The Girl in the Tower (2017) by Katherine Arden is the enchanting second installment in the Winternight Trilogy (The Bear and the Nightingale (2017), The Girl in the Tower (2017), and The Winter of the Witch), a lush historical fantasy steeped in Russian folklore and medieval grandeur. The novel follows Vasilisa (Vasya) Petrovna, now a young woman who defies societal expectations by disguising herself as a boy to roam the winter forests of 14th-century Rus’. When she rescues kidnapped villagers from bandits, her bravery draws the attention of the Grand Prince of Moscow—and the suspicion of a vengeful priest who sees magic as heresy.
Arden’s prose is lyrical and immersive, blending fairy-tale wonder with the harsh realities of a kingdom under Mongol rule. Vasya’s bond with the frost-demon Morozko deepens, adding layers of romance and moral ambiguity, while her strained relationship with her sister Olga and the warrior Sasha explores themes of family, freedom, and faith. The novel crescendos in a climactic battle against supernatural forces, where Vasya must reconcile her wild magic with the political machinations of a world that fears her power.
A spellbinding mix of adventure, myth, and feminist resilience, The Girl in the Tower cements Arden’s trilogy as a modern classic of fantasy literature.
