The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy)

In the sequel to the nationally bestselling The Bear and the Nightingale, a gifted young woman with ties to the old magic of her homeland blazes a trail out of the frozen wilderness and into the court intrigues of Moscow.

“A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)

Vasilisa’s gift for seeing what others do not won her the attention, even affection, of Morozko—the winter demon from her nurse’s stories. But his aid comes at a cost.

Orphaned, named a witch, and cast out by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent or marriage to a stranger. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the wide world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a young man and riding her trusted stallion, Solovey, into the wilderness.

But Vasya’s exploits soon reunite her with her long-estranged siblings and earn her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow. Disguised as a boy, she must walk a delicate line, safeguarding her family, concealing her identity and navigating her increasingly fraught relationship with Morozko—even as she realizes the realm is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

“A compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history.”—Kirkus Reviews

Don’t miss any of the bestselling Winternight Trilogy:
THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE • THE GIRL IN THE TOWER • THE WINTER OF THE WITCH

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Published Dec 5, 2017

400 pages

Average rating: 8.54

48 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

wardbunch
Mar 26, 2025
10/10 stars
Looking forward to the third of the trilogy.
roj94
Mar 16, 2025
10/10 stars
Couldn't stop thinking about it when I put it down... so I barely put it down.

Starting the final book immediately
The Nerdy Narrative
Jul 19, 2024
10/10 stars
WOW.

This is a sophomore book and it was absolute perfection. I want to dive into the last book of the trilogy, but I also don't want this magic - this world - to ever end. I already know this will be a series that I will reread EVERY winter.

The Girl in the Tower picks up right where the first book leaves off and takes us on an epic adventure of discovery of one's self - searching for one's purpose and place in life - with mistakes and consequences. I was so happy to see a favorite character from the first book get so much page time in the follow up, Sasha was one I immediately was drawn to in book one and he was tucked out of the way very early on.

The magic was explored further - the world was expanded upon - we learned more history about Vasya and her family - I honest to goodness cannot think of one single solitary thing that should have been done to make this book or story any better than it was. I feel like at the conclusion of the third book, I'm going to say something I can't remember ever having said before - that I've found THE perfect story.
LiziB
Feb 23, 2023
10/10 stars
She ain't gonna go to the convent and she ain't gonna marry some stooge -- she will become a warrior and the consequences be damned! Love love love this book and this series for its strong women, its folkloric whimsy, and its characters' personal sacrifice in the pursuit of good.

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