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  • The Bear and the Nightingale

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Katherine Arden
  • Narrated by: Kathleen Gati
  • Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (195 ratings)

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The Bear and the Nightingale

Written by: Katherine Arden
Narrated by: Kathleen Gati
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Publisher's Summary

Katherine Arden’s best-selling debut novel spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.  

“A beautiful deep-winter story, full of magic and monsters and the sharp edges of growing up.” (Naomi Novik, best-selling author of Uprooted)

Winter lasts most of the year at the edge of the Russian wilderness, and in the long nights, Vasilisa and her siblings love to gather by the fire to listen to their nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, Vasya loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon. Wise Russians fear him, for he claims unwary souls, and they honor the spirits that protect their homes from evil.   

Then Vasya’s widowed father brings home a new wife from Moscow. Fiercely devout, Vasya’s stepmother forbids her family from honoring their household spirits, but Vasya fears what this may bring. And indeed, misfortune begins to stalk the village.   

But Vasya’s stepmother only grows harsher, determined to remake the village to her liking and to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for marriage or a convent. As the village’s defenses weaken and evil from the forest creeps nearer, Vasilisa must call upon dangerous gifts she has long concealed - to protect her family from a threat sprung to life from her nurse’s most frightening tales.   

Praise for The Bear and the Nightingale

“Arden’s debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical.” (The Washington Post)

“Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices.” (The Christian Science Monitor)

“Stunning...will enchant readers from the first page....with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate.” (Publishers Weekly [starred review])

“Utterly bewitching...a lush narrative...an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family.” (Booklist [starred review])

“An extraordinary retelling of a very old tale... The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully layered novel of family and the harsh wonders of deep winter magic.” (Robin Hobb)

©2017 Katherine Arden (P)2017 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"Arden's supple, sumptuous first novel transports the reader to a version of medieval Russia where history and myth coexist." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Bear and the Nightingale

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story with horrible narration

A compelling and interesting story with strong traditional Russian elements.
I have no idea what the narrator was trying to accomplish with that weird and annoying accent she invented. It sounds nothing like a Slavic accent. It made it a difficult listen.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Narration was painful.

I couldn’t get into the book at all because the narration was so incredibly terrible.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it.

I wanted more and was so glad to find out this was a trilogy. Interesting and captivating from start to finish.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

stunning

the narrator could not have been more perfect. lush, brilliant, unique, the writing is just lovely. a perfect fantasy, but a tinge of truth in regards to christian suppression, and a nod to romance to come. 4 stars for story telling only because I felt it was a bit slow to start. otherwise... loved it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Wonderful story, beautifully written and well narrated. Looking forward to the next in series. Recommended!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

I have listened to this book twice now, I am completely captivated by the main characters and Katherine Arden has done an amazing job creating this trilogy of books. It awoke a love of Slavic Folklore I didn't know I would have ever enjoyed. It is well written and was very well performed. I couldn't stop listening. It was such a great story. You cannot help but fall in love with the characters!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved every moment

I loved the unfolding of the story using the backdrop of Russian folklore. Beautifully written. As soon as I finished I downloaded the audiobook to listen to it again!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

could have Been good.

the story could have been good, but the way the author write the names of the characters is confusing as the way the actions is describe. the story is interessing but juste when i started too enjoy it, the end come so quick ans abrut.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Story

An absolutely beautiful story that weaves drama and fairytales, I was enthralled from the very first pages right to the very end.

As the story began with the birth of the main character, Vasya, it quickly became apparent that the family dynamic was going to be the heart of the book. It wasn't what I was expecting, yet the writing and characters quickly won me over.

Vasya is fantastic. She is energetic, brave, determined, and kind. Her relationship with her siblings, father, and the creatures of folklore were among my favorite moments. I also found the priest to be a compelling character, as he warred with faith and desire.

The themes of faith and folklore made for a very, very complex plot. Watching the villagers transition from legends and spirits to Christianity made for some difficult character choices and severe costs. It was one of the best parts of the book and not something I anticipated loving as much as I did.

Seeing creatures and stories from Russian folklore was wonderful. It all blended in seamlessly with the world and its characters. This felt like an alternate version of history rather than a fantasy itself.

This is one of those books that I love the more I think about it. The prose is gorgeous, Vasya is a hero, the supporting characters are complex, and the descriptions make for an immersive experience. A definite recommend to all lovers of historical fantasy and mythology.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not for me.

While the concept of the story is appealing, it is told in a ponderous manner, with lengthy redundant conversation, long descriptions and too many similes. I found the ending somewhat unsatisfactory. The narrator tries her hardest but I find it difficult to follow through bitten off consonants, an overly slowed down pace and the odd choice to render all dialogue in a Russian accent.

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