Reviews
✨️Audiobook Review✨️ The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine ArdenDNF This was a DNF for me unfortunately. It sounded like a fantastic book but I just didn't gel with it. I disliked the audio and I struggled to follow which character was which. I can't decide if it was dual POV or just chapters without any change in character. I'm gutted, I've wanted to read this for ages and has been on my TBR for so long. Never mind, I gave it until 25% but I just couldn't hack it any longer. I tried and didn't like. That doesn't mean it's a bad book, it's just not a book for me.
SpoilerThis honestly didn't need to be as long as it was. It began as building a rich scene, with hints of magic. It felt fresh and engaging. Just after halfway and the joy starts to wear off, and then the story just drags on. It's honestly a long and weary build up to an overly complicated vampire story, which I honestly wasn't expecting based on the summary. I don't think I can spare the energy to read the sequels, unfortunately.
This book probably deserves a higher rating than I'm giving it, or want to give it. However, I admit this book was definitely just not for me, and I was forcing myself to finish rather than dnf it, but purely out of my own interest.
Current me at me from a day ago: sasha who? In this house we only know AlyoshaThe last 20 pages? WildThis book?very fucking goodI? S T A N
Fiquei encantada pela história e pela escrita.O livro carrega uma energia de fábula que poucos escritores conseguem trazer em palavras. Foi fácil se afeiçoar a todos os personagens, mas, principalmente, a Vasya. A aura de menina que ela tem por toda a leitura, mesmo quando já está bem crescida é um toque tão mágico que autora consegue dar.As passagens dos upyr foram tão bem escritas que deu um geladinho na espinha. A ambientação da floresta, do inverno, do quarto sombrio do padre, trouxe um toque mágico e de medo à história. Alguns autores conseguem te fazer criar toda a ambientação da história na imaginação, e Katherine Arden foi perfeita nesse quesito.Uma leitura confortável e linda para um início de ano.
Set in ancient Russia, this is the first book in the Winternight trilogy that introduces us to Vasya, a girl who cannot fit into the patterns imposed by women of the time. She is brave, smart and has a single desire to be free. Oh sure, she also sees things that no one—or at least not a normal person—should see. She has always been seen as a weird girl and over the years this becomes more and more evident. I think what I liked most about this book was all the setting, the woods of medieval Russia, the villages and all the mythology that I didn't know. This book is a fantasy book and if you are looking for a book with a lot of romance then it is not for you. But if you are looking for a book with adventure, mystery (I won't deny that there were times when I was scared reading lol), magic and a demonstration of what life was like in Russia in that historical period, then please read it. This book deserves much more recognition, it was something very different and enjoyable to read.
Solo puedo definirlo con una palabra: magia. Es una historia que te arrastra con la tormenta del invierno mientras, al oído, te cuenta una historia de magia, criaturas misteriosas y hechizos ancestrales. La pluma consigue envolverte y dejarte conocer a Vasia y a su familia, y en general, creo que los personajes son el punto fuerte de este primer libro, con sus personalidades y relaciones con otros personajes, que van evolucionando con el tiempo.¡Recomendado!
I am pleasantly surprised by this story, especially the storytelling - the love for Russia/Russian folklore seeps through the pages. It is the same feeling one gets in early childhood from listening or reading tales of times long gone... This one will definitely have to be revisited around the winter holidays for a little extra cozy winter mood.