The Girl in the Tower was a phenomenal sequel that intensified and elaborated on all of the aspects of The Bear and the Nightingale that I loved. Vasya's wildness and willingness to flout social convention became more pronounced, along with her need to take action and *do something* about the problems plaguing their small town and the wider society. The setting is lush, romantic, and engaging and I found Vasya's determination to be absolutely believable and admirable at the same time.
The ongoing tension with our winter demon only makes the tapestry of this world richer and more interesting; the folk tales that Katherine Arden spent so much time studying seem so real that they could step off of the page. Watching Vasya grow up, bit by bit, through these books, against a backdrop that is so incredibly realistic that it reels you in and won't let you go is a bit like seeing an incredibly atmospheric movie on the big screen. Gorgeous and enchanting-- would absolutely recommend!
The ongoing tension with our winter demon only makes the tapestry of this world richer and more interesting; the folk tales that Katherine Arden spent so much time studying seem so real that they could step off of the page. Watching Vasya grow up, bit by bit, through these books, against a backdrop that is so incredibly realistic that it reels you in and won't let you go is a bit like seeing an incredibly atmospheric movie on the big screen. Gorgeous and enchanting-- would absolutely recommend!