Turns out, there's an army heading toward Moscow and it's up to Vasya to unite the humans and the otherworldy creatures to save her beloved Russia. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for review. Thank you so much!! Initial post: YES! I finally got the ARC of this last book in this trilogy (which began with The Bear and the Nightingale)!! Now can I keep my hands off it for a couple of weeks while I read a few other books in my urgent TBR pile? We'll see ... Moscow is in flames, leaving its people searching for answers – and someone to blame. Vasilisa, a girl with extraordinary gifts, must flee for her life, pursued by those who blame their misfortune on her magic.

A magical and captivating coming of age novel set in medieval Russia - perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. This wintery trilogy has become exactly that for me - reminding me of all the reasons why I love literature. So, the Winter King, her biggest ally and the guy she loves, can't do anything without basically melting like Frosty the Snowman. You know that feeling when you find a book that speaks to some deep part of your soul and you just want to shout:

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Arden’s debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical.”—The Washington Post She makes some new friends! And by makes friends, I mean she kind of forces some of these magical folks that hate humans to help her. Medieval Russia in this fantastical world continues to be depicted with its bitter cold. Winter of the Witch is a bold fairytale, and it is lush to the senses. This book has more of a warring focus, and my interest lagged a little during those bits, but the expected magical creatures are present to carry to the fulfilling ending for this amazing trilogy.

Conclusion of the story was magnificent and I’m still hopeful in near future we may still take more journeys with those memorable characters. In the WINTERNIGHT TRILOGY, Arden has proved herself particularly adept at weaving together folklore and actual history. The Winter of the Witch focuses on the events leading up to the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, but puts a fantastical spin on it. As the country lurches toward war, Vasya is guided into the midnight realm of Polunochnitsa, or Lady Midnight, where she meets not only one of her ancestors ― a famous Russian folklore character in her own right ― but the mythical firebird, Pozhar (whose other form is a golden mare), and a delightfully opinionated mushroom spirit that Vasya called Ded Grib (Grandfather Mushroom). Pozhar and Ded Grib represent the high and the lowly among the chyerti, whom Vasya is trying to protect along with the humans who inhabit Russia. Even Medved, the fearsome Bear who played such a terrifying role in The Bear and the Nightingale, becomes more understandable and sympathetic, or at least much more entertaining as a character. It’s a nice reminder that even villains have some positive characteristics. He spoke of Russia. Not of Muscovy, or Tver, or Vladimir, the principalities of the sons of Kiev, but of Russia itself, of its skies and its soil, its people and its pride.

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Anachronism Stew: Invoked. Many of the female characters wear sarafans despite the trilogy taking place centuries before such outfits became popular. The author explains their appearance in the glossary of the first book, saying many Western audiences associate this dress with medeival Russia and she deliberately played to these perceptions. PRH: I think it does speak to the level of immersion in the novel. People can’t find those kinds of nits unless they’re paying attention. Maybe it’s a compliment in some way? Yes, they were invaders and did terrible things. But, considering how badly Tatars are treated in Russia nowadays (I have friends who have been horribly harassed by authorities, police, and random people, it’s not pleasant) I feel it’s the wrong time to have a very high profile book where the Tatars are less human than the literal demons. We see only two named characters, and none of them has any personality. And all the others are a faceless horde. When Vasya is presented to a tent of Tatars, the single Russian person is the only one who shows her compassion. I’m not saying make the Tatars good guys. By all means, make them bad. But make them complex bad, with personality, and motivations, and quirks. Make them human.

Cast out by the King of the Ice Kingdom, Morozko wanders Buyan, a Miyazaki haven for cherti, nechist, and witches - but a dark curse plagues the land - Koschei the Deathless. Can this bastard prince and the young human girl Anya that conniving Baba Yaga gave Morozko to raise with his found family of cutthroat spirits stand a chance against the immortal sorcerer King Kaschei, who has trapped Anya's soul in the Deathless realms, in gardens of dead wives?

This trilogy provides examples of:

A girl rode a bay horse through a forest late at night. This forest had no name. It lay far from Moscow – far from anything – and the only sound was the snow’s silence and the rattle of frozen trees. The Girl in the Tower, p. 3

At the third book, everybody learns Vasya’s true identity but they also claim her being witch and try to burn her in the fire by a lynch group whose ring leader is Konstantin Nikonvinch ( Yes from the beginning this bastard wants to get his revenge and wait for perfect timing to conduct his big plan!) Something unacceptable, heart-wrenching happens… ( Nope, our heroine is still alive! But she is psychically and mentally wounded! I am not gonna spill any spoiler but this part of this book ripped my heart out!!!!!! MORE SNIFFFFFFFF) Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey. This was a very long comment and I was actually trying to restrain myself 😅 I so very glad that you loved these books as much as I do.Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)