The Winter of the Witch

A Novel

By: Katherine Arden

Narrated by: Kathleen Gati

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's summary

New York Times Best Seller

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 best-selling 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 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)

©2018 Katherine Arden (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[Katherine] Arden’s gorgeous prose entwines political intrigue and feminist themes with magic and folklore to tell a tale both intimate and epic, featuring a heroine whose harrowing and wondrous journey culminates in an emotionally resonant finale.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Visceral descriptions of battle, an atmospheric sense of place, and some truly heartbreaking moments of loss make this a gut-wrenching read, but there’s ample hope and satisfaction to be found as Vasya chooses her own unique path to triumph.” (Booklist)

“Exciting, moving, and beautifully written, this is a story readers will savor.” (Library Reads)

Wonderful

I love this story. I wish it could go on forever. But this was a sad, yet beautiful ending to the trilogy. The narration as always was wonderful

More wonderful narration for fantastic conclusion

Kathleen Gati brings more wonderful narration to the final installment of this trilogy. I could listen to her for days, and she does such a great job with the characters and their highs and lows in this book. The book itself is a compelling and rich addition to this trilogy. The characters all experience growth and are written with nuance and depth. The story twists and turns and goes in surprising directions. I was sad to come to the end, but it closes on the right note. This was well worth the listen, and something I can imagine listening to again.

Mists of Avalon in Russian

I really enjoyed this mix of folk tale fantasy, fairytale and myth. I enjoyed every moment

Best Series Yet

I have not quite finished the last novel of this series because, I don't want it to end. This series is absolutely captivating and it only gets better with the second and third book. The story line is wonderful and the narrator is spectacular in my opinion. Such a perfect combination. I hope Katherine Arden will write more novels similar to these.

breathtakingly beautiful

The story is whimsical and enchanting. I've never heard nor heard a story like this before. I'm sad to see it end but it was beautiful ride.

Well written , throughly enjoyed

Such a great story ,I love the way this author writes ! Totally enjoyed it all three books !

wonderful trilogy conclusion

This story while excellent I'm sure in book form was superb listening to it through audible. The warmth , assistance with all the Russian variations on names plus just hearing it read with an accented Russian inflection really made an excellent story even better.

fantastic trilogy

The story was amazing and the reader perfect for it. It has inspired a new interest in Russian folklore for me and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Twists and turns

The tale gets darker, more dramatic, and longer. I love how the author used Russian proverbs, sometimes when I listen, I forget that I’m listening to it in English.

great ending to a great series

This is the last of the three "can't put them down" books in the Bear and the Nightingale trilogy. This one is maybe a tiny bit over long but the whole journey through the series was awesome. Kudos to the narrator who made all those Russian words and names feel and sound so natural.