Both of the books in this month’s Read This, Then That blog are a perfect fit for ‘Tell a Fairy Tale Day’, taking us into the realm of fantasy, myth, imagination and adventure. If you liked The Bear and The Nightingale, continue on to find out why The Grimoire of Kensington Market might just be your next great read!
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Read This: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine ArdenThen That: The Grimoire of Kensington Market (Wolsak and Wynn) by Lauren DavisBoth novels are steeped rich in the folklore of fairy tales, The Grimoire of Kensington Market being a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen and The Bear and the Nightingale bringing to life the Russian myth of Morozko, the winter demon.Both novels take the reader on an adventure that explores the importance of family and kinship, how forces can shape us from without as well as from within, and how danger can lurk between the trees in the woods.Both authors evoke vivid imagery with their rich language, whether it be the harsh winter of the Russian country side or the cramped stacks of an old musty book shop. The characters of Vasilisa and Maggie both struggle with their past, attempting to reconcile their legacies with their families, even as forces outside of their control threaten to divide them.* * *For more literary followups, check out previous editions of Read This, Then That here.
