About the Book
The Girl in the Tower is the second book in Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy, following The Bear and the Nightingale. It continues the story of Vasilisa Petrovna, a young woman in medieval Russia who has an uncommon ability to perceive the spirits of old Slavic folklore. Exiled from her village and unwilling to accept the limited futures offered to her, convent or an arranged marriage, Vasya disguises herself as a boy and rides east toward Moscow.
Much of the book takes place in and around Moscow's political court, a significant shift from the rural, folklore-drenched setting of the first book. Vasya becomes entangled in a dangerous situation involving bandits and kidnapped children, which draws her into proximity with her brother Sasha, a monk and warrior close to the Grand Prince, and her sister Olga, now a noblewoman in the city. Maintaining her disguise while navigating court politics and old magic tests her in ways the wilderness did not.
If you haven't read The Bear and the Nightingale, you should start there. This book picks up directly from the events of the first and assumes familiarity with the characters and the mythological framework Arden has built. The story is self-contained enough to have its own arc, but the emotional weight depends heavily on what came before.
Narration & Audio Performance
Kathleen Gati narrated the first book in the trilogy and returns here, which matters, continuity of narrator across a series is worth something, and Gati has already established the voice and tone of this world. Her approach is calm and deliberate, with a slight formality that suits the medieval Russian setting. She handles the quieter, introspective passages well, and doesn't overplay the dramatic moments.
Character differentiation is present but not always sharp. Vasya, Sasha, and Morozko are distinguishable, but some of the supporting court characters can blur together, particularly in scenes with several people speaking. Gati's accent work and tonal range are serviceable rather than exceptional. Listeners who found her delivery a little flat in the first book will have the same experience here, she doesn't push the performance, which for some listeners is a steady, reliable quality and for others feels like a missed opportunity given the material.
Production is clean with no notable issues. If you're unsure whether Gati's style works for you, the Audible sample is worth a listen before committing.
The Audible Verdict
The Girl in the Tower is a well-constructed fantasy novel that works reasonably well as an audiobook, particularly for listeners already invested in the trilogy. Gati's narration is consistent and professional, though not especially distinctive. If you listened to The Bear and the Nightingale on audio and were comfortable with her delivery, this is an easy continuation. If you're coming in fresh or found the first narrator unmemorable, the print version is equally valid, there's no audio-specific advantage that makes this a must-listen over reading.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
The Winternight Trilogy is well-suited to audio overall. The prose is descriptive and linear, the pacing moves steadily, and the story is built around oral traditions, Russian folklore that was originally meant to be told aloud. That heritage translates reasonably well into the audio format.
The court intrigue sections introduce more characters and political maneuvering than the first book, which can be slightly harder to track by ear than on the page. If you find yourself losing threads during ensemble conversation scenes, that's a format limitation rather than a narration failure. The folklore and wilderness sequences, by contrast, are exactly the kind of atmospheric material that holds up well in audio.
Overall, this is a book where audio and print are fairly equal. The deciding factor is likely how much you enjoy Gati's narration style specifically, and whether you started the series in audio or print.
Popular Listener Questions
Do I need to read The Bear and the Nightingale first?
Yes. The Girl in the Tower is a direct sequel and assumes you know the characters, their histories, and the mythological world from the first book. Starting here would leave significant context gaps.
Is this part of a series?
Yes, it is the second book in the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden. The third book is The Winter of the Witch.
Is the narrator the same as in the first book?
Yes. Kathleen Gati, who narrated The Bear and the Nightingale, returns for this installment. If you've already heard her in the first book, you know what to expect.
What kind of reader is this book aimed at?
Readers who enjoy historical fantasy rooted in specific cultural mythology, in this case, medieval Russia and Slavic folklore, will find the most to appreciate here. It also appeals to fans of fiction with female protagonists navigating societies that restrict their options.
Similar Audiobooks
The first book in the Winternight Trilogy, the essential starting point before this one.
The concluding volume of the trilogy, continuing directly from where this book ends.
Naomi Novik's novel draws on Eastern European folklore in a comparable way, rooted in a specific cultural tradition and centered on a resourceful female protagonist.
Also by Naomi Novik, also drawing on Slavic folklore, with a similar balance of magic, history, and a young woman finding agency in a constraining world.
For listeners who want folklore-adjacent fantasy with a strong sense of place and atmosphere, this is a frequently recommended parallel read.
Deathless
Catherynne M. Valente's novel draws directly on Russian folklore and the figure of Koschei the Deathless, overlapping mythological territory with the Winternight Trilogy.
Audiobook Details
| Title | The Girl in the Tower |
|---|---|
| Author | Katherine Arden |
| Narrator | Kathleen Gati |
| Genre | Historical Fantasy |
| Year | 2017 |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
The Girl in the Tower is available on Audible and is a reasonable choice for a free trial credit, especially if you're already following the trilogy in audio format.
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