In the shadowed embrace of the Russian wilderness, where winter's grip is unyielding and the stories whispered by the fire are as ancient as the land itself, lives young Vasilisa. Amidst the icy tales of Frost, the blue-eyed demon of winter, Vasilisa finds comfort in the old ways, in the reverence for the spirits guarding hearth and home. But when her father returns from Moscow with a new wife, the fabric of her world begins to unravel. Her stepmother, a woman of devout faith, rejects the old beliefs, forbidding their ancient customs. As the balance between the human and the mystical fractures, the village edges toward disaster, and Vasilisa senses the looming peril that feeds upon their forsaken rituals. Compelled to protect her family from a danger that draws closer with every passing night, Vasilisa must embrace the gifts she has long hidden. Defying the constraints of her stepmother's will and the expectations of her village, she ventures into the forbidden heart of the forest, where her only allies are the creatures of folklore her people have abandoned. In a world where faith and folklore collide, Vasilisa dares to honor the spirits, challenge a growing evil, and uncover her own extraordinary destiny. 'The Bear and the Nightingale' weaves a spellbinding tale of family, faith, and the force of belief, set against the backdrop of a landscape both beautiful and fearsome. Katherine Arden's debut novel is a mesmerizing journey into a world where fairy tales are not only told, but are terrifyingly real.