not give the characters enough knowledge of what happened to the other characters as well, and that provides a believable ending.
If “The Bear and the Nightingale” was the first book that introduced us to Katherine Arden, then “The Winter of the Witch” is the book that cements her as one of the best speculative fiction authors in this era of publication. Katherine Arden takes folklore and reshapes it into a new story to be read and enjoyed the same way Neil Gaiman, Nnedi Okorafor and Naomi Novik have done within their books. Folklore is part of a culture, and Arden incorporated the importance of a country unifying, not just for its survival, but also for its way of life through their culture. The author did a beautiful job expressing this within her writing.
I am proud to say that I’ve read Katherine Arden’s books since the publication of her first novel, and I’ve enjoyed them all! Now, while this review is about the last book in the trilogy, I still have to mention all of the books in the trilogy. There are many trilogies in the speculative fiction genre; and, when it comes to the trilogies I’ve read from that genre, the “Winternight Trilogy” leaves me with the same level of satisfaction as “His Dark Materials” (by Philip Pullman) and “The Broken Earth” (by N.K. Jemisin) trilogies. Anyone who knows about how I feel about those trilogies, know that’s a big deal! Reading Vasya’s journey from childhood to adolescence to adulthood was an absolute joy and I’m glad Katherine Arden shared her story with us. I recommend this novel, and the series, to all readers of the speculative fiction genre. None of you will be disappointed.
Having read and reviewed the first two book of this trilogy, I was well-primed to enjoy the events unfolding in this story set deep in the myths of Russia. It was a time where old beliefs fade from people’s minds while new ones are taking root.
Vasya Petrona is caught between the two beliefs. She has special powers of perception; able to see and hear the demons who guard each dwelling, protect the ovens of their homes, dwell in the forest, the waterways, and even demons who take the dead. This world is in an uproar. The smaller demons are becoming weaker, also losing their powers. They want to fight back. People have turned their backs on them. They were the ones to protect homes and dwellings. While they were believed in, people were able to see them and provided for them as well. They grew strong. But no more.
The Winter King, the demon of death, has grown an attachment to Vasya. He protects her when those would call her witch. His twin, the Bear, works against him, using hate and lust of a ‘man of God’ to destroy Vasya. The Bear wants to destroy Morozko and take over the world. He insights hatred and war among men, gaining more power as he does.
Vasya is in the middle of this battle. Will she be overtaken by Morozko or the Bear? Is she clever enough and powerful enough to stop the down-spiraling demise of the mythical world? She knows that to have Russia a country of peace the worlds must work together.
The dialog among the demons and Vasya is very well done. It shows clearly the stress of the events and the power behind each demon. It sets the tone of the story, along with author Arden’s description of the setting. I find myself in Russia, in the Midnight Forest where there is never day. All the events create a perfect fantasy of battles, evil, and love – the kind that endures. You will be surprised by the events and completely happy with the ending. This tale is memorable.
Uniquely written with a style suited to the time, author Arden shows us the underbelly of the demon. I took away a theme, intentioned or not. In every good person, there is evil, and in every bad person, there is good.
I recommend this series to dreamers of the unknown.
The Winter of the Witch is a fantastic, imaginative conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy. While this novel continues from where The Girl in the Tower ended, the tone of this book is very different from the two previous books: much darker. Vasya faces increasingly more dangerous challenges in her determination to find a happy medium between Morozko, the winter king and death-god, and Medved, the bear and bringer of chaos. Additionally, Vasya’s relationship with Morozko keeps changing as he helps her in her times of need.
