This month’s reading is primarily thanks to a Graphic Novels course that I am currently taking. Outside of the Graphic Novels, of which I plan to review soon, I have read only sporadically. Due to current life circumstances, I just haven’t felt like reading much, let alone writing about it.
Hopefully, my reading will be back to normal soon.
I am currently listening to, The Winter of the Witch, by Katherine Arden. This is the third book in “The Winternight Trilogy,” which is a work of art as far as I am concerned. I wanted to listen to something familiar, even though this is stressing me out more than I had anticipated. I wish to be as courageous as Vasya!
I have recently picked up The Bridge of Little Jeremy, by Indrajit Garai, and I am really enjoying it. I am not too far in, but it sets a scene nicely. I love an observational perspective, and that is exactly what this story opens with. As I have been reading about the locations and iconic places in Paris, I have been looking them up and really immersing myself in the scenery of France. So far, so good.
While I haven’t been reading, I have been up to my normal activities. Spending time outside has been my top priority lately. Not to mention that I have watched an embarrassing amount of Netflix. I just started “Never Have I Ever,” and it’s hilarious!
“Brian belatedly realized that if you told a lot of lies, even if it was for a good reason, like trying to keep people safe, it started to get hard to trust that other people were telling the truth.”
Katherine Arden, Dark Waters
The previous year was unlike any other for friends Ollie, Coco, and Brian. After surviving two season’s of the Smiling Man’s games, the group is wary after his last sinister message, “until next time.” It is spring and the kids and their families are taking a boat ride in Lake Champlain. They board a vessel with a captain who tells them of the lake monster who is said to have taken down crews many years ago. All seems to be going well until the kids, including Brian’s old friend Phil, receive a message that triggers the start of a new game. The boat and its passengers are in peril, and it is up to Brian and his survival skills to see them through to the end.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I was very excited to receive my signed copy of Dark Waters in August. The “Small Spaces” world is oddly comforting despite the constant terrors. This book delivered on the cozy details that Arden is so wonderful at writing. Anytime she writes about Ollie’s dad and what he cooks or even the kids clothing, I am entranced by the soothing imagery. Speaking of, something that really brought this series together, in this book specifically, is how much we hear from the parents. It’s Middle Grade so I don’t expect there to be that much parental involvement, but it was nice to see them along for the boating excursion. They were pretty involved in the game throughout the entire book whereas they weren’t as prevalent before.
After the scary pumpkin patch and haunted inn settings of the first two books, I was a little less into the piratic themed setting of Dark Waters. Don’t get me wrong, the story is as strong as its precursors, and I am willing to admit that this opinion comes down to preference, but I just didn’t find the stakes as spooky as the first two. I have read similar comments from other reviews. It reads a bit more like an adventure story rather than the scary adventures that Arden has written before.
Nevertheless, I am a huge fan of the “Small Spaces” series. I am eagerly waiting for the summer book, especially after a massive cliffhanger. If you still, after all of my yakking, haven’t at least considered reading the first book, then please do so now! Small Spaces and Dead Voices will make your hair stand on end, and Dark Waters is a lot of stressful fun!
“All my life,” she said, “I have been told ‘go’ and ‘come.’ I am told how I will live, and I am told how I must die. I must be a man’s servant and a mare for his pleasure, or I must hide myself behind walls and surrender my flesh to a cold, silent god. I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed me.”
Katherine Arden: The Bear and the Nightingale
Throughout the Russian winters, those who live by the forests strive to find warmth, food, and safety from a frozen death. The only one who draws strength in the cold is Vasilisa. She lives wildly and freely, roaming the forests and talking with the creatures that no others see. After growing into a “wild spirit” that begins to attract the wary eyes of villagers, Vasya’s father leaves for Moscow in which he plans to return with a wife to properly raise his daughter. In addition to finding a bride, who has marked Vasya for having the sight, Pyotr returns bearing a burden that will determine not only the fate of his second daughter but everything that they know and love. As the skies darken, a battle between the old and new religions form, and it is up to Vasya to see her people through it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
I have reviewed this book before, and like the last time, I am freely admitting that I am coming into this review 100% biased. The Bear and the Nightingale is my favorite book and has been so since I first read it in 2018 after receiving it as a Christmas gift. Somehow, this book came across my radar, and I knew that I would love it. Now, as I read my newly signed copies, I have only come to love the trilogy that much more.
