Just finished Chapter 17. I've continued to enjoy it and the pacing still impresses with moving ever forwards in bursts that seem to let you know everything you need without dragging on. The only complaint I have is that there's some unskilled head-hopping in this part. Earlier, I was quite surprised at how often the POV changed, but I found it was very well done in the first 40%. I'm usually allergic to it, so the fact that I barely noticed means Arden has pulled it off skillfully. But in the last few chapters, there were some abrupt switches that had me confused and temporarily detached me from the story.
Otherwise, I enjoy the book. The setting is great and the characters keep developing in ways that make sense but keep me on my toes. I honestly didn't know if the marriage was going to happen or not; I felt it could have gone either way. One thought I had was that they might get married and Vasya would end up 'taming' her husband, as opposed to the other way around.
I assume and hope the whole fairy tale plotline will pick up pace now, though, with the promise made to Winter about to come true, and the warnings from the various chyerti. And of course, Konstantin's meddling in the old ways putting everyone in danger. I don't hate him, though, for all his religious zeal. But I think it will turn against him, as I doubt it was God's voice he heard talk to him, but rather this as yet unknown adversery, the Bear or whatever it is.
I doubt I'll take many more days finishing this!
