The Winter of the Witch - Katherine Arden (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 30/09/2019

Author: Katherine Arden

Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Publication Date: January 10, 2019

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen.

Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the centre of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.

Review:

       I am devastated. Can't believe this is the last book in the Winternight trilogy. Now I know how Peter and his siblings felt coming out of the magic of Narnia to the dreary, non-magical school life. Closing this book felt something akin to that. It has been a long journey and finally, it's over. Sigh!

      If you have never heard of Winternight series, then let me enlighten you. (And before you ask, no, they are not standalone).This concerns the story of Vasya, a Russian girl born with a certain gift (yes, in ordinary terms she is a witch). Weaving Russian history and folklore together, we get to know a magical and real-world, both existing side by side. Now both are in danger and their fate depends on this outwardly ordinary but exceptionally courageous girl.

     'The Winter of the Witch' is the perfect culmination to an altogether incredible series. Action-packed from the beginning, it starts off with a heartbreaking loss (ya, the prophecies are being fulfilled) and concludes with the peace brought by the balance of two forces. We find Vasya rising to her challenges and the leader in her has finally emerged establishing a third side against the twins. OOh! If I were one of the cheyerts, I would have gladly followed her like Ded Grib. Mmm !... He is one of my favourite characters, and that has nothing to do with the fact that I love mushrooms (probably). How I would love to see all of them in a movie!
      As I have never studied Russian history or folklore, this series was also a step into a new realm. Religion is also a sensitive issue here, which I think the author has handled with tact, (devout Christians may think otherwise) stressing the fact that both the old and the new doesn't have to contradict each other. The beauty and danger of the Russian countryside, noise and excitement of Moscow and the dreariness and hope of Midnight, this book has girdled them all with an effortless charm, hooking us to this world forever.
      I don't think my review can adequately describe the beauty and impact of this series. What can I say? My life would have been incomplete without reading them. Farewell, Vasya, Morozko, Sasha and Medved. Until next time.

Meet the author: 

Born in Texas, Katherine studied French and Russian at Middlebury College. She has lived abroad in France and in Moscow, among other places. She has also lived in Hawaii, where she wrote much of The Bear and the Nightingale. She currently lives in Vermont.