Ever since then, I have read many wonderful books, but nothing can touch this wintery story of bravery and resilience. First and foremost, I want to discuss my obsession with the setting and pacing of this book, or any book for that matter. If you present to me a story, typically historical fiction, set during the winter, that is epically slow paced, that features fantasy/myth/folklore elements, and a bit of spookiness, I am entirely onboard. That is the Kendall’s Perfect Book recipe. I love it in this trilogy, in both To The Bright Edge of the World and The Snow Childby Eowyn Ivey, and, in a different way, in The Comet Seekers by Helen Sedgewick. Anytime that I dare to don my rickety writing glasses, I can’t help but spend far too much time droning on about the scenery and atmosphere of a setting such as this. What do you mean I forgot to include characters…and a plot?
In regard to the characters in The Bear and the Nightingale, I must say, chef’s kiss. I have never wanted to have a character’s spirit as much as I want Vasya’s. There are few characters that truly reflect the “main character persona” that entail doing whatever they want whenever they see fit. I don’t mean this in a way that paints Vasya as an uncaring or brash character, though. She is wholeheartedly dictated by who she is. While also being reflective and observant, Vasya lives more by the pull of her own nature rather than the say of others. I just. Can I be her, please? Arden, again back to the outstanding pacing, is meticulous and intentional about building her characters. They are all real, and more importantly,…important. The book, for at least the first thirty pages, focuses on Vasya’s family and the relationships between her father and siblings. Each one is so complex and struggles with actual issues. No matter what light they are painted in, or the horrible choices that some of them make, you can’t help but grasp at who they are beneath their actions. Often times, when written in another version, characters who are portrayed as the weak, bad characters are only that. It is easy to throw them from the mind and dislike them. Arden, however, shapes them so masterfully that you look beyond their name on the page.
I need to take a quick tangent in order to talk about one of my favorite characters, Konstantin Nikonovich, the priest sent from Moscow. Described as a beautiful, almost iconic, human with a weakness for pride and power, Konstantin is so intriguing. He is entangled in a battle of righteousness between the old and new religion as well as within himself over lust and hatred. He has a bit of a Claude Frollo situation happening that I am obsessed with. I enjoy characters that become so corrupt that they can no longer dictate between “right” and “wrong”…or even what those terms mean.
The inclusion of Slavic folklore and mythology is one of the driving elements of not only this trilogy but the especially the first book. As a kid who always imagined creatures, that I was both fascinated and afraid of, hiding around the house and in the woods, I love all of the mythological creatures in the book. Arden, who studied Russian Literature and culture included such characters as the Domovoi, Leshy, Rusalka, Bannik, Upyr, Medved, and of course, Morozko, the winter king. I am obsessed with each and every one of them. Again, like her characters, they aren’t stamped with a “this is what they are this is what they do” label. They do act on the natures of their folklore but Arden weaves them into the book so that they are integral to Vasya and the bigger story. They aren’t props pulled from mythology to make it “cool.” Each creature brings its own mood and history in its interactions with the characters, which makes me all the more curious about them. Although I am typically hesitant something like this, I wouldn’t mind Arden writing novellas about the different tales or even the human characters of the trilogy.
While I could go on about The Bear and the Nightingale forever, I am going to wrap it up. As far as recommending it goes, I have to say this…I want everyone to read this, BUT I want it to be appreciated. haha. If you don’t like it, that is fine. Am I willing to have a discussion about how you hate it? I am sorry. This is one of the only instances in which I am locking my closed mind shut. The book is too meaningful to me for it to be marred by anyone else. You will never find me seeking out other’s reviews on this on in particular. So, with that aggression out of the way, I hope that you give this work a chance. It is best read in the winter months, by a fire, very late into the night.
