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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

#YABuddyRead questions posted with spoilers. See my page. Anyone who‘s read this is welcome to join in.

Anything else you‘d like to discuss?

Johanna414, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, Bookgoil, LibrarianRyan, BarbaraJean, BethM, Bklover, Kdgordon88, Chrissyreadit, SamanthaMarie, RedxoHearts, Butterfinger, BacklistReader, IndoorDame, Roary47, Cazxxx, peanutnine, MadelineMcCrae

Caroline2 Oh I just finished The Girl yesterday and loved it! I‘m reading a different book now but then I‘m planning on jumping straight into the third book! 😃 👍 1mo

SamanthaMarie I do plan to read the next in the series!! Working on other things right now. But I really liked the first! Would have been a great standalone too though. 1mo

IndoorDame I didn‘t go into it realizing it was a trilogy, so I expect I‘ll go back to the others eventually since I really liked it, but it‘ll be a while since I didn‘t pick the second one up straight away. 1mo

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megnews @IndoorDame I didn‘t realize either. I will probably read it at some point but it may be awhile. 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie @IndoorDame one additional question I had was this: this is listed as both YA and adult fantasy. Do you think it falls better in either category? 1mo

IndoorDame @megnews I think this works really well as YA. Especially as a trilogy of short books about young women. There were a few moments when I wondered what a teenager would think reading certain scenes, but then I just figured I only worry when messages things send to kids cause I‘m a teacher now, and my friends will have kids that age before too long, when I think about what I actually read at that age… lol 1mo

BarbaraJean I‘m about halfway through—hoping to finish today or tomorrow, and will jump into the discussion a little late! 1mo

megnews @BarbaraJean no problem! I‘ll be back to check out your thoughts. 1mo

Bookgoil Yes I downloaded the next two already!!! 1mo

Chrissyreadit @BarbaraJean me too! 1mo

Johanna414 I've read all three books and honestly feel like each book improved upon the previous one 1mo

MadelineMcCrae I would place this series as an adult fantasy due to some of the themes, atmosphere, and pacing. YA are usually much faster paced than this and don‘t have that seem writing style that I see more in adult fiction. I‘ve already started the second book and bought all three copies as paperback! 1mo

Chrissyreadit I like this as a YA- I bought both the 2nd and 3rd and will read them I hope sooner rather than later. 1mo

mrp27 I will definitely read the other two books. 1w

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

Butterfinger Would you consider the nightingale being turned into a stallion a sacrifice? 1mo

Chrissyreadit @Butterfinger I would- but did not consider it until I read that. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I thought of It as everyone constantly sacrificing in many ways, with food and lifestyle and choices. 1mo

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megnews @Butterfinger like @Chrissyreadit I didn‘t think of it til you said it but great point. I agree with your response too @Chrissyreadit - lots of sacrifices by everyone all the way around 1mo

BarbaraJean I loved the way Pyotr's sacrifice was framed at the end, when he says a man doesn't give up another's life. It's a contrast to the way others do just that throughout the novel - so many of the people who make sacrifices don't actually make the sacrifice themselves, others force the sacrifice on them. Konstantin & Anna are sent away from Moscow, Anna is ready to give Vasya's life away, and Konstantin gives away Anna's life in exchange for Vasya. 1mo

megnews @BarbaraJean what a great observation! I feel better able to go into the next book in the series after this discussion with everyone. 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

SamanthaMarie Men versus women perhaps. In that, men dominate the culture and choices and women are subject to the decisions made by men. I think Vasya is an interesting character because she lives in between. She goes to church and doesn't mind it and believes you can have church and the old ways. She obviously chooses to forge her own path when it comes to playing into the roles she "should" have. She's what a lot of us want the world to be like, I think. 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie agreed on the men vs women 1mo

Bookgoil I definitely see the order vs chaos throughout the book - seeing how those choices effect things through the story. 1mo

Butterfinger Definitely old lore vs new religion. 1mo

Chrissyreadit @SamanthaMarie I agree with you, so many ways the role of men and the role of women. And I agree with @Butterfinger old ways vs new religion. 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

SamanthaMarie Kind of like my comment on the post above, she represents the in between that exists between two opposing forces. I think a lot of people have a hard time when things aren't black and white. That which is gray or a color is really hard for people to come to terms with. That Vasya has such a loyalty to the village while frolicking with the spirits is unique and they can't understand the latter. It's threatening to them. 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie agreed. She‘s different and different is seen as a threat. And though all the problems that ensue are not due to her, she is at the center of trying to resolve it and therefore becomes the scapegoat. 1mo

