The Winter of the Witch (2019) by Katherine Arden is the spellbinding conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower , and The Winter of the Witch), a lyrical fusion of Russian folklore, historical fantasy, and feminist resilience. Set in a 14th-century Rus’ besieged by political and supernatural forces, the novel follows Vasya Petrovna as she embraces her role as a bridge between the human and chyerti (spirit) worlds. After Moscow is set ablaze and accused of witchcraft, Vasya flees to the enchanted realm of Midnight, where she bargains with the frost-demon Morozko and rallies an army of forgotten spirits to defend her homeland against the invading Golden Horde.
Arden’s prose is steeped in wintry magic, balancing epic battles (like the climactic stand at the Battle of Kulikovo) with intimate moments of love and sacrifice. Themes of faith versus folklore, the cost of power, and the reclaiming of feminine strength crescendo as Vasya accepts her destiny—neither saint nor witch, but a woman who walks her own path.
A masterpiece of the genre, this finale cements the trilogy as a modern classic, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik or Madeline Miller.
