#BlogTour The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

This is one of my favourite fantasy series, so it is my pleasure to take part in the BlogTour for The Winter of the Witch, the last part of The Winternight Trilogy (a damn shame) by Katherine Arden.

About the Author
Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrolment 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 serving as a personal tour guide. After a year on the island, she moved to Briançon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, stayed for nearly a year, then left again to wander. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.

She is the author of The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower. These novels make up the first two parts of The Winternight Trilogy.

Follow @arden_katherine @EburyPublishing on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads,
Visit katherinearden.com, Buy The Winter of the Witch

About the book
One girl can make a difference...
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.

Then a vengeful demon returns, stronger than ever. Determined to engulf the world in chaos, he finds allies among men and spirits. Mankind and magical creatures alike find their fates resting on Vasya’s shoulders. But she may not be able to save them all.

Review
This is the third and final part of The Winternight Trilogy. I really wish it wasn't, perhaps there will be a spin-off one day. Then again why mess with a perfect series of books. If you are just stumbling on this author or this book then I recommend you go back and read the other two books. You won't be disappointed.

At the end of book two a huge fire rips through Moscow. Vasya finds herself exposed and revealed, which leads to her nearly being killed by a frenzied mob, all thanks to the meddling of her old nemesis Konstantin. There are plans to burn her as a witch, but her life comes at a terrible price and sacrifice.

Everything that has gone before, every creature, demon, witch and tale comes together to bring this majestic and magical story to its conclusion. Vasya must face peril without the safety-net of Morozko and the two of them must finally come to terms with the obsessive pull of their relationship.

The entire story is like a magical spiderweb that is spun by Rumpelstiltskin like figures and spread over the Russian landscape by the magic that floats in the air and lives in the shadows.

Arden combines the artful storytelling skill of an old Russian master with fairytales, folklore and myth. The result is a fantastical vision of nightmares, daydreams and reality. It's innovative and compelling fantasy fiction written with a passion for folklore.

Arden manages to bring consistency to the table with each of the three books. they are all equally poetic, beautiful, well-written and breathtaking.

Buy The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Ebury Publishing; pub date the 3rd October 2019 - Paperback • EBook • Audio. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Winternight Trilogy #1 - The Bear and the Nightingale Buy here
Read my review of Winternight Trilogy #2 - The Girl in the Tower Buy here

#BlogTour The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

I am thrilled to take part in the BlogTour for The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden to celebrate the paperback release of the second book in The Winternight Trilogy.
This is one of my favourite series and both the first book, The Bear and the Nightingale, and the second, The Girl in the Tower, are at the top of my list of favourite reads. Katherine Arden deserves to be at the top of award lists, because she is a very talented writer.

'Inspired by Russian fairy-tales and folklore, this is the second book in a stunning literary trilogy. It is the perfect blend of historical fiction and magical realism.'

About the Author
Katherine Arden has studied Russian in Moscow, taught at a school in the French Alps, and worked on a farm in Hawaii. Born in Austin, Texas, she currently lives in Vermont. She is the author of the critically acclaimed The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower.

Follow @arden_katherine @EburyPublishing on Twitter #TheWintertrilogy
Visit katherinearden.com
Buy The Girl in the Tower

About the book
The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingale continues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home—but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege.

Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

Review
I adore this series. Arden is an incredible writer and possesses the ability to recreate the feeling of an old Russian master with the flair of a nouveau writer.

The author combines the magic and essence of Russian folktales with the creativity of high fantasy, and lets the reader experience the darkness of old tales told in front of fires, and the power of ancient myths.

At the end of the first part of the trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale, we left Vasya grieving for her father and protected by Morozko. In this second part she decides she wants to travel the world, to discover things beyond her village. Thanks to the new local priest everyone thinks she is a witch, which means she is a pariah and in danger.

So begins her venture into a world of rules, fear and cruelty. One Morozko would rather she didn't experience at all, even if she has been gifted with a magical stallion, who will protect her. He struggles with his emotions towards Vasja and the inevitability of their separation.

In both books the author has made a point of shedding a light on the inequality between men and women, and how it impacts those who are deemed to be less equal than others. Part of Vasja's drive to be free is connected to the limitations she experiences as a woman. The title is very apt in that sense. There is no freedom, but plenty of restrictions, and any deviation from the rules can ruin a reputation.

Once again Arden balances the mystical with exceptional storytelling and leaves the reader with the feeling of reading a Russian classic. It feels timeless and ancient.

I am really looking forward to The Winter of the Witch, the third part of this trilogy. Katherine Arden has proven herself to be a writer and storyteller of great skill, and I wager that her Winternight trilogy will soon receive the recognition it truly deserves.

Buy The Girl in the Tower (The Winternight Trilogy #2) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Buy The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy #1)
Pre-order The Winter of the Witch (The Winternight Trilogy #3) on Amazon com or Amazon UK

Read the review of The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy #1)