Read-A-Long of The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

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Read-A-Long of The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

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Read-A-Long of The Girl in the Tower: Winternight Trilogy book 2, by Katherine Arden.

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Post by gali »

I started to read the book the other day and so far like it. I am just at the beginning, but it seems as good as the first one. I had to refresh my memory with the first book, but it didn't take me long to get into the tale. I liked the inclusion of the Russian fair-folk , "Little Snow Girl story". It reminded me of another book I loved, "The Snow Child" by "Eowyn Ivey".


Where are you in the book? Or did you finish it?
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gali wrote: 20 Sep 2018, 11:38 I started to read the book the other day and so far like it. I am just at the beginning, but it seems as good as the first one. I had to refresh my memory with the first book, but it didn't take me long to get into the tale. I liked the inclusion of the Russian fair-folk , "Little Snow Girl story". It reminded me of another book I loved, "The Snow Child" by "Eowyn Ivey".


Where are you in the book? Or did you finish it?
I finished it. :lol:

I love the story, as well (I must now go look up The Snow Child).
Given that there was also a story in the beginning of the first book (which I also loved), I must assume that she's going to include another story in the third book, and now I'm curious as to what it will be, and who will be telling it.

I must admit, I was in a hurry at the beginning of the book. I love Vasya so much, I just wanted to jump right back in with her. Despite that, I still enjoyed the whole dynamic with her sister and seeing her children.

I really think these are going to wind up as rereads for me. I just love them so much.
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Post by gali »

Gravy wrote: 20 Sep 2018, 23:09
gali wrote: 20 Sep 2018, 11:38 I started to read the book the other day and so far like it. I am just at the beginning, but it seems as good as the first one. I had to refresh my memory with the first book, but it didn't take me long to get into the tale. I liked the inclusion of the Russian fair-folk , "Little Snow Girl story". It reminded me of another book I loved, "The Snow Child" by "Eowyn Ivey".


Where are you in the book? Or did you finish it?
I finished it. :lol:

I love the story, as well (I must now go look up The Snow Child).
Given that there was also a story in the beginning of the first book (which I also loved), I must assume that she's going to include another story in the third book, and now I'm curious as to what it will be, and who will be telling it.

I must admit, I was in a hurry at the beginning of the book. I love Vasya so much, I just wanted to jump right back in with her. Despite that, I still enjoyed the whole dynamic with her sister and seeing her children.

I really think these are going to wind up as rereads for me. I just love them so much.
Nice! I will try to keep up. :)

I also enjoyed the dynamic with her sister. I reached the part where Sasha and the princess go after the bandits.

Btw, the last book in the trilogy will be out on Jan.
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Post by Gravy »

I promise to read Small Spaces slower. :)

I loved getting to see her sister and Sasha in this one.

I know! I can hardly wait!
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Post by gali »

Gravy wrote: 21 Sep 2018, 05:11 I promise to read Small Spaces slower. :)

I loved getting to see her sister and Sasha in this one.

I know! I can hardly wait!
As long as we read it at the same time, there is no need to. I am a fast reader. :)
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Post by Gravy »

Very true. :tiphat:
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Post by gali »

The scene where the Frost demon (Morozko) saved Vasya from certain death and trained her was great. I thought she was foolish to risk the bath house, but admired her courage and her wish for independence.

I also liked the inverse rule-playing where the Death king, who charmed many maidens, is now charmed by our heroine. He has feelings for her but knows he can't love and be immortal. I hope they would find a solution somehow.

I have now reached the part where she tracks the bandits in order to save the girls.
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Post by Gravy »

I love Morosko so much.

I also enjoyed that whole part. And I love Solovey even more in this book, which I didn't think was possible. I want to see a picture of the knife he gave her.

Vasya is such a strong and independent character, and I love her idealism.

I agree about her stopping at the bathhouse. :lol:
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Post by gali »

Gravy wrote: 22 Sep 2018, 21:39 I love Morosko so much.

I also enjoyed that whole part. And I love Solovey even more in this book, which I didn't think was possible. I want to see a picture of the knife he gave her.

