*Our site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases....hey, we had to upgrade our hosting due to our amazing number of readers...we're just trying to pay for it! ;)*

No spoilers in this review of Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. I thought it was fantastic and give it 4.5 stars! This is one of those rare series in which I love each book more than the one before. In this installment, Arden has crafted a dramatic, heart-wrenching conclusion told in her usual lovely prose.

Vasya is once again facing foes of the physical world and the “other world” where Morozko and his brother exist. Since she is one of the few who can see the inhabitants of both worlds, Vasya is called to dwell in each at different times. She continually carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, and she never complains or bows under the pressure. That’s all I’m going to say plot-wise so I don’t spoil even one tiny thing about this finale.

I don’t think I’m remiss in saying that this conclusion is epic in scale. The story was cohesive; it was rounded out and felt whole. Arden answered every question I had, yet not everything was tied up with a metaphorical bow. And that’s okay. That’s not how epic fantasy works.

STACY’S BOOK RATING
I give it 4.5 stars overall.
Lets be friends on Goodreads:
Stacy's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists
 

To me, the greatest stories are those that come together so seamlessly that they feel like have been out there in the universe just waiting to be told. This is what Winter felt like. I know Arden included bits of Russian history in this series, which she notes after the book concludes, but she weaves in magic and fictional characters to create a tale that is meaningful and timeless.

This series contains magic and royalty and beautiful landscapes, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about family, about making hard choices, and about becoming an independent adult. It is great fantasy, no doubt, but more than that, it’s simply a great book about humanity at its best and its worst.

Another thing I love about this series is the main character isn’t perfect. Far from it, in fact. Vasya’s not beautiful, and she’s often not even that nice. But she’s noble and selfless, and many people love her for it. The familial love, friendly love, and even romantic love she experiences does not stem from anything superficial. She’s loved because of her fierceness and her sacrifices, among other things.

Before I conclude, I have to give a quick nod to a few of my favorite elements of magic in Winter.

  • I was fascinated by the land of Midnight. Vasya’s time in this strange dimension was my favorite part of the book, both during her search for a certain someone and the time she spends with him after she tracks him down.
  • I loved the idea that Morozko’s powers ebb and flow with the seasons, only reaching their potential during winter. Authors often give their magical characters expansive power, but the fact that he had limited time to wield his full powers in the physical world made his story that much more compelling.
  • And where do I even begin with the magical creatures I loved? The hearth spirits and the little mushroom guy were entertaining, but the horses were easily my favorite, especially Solovey. The end of his story took my breath away.

In a nutshell, Arden is a master storyteller. I recommend this series to everyone searching for a powerful story about a passionate heroine that’s beautifully told. I’m sad it’s over but am glad to know the conclusion to Vasya’s story. I can’t help but wonder what’s up next for Arden. She’s now an auto-read author for me, so I can’t wait to get my hands on her next book!

Ready to read Winter of the Wtich? Click to buy and help us pay for hosting.

Let us know what you think about Winter of the Witch in the comments! No spoilers on this page please!

View all my reviews on Goodreads.


What now?
Follow Book Series Recaps on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
Friend us on Goodreads: Sara and Stacy.

Oh and share this review of Winter of the Witch with your friends who might like this book!

2 thoughts on “Rapid Review of The Winter of the Witch”

  1. Great review for such a great series! I hope you do a full spoilers recap for this book as well sometime, I really enjoy how thorough your summaries are. 🙂

    1. Thank you for the compliments!!! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the series, too. It’s one of the best fantasies I’ve read in a while. As far as a recap of Winter, we usually don’t recap the final book in a series. I’m sorry about that!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *