"The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden

This is a fantasy novel based on the Russian folklore and reads very much like a fairy tale. If you liked Uprooted by Naomi Novik, you will probably enjoy this one as well. I personally was very impressed with the author's knowledge of various Russian pagan beliefs, mythical creatures and household spirits. She is also very familiar with Russian fairy tales, history and language.

What I liked the most about this book is that it combines the familiar fairy tale tropes with the modern themes of feminism and freedom of choice. Vasilisa (or Vasya) is the youngest child of a wealthy boyar whose mother dies in childbirth. The child, as predicted by her mother, has unusual abilities which she inherited from her maternal grandmother: she can see the household spirits and can talk to them. Thus, we have the familiar trope of an orphan girl with unusual abilities. Her father eventually re-marries, i.e. enter the evil stepmother. But luckily, Vasya has a kind and wise nurse Dunya to love her and mother her. Vasya is never described as beautiful. In fact, the author several times emphasizes that Vasya was an ugly child resembling a frog. She is as unconventional in looks as she is in her behavior. She looks men and strangers straight in the eye, laughs loudly and runs and rides horses with abandon. There is nothing timid or submissive about her the way a proper Russian maiden should be.

I also loved the way Vasya reconciles the pagan beliefs with Christianity. She knows true spirituality cannot be based on fear. She goes to church with her family and thinks that the church is about the next life. However, in her everyday life, household spirits and various magical creatures are very much alive and protect the people as their go about their mortal business now. She is thus at peace with honoring both. Her stepmother on the other hand, who is the only other person who sees household spirits, does not understand their purpose and fears them. To her, they are devils to be banished, and the dread she feels toward them pushes her further into religious fervor and fanaticism.

Without spoiling the plot, I should say there is a big fight brewing between order and chaos (or good and evil) represented by the Frost king and the Bear, and Vasya finds herself smack in the middle of it. This was a beautiful and entertaining read. I will be picking up book 2 very soon. 5 out of 5 stars.