Bookgoil I think she is the unknown to them which can be a bit frightening she‘s not quite fitting their understanding and they cannot mold her completely so she becomes a threat. 1mo

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megnews @Bookgoil I think they sort of know where she‘s coming from with taking care of the house and stable sprites. Because they used to all believe this. Maybe they are worried about the threat she causes not fully converting? Religion and government were so tangled up 1mo

Butterfinger I hate to say it, but they are supposed to trust God, and the old gods are demons. So they see her as evil or demon possessed. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I wonder how much of this is fear over what cannot be controlled. 1mo

Roary47 I mean the girl brought about a ton of their old stories and fables. Is be a little worried too. 4w

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

megnews Such a tough thing to answer. Marriage was inevitable at that time. There were really no options for women in their own. And life was so dangerous then. Can‘t see myself in a convent. I‘d love to say I‘d strike out on my own but I‘m not a huge risk taker so would probably hope for a good marriage. 1mo

Bookgoil I‘m not sure I would be brave enough to rail against marriage when it was such a common inevitability and I definitely do not see myself in a convent. Something would have to strongly make me want to become an outsider to choose that path. 1mo

IndoorDame I agree. As frightening as it must be to be that young and completely powerless and alone, convents were even more permanent than marriages and, often enough, even more brutal. I can‘t imagine taking that chance, or running off to live alone in the forest, so I probably would have married. 1mo

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megnews @Bookgoil @IndoorDame I‘m glad I‘m not the only one who‘d be concerned about striking out on my own. 1mo

IndoorDame @megnews as much as I‘m sure we all loved to think of ourselves as novel heroines when we were Vasya‘s age, It‘s cold in the woods! It‘s deathly enough cold in the woods where I live, much less in Russia. No thank you. 1mo

Butterfinger Some books make convents seem so peaceful. I would choose that. 1mo

Chrissyreadit @Butterfinger @IndoorDame @Bookgoil @megnews I have to admit I‘m known for going against the grain and not fitting in- so I‘d probably want to travel, although for all that I did ultimately get married and have kids 🤣 1mo

Roary47 I struggled in the compression of this book apparently. 😅 Looking through the questions after I read it before the holidays and being busy until now to look through them wasn‘t the greatest idea. I agree with @Butterfinger though the convent seems peaceful. The adventures she went on with the ghosts and spirits seems too stressful. 4w

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

megnews Anna and Vasya shared the same abilities but that‘s where the similarities end. Perhaps because of how they were raised, one viewed it as a gift, one not only a curse, but madness. 1mo

IndoorDame They were raised so differently. Vasya‘s mother chose to die so she could give birth to a daughter who was stronger in the old ways than she was. Anna‘s parents told her she was crazy and cursed. It must have been like they didn‘t even speak the same language. 1mo

megnews @IndoorDame right. Anna couldn‘t see Vasya as anything but mad since that was already so ingrained in her. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I think Anna hated her because she was living her best life- something Anna never got to do. 1mo

megnews @Chrissyreadit great point! 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

megnews I‘m a Christian but I struggle with the methods by which Christianity was spread. God gave us free will, something religious leaders seem to forget. I don‘t believe forcing belief on groups of people was ever God‘s intention. Of course, Konstantin‘s charisma was necessary for his role but I think he struggled with his art as he recognized he wasn‘t always using it for God and he felt that was wrong. 1mo

Bookgoil I struggle with the false prophet feel of Konstantin - I‘ve always had a hard time believing in religion fully and I don‘t trust charisma so when someone puts on a charm to me it feels like they are trying to get me to buy something false. I don‘t think he always used his gifts correctly which is the fault of being human but he had religious intent. 1mo

IndoorDame I did not find him to be a sympathetic character. He was vengeful towards Vasya because she wasn‘t submissive. And as soon as he has an awakening that he hasn‘t been speaking to god, he immediately sacrifices Anna the same way instead of taking time to be be introspective even though he‘s supposed to be the educated one. 1mo

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megnews @Bookgoil @IndoorDame I didn‘t care for his character either. So many men let power go to their heads and lose sight of the real purpose. I agree it comes with being human but it‘s still frustrating when it hurts so many. 1mo

