I read The Bear and the Nightingale because I was drawn to the beautiful cover. I found the book itself to be beautiful and haunting. I couldn’t wait to read The Girl in the Tower, the incredible sequel. Vasya returns in the sequel, still fighting against her life choices, which are limited to marriage or the church. Her struggle for independence forces her to disguise herself as a male and broadens her world. As I loved that The Bear and the Nightingale took place mostly in the forest I wasn’t sure I would like the broader setting, but fortunately I was wrong. This book is every bit as beautiful and mesmerizing as the first. I love that there isn’t a sappy romance and that this book too shows her strength and resilience. I cannot wait for the final installment in this trilogy- this has been such a departure for me and what a wonderful experience I’ve had!