The Winter of the Witch

Our Review

 The Winternight trilogy is a powerful series and The Winter of the Witch certainly doesn’t let it down. Katherine Arden’s world building skills are amazing, and I finished this book longing for winter nights and a chill in the air.

If this is your introduction to the series, I suggest you read the The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower because the series is better understood this way but also because they are both excellent books.

I was desperate to The Winter of the Witch when it first came out but unfortunately, I had loads of advanced copies of reviews I needed to read first. I finally got around to reading this beautiful book just last week and for the few days I was reading it my mind was fully immersed.

I admit it took me a few chapters for me to remember where all the characters fitted in and everything that happened in the first two books.

One of the major benefits of this series is the fact that the female protagonist is so strong. It isn’t a romance story; her achievements and battles are her own. Even her family don’t fully understand her. She is a character all on her own and I love the good example this sets.

“Sasha stared, full of words he could not say. “Yesterday she saved your live, slew a magician, set fire to Moscow, then saved it all in a single night. Do you think she will consent to disappear, for the price of a dowry – for any price? Do you know my sister?”

The loss which occurs early on in this book hit me almost like a physical blow. I was not happy at this turn of events. I can’t really say more without giving away a spoiler and I prefer not to do that.

Moscow is in ruins and its people are looking for someone to blame. Who better than Vasya? Particularly with a demon fanning the flames of their heat.

A war is coming and Vasya has a choice to make between the human world and the Chyerti she cares for.

I think Vasya really comes into herself in this book. Something happens, a horrific event, which causes her to stop caring about what others think and to start thinking about what she wants. In the process her family finally take notice of her and stop viewing her as an oddity.

The Winter of the Witch is the final book in an excellent and compelling series. It engages all your senses and I am gutted that it had to end but I am sure it will remain a lifelong favourite.

“There are no monsters in the world and no saints. Only infinite shades woven into the same tapestry, light and dark. One man’s monster is another man’s beloved. The wise know that.”

Our Final Rating...

Sat, 29th August 2020