Butterfinger I didn't care for the priest at all. He was very arrogant. 1mo

Chrissyreadit @Bookgoil I think your response of false prophet is such a good one. And I think that‘s a trope as well as reflection of the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I found he was the epitome of problematic behavior. The old priest seemed to serve them well enough without conflict. @megnews @IndoorDame @Butterfinger 1mo

BarbaraJean @IndoorDame That was the point where Konstantin ceased to be sympathetic to me. I didn't like him, but could at least understand his failings/sympathize a little. But when he discovered he'd been duped by a malicious spirit and his response was to hide it and sacrifice the lives of others to preserve his pride, instead of admitting his failings and trying to make things right… there was no excuse. 1mo

BarbaraJean @megnews I think his art could have complemented his vocation, but he got too caught up in the fame it brought him (along with his charisma and his looks!). I've heard a bit about icon painting and as I understand it, it's supposed to be a very specific way of praying through the process of painting. When he gets caught up in thoughts of Vasya and discovers he's painted her features into the icon, it's clear he's not using his art as intended! 1mo

megnews @BarbaraJean I did not know that about icon painting. Great info! I agree with your view on Konstantin. 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

megnews I think the blame is shared and the fate inevitable once Christianity reached the region. The people I least blame are Anna. She spent her whole life being told she was crazy, not that she had a gift. She could find no solace. And Pyotr is to blame but perhaps not as much. They lived hard lives then and I think he was focused on survival rather than what was going on around him. (edited) 1mo

Bookgoil Definitely shared I think as we see in our own society if we do not come together we will fall apart. Once the blame game starts and we lose sight of community then I think the division makes everything go to pieces just as it did in this story. So basically everyone is to blame 😅 1mo

IndoorDame @Bookgoil I think that‘s a really good parallel to our society. And I like the points you and @megnews both make that at some point the fracture is inevitable, and the blame is pointless. I think Vasya saw that. She was making compromises with both the priest and the old spirits just trying to keep everything in balance just a bit longer. 1mo

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megnews @bookgoil i agree with @IndoorDame that‘s a great comparison with today‘s world. Nothing new under the Sun. 1mo

Johanna414 I feel like I really want to blame Konstantin because he was the worst, but in reality it was the while set of factors coming together to create the situation. 1mo

Butterfinger It reminds me so much of other culture clashes. How Christianity evolve by embracing pagan traditions. I don't think I answered the question, but this came to mind when reading the discussion. Communities divide because of beliefs. And there has to be something to unite the people. In this case, it was Vasya. She has to sort of braid the old to the new. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I agree with @IndoorDame ‘s perspective. 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger I understand your struggle. My take as a believer is this: at some point along the way spreading the gospel was replaced by world dominion. Whether that was by leaders of the church or governments recognizing they could more easily control the people by converting to Christianity or both, I don‘t know. What I feel I do know is that wasn‘t God‘s intention. He doesn‘t force faith on an individual level and therefore I don‘t 👇🏻 1mo

megnews 👆🏻believe he‘d force it on whole groups. Government is a human concept God didn‘t intend. (Israel begging for kings like other groups had, God‘s long time resistance.) I honestly don‘t think God cares about politics the way we do. God is looking at a bigger picture than parties and countries. I also think it was very hypocritical of the early church to condemn pagan practices while simultaneously incorporating them in order to gain more 👇🏻 1mo

megnews 👆🏻followers. 1mo

Butterfinger Exactly @megnews it boils down to power and greed, not accepting God's love and sacrifice, which has to be a personal choice. 1mo

Butterfinger I think I worded my feelings weird. I think the early church was sincere in spreading the Gospel. It wasn't till it became a government itself when it became corrupt. And the converts kept part of themselves (old traditions) and it just evolved into what we do now. I'm not saying the plan of salvation evolved, but traditions. For example, my family still follows old wives tales (superstitions) - that came from the Indigenous people. Smelling water for example. 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger this is such an interesting conversation. I believe the very early church was sincere. But it quickly went sideways in pursuit of human goals. I have a problem with the church telling people to turn aside from their practices while at the same time adopting those practices to gain followers (Christmas is a prime example of this). I think there is a lot to say for traditional practices. For example, I listen to sound baths and 👇🏻 1mo

megnews 👆🏻certain frequencies because they help with my migraines and bring a sense of calm or focus. Some people would call this paganism or new age or whatever. I look at it as God made sound and sound effects us physically (Battle of Jericho?). It‘s science, which God made. I think ultimately God is too big for humans to completely understand and He can‘t be fit in a box. I do believe in the plan of salvation. I also see how connection with 👇🏻 1mo

megnews 👆🏻nature as many old traditions do was a part of God‘s plan for us all along (Garden of Eden). I don‘t know if I‘m explaining it in an understandable way but that‘s where I‘m at. 1mo