Ollie, Coco, and Brian, are best friends after surviving an encounter with the smiling man in the fall. They spend every possible hour together in Ollie’s house playing chess and eating her dad’s famous baked goods. As the snow falls heavily in Vermont, Ollie’s dad and Coco’s mom take the kids on a short holiday to a newly re-opened ski lodge that they, and few others, won a vacation to. This is when the trouble begins. It is snowing so heavily that their only choice is to press on and not look back. Once at the lodge, the kids and parents learn that they are the only ones able to make it. Visions of frozen children and an icy evil plague the friends as they work to get through the blizzard. Before they can get too comfortable, though, there is a knock at the door. A man who hunts for the paranormal is interested in the lodge, but brings a price with his stay that is up to the kids to work out. Once again, it is on the trio’s shoulders to find the strength and save not only themselves, but their loved ones too.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
This book is great! After reading book two, I have definitely picked up on Arden’s theme of the changing seasons in her writing. To be perfectly honest, this is one of the reasons that I love the Winternight Trilogy as much as I do. Yes, this is children’s horror, but the winter is the coziest time of year. I think that mixing a cozy atmosphere with scary stories is all the better. In the way that Small Spaces takes place in the fall and features scarecrows…aplenty, Dead Voices is set during the winter and incorporates elements of spook that can be associated with the cold. *eyes frozen open*
What this book has even more so than book one are paranormal interactions. While enjoying the story, I spent a good deal of time wondering how Arden would flesh this out enough for kids while also not…scarring them for life. (No worries, I am a big advocate for creepy children’s books.)There aren’t only the occasional glances of “someone” lurking around, but a force that is actively pursuing them in an “Other Mother” fashion. This story also uses a Ouija board. Through stories and countless movies, many acknowledge this gateway to paranormal communication a big no no. In this book, at first it is introduced to shock readers, but then serves an actual purpose that proves to be helpful for the kids in the end.
As far as characters go, the star of Dead Voices is Coco. In my review ofSmall Spaces, I wrote that she has the most character growth and this holds true in book two. In fact, she takes the spotlight over Ollie. At first, I wasn’t too sure of how I would like this, but as soon as Coco found her courage, I was all for “Tiny” kicking butt. She proves that it doesn’t take a big person to save the day, but courage and wit.
Similar to Small Spaces, the children are forced to play a twisted game if they want to escape the antagonist. This runaround is more complicated than that in the first book and, if I am being honest, a little hard to follow. In the end, there was a piece of the puzzle that I either didn’t catch while reading or understand. I figured that it wasn’t answered during the chaos as Coco explains it to the other two. I still didn’t see the connection, but it didn’t matter, really.
A story line that I loved was that of Ollie’s dad and Coco’s mom. It isn’t a big part in the book, but impactful to Coco and Ollie. On their trip, the girls notice hand holding, laughing, and a lot of mush. Coco is overjoyed at the prospect of getting to spend even more time at the Egg, Ollie’s house, while Ollie feels a bit strange. It is difficult for her to accept someone else into a space that was once filled by her mother. I was happy to hear of the small gestures that were noticed, though. I felt bad for Ollie’s father who had a rough time being alone.
As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I anticipate that the next two will follow occur in spring and summer and that Brian will be the hero of the story! I would love to hear thoughts about these books in the comments or on Instagram. If you have/know children looking for a creepy book, gift them, or yourself, the Small Spaces series.
Woohoo! Getting to read another book by your favorite author is such a treat. My obsession for Arden’s Winternight Trilogy has been *prevalent* since I read The Bear and the Nightingale in 2018. Imagine my excitement in learning that she had a Middle Grade book coming out during the same year! Finally, some time later, I picked up Small Spaces and absolutely consumed it. I only have a few chapters left of the second book, Dead Voices. I am not sure what I will do once it is over!
Summary
Ollie has been struggling since the loss of her mother. She finds comfort in books while her dad bakes late into the night. After getting her hands on a book titled Small Spaces, Ollie becomes entranced by the tale of a girl named Beth whose family fell into the clutches of “the smiling man.” While on a school excursion to a farm, Ollie discovers gravestones that bear the very names from the mysterious book. Soon after, the bus breaks down and strange events begin to take place. Ollie’s watch begins ticking down and flashing the word “RUN.” She, and her classmates Coco and Brian, set off into the forest that seems to be filled of watchful eyes with only one rule: “Avoid large places. Keep to small.”
Goodreads Rating: 4
My Rating: 4
SPOOKY! I am a scaredy cat when it comes to creepy stories, so this might not come as a surprise to those who have read Small Spaces before. This book has several elements that make it spooky and perfect for the darker months of the year.
