The Girl in the Tower

"after the world is set up in book 1, this book really takes off but is well paced. this was such a good book with all the same charm from the first one and more. i am looking forward to how the author concludes the series! "

"The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a good sequel, I was able to guess the plot early on but the book was good nonetheless. You learn more about the MC's family line and I really enjoy the take charge attitude of the female lead, even if it gets her into trouble. It's not a 5 star cause I could guess the plot pretty early on and a few things toward the end felt rushed."

"Vasilisa is so very human. She is also courageous and even foolish at times. For me, it makes for a much easier read when you can touch the characters and them you. But honestly, why does she keep trying to save these people who shun her? She is much stronger than I. <br/><br/>The world building and character development never slacked for an instant. I loved the comraderie between Vasilisa and her horse. Also, the Dark Prince is always intriguing, and I feel like we only get a little slice of him. Still, this book is the full package. Complex relationships, character depth, rich folklore, a descriptive world. You can't ask for much more."

"The adventure and magic and hope that Vasya carries with her in this series is just the best! This series is beautiful and dark and has such interesting folklore and history "

"Vasilisa is a beautifully wild thing. It is a pleasure to see her fierce, free, unbound. Anytime she suffers danger from nature, man, or inexperience you find yourself ordering her to survive, to find a way to keep her unbridled spirit. There is fear and excitement, history and mythology, love and anguish all wrapped together in this fantastical story."

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (This review will contain #spoilers) Okay, this book vastly improved from the first. The first book was, in my opinion, 50% world/story building and 50% actual plot. This book had more plot, though it did drag at times. I don’t know what it is about this series so far, but it feels like it’s MISSING something crucial for me. I can’t put my finger on it though. I really like how Vasya’s character developed, she’s honestly such a fantastic FMC. I loved the Mulan plot that this book took - Vasya either being very convincing or very unconvincing was a bit funny. The side characters were a little blah to me. I wish Konstantin stayed gone, him coming back and being ANOTHER idiot accomplice was a little annoying. I liked the romance we got between Morozko and Vasya but plzzz it was so short lived and I honestly didn’t feel my heart skip a beat. Now to move on to my criticisms, I think the overuse of Russian terminology, adding random characters, and absolutely boring plot lines were watered down in this book, but still present. It’s just confusing, okay! I don’t get why we call Sasha ‘Aleksandr’ in the same sentence - I mean I know he has a new name, but ugh. The plot with the Khans and Kasyan/Tamara was predictable (but very thrilling at the end, I will say). I guess my main beef is I thought your girl Vasya would be touring the world at this point! Sure, she’s gotta develop her travel legs, but I’m so sorry if anyone takes offense to this: I don’t care about Moscow or constantly reading about Christianity. This series sometimes feels more like a historical fiction than a fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, I get it, I do, WHY we hear so much about God and Jesus, but it just gets annoying as hell. I want more lil spirits and magic (that doesn’t exist except when Kasyan uses it??? That didn’t make sense to me) and creatures, and less monks and politics and obnoxious men. That’s all. I will be finishing this series before Goldfinch, so we’re moving on to the last."

"Second book in a trilogy full of magic and mystical creatures set in Russia. "

"As Vasya leaves her village behind and seeks her fortune in Moscow, she risks more than just her own safety. I didn't enjoy The Girl in the Tower as much as I did The Bear and the Nightingale, which might shock some readers. If there is one thing I don't have the patience for, it's court intrigue. Arden shifts away from snowy forests with eyes peeking in between the trees to grand palaces where women are banned from being in public and men decide the fates of their courts through honey wine and shouting. I really missed the folklore characters that were more present in the first book and was just waiting for all the conflict Vasya stirred with her presence and daring to come to a head. However, that ending was almost ominous and I immediately rushed for the third book!"

"Gonna be tired at work staying up late to read this "

"This book was utter perfection. It filled in the gaps left from the first novel while being a unique tale all its own. It left me wanting so much more of Vasya, who is such a fantastic and fierce female character, the type that needs representation in literature today. This is the type of “fairy tale” that I can get behind: a badass woman taking down medieval patriarchy with a little help from her friends. I’m both eagerly awaiting and dreading the conclusion to this marvelous trilogy!"