BarbaraJean This is SUCH a great discussion! I really like @IndoorDame and @Butterfinger's comments that Vasya was that bridge between the old and new, keeping them in balance. I was frustrated with Konstantin and Anna's insistence that it had to be all or nothing—Christianity alone and the rest was dismissed as evil—so I see more blame there and definitely less on Vasya, but I agree that it‘s a combination of factors leading to the inevitable. 1mo

BarbaraJean @megnews @Butterfinger I totally agree about the hypocrisy of the church condemning traditional practices on one hand and on the other using them for human ends when convenient. As a Christian, I really believe in respecting traditional beliefs and integrating them with Christian belief as appropriate—not manipulating either set of beliefs for the sake of power and greed, as Christianity has so often done. 1mo

Butterfinger I think we're saying the same thing, just worded differently. Aren't we? 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger yes I think so. 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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SamanthaMarie I think since it's based off of a fairytale, fate plays a large role. Then you add in characters that play into subplots that create the chaos to make the inevitable begin and usher itself in. 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie agreed. I think there was an inevitable collision between the old spirits and Christianity when it came. But the choices of the king to send Konstantin, the villagers to turn their backs on the old ways, etc set them on that collision course. 1mo

SamanthaMarie @megnews That king was a 🤬 to send his sister away like that when she would have been perfectly happy in a convent. That felt really awful to me. 1mo

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megnews @SamanthaMarie yes she should have been allowed to find her peace. 1mo

IndoorDame I found the conflict between the old religion and Christianity fascinating because it made me wonder how much this is just a piece of fiction/fantasy and how much it‘s a fable retelling. I don‘t know enough about Russian fairy tales to know more than they used some real/adapted words and figures which would be true either way. BUT if it‘s a close retelling, then there‘s an actual moral being set up about one of the sets of deities. 1mo

megnews @IndoorDame I‘m in the same boat. I‘ve read lots of fairy tales but not Russian. 1mo

Johanna414 @IndoorDame I felt exactly the same! I want to read more Russian mythology so I know more of what is based on folklore and what was Arden's creation 1mo

Butterfinger You already know how I feel. I still have mixed feelings. 1mo

BarbaraJean @IndoorDame @Johanna414 Yes—the conflict between the traditional beliefs and Christianity was fascinating to me, too. I‘d be interested to know how much of it is based on Russian fairy tales, and how much it reflects conflicts between the new/old beliefs at that time...or if it was more that it served this particular plot. 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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megnews I felt like she was protecting Vasya which I understood as she loved her like a mother. She didn‘t think through the consequences for everyone else. 1mo

SamanthaMarie @megnews I agree. There's even that encounter between her and the winter king where she begs for one more year and he grants it because Vasya can't die. So I think she did what was right for Vasya, not knowing how poorly things would turn out for everyone else. Including herself 😭 1mo

Johanna414 It felt like a natural maternal instinct- I think I would have felt the same in her shoes. It's hard to look at the bigger picture when someone you love is in danger. 1mo

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megnews @Johanna414 I agree. I never thought about her decision to protect Vasya at the time. I don‘t think she could have imagined quite how bad the consequences would be. 1mo

MadelineMcCrae I understood why Dunya kept it for so long, but she went a little overboard when she could see obvious consequences towards the end. 1mo

Butterfinger If it was the Winter King's (Death) talisman, why did the Bear turn Donya into a vampire the second before she died? I missed something. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I did not really understand the relevance of the talisman to be honest. And I agree with @Butterfinger why Dunya was turned. 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger @Chrissyreadit there were definitely some things I felt I missed in reading this as well. The part with Donya being one. I took the talisman to be a mark of who she belonged to and that he may come for her. Not sure. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo

BarbaraJean I understood the talisman as protection from the Bear but also marking Vasya as belonging to the Winter King. Dunya‘s hesitation made sense, especially in light of the folktale at the beginning of the book—she wouldn‘t want her little girl to become the Winter King‘s bride! But I agree, she didn‘t realize the amount of danger she was inviting by not giving the necklace to Vasya. I didn‘t understand Dunya being turned, either. @Butterfinger @Chrissyreadit (edited) 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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megnews Definitely the wicked stepmother. 1mo

