This one was hard to rate. It is not a fast paced book at all, but a slow and powerful build. I really liked the beginning and the different characters, I had to get used to the characters names and how there were like all these different names for one person. When the priest comes into town, it really slowed the book down for me up until I got to about 65% on my Kindle. The book finally picks up, and I couldn't put the book down. I really wish there would have been more to the ending because it kind of just cuts off. The writing was well done. I loved Vasya, Alyosha, and Irina. Full review on my blog https://literarydust.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/review-the-bear-and-the-nightingale/