The Bear and the Nightingale

A Novel

By: Katherine Arden

Narrated by: Kathleen Gati

Katherine Arden’s best-selling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.

“A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up.” (Naomi Novik, best-selling author of Uprooted)

Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil.

Then Vasya’s widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya’s stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village.

But Vasya’s stepmother only grows harsher, determined to remake the village to her liking and to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for marriage or a convent. As the village’s defenses weaken and evil from the forest creeps nearer, Vasilisa must call upon dangerous gifts she has long concealed - to protect her family from a threat sprung to life from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

Praise for The Bear and the Nightingale

“Arden’s debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical.” (The Washington Post)

“Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices.” (The Christian Science Monitor)

“Stunning...will enchant readers from the first page....with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate.” (Publishers Weekly [starred review])

“Utterly bewitching...a lush narrative...an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family.” (Booklist [starred review])

“An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale... The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic.” (Robin Hobb)

©2017 Katherine Arden (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Arden's supple, sumptuous first novel transports the reader to a version of medieval Russia where history and myth coexist." (Kirkus Reviews)

Russian Fairytale

I have never heard a Russian Fairytale before and this was a well written wonderfully colorful tale. Enjoy it a lot, very entertaining, thank you

Loved it!

It is very similar to Novik's Uprooted in terms of style. Like a fairy tale.

Stayed Interesting Throughout

What did you love best about The Bear and the Nightingale?

I loved how easy the author made it to step into the cold, dark woods of Norther Russia, how immersive and real the experience was, as though instead of peering into a snowglobe and watching, we were instead in the swirling drifts among the trees, breathing the same air.

I also loved Vasilisa's stubbourness, hehe. It would not have been an enjoyable story if she had always done as she'd been told. She's a good female protagonist. I appreciated especially the ending and the choice she made, probably because I wanted the same and would have been heartbroken had it been any different.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vasilisa's brother who stood by her until the end was my favourite. :D I admire his bravery and loyalty. It brought a feeling of comfort and relief every time he believed in her when everyone else turned away.

What does Kathleen Gati bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice was low and smooth, velvet like smoke. It was a perfect match to the setting, and to bring to life the creatures that dwelt just beyond the awareness of the woodfolk. She gave the characters voices with emotion that brought to life their faces as they spoke.

New fairy tale

Love love loved this book! It reads/listens like a Russian folk tale or fairy tale that's been passed down from generation to generation. The combination of story and narrator is magical. I listened to it pretty much straight through. It was a little hard to get into but I'm so glad I persisted!

This.

This story is beautiful and haunting. The narration makes it all the more beautiful. It is something I will listen to again and again.

Good book but fell kinda flat.

This book is brilliantly written. The writing is vivid and paints a spectacular picture. However the book just fell flat toward the crescendo and left me wanting more at the end.

Good ending

An ok story. I wasn't sure at first then I got invested enough to continue. The last part I got kinda bored but it had a good ending. I had a hard time understanding the Russian names.

Amazing

One of the best books I’ve read in a while. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Whimsical, Sometimes Dark, Russian Folklore

The narrator does a great job at attempting to breathe life into the characters and has a lovely voice. The characters in the book are well-developed. Decent fantasy story. The author does a good job at incorporating Russian folkore and historical culture into the novel.

Love!

I absolutely fell in love with this book. I love the story line, I love the setting, and I love the characters. I really did not know much about medieval Russia, nor the folklore, but while reading this book I spent some time googling, and learned a lot of interesting things. Also, I am a middle school librarian. We have quite a few students who have moved to the US from Russia, Ukraine, etc. It was awesome to share bits of information, ask about various folklore, and generally, get to know these students better! :)