SamanthaMarie @megnews I really liked that I could feel sympathy for the stepmother. That was different for me!! 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie I agree. I think because you see her from the beginning with her own problems and of course pushed into a situation against her will. As evil stepmothers go, she wasn‘t the worst ever. 😂 1mo

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SamanthaMarie @megnews It's the truth. I will say, by the time her death came I was like ??‍♀️ well that happens lol. ? I did like her daughter!! She was sweet and good natured. Maybe since she was a half sister and not a step sister she didn't have to play an "evil" rule 1mo

SamanthaMarie Role not rule* 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie I liked Irina as well. 1mo

IndoorDame I also a version of the the “fairy godmother“ trope being carried out by Dunya. She wasn‘t raised by either her mother or her stepmother, and Dunya had direct access to both folk stories and prophetic dreams. 1mo

megnews @IndoorDame absolutely. 1mo

MadelineMcCrae I think it was the stepmother trope from western fairy tales. I‘m glad Anna‘s daughter turned out sweet, but I wish they had just let Anna go to a convent in the beginning. She annoyed me and I didn‘t feel bad when she died, but I could also understand where she was coming from due to her backstory. 1mo

Butterfinger Cool! I never thought of the stepmother trope, but I see it now. And of course the vampires. Isn't that what Donya turned into? That was an awful way to die. It still sends shivers down my back. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I thought the domovoi were like brownies. 1mo

megnews @MadelineMcCrae that sums up my feelings in Anna as well. I did feel bad they didn‘t let her go to a convent. It would have been awful to be a woman then. 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger I thought she was a zombie. But I‘m not really up on vampires or zombies. 1mo

megnews @Chrissyreadit me too! 1mo

BarbaraJean @Chrissyreadit I saw that, too—the domovoi as the helpful elves/brownies around the house. At first this felt darker than traditional fairy tales but then I thought about the original versions of Cinderella, etc. & maybe it‘s similar! @megnews I agree about women‘s roles! Convent or marriage, those were the options. Vasya‘s mentions of a cage were so appropriate. I wonder how Anna would have been different if she‘d been allowed to go to a convent. 1mo

BarbaraJean I don‘t know if this is really part of traditional Western fairy tales, but the use of traditional beliefs in opposition to Christian religion was surprising for me. It‘s interesting when an author explores how older mythologies interact with Christianity. Those parts of this story were unsettling to me, but also fascinating. 1mo

megnews @BarbaraJean I agree with @IndoorDame that convent life was often so hard then and I wouldn‘t have opted for it. But I truly believed it would have been better for Anna. She always found solace from her demons when in a church. Life was hard for women then no matter what. 1mo

IndoorDame @megnews it is really sad that Anna didn‘t get to make that choice. But putting her and Vasya in mirror roles that way does underscore that none of the women had agency. It‘s interesting that we even ask ourselves what we would have chosen when we never would have been given a choice. 1mo

megnews @IndoorDame great observation!! 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

This post contains spoilers

megnews I started getting confused with all the different spirits. I think the domovoi was the little house sprite. I like legends of these and wouldn‘t mind it. The upyry was the zombie beings I think. These I definitely wouldn‘t want to come across. (edited) 1mo

SamanthaMarie I really liked the rusalka. That was the one mermaid type spirit. I like how she said she's be an enemy but then turned "good" at the end. I wouldn't want to ever ever come across a upyry. Scary! There was also the stable one and I liked that one a lot too. 1mo

megnews @SamanthaMarie yes the stable one was similar to the house one and I liked it as well. They seemed helpful not harmful and mischievous in a fun way. 1mo

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SamanthaMarie @megnews Yes I agree!! That's kind of like how I imagine a typical sprite to be!! I love that they both help her in their own ways. And really do want to protect what they are there to protect. 1mo

IndoorDame @megnews @SamanthaMarie I was charmed by those same 2 spirits at first, but once I realized how much power they had I‘m not sure I actually want to meet any of them. She essentially made herself starve and bleed so they wouldn‘t desert the village completely. 1mo

megnews @IndoorDame this is true. 1mo

Johanna414 I think the domovoi were my favorite - the idea of them slowly losing power as people turned away from their traditional faith made me so sad 1mo

MadelineMcCrae I think I enjoyed the rusalka and domovoi the most. I‘m excited to see what other creatures Vasya meets in the next two books! 1mo

Butterfinger The domovoi reminded me of the Brownies or the elves that finished the cobbler's shoes. Helpful. I didn't like that it needed blood, but maybe European brownies do too. 1mo