Vasya feels that it is her mission to find a way to allow Christian doctrines to coexist with the folkloric beliefs in the various spirits (chyerti) from Russian folklore. Add to this an actual battle between the Russians and the Tatars who vastly outnumber the Russians. How Vasya is drawn into this conflict is the crux of the latter half of this novel. There are many twists and turns in the plot, many of them totally unexpected, which left me with a feeling of uncertainty as to how this would all end. Would any of the beloved characters die? Would Vasya succeed in her crusade? I found the suspense of wondering how things would work out both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
Katherine Arden has written an action-packed series that is a real page-turner, with a unique blend of historical Russian people and events, Russian folklore, fairy tales, and magic, Her amazingly detailed worldbuilding provides the background for this creative trilogy. If you enjoy fantasy, this is series not to be missed.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Arden writes a beautiful and thought-provoking conclusion to her debut trilogy. Based on stories from her Russian heritage, the trilogy moves dreamily yet inexorably through Russian mores and prejudices to show us our own. The Winter of the Witch finds the heroine and her savior riding in sometimes opposite directions, only to ride directly back to one another. The heroine always wants answers, like in the previous books, and her savior always makes her figure it out for herself (like in the previous books). He says he cannot be with her, yet yearns for just that. His brother, Bear, has a surprising comeback.
If you’ve read the first two books (and you *definitely* should), you must read the final one. Filled with introspection, love, sorrow and growth, The Winter of the Witch is a must-read for anyone who likes a happy ending to a fairy tale.
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden is the final installment of the Winternight Trilogy. Moscow is on the brink of war, and the plague has come, and one witch girl, Vasya, is determined to do what must be done to save her city.
This was an excellent ending to a wonderful story of one girl’s determination and strength. Katherine Arden’s ability to draw the reader in and hold them is outstanding. A brilliantly written novel of self discovery, determination, strength, love, and doubt in oneself make this one of my favorite stories.
A must read for anyone looking for a strong female protagonist.
Originally posted on http://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/ : Tales to Tide You Over
I have enjoyed this series from the start because it sweeps you away into the time of Russia’s transition between old religions and new with all the conflicts and difficulties that involves. Arden brings the chyerti, old peoples, to life while balancing questions of faith, magic, and personhood in a grand adventure with both darkness and amazing discovery. It encompasses a world between times and a battle much bigger than all but a few could realize.
The Winter of the Witch is no exception. It is the perfect culmination of what came before and offers both a harder road and a better solution than I anticipated, leaving me with regrets only because it is the final book in the series. For those of you who wait until a series is complete, now’s your chance to explore a culturally enthralling tale with deep questions to ponder. I cling to a slight hope, though, of a companion novel as Vasya has more adventures ahead of her.
This book contains two intertwined arcs, but the first ends long before the book does. It could have made for a satisfying conclusion all on its own, but when the second arc takes command of the book, it brings the story to a stronger, deeper end stretching all the way back to The Bear and the Nightingale.
The story centers on Vasya as did the previous ones, but she is much more than the wild girl she begins the series as or the witch the Muscovites believe her to be. The chyerti know. They see her potential even when she’s blind to it, but she’s not so blind that she refuses to see when the world depends on her waking up to her role.
Nor is she the only complex character. Whether human or not, the characters live by their own rules, beliefs, and expectations. Some are ghosts, others mushrooms, but they have their own lives. Seeing Vasya navigate between them and her own expectations is fascinating. Her efforts don’t come without a cost though, and sometimes she’s not the one called to pay it. This is a novel where actions have consequences. Power does not equal blamelessness with the cost in madness or regret at the very least.
There are many powerful moments in the book, often around the complexity of the characters, whether it’s the mad priest revealing his doubts and grief in art capable of swaying the Bear, or the gift Vasya gives to Morozko, the Winter King, and what he offers her in the end.
The narrative is one of learning and growing in acceptance. It clashes with both devil stories, and the purity of those who follow the new god and cast down the old. It raises questions about those rules that come from humanity not divine and yet are enforced as though from a greater source. This is not a binary world but one that recognizes good and evil in all things with none innately one or the other. Everything has the ability to choose between the two. It’s beautiful and far from easy as the characters struggle with that ability when circumstances pull them to one side or the other. There’s the same uneasy relationship between old and new traditions with some able to recognize it while others attempt to paint their opponents on either side as evil and never look further.
