In the sequel to the nationally bestselling The Bear and the Nightingale, a gifted young woman with ties to the old magic of her homeland blazes a trail out of the frozen wilderness and into the court intrigues of Moscow.
“A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention, even affection, of Morozko—the winter demon from her nurse’s stories. But his aid comes at a cost.
Orphaned, named a witch, and cast out by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent or marriage to a stranger. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the wide world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a young man and riding her trusted stallion, Solovey, into the wilderness.
But Vasya’s exploits soon reunite her with her long-estranged siblings and earn her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow. Disguised as a boy, she must walk a delicate line, safeguarding her family, concealing her identity and navigating her increasingly fraught relationship with Morozko—even as she realizes the realm is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.
“A compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history.”—Kirkus ReviewsDon’t miss any of the bestselling Winternight Trilogy:THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE • THE GIRL IN THE TOWER • THE WINTER OF THE WITCH
On sale: December 5, 2017
Page count: 384 Pages
ISBN: 9781101885963
Katherine Arden is the author of the national bestseller
The Bear and the Nightingale. Born in Austin, Texas,
Arden
spent a year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrollment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to guiding horse trips. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.
“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) “[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)“[Katherine] Arden once again delivers an engaging fantasy that mixes Russian folklore and history with delightful worldbuilding and lively characters.”
—Library Journal “A compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history.”
—Kirkus Reviews “[A] magical story set in an alluring Russia.”
—Paste
