The Bear and the Nightingale

The Bear and the Nightingale is a historical fantasy novel written by Katherine Arden. It is Arden's debut novel, and the first novel in the Winternight trilogy. The Bear and the Nightingale is set in medieval Russia and incorporates elements of Russian folklore. The central character is a young girl, Vasya Petrovna, who is able to communicate with mythological creatures, at a time when Orthodox Christianity is attempting to stamp out all belief in such beings. The Bear and the Nightingale was a finalist for the Locus Award, and Arden received nominations for the John W. Campbell Award. The full trilogy was a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Series.