First, three children are utterly alone in woods that they are not familiar with. On top of that, they are being pursued the entire time by snapping twigs and shuffling steps. The incorporation of traditional horror tropes are excellent throughout the story. I understand that more experienced thriller readers may not be as impressed by this, but I found them to work nicely.
Also, a story centered around kids makes it all the more high stakes. It was up to sixth graders to face living nightmares and to survive in a world where they could not rest for one second. I don’t think I would have been up to this sort of challenge at that age.
Then there is the element that in order to make it out of this place, the kids had to participate in a giant game. This escalated the plot to another level and gave off mean Coraline vibes. I enjoy reading/watching villains that are complex enough to make things interesting. On top of this, the other “bad” creatures are slow moving, but ever present. This increases that sense of urgency to continue moving no matter how tired or hurt you are. (Now that I mention Coraline, I picked up on elements of other stories in the work. There are definitely nods toward Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. )
There were at least three scenes in which I had to open my eyes and make sure I was alone. The first, that freaked me out quite honestly, had me wondering if I had misread the genre. While I love appreciate the book’s scariness now, I also wish I had it to read during my Goosebumps and Mary Downing Hahn era. (I would stay up early into the morning reading…only because I was to afraid to sleep!)
Small Spaces, like the Winternight Trilogy, initially won me over because of the atmosphere and setting. I have a great appreciation for any place that meets at least two of these categories: cozy, spooky, cold, winter, cool, not hot, opposite of summer. (Anyone else struggling in this southern summer?) This story is set in Vermont in October! Ollie mentions apples, cozy fires, baked goods, and more. *Sigh*
In an effort to remain spoiler free, I will not speak of any characters other than the main three. Truth be told, I had no idea how they would make it. Ollie is capable, if not a little mad at the world, but continued to urge other students to join her in escaping the bus. I was ready to pull my hair and out scream “save yourself.” She is likable and far braver than I will ever be. Coco, or “Tiny,” is small and saves the day on more than one occasion. I think it is safe to say that Coco achieves more character growth in Small Spaces than even Ollie does. Brian is fast and has a sort of “save the day” complex that is lovable. I know it doesn’t sound so, but he tries his hardest to motivate Ollie and to help them be successful. I do not think that Small Spaces would have worked as well as it does if these three were not paired up. There were several tasks in which more than one mind was needed. I am glad that Arden created this trio!
As you can probably guess, I have no harsh critiques for Small Spaces. Each character is thoughtful and plays a key roll in the story. The villain and its minions are great and just *yikes.* I recommend this to anyone who likes Middle Grade. I am highly interested in hearing young reader’s thoughts on this book.
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“Love is for those who know the griefs of time, for it goes hand in hand with loss. An eternity, so burdened, would be a torment. And yet—” He broke off, drew breath. “Yet what else to call it, this terror and this joy?”
-Katherine Arden, The Winter of the Witch
Readers, I finally pushed past the sadness of completing the Winternight Trilogy and finished The Winter of the Witch.
Following the events of The Girl in the Tower, Russia is in ruins and is looking for someone to blame. Caught in a storm of human war, runarounds with demons, and discovering her own powers, Vasya must find a way to knit her country back together before she loses everything.
The term “book hangover” doesn’t quite explain what I am feeling. I am experiencing more of a mourning now that I have finished my favorite trilogy. My roommate can vouch for the ridiculous amount of time that it took to read this book just because I didn’t want it to end. Okay, the time for complaint is over. Let me tell you why I loved The Winter of the Witch.
The Winter of the Witch is unlike its two predecessors. Rather than being directly alongside Vasya on her journey, I felt more like I was watching from a distance. I found this notable as, if you have read the first two, this is how the demons and townspeople view Vasya. Whether this is intended or not I can’t say, but I thought it was a pretty cool feature.
Vasya’s character is desperate in this novel. There were plenty of times for desperation in books one and two, but this was not the same. Vasya, for the most part, was truly finding her own path, leading the way, and eventually taking charge of higher powers. Morozko is not there to wipe away the bad at every turn. Instead, she has to take the reigns so to speak. Her character growth over three books has been succinct and satisfying.
While we have watched her grow into a woman, she hasn’t become an all-knowing entity. I appreciate this. For example, despite her facing the undead, possessed, demons, etc. . . when it comes close to wartime she is quick to understand that she has not experienced war. One could argue that she has dealt with more difficult antagonists, but eh. I enjoyed Vasya’s self-awareness.
