The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy) by Katherine Arden

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (9 Aug. 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1785031074
• ISBN-13: 978-1785031076

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse.

Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior’s training, recognises this ‘boy’ as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical. . .

 

Review

After being captivated by The Bear and the Nightingale, the first book in Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, I couldn’t wait to get started on the second book The Girl in the Tower. This book follows directly on from the first and sees Vasay rejecting the only options available to a woman, marriage or convent, and running away from home on her magical horse Solovey.  She is still under the protection of Morozko, the Winter King, and there is also a fission of attraction between them, which adds another dimension to the story.  Under the disguise she goes on a quest to see more of the world and finds herself not far from Moscow, at a village that has been burnt by the Tatars, and female children stolen.  Vasay tracks down the children and in fleeing from the Tartars, runs into her brother Sasha and the Grand Prince of Moscow, which is where her problems begin; the illusion of being male.

Vasay is a heroine for all time, she is feisty, strong, confident with self belief.  She breaks from convention, she doesn’t want to be married or have children, or consider the option of the convent.  She is a free spirit that can’t be contained and shows great courage in battle and every day life; she sees herself as an equal to the men, and they accept her disguise.  After living in wilderness of Northern Russia, Vasay finds herself in the exotic Moscow, with its towers and churches and the Palace of the Grand Price, and part of her sister’s household whilst still maintaining her disguise.  Through her eyes, Katherine Arden brings the sights, sounds and smells of the city vividly to life, the busy markets, the feasts, and the Grand Palace where she eats and drinks with the other men in the Prince’s circle.  She still has the eye to see the many demons guarding the home, the horses and palaces, and even her dead grandmother, that single her out to some as a witch.

As with The Bear and the Nightingale, this book is beautifully written, with impeccable attention to detail.  Katherine Arden has a wonderful imagination, both in plot and characters, that make this such a captivating read.  It has the light and shade, the good and the evil that a good fairytale should have, but written to capture the attention of an adult audience.  The characters have depth, the plot is dark but with a hint of humour with researched historical detailing that make this book such a delight to read.

The Girl in the Tower is everything I hoped it would be and more.  I was enthralled by Vasay’s story, her journey and her bravery, not just in fighting with the men, but in having the courage to be who she wants to be no matter what anyone else expects of her.  The plot is dark, tense and magical, and will entice you to want more of Vasay’s story, especially as the end sets up the story for the final book, The Winter of the Witch, which is published on January 10th.  The Girl in the Tower is simply a marvellous, magical and miraculous read.