The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden

One of the best things about books is the desire that people have to share books that they have enjoyed. This title was shared with me by a dear friend (who also lent me ‘The Lightkeeper’s Daughters’) and I am so glad that she shared it with me. This is a title that I would not have picked up, I am not sure why, but I now realise I would have missed out on so much for no real reason.

This is a fairy tale for adults, set in Russia (somewhere that is such a mystery to many of us) in so many magical winter months. Folklore is simply a way of life for all in the tale but for Vasya, it is life. The spirited young lady has ‘powers’ that many can only explain as magic, frowned upon by many in the village, especially in the Church. However, without her, will the village and its people ever really be free? Or will the dark magic in the woods take control?

Although, to start with I thought the book was a little confusing, I found that once the scene was set I was enthralled by the whole book. There was such a romantic, fairy tale element to the novel and it really does transport you back to the fairy tales that we all grew up with.

So, don’t be like me and unreasonably think that you just wouldn’t read a book for no real reason, because you could miss out on one of the greatest adventures in words.

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