A strong follow-up to a remarkable debut
I adored The Bear and the Nightingale, and while The Girl in the Tower didn't quite capture the same magic as its predecessor, it was gorgeous nonetheless. The Girl in the Tower follows Vasya to Moscow, where she meets up with faces both familiar and new: her siblings, Olga and Sasha, as well as the crown prince of Moscow, Dimitri.
I'm a history buff, and am especially fascinated by this period of Russian history, so it was exciting to see Arden do such an incredible job of blending real history with her fantastical world. Arden has clearly done a good amount of research, and lends real credence to the idea of Historical Fantasy as a genre.
I'm also not immune to brooding frost demons. Vasya and Morozko are delightful together, and it is refreshing to see a romance that complements the story rather than overshadows it.
I'm a history buff, and am especially fascinated by this period of Russian history, so it was exciting to see Arden do such an incredible job of blending real history with her fantastical world. Arden has clearly done a good amount of research, and lends real credence to the idea of Historical Fantasy as a genre.
I'm also not immune to brooding frost demons. Vasya and Morozko are delightful together, and it is refreshing to see a romance that complements the story rather than overshadows it.