It’s not just the message that draws me though. The events work out through careful seeding, sometimes allowing me to predict and other times surprising me but in an “of course” sort of way. This speaks to the immersion where the logic of the world is so stable it avoids the easy solution for the right one and makes that choice real to the reader as much as the characters.
Reading the afterword, it’s fascinating to see how Arden blended actual events into the story so seamlessly. This feels like the real answer to questions still being debated by historians. I’m glad I didn’t know the history beforehand because anticipation, good and bad, would have stripped away some of the tension.
The book brought me to tears, both of joy and loss. It’s not a simple, or comfortable, read, but that’s only true because the characters came to life and made their grief or wonder my own. I’ll miss the time I spent in this Russia, but I leave it satisfied both in the story and the state the characters have achieved.
P.S. I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
**This review contains spoilers**
The Winternight Trilogy is one of my favorite series of the last few years, and Vasya is a fantastic heroine: kind, brave, flawed, unapologetically herself. The Winter of the Witch was a good conclusion to the story; it’s action-packed and full of strange magic (the land of Midnight is fascinating).
However, the pacing of this third book felt off from the first two. The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower felt more methodical, building slowly and through great detail and character development to a climactic finale. The Winter of the Witch felt like non-stop strife, confusion and battles, with little room for the lovely details that made the first two books come to life. This rushed pace left some loose ends, too: How did the chyerti feel about Vasya controlling Medved and Polunochnitsa? How did the chyerti overall feel about fighting the battle, and were any of them killed? Can the other Rus’ see the chyerti now? Will Morozko be able to visit Vasya at the lake, even when it’s not winter? What about Marya?
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Winter of the Witch!
The Winter of the Witch is Katherine Arden’s third book in the Winternight Trilogy. I reviewed the first books The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower here.
I was quite taken by the 14th c Rus’ setting, the Russian fairy-tale-inspired characters, and the female heroine journey. Arden studied Russian in Moscow, so reading the books the reader is immersed in Russian history and traditional culture.
The series, in essence, is about a young girl growing up, discovering her abilities and place in the world, at odds with societal expectations. Historical Russia becomes a fairy-tale kingdom where both men and devils must fight to survive.
The Bear and the Nightingale
In 14th c Russia, Vasya, who can talk to horses and hear the household spirits, dares to claim the right to make her own fate. Against her family’s desires and the demands of society and church, she resists the life laid out for her. Even the pagan gods, whose power is slowly fading, try to harness her for their good but she will not be chattel to anyone. She fights the evil spirits that threaten her family, protected by the Winter King Morozko. When the spirit of Death in the form of a monstrous bear attacks their community, Vasya is blamed and labeled a witch by the priest Konstantin. Her choices limited to marry, enter a convent, or be killed as a witch, Vasya dresses as a boy and goes out into the world with a horse from Morozko, the unworldly stead Solovey, or Nightingale.
The Girl in the Tower
In the cruel winter, dressed as a boy, Vasya flees her home where she was driven out as a witch. After battling a Tartar army she finds refuge in a city where she is reunited with her brother Sasha, the valiant monk-warrior and childhood friend of the ruling prince. Her exploits impress the prince and she leads his band to track down the Tartar marauders. Vasya accompanies the retinue to Moscow and is reunited with her sister. Also in Moscow is the tormented Konstintine, the priest whose misguided faith drove him to persecute Vasya in her hometown. The story includes a twisted plot of false identities, a heritage of women who can communicate with the spirit world, and a riveting epic battle.
The Winter of the Witch
This installment brings the epic story to an exciting climax as the Rus kingdoms are threatened by the Mongol Golden Horde, and the chyerti fight for survival as they are forgotten as Christianity spreads.
Vasya learns she is descended from a line of witches and pledges to help the chyerti coexist with humanity. Central to the continuing story is Vasya’s monk-warrior brother Sasha, their sister Olga and her daughter, the nascent witch Marya, the Rus’ Prince, and the misguided Christian priest, Konstantin, whose lust for power overrides his faith.
