The Bear and the Nightingale

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is a book you will want to read in front of a crackling fire and under a soft blanket.

I had a very difficult time reading this book. It is written very well and definitely reads like a fairy tale, but I was so bored and then... confused. I will say most of the action happens in the last 20-30% of the book. Before that feels like build up and character development – Which, yes books do build up to the climax, but the book felt like it was building up.

For all that I was bored, I cannot deny that this was written well with magic woven between the words. I definitely think other people will enjoy the history, the different fairy tales, and will be pulled into this book. All of this makes me frustrated because I could feel the pull to be dragged in and I was curious about the tale, but it just did not work on me.

As a side note, I have no idea who the Nightingale in the tile is referring to.... brother or horse... or I missed something.

Anyhow, I totally recommend this book to people who like fairy tale retellings, don't require much action, and are interested in Russian folklore. This book is worth the read.