April: Fiction Pick
This is the second book in a trilogy by Katherine Arden, following The Bear and the Nightingale, and before Winter of the Witch. The story takes place in medieval Russia, where Christianity is replacing the earlier beliefs. The heroine, Vasilisa, grew up far away from any city, where her nurse taught her the old fairy tales, and she is able to see the old spirits who are beginning to fade. The story is a wonderful mix of fantasy and history, with a glimpse of Moscow when it was all wood within a palisade. There is a lot of snow in this story, and horses. There’s a glossary at the end to help with the Russian vocabulary. I really enjoyed it.
Judith
