The Bear and the Nightingale: A Novel (Winternight Trilogy Book 1)

The Bear and the Nightingale, the debut novel by Katherine Arden, weaves a tale of magic and danger against the backdrop of the Russian wilderness. Winter's grip is long and harsh, and young Vasilisa, or Vasya, delights in her nurse's fairy tales. She is particularly captivated by the story of Frost, a chilling winter demon, and the protective household spirits honored by the wise.

When Vasya's father remarries a devout woman from Moscow, the family is forbidden from honoring these spirits. Misfortune soon plagues the village. As her stepmother grows increasingly strict, pushing Vasya towards marriage or a convent, the village's defenses weaken, and a dark force from the forest draws near. Vasya must embrace her hidden, dangerous gifts to protect her loved ones from a terror sprung from the very tales she cherished.