Title: Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3)
Author: Katherine Arden
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Pages: 384
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Date Started: November 30, 2018
Date Finished: December 12, 2018
Format: Kindle

*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Holy cow. Arden left me in shambles with this one. I can’t remember the last time I have been left as distraught as with this one. When I finished this book, I was left with the overwhelming feeling of loss and didn’t know how to recover. I wanted more of the world, of the story, of the characters. While the ending was perfect and I wouldn’t wish for that to be ruined, I emotionally needed more.

Winter of the Witch is the third and final book in the Winternight Trilogy, and brings a conclusion to Vasilisa’s story which began in The Bear and the Nightingale and continued in The Girl in the Tower. This book picks up right where the previous book ended. Right from the beginning, it grabbed me by my emotions and never let go. I bawled my eyes out in this one. I didn’t even realize that I had become so attached to the characters. And with her characters is where I really feel that Arden excels. They are all so multifaceted and complex. They are true to themselves and their design, yet develop and grow so much over the series.

What I particularly loved about this book was the return to the fairy tale feel of the first novel, where Vasya is out in the wilderness encountering the spirits of medieval Russia in the hidden battle of old versus new. The introduction of new characters, including the cutest little mushroom spirit, added to the richness of the world without detracting from the story.

I don’t say this often, but this is easily one of my favorite series. Winter of the Witch was finally released today, so I will be purchasing the entire trilogy and will give it a place of honor on my bookshelf.

Overall, 5/5 moose