Thanks to @didic and his "New Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy" Book Review Contest, focusing on women who are eligible for the Campbell award this year, here is my review of

The Bear and the Nightingale, Winternight Trilogy #1 by Katherine Arden.

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, Vasilisa spends winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon... Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits... Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
...Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent...Vasilisa must call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed... to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales.

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Rare is the novel

that hooks me from page one and keeps me turning pages, in the wee hours of the night, in stolen moments, paining me when I must set it aside to buy groceries and feed people and toss frisbees to the pesky dog. This Russian fairy tale by a contemporary author is so engaging, so enjoyable, I had no desire to leave its pages and return to my daily chores.

Katherine Arden has lived in Russia, and it shows. The aura, the cold and snow, the folklore, all the mystique of this vast foreign land are captured in Arden's prose. Flawless prose, I might add.

The foreign words are Americanized just enough to make it easy on us. Arden keeps the Russian habit of using a dozen variations on a name for one character, but I managed to keep them straight.

At times I was reminded of the "Twilight" novels, but in a good way. Sometimes I got annoyed that the strongest of heroines so often needed to be saved by a powerful and very old yet very young-looking Frost king, but the story is so riveting, the heroine so admirable and resilient, strong and brave, I just couldn't bring myself to complain, "Not again with the damsel in distress trope."

My Kindle is packed full of highlights and insights that beg to be shared. I believe this story is suitable for a classroom, with its finely wrought prose, insights into women's issues, archetypes, and classic coming-of-age themes.

Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Time and again, the classic work of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés came to mind as I read this story.

"If you have yet to be called an incorrigible, defiant woman, don't worry, there is still time,"

Estés has said.

"A healthy woman is much like a wolf:

robust, chock-full, strong life force, life-giving, territorially aware, inventive, loyal, roving."

Estés is a Jungian psychoanalyst, post-trauma recovery specialist, author, and "cantadora" (keeper of the old stories)--so if she hasn't read this debut novel, she ought to. I've read only one Estés book, Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype.
One-star bandits trash her books as irreverent and disrespectful of the Catholic Church. Likewise, Arden's novel shows us the some of the worst sides of Catholicism and priests who'd stamp out "pagan" ways and "superstitions." Unfortunately, historical records all too often affirm what novelists portray. Patriarchal religions and respect for women rarely go together like birds and feathers.

Would this novel be better if it just left out the Catholic elements? Impossible. We'd miss out on a fantastic character, Vasilisa's brother Alyosha. The monastery, the convent, the priesthood, all are a part of Russian history, along with the rich lore of fairy tales told by the same human beings who lived under the auspices of The Church. It's an odd mix, to be sure, but the apostle Paul wrote epistle after epistle exhorting his converts to give up their pagan ways and adopt Christian ideals. Ultimately, Paul made concessions, like Christmas and Easter, and other festive traditions that had to be incorporated into Christianity or the converts might drift away.

The Snow Demon--I mean, Frost King!

comes to life in ways that make sparkling vampires look silly and weak. I will say no more for fear of spoilers.

Every character is vivid and well developed, even if they're sometimes maddening. The stepmother is always maddening, and so is her favorite priest.

Katherine Arden

kept me spellbound, and what a magnificent (never mind if it's unbelievable) ending! After too much dystopian science fiction in the past few years, this story is the antidote I needed. Thank you. Write more. Please. This is so much richer and more rewarding than the best-selling YA paranormal/romance series I've read.

Countless books claiming to retell old fairy tales are being published these days (Meg Cabot is one of many who used the Persephone Myth in her YA series), and "Death" is an oddly popular, hot, sexy character in too many YA novels--and I am almost never impressed with modern retellings of old, classic, beloved fairy tales--but this one (yes, it seems a bit long, but I didn't mind) stands out from the rest.

Romance and magic are only part of the story. Cultural and social issues, women's issues, religion, family obligations and expectations, it's all here. I'm curious to know how young readers react to the text.

Vasilisa's father slaps her around.

He slaps his wife around. Corporal punishment is an accepted part of the culture. Modern readers like me wince and cringe at this, of course. The heroine is unfailingly polite and respectful to her elders, never snarky or impertinent. Will modern teens identify with that, or dismiss it as a trait best discarded with the old tradition of spanking disobedient children?

I'm afraid all that makes it stand out from other YA "retellings" is going to keep YA readers from falling for this story. I'd love to be proven wrong.

Thank you to Random House for providing me a digital ARC of this novel via Netgalley for the purpose of review

And for sending me Book 2!

Bonus Review of The Girl in the Tower

Literary, historical fiction, with the fast pace and page-turning suspense of a thriller,

and shining with the magic of a fairy tale set in medieval Russia - Where is Book 3? I want it now!

I love this novel!

I had to set this one aside to re-read Book One, The Bear and the Nightingale, and re-orient myself to this world and its many, many characters and settings. Rarely do I take time to read a book twice, swamped as I am with ARCs and requests to edit raw manuscripts. Arden's writing is so rich, layered, and lovely, I enjoyed the second read as much as the first one.

The Girl in the Tower kept me on edge. Would our intrepid Vasya end up imprisoned in some tower? Well, maybe, but if she does, you know it won't be for long. At the novel's end, it appears we will meet another marvelous heroine in Book Three.

But, but, will the Frost King find his way back into the trilogy?

Certain scenes set my teeth on edge. I was reminded of Rose in "The Titanic" and a certain gemstone. I screamed at Vasya, but she didn't listen. And it occurred to me: whenever I get that wrought up over a story, it's a sure sign the author has probed deep and struck a note that is authentic, and therefore maddening.

Because in real life, people are stubborn and impulsive and do things they may regret.

Others have summarized the plot. I have stopped doing that. Read the synopsis, read the reviews of those who have time to recapitulate the story arc and mention the incredible characters.

Vasya's brother, the priest, for one. Oh how I love him!

The horses are characters in and of themselves.

The house guardians - the way a new religion is weakening them - all too believable, even if this really is "only" fiction.

I am smitten. I want more. Arden gives us the magic of Harry Potter, a love story that transcends Edward and Bella's in "Twilight," and a tough heroine to rival Katniss of "The Hunger Games." Normally I avoid comparing novels this way, but Arden's series is so good, I can't believe it isn't already on the best-seller lists.

Ooh!

Book 3, The Winter of the Witch is coming August 18:

Print List Price: $28.00
Pre-order Price: $13.99
Sold by: Random House LLC
Pre-order with 1-Click®

Granted, @didic merely "liked" Book One of this series.

I love it. Sure, it has its flaws, but I still love it. Arden is a woman author worthy of an award, whether it's the Campbell or some other honor.

wolf photo source