The Girl in the Tower: A Novel

***4 ‘#TeamVasya’ Stars*** And we have another epic chapter in Vasya’s journey and what a ride it was! Things start of right were they ended in the The Bear and the Nightingale and we find that not is as it should be in the land of Rus. The mystical powers that are seen and unseen are wreaking havoc across the land and questions abound as to what the purpose of it all is and unbeknownst to Vasya, and those she calls her own, she has a role to play in all of it. I loved Vasya in The Bear and the Nightingale and that love grew to adoration in The Girl in the Tower. Even though she has no choice but to leave her village, she takes it and runs with it. She finds freedom and with that freedom she finds a well of strength she never realized she had. Of course her determinedly stubborn nature helps that process along, even as it at times hinders her, but she comes out of it all with a better understanding of not only the world but herself by the end of the book. As with the first book, there are multiple POV’s throughout the book and I will admit that sometimes it did slow the pace down for me, but each one added the depth needed to get a well rounded understanding of the various situations going on and the consequences of each action taken or not taken. The supporting cast of characters grows in this one, and I found that Morozko and Solovey are my favorites. And, yes, I realize that having the winter-king/frost-demon and a horse being my favorites may seem strange, but believe me when I say they are amazing and hold pieces of my heart. But Sasha aka Aleksandr Peresvet turned out to be a most pleasant surprise throughout. While there is closure on the main storyline at the end of the book, questions still linger over some of the smaller issues and it looks like the next book in the series will be quite a journey in and of itself and it will be interesting to see the trials and tribulations Vasya will face and how they will impact her view on the world as well as herself. ~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

Having been delighted with the freshness of the first book in the series, Arden returns and presents more of that world that many of us unfamiliar with Slavic and Russian folk and fairy tales can devour and enjoy. Again, the exhaustive research and incorporation of tales combine in the writing as Vasya’s story continues and unfolds before us. As the last story ended, Vasya’s choices were narrow; marry or join a convent. As we have come to see, she takes another unoffered option and runs off disguised as a boy – heading out to make her own life. All of the wonderful moments and traits that made Vasya a solid heroine in the first book are tempered with her own experience and a bit of age: even as she is as determined as ever to follow her own heart and path. Again Arden mixes the fantastical with the plausible (and historic) moments, Vasya’s travels take her through the landscape of 14th century Russia, easily allowing readers to feel as if the landscape was haunted by spirits: some human, others supernatural, as she lands in the midst of political intrigue as the unrest threatens the Moscovian rulers, of which her cousin, Dmitri, is a part. While the overall tone is dark-ish, there are moments that shine as the atmospheric descriptions and visualizations will have you reaching for a cuddly blanket as the chill of the landscape reaches out and tugs at imagination. One of the favorite characters, beyond Vasya and her approach to tackling problems, new people and issues is the Frost demon, Morozko: so utterly complete and present in his depiction – full of the contradictions that we all have, and wholly engaging despite his reputation and power of bad. Arden has used the story of Vasya and her continued saga to present a Russia of old that is both timeless and encompassing. Best read if you are familiar with The Bear and the Nightingale, the story is paced similarly, allowing you to escape into the book and savor the moments as you wonder just how each piece fits into the overall. In this book, several moments from the earlier come clearer and inform Vasya’s decisions and choices, and while the political and societal unrest play on her choices, few are solely determined by any one event, allowing the story to feel as if it is progressing naturally – even with the fantastical moments. Sure to please fans of fairy tales and magically plausible fiction, this second installment promises wonder for the conclusion of the trilogy – and sure to be a favorite of many looking for something that is just a bit different. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

The Girl in the Tower is a fascinating fantasy that takes place in Russia during the medieval times. Vasya Petrovna was a free-spirited woman, on the run. It was rumored that she was a witch. Her father tried to marry her off, but Vasya wanted nothing to do with marriage. She also had no interest in becoming a nun. So, Vasya decided to dress as a boy, adopt the male version of her name, Vasilii, for herself, and gallop off into the woods, on a magic horse. Running into her brother Sasha, and her cousin, Dmitrii, the Grand Prince of Moscow, complicated matters, though. Sasha was reluctant to play along with his sister’s ruse, but did so, for safety’s sake. He knew, however, that if the Prince discovered her deceit, things would not go well for her. Much to Sasha’s dismay, his sister, Vasya, now, Vasilii, was joining them in the fight against the bandits, who were destroying Russian lives. Young girls were being kidnapped, families slaughtered, and villages burned to the ground. War was something that was now unavoidable. The Girl in the Tower is an intriguing novel, well-written and captivating. I would suggest reading, book one in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale, first, though. I had a difficult time, especially in the beginning, following this novel, but wouldn’t have; I’m sure if I had already read the first book. Thank you, Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy.