It centres around the household of Pyotr Vladimirovich his three sons and three daughters. Think of this book like a really dark Russian fairytale. The Bear and the Nightingale was so much better than I expected it to be, partially because the synopsis hadn't actually won me over and so I wasn't sure whether I'd like it. Unlike the last book I read and reviewed, I had absolutely no trouble rating this one it was fantastic! I finished reading this last night and couldn't wait to write my review. TW: Death, rape, child-marriage, paedophilia, mental health, religion All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.Īs danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed-this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.Īnd indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.Īfter Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. But Vasilisa doesn't mind-she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. If you love friends-to-lovers romance, assassins, dangerous adventures, rebellions, and ghosts, you're sure to love The Bright & The Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski.Īt the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses.
I really want to see Valeria come into her own now and have high hopes for the finale. The ending was fantastic, and while I almost expected it, it was a great cliffhanger that's left me really excited for the next instalment. It's a story of friendship, love and inner strength underlined by an ancient battle between gods. Honestly, do not read the scenes in the mines at night! (I got chills.) This book is a fast-paced, race against the clock adventure with tension that builds fantastically, to the point of being really creepy, the closer Valeria gets to the mountain. She's very capable and doesn't rely on the lover interest to 'save' her, which was great to read. The romance in this book is sweet, and I really liked the fact that it didn't overshadow Valeria or her strength. She's not ready to confront the memories she has of Alik or her home, and dreads the voice that calls to her in her dreams, pulling her back to the mountain at the centre of it all. Not sure how she feels, or what to expect, Valeria sets out on a journey to find Alik and return to her homeland. Naturally, the job goes wrong and Valeria finds herself cornered by strangers and faced with the unexpected news that Alik is alive, and he wants to see her. We're introduced to Valeria inside the thieve's guild as she's given a new mission from guild leader, Luiza, a woman Valeria sees as her surrogate mother, who took her in as a child when she had no one else to turn to and who is her only confidant since her best-friend and partner Alik was murdered a year ago. I started getting Throne of Glass vibes straight away and found Valeria to be a compelling, and resourceful character. Alone and hunted by the czar's army, she seeks refuge with the assassin's guild where she builds a life for herself, stealing secrets. She escaped from her home when a terrible plague broke out, killing her entire family. Valeria is a seventeen-year-old assassin, taken in by the leader of the thieves guild and trained to steal secrets (mostly). Naturally, as is my way, I joined the read along a couple of days late BUT the pace in this book is so fast and the writing so easy to fall into, that I caught up pretty quickly. It's pitched as a, sort of, The Bear and the Nightingale meets Shadow and Bone style book and it sounded fantastic, so I was really excited to join in with the FairyLoot read along. I received a copy of this absolutely gorgeous book in my March 'Frozen Fables' box from FairyLoot. I REALLY did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! TW: Death (of a family member), discrimination, false imprisonment/slavery, childhood trauma, work camps
0 kommentar(er)
