Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features sex scenes - one scene fades to black and another is one sentence, animal cruelty and death, mob mentality, violence against women, descriptions of bloody violence, threat of rape, sexual assault, attempted murder by burning, torture, suicide, and murder of a pregnant woman and child destruction.
I completely adored the first two books in the Winternight Trilogy, and I couldn't wait to finish it with the final book, The Winter of the Witch. And it was absolutely incredible!
Like with the previous book, The Winter of the Witch starts exactly where The Girl in the Tower ended. Kasyan Lutovich - who was actually the immortal sorcerer Kaschei the Deathless - is dead, the Tatar bandits under his control have fled, and the snowstorm Vasya brought Morozko back into the world for has put out the fires caused by the firebird. Moscow is in a state; while the snowstorm stopped total destruction, a lot of damage has been done. Father Konstantin, overwhelmed with hatred, loathing and desire for Vasya, has stirred the people into a rioting mob who are demanding Vasya be burned for being a witch, and have dragged her out of the grounds of her sister's palace.
And I can't tell you any more than that. So much happens in this book, so much, and it's quite the epic story. Vasya grows and changes in this book; she matures, and she grows into her powers in dangerous ways. She has her morals, and she tries to do what she thinks is right, but she can't do things on her own. And there are now expectations of her. She has a huge amount on her plate, she's under pressure - some of it she has put herself under - and there is a risk to her sanity. But I do feel in this book we actually see Vasya become an adult. Technically speaking, you coul say she's already an adult, but I'm refering her level of maturity, the choices and decisions she makes, and what those decisions mean for her. She looks at the bigger picture, and chooses selflessness every time, even though some would say it's undeserved.
It's also a really shocking and emotional, heartbreaking story. Vasya goes through a lot. She experiences so much trauma, and it does effect her. Yes, she does a hell of a lot in this book, but she doesn't do it uneffected. Pain is her constant companion, yet she manages to carry on despite it all, because she's needed. If she doesn't, no-one will, and the world will go to ruin. But it's not a "chosen one" story. Yes, Vasya can see the cherti, yes, she can communicate with horses, and yes, she has some kind of magical power - but she chooses to do what she does. Many times she is given the opportunity to leave things be, and let them fall as they will. It's not her fight. But she simply can't turn her back on her people. And so, again and again, with more than just pain as her companion at her side, Vasya chooses to try and do what she feels is right, even though all she wants to do is stop. Her greatest strengths are her compassion and her selflessness. She's just incredible.
I want to quickly touch on something I mentioned in my review of The Girl in the Tower, and how people branded Vasya as a witch because she acted in a way that did not befit a woman - too bold and reckless and wild. Vasya has always stayed true to herself, however, has never bowed down to convention, allowed herself to become small under the glares of the patriarchal society. And in this book, she is abducted to be burned for it. In The Winter of the Witch, it's almost as if their insults and violence were prophecy: because Vasya is in possession of magical abilities. I particularly loved the following quote, given both the ideas of a woman who doesn't conform and a woman with magical power.
'"Vasya." [Sasha] made his tone cold, an antidote to the reckless laughter lurking in her eyes. "What do you think will become of you, living in darkness with devils, and doing black magic?"
"I?" she shot back. "I am becoming myself, brother. I am a witch, and I am going to save us."
[...]
"Sasha, do not be afraid for me."
"I am, though," he said. "For your life and for your soul."
"They are both in my keeping, and not yours," she said gently.' (p305-306)
There is such a definace in calling herself a witch, of embracing all the aspects of herself that the world have told her are wrong. To me, it's the ultimate declaration of self-love. She will be who she is, and to hell with those who have spurned her. Except, not to hell with them. Because being who she is, she is the only one who's able to keep those who spurned her alive. If she allowed herself to be cowed, if she became who they wanted her to be - small, meek, mild - they would have no chance of getting out of what comes, alive. To me, those two sentences - "I am becoming myself, brother. I am a witch, and I am going to save us," - sum up Vasya perfectly, and are her battle cry, and I fell even more in love with her for her declaration.
The Winter of the Witch is probably my favourite of the lot, but The Winternight Trilogy, as a whole, is absolutely incredible. Enchanting storytelling, beautiful writing, and a completely engrossing world full of folklore and fairy tales. It has absolutely everything I would want from a fantasy series, and I completely adore it. It's definitely one I'll come back to again and again. I can't recommend it enough.