The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy) by Katherine Arden

 

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (10 Jan. 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1785039717
• ISBN-13: 978-1785039713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

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

In December I read and reviewed the first two books in Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, and was very excited when the publishers Del Rey sent me the final book to read.  I am really busy with books to review at the moment but I had to read this book straight away and find out what would happen the Vasay.  The Winter of the Witch follows directly on from the previous book, where Moscow is in flames, after an attempt to remove the Grand Prince from the throne.  Vasay finds herself in danger, branded a witch, and on the run, but soon she is to face a battle on a grander scale where men and chyerti must work together. The opening chapters are fast paced and thrilling, the perfect beginning to a book that grips you until the dramatic conclusion.

The fact that I have read all three books within the space of about six weeks is demonstrative of how much I enjoyed these books.  I couldn’t wait to start this third book, but at the same time I didn’t want the story of Vasay to end.  What makes these books so special is the way in which Katherine Arden combines history and fiction.  A lot of the characters including Grand Prince Dmitrii Ivanovich and Vasay’s brother Sasha, were real and did take part in the Battle of Kulikovo, which was the first battle where the Russian people fought as a combined people under Moscow, and is the final battle in the books.  In contrast to the historical detail, we see Vasya enter the realm of Midnight, where every midnight occurs, and it never gets light.  In the darkness Vasay sees refuge from the terrible events in Moscow, and meets  some wonderful characters including Ded Grib, father mushroom and the old witch with ties to Vasay.  Katherine Arden’s imagination is wonderful, she brings this otherworld to life through her descriptive and detailed prose.

There are quite a few new characters for Vasay to encounter as well as the return of some old; Medved, the Bear is back ready to cause chaos, as is her nemesis the priest Konstantin, and of course her guardian The Winter King.  Whether factual of fictional all the characters are full of life, and draw you into the plot.  Vasay goes from strength to strength, she flouts all the rules for women and takes control of her own life; she is a heroine we can all look up to. I loved seeing her grow, understand her destiny and follow the life she chose.

The Winter of the Witch is a fantastic conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy.  Katherine Arden seamlessly combines fact and fiction, magic, myth and mystery to make this such an unbelievably good read.  A thrilling opening draws you in and keeps you hooked as the book gathers pace until the breathtaking conclusion.  I am really going to miss Vasay and her story, but I look forward to seeing what Katherine Arden writes next, because I will definitely be reading it.  The Winter of the Witch, is an amazing read, a fairytale for adults and storytelling at its best; a fitting conclusion to Vasay’s story.  In two words, magically marvellous!!

 

My review of the previous two books are available on my blog.