I applaud Arden for the direction that she took in regard to twins Morozko and Medved. I was happy for a turn in the story and was not expecting anything that happened! In a complementary way, this is Arden’s most unpredictable book. The romance was wonderful and the surprise allegiances turned out to be pretty amazing as well!
Arden also won my heart by doubling the size of the third book. I was worried, as books one and two are small, that the third would not have room enough to tie up the loose ends. On the other hand, Arden did quite well with the first two. The pacing of the chapters was quick enough without giving readers whiplash except for the first four to five chapters. (no comment). There is definitely a lull near the middle, but it is not enough to cause loss of interest. Instead, it helped me to take everything in and reconsider what I had already learned.
Okay, even though I give this book a 5/5 stars, I did run into a few bumps. There are two characters in particular that I always get confused, so when they were joined in the book (along with some political talk) I was lost. I had to reread a few pages several times before anything would click. That doesn’t necessarily reflect on Arden’s writing, but it was something that I experienced.
Before I wrap it up let’s Judge A Book By Its Cover!!! This cover is a magical combination of the first two. The Bear and the Nightingale will always have my heart, but this design is definitely second place. The front features a blue tree and an orange tree framing the page around a tiny Russian building. There are images of the moon and of fire interspersed with greenery like ivy, snowdrops, and eyes. Yeah, eyes. It is spectacular and always catches my eye when I see it.
I hope you give Vasya a chance and tell me your thoughts down below.
Thanks for reading!
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“Now hear me. Before the end, you will pluck snowdrops at midwinter, die by your own choosing, and weep for a nightingale.”
Katherine Arden, The Bear and the Nightingale
I am going to start this post out with complete honesty. This is one of my favorite books of all time, so I am a little biased.
Vasilisa was born in a village on the edge of the Russian forest. Since birth, she has been told tales of old magic and the beings that once lived among humans. Her favorite is the story of Morozko the Frost King and spirit of death who was known for finding maidens alone in the woods. Hated by her hysterically pious step-mother, Vasya begins facing her own type of judgment once evil from the forest reaches the village. Certain that Vasya has been touched by the old religions, her step-mother and the new village priest begin their own witch hunt. In the end, it is up to young Vasya to save everyone’s lives while they are seeking to end hers.
From the moment that I read this book, I was enthralled by its captivating lore. My friends and family know that I am not a fan of dark and creepy stories, but this one is different. Katherine Arden does such a phenomenal job at creating the atmosphere of Russia in the winter. I feel the character’s hardships along with the biting cold of freezing snow. She expresses this way of life while keeping it cozy for readers. This was my initial appeal for the book. I enjoy a winter story that forces me to grab a blanket during the summer.
There is just the right amount of magic in this book! The majority of the magic is linked to the fireside tales that have been passed along for generations. I can happily say that Vasya doesn’t wake up with fire shooting powers from out of nowhere. Arden did an excellent job, again, at creating an atmosphere with the magic. When it appears, I get the sense that it is old, mystical, and not something that the modern folks might ever see. It feels important and like it should be respected.
Here is the point where I have an issue in the book. There is obviously some sort of romance kindling in there. After reading it for the second time, I was one-hundred percent aware of it. However, during my first read, I couldn’t tell whether or not it was there or if I was projecting it into the story. I don’t think that would be wrong, I just wasn’t sure. After rereading the first, and the second (stay tuned for that review), the frost was melted from my eyes. It was perfect. Actually, it was incredibly frustrating, but that was great in itself. Obviously, it’s not too big of an issue for me. I am glad it wasn’t in my face, but I was unsure for a bit.
Let’s judge a book by its cover! I LOVE this cover! It is dark blue with a tiny illuminated, snow-covered cabin. There is the silhouette of a tall standing in front of it. The entire cover is dotted with softly, falling snowflakes. Big fan.
Haven’t I convinced you enough???? I recommend this book to everyone who loves to read! I will admit that it does take some extra thinking as you have Russian names, multiple characters, and different types of creatures. Don’t let this deter you, though! It is well worth the effort! I will be posting a review of The Girl In the Tower soon, so stick around for my thoughts on book two of the Winternight trilogy. 5/5!
(I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third and final book in the trilogy The Winter of the Witch!)
I Literary Can't! 