Chrissyreadit I really liked the domovoi and the rusalka. I would not wish to meet the upyry. 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger they reminded me of Brownies too! 1mo

Butterfinger Megan, do you understand why I thought it was blasphemous? I really disliked the scene where the Bear or demon is in the church. I mean it turned my stomach. 1mo

megnews @Butterfinger yes, I can see that. 1mo

BarbaraJean Like @SamanthaMarie and @chrissyreadit I liked the one in the stable—the vazila—and the domovoi as well. And I‘m in agreement about the upyry! I‘d also avoid meeting the Bear. 😱 @Butterfinger The scenes with the Bear in the church/posing as the voice of God were disturbing to me, too. That type of reversal of good into evil is hard to read for me, but I felt it was effective in this story to show the depth of the Bear‘s evil to use fear/horror. 1mo

megnews @BarbaraJean that‘s such a good point about the Bear. When you think about it this is how cults are formed. People thinking they‘ve heard the voice of God and it‘s something else. 1mo

Chrissyreadit @megnews yes- that is a good point @BarbaraJean I agree that the voice of evil was able to manipulate was so important and relevant. Like any fairy tale this one is also full of important lessons. 1mo

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Andrew65

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

pick

A good read with plenty going on, almost feel as if I need to read it again to be sure I picked it all up. 🤣

17th book finished for #WinterGames2021 #MistletoeManiacs

#WrapItUpReadathon @keys_on_fire #WintercosyReadthon @PuddleJumper #AVeryMerryReadathon @TheSpineView #Adventathon @ozma.of.oz #LittenListen @aperfectmjk #DashingDecember #ChristmasMyWay @GHABI4ROSES @DieAReader

Clwojick

megnews I felt similarly. 1mo

Andrew65 @megnews Pleased to see it wasn‘t just me. 1mo

ozma.of.oz I keep seeing great things about this! I need to bump it up my TBR! 1mo

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jlhammar Love this trilogy! 1mo

Andrew65 @jlhammar I need to quickly move onto book 2. 1mo

mariaku21 I loved the entire trilogy! 1mo

TheSpineView Fantastic! 1mo

Andrew65 @TheSpineView Thanks 😍 1mo

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Bookaholicforlife

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

pan

I read this book for my book club and unfortunately it was a 1.5 star read for me. I thought it was a beautiful story and I loved Vasya but overall I found myself board reading it. I think for me it was just really slow and o didn‘t really care for the writing style.

bnp Interesting. I liked the first one in this series, but couldn't get into the 2nd & 3rd. 1mo

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The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

pick

Just finished! I didn‘t know this fairy tale going in. I haven‘t read much set in Russia either so that was fun & the wintry setting made for a great December read. I really loved Vasya & her family. I got a little confused toward the end with all the different magical beings. I‘m not sure yet if I would read the next in the series.

Looking forward to discussing tomorrow for #YABuddyRead. If you‘ve read this & would like to discuss join in!

Eastillwell, Johanna414, catebutler, Bookgoil, LibrarianRyan, BarbaraJean, BethM, Bklover, mrp27, Kdgordon88, Chrissyreadit, SamanthaMarie, RedxoHearts, Butterfinger, BacklistReader, IndoorDame, Roary47, Cazxxx, peanutnine, MadelineMcCrae

Chrissyreadit Im still reading but I LOVE it! 1mo

Johanna414 I loved this series! I felt like each book improved on the previous. 1mo

Kdgordon88 I just started…so far so good. 1mo

MadelineMcCrae Sometimes I have qualms with the pacing, but I‘m on book two and I love love love the atmosphere! I‘m really glad the author committed to incorporating supernatural/mythical Russian creatures. 1mo

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Clwojick, TheAromaofBooks

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

#WeeklyForecast
This week will continue to bring those wintry reads.
Finish up tagged book for #YABuddyRead discussion tomorrow. Focus on In the Midst of Winter for #OverBookedClub discussion.

Cinfhen

mrp27 Oomph! So behind on the Bear and the Nightingale but I am enjoying it! 1mo

megnews @mrp27 I was too but caught up by adding audio. Join in the discussion whenever you can. 😊 (edited) 1mo

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Andrew65

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

Staring a new book and listening to the Bear and the Nightingale. I hope it lives up to expectations.

