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Title details for The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - Available

The Girl in the Tower

A Novel

#2 in series

by Katherine Arden
Kathleen Gati
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A remarkable young woman blazes her own trail, from the backwoods of Russia to the court of Moscow, in the exhilarating sequel to Katherine Arden’s bestselling debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale.
Katherine Arden’s enchanting first novel introduced readers to an irresistible heroine. Vasilisa has grown up at the edge of a Russian wilderness, where snowdrifts reach the eaves of her family’s wooden house and there is truth in the fairy tales told around the fire. Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention of Morozko—Frost, the winter demon from the stories—and together they saved her people from destruction. But Frost’s aid comes at a cost, and her people have condemned her as a witch.
Now Vasilisa faces an impossible choice. Driven from her home by frightened villagers, the only options left for her are marriage or the convent. She cannot bring herself to accept either fate and instead chooses adventure, dressing herself as a boy and setting off astride her magnificent stallion Solovey.
But after Vasilisa prevails in a skirmish with bandits, everything changes. The Grand Prince of Moscow anoints her a hero for her exploits, and she is reunited with her beloved sister and brother, who are now part of the Grand Prince’s inner circle. She dares not reveal to the court that she is a girl, for if her deception were discovered it would have terrible consequences for herself and her family. Before she can untangle herself from Moscow’s intrigues—and as Frost provides counsel that may or may not be trustworthy—she will also confront an even graver threat lying in wait for all of Moscow itself.
Praise for The Girl in the Tower
“[A] magical story set in an alluring Russia.”—Paste
“Arden’s lush, lyrical writing cultivates an intoxicating, visceral atmosphere, and her marvelous sense of pacing carries the novel along at a propulsive clip. A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)
“[A] sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy . . . Fairy tales don’t get better than this.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[Katherine] Arden once again delivers an engaging fantasy that mixes Russian folklore and history with delightful worldbuilding and lively characters.”—Library Journal

  • Creators

  • Series

    Winternight Trilogy

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    December 5, 2017

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780525496557
      • File size: 375801 KB
      • Duration: 13:02:55

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from August 21, 2017
      Arden builds on the considerable promise of 2017’s The Bear and the Nightingale with this moving continuation of Vasilisa “Vasya” Petrovna’s journey across 14th-century Russia after the death of her father. Determined not to marry or wither away at a convent, Vasya, disguised as a young man, sets out on her magnificent horse to see the world. Bandits are burning villages and kidnapping young girls across the Russian countryside, and Vasya’s rescue of three of those girls leads her to the Lavra, where she finds her brother, who is now a monk called Brother Aleksandr, and the Grand Prince of Moscow, Dmitrii Ivanovich. After a battle with the bandits, they set off for Moscow, and Vasya’s delight at the unfettered freedom that her disguise affords her among Moscow’s exciting sights and sounds is tempered by a plot to unseat Dmitrii and the awakening of her magical powers. Vasya is a remarkable heroine, strong of will and sharp of mind, and her stark realization that her desire for freedom may have consequences for those she loves adds a layer to this sensual, beautifully written, and emotionally stirring fantasy. Fairy tales don’t get better than this. Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Kathleen Gati invites listeners to embark on a journey of defiance and bravery alongside protagonist Vasilisa Petrovna. Gati seamlessly brings to life the myriad characters found in Kathleen Arden's second Winternight Trilogy novel. Most of the reappearing "cherti" that aid Vasilisa are characterized by their disconcerted and raspy voices, though some, like the "bannik" and the demon, have softer, slyer tones. While born of a high social class, Vasilisa doesn't put on airs. Read by Gati, her words are always steady and confident as she fights for her and her family's freedom. Weaving Russian history and folklore with a powerful narrative, this audiobook makes for a captivating listen. V.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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