Vasya’s demon mentor Morozko The Winter King, a god of death, and his brother Medved, the Bear, god of chaos, have been enemies. To protect her Rus’ kinfolk, Vasya’s task is to bridge their gap and make them ally with humans.
In the Author’s Note, Arden states that from the start she planned to end the trilogy at the 1380 Battle of Kulikovo on the Don River between the Grand Prince Dmitrii Ivanovich and the Tatar temnik Mamai. There was a historical warrior-monk who battled a Tartar warrior as in the novel, and the Grand Prince did trade places with a boyar so he could fight incognito.
I sped through The Winter of the Witch, a compelling read. There are two epic battles. As I noted in earlier reviews, the myth of the female hero continues as Vasya receives help and magical helpers. I noted repetition in the story, stock images or phrases, in the style of Epic poetry.
The series would appeal to readers who like strong female characters battling for freedom and those with an interest in fairy tales, Russian folklore, and fantasy.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
This book is the concluding installment of the Winternight Trilogy, a unique fantasy series steeped in Russian folklore. Ms. Arden gave readers a truly beautiful conclusion to Vasya’s story. Her imagery of the spirit world was very vivid. The storylines built up in the first two books continue in this installment and the book picks up where the second installment left off, so it is highly recommended that readers go back and read those prior to picking up these books. Readers find Vasya rising from the ashes of Moscow as a mature, strong-willed woman who is not afraid to fight for those she loves. All the minor characters in the other two books make an appearance and more are added, which could make the story a bit confusing for some folks. I had a really hard time with the relationship development between Vasya and Morozko. It felt a bit forced and rushed, especially considering this wasn’t the first time this subject was brought up during this series. I wanted a bit more emotion from Vasya. She goes through so much this book mentally, emotionally, and physically, and I felt like there were some lost opportunities regarding development of her character layers. I didn’t know much about Russian folklore and history of this period prior to reading this trilogy, and I appreciate the opportunity to see these themes through Ms. Arden’s eyes.
http://quirkybookwormalways.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-winter-of-witch-by-katherine-arden.html?m=1
This trilogy has quickly skyrocketed to my top three series list, right there with Harry Potter and Outlander. I absolutely loved the old Russian folklore brought to life by the beautiful writing of Katherine Arden! Set in the 1300s in Russia, she described this far off foreign land vividly and I felt as if I were there amidst the chyerti and battles.
Vasilisa is the main character and she has been such a great one from the beginning of the story in book one when she was just a young girl. Now, in the final chapter, she is a grown woman though often disguised as a boy. She has come on such a long journey of self-discovery through this trilogy and it didn’t disappoint when the book was over. I felt like she was a close friend or sister to me! And I was in love with her horse, Solovey.
In this final book in the trilogy, everything is coming to a head. All the loose ends for saving Russia’s traditions and chyerti from destruction meet in the middle and Vasilisa is the only one who can do it. There are thrilling parts, lovely parts, and sad parts, but in the end I walked away feeling good about where the story concluded and how Katherine wrapped everything up. This series is one I’m recommending to everyone and one that I could read again and again!
This was an awesome conclusion to this trilogy. Vasya is such a great character. I love her. I recommend the whole trilogy.
my all time favorite series! i felt all the emotions of the characters Especially the heroin! i will read it again this year, and I am already recommending it to my acquaintances.
Wow what a great ending to this series, although I’m not quiet ready to say goodbye to Vasya and the Winter King.
Oh the conclusion was so good I couldn’t put it down what an amazing adventure.
A stunning, epic conclusion to one of my favorite series of the year. Katherine Arden is a master of making the old-world fairy tale new again. Vasya is the kind of narrator you never want to stop listening to, and I was swept up, breath caught in my throat, for every heart-stopping chapter. If you haven’t yet, pick up book one, and prepare to be transported into a bright, glittering winter that’s as strange and dark as a story told by a midnight fire.
I love this book. I have re-read it three times in a row