The Girl in the Tower
A Novel
-
-
4.7 • 365 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
In the sequel to the nationally bestselling The Bear and the Nightingale, a gifted young woman with ties to the old magic of her homeland blazes a trail out of the frozen wilderness and into the court intrigues of Moscow.
“A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)
Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention, even affection, of Morozko—the winter demon from her nurse’s stories. But his aid comes at a cost.
Orphaned, named a witch, and cast out by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent or marriage to a stranger. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the wide world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a young man and riding her trusted stallion, Solovey, into the wilderness.
But Vasya’s exploits soon reunite her with her long-estranged siblings and earn her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow. Disguised as a boy, she must walk a delicate line, safeguarding her family, concealing her identity and navigating her increasingly fraught relationship with Morozko—even as she realizes the realm is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.
“A compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history.”—Kirkus Reviews
Don’t miss any of the bestselling Winternight Trilogy:
THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE • THE GIRL IN THE TOWER • THE WINTER OF THE WITCH
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Arden builds on the considerable promise of 2017's The Bear and the Nightingale with this moving continuation of Vasilisa "Vasya" Petrovna's journey across 14th-century Russia after the death of her father. Determined not to marry or wither away at a convent, Vasya, disguised as a young man, sets out on her magnificent horse to see the world. Bandits are burning villages and kidnapping young girls across the Russian countryside, and Vasya's rescue of three of those girls leads her to the Lavra, where she finds her brother, who is now a monk called Brother Aleksandr, and the Grand Prince of Moscow, Dmitrii Ivanovich. After a battle with the bandits, they set off for Moscow, and Vasya's delight at the unfettered freedom that her disguise affords her among Moscow's exciting sights and sounds is tempered by a plot to unseat Dmitrii and the awakening of her magical powers. Vasya is a remarkable heroine, strong of will and sharp of mind, and her stark realization that her desire for freedom may have consequences for those she loves adds a layer to this sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy. Fairy tales don't get better than this.
Customer Reviews
A Story Begging for a Miniseries
Here’s a polished, engaging rephrase for a book review:
Rephrased Review:
Just when I was certain death would finally claim Vasya, she’s pulled back from the brink once more. I’m so glad she’s reunited with her sister and brother, it feels like a long-overdue restoration in her life. I can’t help but wonder about the siblings still at the family homestead. Will their paths ever cross again? This story is so vivid and cinematic that I’d love to see it adapted into a miniseries!
The growth of independent women
With care and creativity this book tells the struggle of a woman breaking out of traditional roles and how that impacts so many in her life. It’s about growth and individualism as well as society and restrictions. That along side the fantasy factors is fabulous.
A Feisty Heroine and Lovely Prose
What a fun read. The descriptions of place, people, and events draw you into the beauty, savagery, and magic of 14th Century Russia. The Characters are well drawn and you care about the good ones and are glad to see the bad ones get what they deserve. A fast paced adventure story that puts you into the action. Loved it.