The Girl in the Tower

Gorgeously written and heavy with Russian fairytales and folklore, this second installment in the Winternight trilogy continues the beautiful and wintry journey of Vasilisa and her magical horse as she treks through the harsh and unforgiving Russian countryside in search of true freedom. No longer safe in Lesnaya Zemlya, Vasya chooses the only option that makes sense — flee the home and people she loves. The only other options, enter a convent or marry, are constraints and certainly not for a woman who was born to traverse the wide-open. Disguised as a young lord, Vasya’s journey is fraught with danger, and more frightening are he bandits she meets along the way who’ve taken to burning villages and kidnapping girl children. Her journey eventually leads her to Moscow where she has a chance to reunite with Olga and Sasha, although the reunion is just as tense as the journey that brought them together. Set during the medieval period of Russia, women are expected to live as commodities and objects, seen simply as breeders for a man’s children and expected to find happiness in nothing more than what a man chooses to give her. Standards were quite different back then, as any history book will point out, and virtue - especially concerning women, was as desirable as any currency. I love books and stories where women shun societal standards and conventions, and that is definitely what this series shows with Vasya. Often referred to as unmanageable and defiant, Vasya just wants to be able to live and see the world, knowing that the societal constructs forced upon women is certainly not for her. She’s definitely a woman lightyears ahead of her time, and her wandering spirit and her lust for life are such endearing qualities that add such strength to her already amazing character. While the book focuses much on Vasya and her journey, I enjoyed the interactions between Morozko and Vasya the most. The frost-demon, much like Vasya, is also wrestling with his version of “life”, or lack thereof. There’s always been a hint of something between the demon and Vasya, and while most times his motives are certainly in the category of self-interest, he may be the character that’s transforming the most. A hint of romance is blossoming between the two and while that’s certainly unfounded, it definitely adds another layer to this tale that’s already filled with depth. I’m already eagerly anticipating the third and final book in this trilogy, but more than anything, I’m looking forward to what happens between Morozko and Vasya now that they’ve reached an apex in their most unconventional relationship. Bottom line - I love this series, I love these characters, I love the cold and harsh and unforgiving world. Arden’s writing is absolutely gorgeous and her passion for Russia and its history and folklore is so palpable that it just oozes off the pages. I can’t recommend this series enough and if you haven’t yet started it, do yourself a favor and get to it.