#Winter2021 @Clwojick #WrapItUpReadathon @keys_on_fire #WintercosyReadathon @PuddleJumper #AVeryMerryReadathon @TheSpineView #Adventathon @ozma.of.oz #LittenListen @aperfectmjk #DashingDecember #ChristmasMyWay @GHABI4ROSES @DieAReader

DieAReader Hooray for #audiobooks 🤗 It‘s the only reading I‘ve accomplished today😂♥️ 1mo

Andrew65 @DieAReader That is often the case during a school week and especially on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 1mo

DieAReader @Andrew65 Fair enough! My excuse is just cause I was curious🤷🏻‍♀️ It will kinda tie into future therapy sessions though so there is that bonus lol 1mo

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Andrew65 @DieAReader Win win. 1mo

DieAReader @Andrew65 ♥️♥️♥️ 1mo

Lexeegee I am reading this now and I love this book! 1mo

Andrew65 @Lexeegee A good story. 1mo

TheSpineView I liked it!👍📖 1mo

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Butterfinger

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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A re-read and I love it even more than the first time. A duel between the old Russian gods and the accepted new Christianity sort of made me squeamish, but I loved it.

#YABuddyRead @megnews

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Bookaholicforlife

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

Going to start The Bear and the Nightingale. Here‘s hoping I enjoy it 😊

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Roary47

Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

so-so

3✨ The idea of this book was interesting. Set in winter with demons, magic elements, and spirits. I had trouble with the audiobook narrator and staying engaged. It doesn‘t help that I had a lot on my mind with work too. Vasilisa is coming of age where she is expected to marry or be sent to a convent. Her love for horses is throughout the story as well as her desire to find her own path in life. There is loss, danger, and good/evil in this story.⬇️

Roary47 Read for #YABuddyReads @megnews as well as #WinterGames2021 #TeamGameSleighers @StayCurious with #WGWordSearch 3 that I caught… again had trouble focusing. Plus #AnywayYouReadathon @Eggbeater @kimmypete1 @MidnightBookGirl (5hrs 48mins - since yesterday this book is longer). 1mo

Roary47 Questions for points on #WinterGames2021 @StayCurious do I get points for hours in readathons? I couldnt find it. 1mo

kimmypete1 Great job! 1mo

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Roary47

Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

I finished my first round of grading Science fairs, so I‘m going to try a readathon. My goal is to finish the tagged book and try to finish two others before the corrections for science fair come in 😵‍💫 @kimmypete1 @Eggbeater @MidnightBookGirl

Eggbeater Sounds fun! Thanks for joining! 1mo

kimmypete1 Thanks for joining! 1mo

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Bookgoil

Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

I'll be adding #DashingDecemberReadathon and #AnyWayYouReadathon to the many I‘m already participating in already this month!

My goal is to read as many books as I can for #WinterGames2021 🎄 and some graphic novels that I need for my committee

#Mistletoemaniacs

Thanks for hosting! ❤ @Andrew65 @kimmypete1 @Eggbeater @MidnightBookGirl

Eggbeater Good luck! Thanks for joining! 1mo

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SamanthaMarie

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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Just finished this beauty for #YAbuddyread with @megnews and OMG! I looooooved it. Easily one of my favorites for 2021. I am incredibly unfamiliar with Russian Fairytales/Folklore but Arden's story drew me in and made me feel connected immediately. Can't wait for the discussion!

BookBosomed1 This is on my TBF list. :) 2mo

SamanthaMarie @BookBosomed1 It is really good, I read it in 2 days!! But I have a lot of books on my TBF shelf; the curse of being a mood reader and having a Kindle 😅 so I understand if you don't get to it for awhile haha! 2mo

BookBosomed1 @SamanthaMarie I do not have a Kindle but I‘m def a mood reader. 2mo

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MicrobeMom So good! I need to finish this series. #wintergoa. 2mo

SamanthaMarie @BookBosomed1 I both really like it, because I'll read quite a few different things. But at times it can make finishing books a bit of a challenge. Maybe that should be my new year goal, just to finish any books I've started. 2mo

SamanthaMarie @MicrobeMom Yes! I'm definitely going to read the other two books. I want my husband to read the first one so we can talk about it. 🤓 2mo

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IndoorDame

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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This definitely lived up to its potential. It was dark and enchanting, and really did feel like you‘d stepped into a Russian folk tale and experienced it coming to life. #YABuddyRead #WinterGames2021 #TeamGameSleighers @megnews @StayCurious

megnews I‘ve only read a few chapters but loving it so far. Looking forward to discussion. 2mo

IndoorDame @megnews me too! 2mo

StayCurious Looks interesting! 2mo

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MadelineMcCrae I just finished this book a week-ish ago and loved it! Unfortunately, I‘m in the middle of finals and am having to out off reading the second book😢 2mo

IndoorDame @MadelineMcCrae good luck with finals! 2mo

MadelineMcCrae @IndoorDame Thanks!! 2mo

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kellyann28

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

1. The Bear and the Nightingale tagged for snow!
2. I do not like snow, mostly because the South does not know how to deal with it, so even a dusting causes schools and places to panic and shut down. It's ridiculous!
3. I plan on going through the #sundayfunday posts and seeing what looks good!

