In this stunning follow-up to her debut novel The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden returns us to the magical world of medieval Russia. The Girl in the Tower follows the continuing adventures of the brave and spirited Vasya as she rides her horse Solovey away from her village and into a perilous new life.
Having captured the chill of the Russian wilderness once before, Arden brings the icy setting to life again in vivid detail. But in this sequel, she expands beyond the familiar as Vasya travels farther south and encounters new places and people. Arden skillfully weaves Russian fairytales and legends into the story, crafting a rich fantasy realm.
While the book can be read as a standalone, readers will get much more depth by understanding Vasya’s background from the first installment. We find Vasya trying to forge her own path and escape the constraints placed on women. But danger lurks as dark forces hunt her gift of being able to see spirits.
As a strong female protagonist, Vasya must rely on her own inner strength and bravery to survive unpredictable threats and hostile environments. But she also finds unlikely allies along the way who help her on her journey. Vasya’s sincere relationships with both human and fantastical characters give heart to the story.
With seamless world-building and lyrical writing, The Girl in the Tower is a spellbinding adventure grounded in Russian history and folklore. Katherine Arden again demonstrates a talent for transporting readers to a chilling yet mesmerizing past filled with demons, magic and one remarkable heroine. This excellent sequel satisfies while leaving excitement for the next chapter.
