The Winter of the Witch

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.<BR><BR>“A masterfully told story of folklore, history, and magic with a spellbinding heroine at the heart of it all.”—Booklist (starred review)<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>“A compelling, fast-moving story that grounds fantasy elements in a fascinating period of Russian history.”—Kirkus Reviews<BR><BR>Don’t miss any of the bestselling Winternight Trilogy:<BR>THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE • THE GIRL IN THE TOWER • THE WINTER OF THE WITCH

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The fate of two worlds rests on the shoulders of Vasilisa Petrovna as she contends with forces both mortal and magical in the stirring conclusion to the story that began with The Bear and the Nightingale.<BR><BR>“A tale both intimate and epic, featuring a heroine whose harrowing and wondrous journey culminates in an emotionally resonant finale.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)<BR><BR>NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF THE DECADE<BR><BR>Vasilisa Petrovna is an unforgettable heroine determined to forge her own path. Her gifts and her courage have bound her fate to Morozko, the winter-king, but it is too soon to know if this connection will prove a blessing or a curse.<BR><BR>Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. And a wicked demon returns, determined to spread chaos.<BR><BR>Caught at the center of the conflict, her destiny uncertain, knowing that her choices will determine the fate of two worlds, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself as she desperately tries to protect her family, her country, and the magical world she loves. But she may not be able to save them all.<BR><BR>“Luminous from page one . . . Featuring Rus nobles, witches, frost gods and a magical horse-with-the-soul-of-a-bird, The Winter of the Witch finds Arden at her best.” —Paste<BR><BR>Don’t miss any of the bestselling Winternight Trilogy: <BR>THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE • THE GIRL IN THE TOWER • THE WINTER OF THE WITCH

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER <BR><BR>SHE VOWED HER KINGDOM WOULD NEVER FALL. BUT HER VOW MAY COST HER EVERYTHING...The enchanting new historical fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Winternight Trilogy and The Warm Hands of Ghosts.<BR><BR>'Captivating' NAOMI NOVIK<BR>'Rich, immersive and wonderfully escapist' GUARDIAN<BR>'One of my most anticipated books of 2026 and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!' 5-star reader review<BR>____________<BR><BR>Anne of Brittany was a child when her land was invaded, her castle besieged, and her royal father driven to his death.<BR><BR>Now Brittany is occupied by her enemies, her treasury empty, and only one thing is lacking to complete her realm's subjugation: she is required, on pain of the sword, to marry the King of France.<BR><BR>But Anne cannot. She has promised her dead father that Brittany would never be conquered.<BR><BR>Defiantly, she betroths herself in secret to France's greatest enemy. But in a world where courts may spy on each other by magic, there is only one way to solemnize this illicit union.<BR><BR>Under the guise of a hunting party, Anne takes her court deep into a deep forest, a strange place dogged with rumours of ancient enchantments; a place where diviners cannot see. She tells the French that she had gone there to hunt unicorns.<BR><BR>It's a ruse, a lie, a feint.<BR><BR>But when, against all expectations, a unicorn does appear and a wounded stranger stumbles from the trees and falls at her feet, Anne is plunged into a world of enchantment where a doomed sovereign might find the power to change the destiny of her nation - or be lost in the mist for ever.<BR><BR>____________<BR><BR>Readers are loving The Unicorn Hunters:<BR><BR>'Every page brims with delight, humanity and pin-sharp observation' Daily Mail<BR><BR>'Absolutely enchanting' 5-star reader review<BR><BR>'A magnificent fairy tale, and I loved it with all my heart!!!!' 5-star reader review<BR><BR>'Truly unforgettable' 5-star reader review<BR><BR>'Magical blend of fact and fancy, rich characters and intricate plotting' Irish Daily Mail<BR><BR>'Absolutely dazzling in plot and character and prose' 5-star reader review<BR><BR>'This alchemy of history, fairy tale, romance, and setting that just blows me away' 5-star reader review<BR><BR>'I was completely consumed' 5-star reader review<BR><BR>'Full-body immersion into a world of danger, enchantment, heartbreak, and fierce, breathtaking courage' 5-star reader review<BR>