@ozma.of.oz

BookBosomed1 Now that I live in Wisconsin, remembering how my little hometown in AR handled snow makes me chuckle. If a dusting was in the forecast, there would be (and I assume still is) a mad rush to Walmart and then school would be called off. The first year after I moved to Milwaukee, we had a massive snowstorm. I was stunned when I learned that my classes would not be canceled. 😉 2mo

ozma.of.oz I‘ve had The Bear and the Nightingale on my TBR forever! Did you like it? 2mo

kellyann28 @ozma.of.oz I did like it! The themes stuck with me and I am planning to read the rest of the series this winter! 2mo

kellyann28 @BookBosomed1 YES!! If there is even a threat of snow people scramble to Walmart to buy milk and bread, the shelves are literally bare by the end of the day!! It is insanity. I think snow is beautiful but the panic it causes down here is just a nuisance 😂 2mo

ozma.of.oz Definitely bumping it up my TBR then! 👍🏻 2mo

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BacklistReader

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

For day 3 we‘re having some chocolate mint tea and finishing The Bear and the Nightingale.

Tea: Macaron Menthe Chocolate by Chez Lulu

#bookandtea #thebearandthenightingale #22daystillchristmas🎄 #chezlulu

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty 💙 2mo

BacklistReader @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thank you 2mo

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BacklistReader

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

Day two of my book and tea advent calendars.

Tea: Nepali Breakfast by Nepal Tea

Book: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

#bookandtea #nepaltea #thebearandthenightingale #23daystillchristmas🎄

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BacklistReader

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

What could go better than tea and good book? It‘s day one of my advent calendars and I‘m SO excited

Tea: Cardamom French Toast by Davids Tea

Book: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

#bookandtea #davidstea #thebearandthenightingale #24daystillchristmas🎄

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty photo 💙 2mo

BacklistReader @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thank you. Those are my favorite lights to put out for the holidays 2mo

megnews #YABuddyRead is discussing on 12/19 if you want to join us 2mo

BacklistReader @megnews ooo I may do that. Thank you 2mo

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MadelineMcCrae

The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

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The best word to describe this book is enchanting!! Vasilisa lives in the deep Northern woods of Russia, and she can see the chyerti from Russian folklore all around her, especially the winter king and death himself, Morozko. It‘s a bit slower as it starts from the beginning of Vasya‘s life to her teenage years, but picks up at the end. I‘m rushing to the bookstore tomorrow for the second book! This is the first book on my winter tbr.

AlaMich I adored this trilogy! 2mo

MadelineMcCrae @AlaMich I‘m so excited to see how the relationship dynamic between Vasya and Morozko plays out! 2mo

BiblioLitten This was such a perfect read for winter months. I read it in January a few years back and loved it. Recently read and enjoyed

Small Spaces

2mo

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MadelineMcCrae @BiblioLitten I have small spaces on my tbr! I‘ve been wanting to read the Winternight trilogy for a couple years now because it does seem like the perfect winter read, and I‘m glad I finally got to it! 2mo

megnews #YABuddyRead is discussing on 12/19 if you want to join us 2mo

MadelineMcCrae @megnews omg! Yes please! I have so many thoughts and feelings on this book😂 2mo

megnews That‘s great to hear! I‘ll tag you for discussion. 2mo

AlaMich @MadelineMcCrae I wish I could read them for the first time again. 2mo

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Littlewolf1

Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden

I know I am running a little late, but here is my #wintergames TBR for #mistletoemaniacs. This is also my list for #BookSpinBingo for December.

megnews I hope you like A Boy Called Christmas and The Girl Who Saved Christmas. I just loved them both. 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo

Clwojick Thats a good looking book stack! 2mo

megnews #YABuddyRead is discussing on 12/19 if you want to join us

The Bear and the Nightingale

2mo

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