Vasya is such a strong and independent character, and I love her idealism.

I agree about her stopping at the bathhouse. :lol:
Ditto!

I am now in Moscow together with our heroine. I found the meeting between the brothers very touching.
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I loved the way she wrote Moscow. :D
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Post by gali »

I finished the book and loved it! I like the way Arden blends history and fantasy. The frost demon is cool!!!! I like the way the author managed to humanize him! This book, as the first one, is very atmospheric, and I could feel the snow and the fire. I would have liked it better if Arden recapped the events of the 1st part. It was quite a while since I read the first book, and I had to skim the first book to recall events (thank you Wikipedia!).

Spoilers:
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The priest Konstantin really got in my nerves! I hope he will be killed in the final book!

I rooted for Vasya when she won the horse in a wager, hold my breadth during the race against Kasyan, and was mad at the way he treated her (striping and shaming her in public was too much!). She was too reckless, though, and often acted without thinking.

I liked Kasyan (Kasscher the Deathless) at first and found him intriguing. Sadly, he turned out to be one of the bad guys. I was surprised to find out he was a sorcerer and that the bandit captain (aka the Tatar ambassador) acted under his orders. The ghost turning out to be Vasya's grandmother was another feather in the author's cap!

The fact that Marya also sees unseen things is an interesting development. We will probably see more of her in the next book.

I finished the book without an air and eagerly wait for the last book in the trilogy!
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Post by Gravy »

You said everything I've been thinking! :lol:


Spoilers!!!



I was also very fond of Kasyan. I thought the story was going in a different direction before his betrayal of Vasya. When that happened, I had to take a little time before picking the book up again, but ot certainly didn't disappoint.

I love that Sasha and Olga accept her more at the end of the book. I also hope that Marya benifits from their knowledge of her gift.
Her prophecy intrigues me!

I also hope that that vile little disgusting thing called Konstantin dies. Moreover, I hope Morozko does it!

And I love Morozko, and Solovey, even more than from the first book.

January!
Oh, I hope she has many more stories to write. I will miss these characters so much, but I can be happy with new ones.

So glad there's one more with Vasya! :D
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Post by gali »

Gravy wrote: 25 Sep 2018, 07:04 You said everything I've been thinking! :lol:


Spoilers!!!



I was also very fond of Kasyan. I thought the story was going in a different direction before his betrayal of Vasya. When that happened, I had to take a little time before picking the book up again, but ot certainly didn't disappoint.

I love that Sasha and Olga accept her more at the end of the book. I also hope that Marya benifits from their knowledge of her gift.
Her prophecy intrigues me!

I also hope that that vile little disgusting thing called Konstantin dies. Moreover, I hope Morozko does it!

And I love Morozko, and Solovey, even more than from the first book.

January!
Oh, I hope she has many more stories to write. I will miss these characters so much, but I can be happy with new ones.

So glad there's one more with Vasya! :D
I also liked that Sasha and Olga accepted her and believed her.

I loved Morozko too and Solovey was awesome!

We can read the third book together as well, when it is out, if you want to. :)
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Post by Gravy »

gali wrote: 25 Sep 2018, 07:09
Gravy wrote: 25 Sep 2018, 07:04 You said everything I've been thinking! :lol:


Spoilers!!!



I was also very fond of Kasyan. I thought the story was going in a different direction before his betrayal of Vasya. When that happened, I had to take a little time before picking the book up again, but ot certainly didn't disappoint.

I love that Sasha and Olga accept her more at the end of the book. I also hope that Marya benifits from their knowledge of her gift.
Her prophecy intrigues me!

I also hope that that vile little disgusting thing called Konstantin dies. Moreover, I hope Morozko does it!

And I love Morozko, and Solovey, even more than from the first book.

January!
Oh, I hope she has many more stories to write. I will miss these characters so much, but I can be happy with new ones.

So glad there's one more with Vasya! :D
I also liked that Sasha and Olga accepted her and believed her.

I loved Morozko too and Solovey was awesome!

We can read the third book together as well, when it is out, if you want to. :)
Consider it a plan!
(I'll add it to the list. :tiphat: )
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