Hüte dich vor dem, was in den Wäldern haust ...In einem Dorf am Rande der Wildnis, weit im Norden Russlands, wo der Wind kalt bläst und der Schnee viele Monate des Jahres fällt, erzählt die alte Dienerin Dunja den Kindern des Grundbesitzers Pjotr Wladimirowitsch Geschichten über Zauberei, Folklore und den Winterkönig mit den frostblauen Augen. Verbotene Geschichten über eine uralte Magie. Doch für die junge, wilde Wasja sind dies weit mehr als Märchen. Sie allein kann die Geister sehen, die ihr Zuhause beschützen. Und sie allein spürt, dass sich in den Wäldern eine dunkle Magie erhebt ...

For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark: marriage or life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way: magic. . . <BR><BR>The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued by power struggles and rumours of unrest. Meanwhile bandits roam the countryside, burning the villages and kidnapping its daughters. Setting out to defeat the raiders, the Prince and his trusted companion come across a young man riding a magnificent horse.<BR><BR>Only Sasha, a priest with a warrior's training, recognises this 'boy' as his younger sister, thought to be dead or a witch by her village. But when Vasya proves herself in battle, riding with remarkable skill and inexplicable power, Sasha realises he must keep her secret as she may be the only way to save the city from threats both human and fantastical. . .<BR><BR>A spellbinding fairytale full of magic and wonder, perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.<BR><BR>*Make sure you've read all the books in the Winternight Trilogy*<BR>1. The Bear and the Nightingale<BR>2. The Girl in the Tower<BR>3. The Winter of the Witch

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch conceals a secret marriage in the shadows of an enchanted forest—and unknowingly alters the fate of her world—in this dazzling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.<BR><BR>This otherworldly hardcover edition includes an illustrated jacket, a foil-stamped case, and designed full-color endpapers!<BR><BR>“I loved every moment I spent in this magical, dangerous, and haunted realm in the company of its clever and captivating duchess.”—Naomi Novik, author of A Deadly Education<BR><BR>Anne of Brittany was a child when France invaded and drove her royal father to his death. Now she is a young woman, sovereign duchess of an occupied realm, and France means to crown their conquest by marrying her to their king. Such an alliance would put her title, her lands, and her body forever in the hands of her enemies.<BR><BR>But Anne refuses to be the last duchess of Brittany.<BR><BR>Her only hope of resisting conquest is another alliance sealed with marriage, so Anne arranges a daring last gambit: a secret betrothal to Charles of France’s greatest rival. But secrets are hard to keep in a world where rival courts spy on each other with diviners.<BR><BR>The forest of Brocéliande was once the haunt of Merlin the Enchanter and the long-lost faerie queen. But magic is long gone from Broceliande, except for the occasional sight of a unicorn and one critical quirk: This ancient forest is completely hostile to divination. <BR><BR>While pretending compliance with France, Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Brocéliande. A bit of pointless pageantry. A diversion so she can wed in secret. <BR><BR>Or so she thinks.<BR><BR>In this rich and epic novel, the author of the acclaimed Winternight trilogy turns the real history of a remarkable woman into an unforgettable tale of mystery, enchantment, and the price of power.

The spellbindingly creepy middle-grade debut from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.<BR><BR> 'Terrifying and fun.' - R L Stine, author of Goosebumps<BR><BR> After rescuing a book from the river, eleven-year-old Ollie discovers a creepy ghost story about the Smiling Man, a fiendish trickster who can grant any wish - for a price. Luckily, it's just a story ...<BR><BR> But when Ollie finds the characters' names carved into gravestones on a school trip to a farm, the story begins to feel terrifyingly real. And then the bus breaks down on the way home, under the watchful eyes of the scarecrows. And darkness starts to fall. 'Best get moving,' the bus driver warns the schoolchildren. 'At nightfall they'll come for the rest of you.'<BR><BR> As Ollie and two new friends work to unravel a hundred-year-old mystery and save their classmates from the Smiling Man, they'll need quick thinking and even quicker feet if they're going to survive.<BR><BR> Full of slow-burning tension, gloriously creepy writing and fantastically realised characters, this is horror at its best: a perfect read for fans of R L Stine, Jennifer Killick and Phil Hickes.<BR>