An Ale Of Two Cities

What We Loved About the Book 

I have put off this review for sometime. Not because I didn’t want to write, but honestly out of fear. From the second I read this book over two years ago, I knew it was something special. It was special to me. And as I read the rest of this series over the last two years that was only solidified more. How do you review one of the most important books in your life? That’s a lot of pressure, and that’s why I have been putting it off. But I have to start somewhere, and I want desperately to share the amazing Winternight Trilogy with you. So, here’s hoping I do it justice.

The first book of the Winternight Trilogy is The Bear and the Nightingale. This book is pure magic. Set in medieval Russia, this fantasy fairytale is true brilliance. Adventure epic, coming of age, folklore tale, feminist story, period piece, fantastic tale, and historical novel all in one. This book is truly spectacular.

With the heartbeat of a beautiful fairytale, The Bear and the Nightingale, is darker and more deeply felt. It seems a tale that is amazingly appropriate for our current times. Author Katherine Arden has worked her literary prowess and given us the story of a girl who is different and strong. The story of what happens to her when ignorance and misunderstanding push her away from other people, who then act against their better interests out of fear; a story of the new ways versus the old and magic versus faith. Disguised as a fantasy epic set in medieval Russia, this is a true fable for our times…or all time.

Beyond the genius of her story itself, Katherine Arden, also shows her strength as a writer in her characters. Beginning with the protagonist, Vasya, we are given a young woman who is maturing from childhood to adulthood. From the moment we meet Vasya, she refuses to be anything but herself, refreshing theme for a heroine. Not once over the course of the novel does Vasya doubt herself. Sure, she runs into many obstacles and stumbles along her journey, but through it all she trusts herself what she learns and sees. And yet, her rejection of society’s norms does not cause her to look down on those who find comfort and fulfillment in these. She is unapologetically herself and happy for each person to find this uniquely in themselves.

“All my life…I have been told ‘go’ and ‘come.’ I am told how I will live, and I am told how I must die. I must be a man’s servant and a mare for his pleasure, or I must hide myself behind walls and surrender my flesh to a cold, silent god. I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing.”

Even the characters that take the antagonistic roles in The Bear and the Nightingale are sympathetic. Arden does a beautiful job a making these characters heartbreakingly human, making the pain and turmoil they cause all the more real. With clear motivations like fear, shame, and pride, even the opposition is sympathetic. Beyond the heroine and her adversaries, Arden also includes a multitude of other characters, each of whom is as thoughtful and detailed as the first, over the course of the story.

If the characters don’t draw you in, the atmosphere will. Whether you read this on a sunny day outdoors, or a cozy café, Arden’s writing will transport you to the snowy tundra of rural Russia. You’ll hear the wind in the trees and the crackle of the fire. Although, sometimes slow in pace, her specific and thoughtful writing, make the pace worthwhile. The poetic, detailed prose will warp you up it its mythic splendor, and leave you wishing for winter (no matter how much you hate it).

Its not everyday that you stumble upon a book that shoots its was onto your favorites list. Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingaledid just that for me. Since first discovering it, I have read it several times, and would happily go back and read it again. The magic, humanity, and genuine girl power within these pages is both empowering and soul feeding. Do yourself a favor and read this book, in fact read this whole series. It will stay with you for a very long time.

“The world is wide, and the road will take us anywhere.”

What We Love About the Beer 

What beer to pair with one of our favorite books of all time? How to choose? With such an atmospheric book, we wanted this pairing to give you the ultimate experience while you read The Bear and the Nightingale. So, we went with Siberian Night Imperial Stout from Thirsty Dog Brewing Company. This delicious beer felt like the perfect match, both dark and mysterious, Russian and wild.

Siberian Night Imperial Stout is a nice dry, dark, creamy stout with a soft and velvety mouthfeel. Just like the books this beer will keep you warm on a cold, blustery night, or transport you to the Siberian tundra on a normal spring evening. Its roasted notes are paired with caramel, toffee, coffee, and hints of chocolate, as well as a high ABV taste that balances out the flavor. Although not as richly dark as many Russian imperial stouts, this beer definitely has a great style and flavor making it the perfect match for Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale.

So, grab Thirsty Dog Brewing’s Siberian Night Imperial Stout, light a candle, and cozy up with this magnificent read. You’re sure to love it. We are not joking when we say this is one of our favorite pairings yet! Get ready for pure magic to shield you from the cold and the dark.

HOW ARE YOU? THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY! LET US KNOW IF YOU TRY THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE OR SIBERIAN NIGHT IMPERIAL STOUT.  WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! HAVE YOU HAD ANY REMARKABLE BEERS LATELY? READ ANY NOTEWORTHY BOOKS?  LET US KNOW! WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS, OR JUST A QUICK NOTE TO HEAR WHAT YOUR UP TO ON YOUR DAILY ADVENTURE! DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW US HERE AND ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS (FACEBOOK, OUR BLOG, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER) FOR YOUR REGULAR DOSES OR BEER OR BOOK RELATED GOODNESS! THANKS AGAIN FOR STOPPING BY!

What We Love About the Pairing 

We just finished this whole three book series by Laini Taylor, and boy was it a special one! So, over the next few days we are going to release the paring for each book.  Just a little taste of what this series and the beers we matched it with have to offer.  And, after each book and beer pairing has been released, we will share our full review and series pairing with you! We can’t wait to share these awesome books and beers with you!

First things first….

This duo is dynamite! Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first installment in Laini Taylor’s series, and let me tell you, it is remarkable.  At first, I was reluctant to read this book, thinking it was a cliche, young adult fantasy, with nothing special to offer. But I was so wrong.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a magical first look into the remarkable world Taylor has created.  It is dynamic, unique, and enthralling.  It is full of real, relatable characters despite their otherworldly stories.  I could not put this book down.  I devoured it, and raced on to the next book in the series.

“Wishes are false.  Hope is true.  Hope makes its own kind of magic.“

Do yourself a favor, read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and while you’re at it, grab Collective Arts Brewing Prophets & Nomads.  It is the perfect beer to create a dynamic experience when reading this book.  This refreshing Gose is as easy to drink as Daughter of Smoke and Bone is to read.  Full of flavor and punch, it is the perfect companion for this book.  Not to mention, the name, Prophets and Nomads, only enhances the books themes of religion, magic, and the other worlds that get involved.Think these sound good?  Just wait for the next one in this series!

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ARE YOU READY FOR THIS SERIES PAIRING? HAVE YOU READ THESE BOOKS? TRIED THIS BEER? WHAT DID YOU THINK? WE LOVED IT, AND WE LOVED PAIRING IT WITH AWESOME BEERS! STAY TUNED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR EACH INSTALLMENT & PAIRING OF LAINI TAYLOR'S REMARKABLE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE SERIES.  LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, AND FOLLOW US ON OUR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TUMBLR, AND TWITTER! 

What We Love About the Books 

After reading the Grisha Trilogy, I felt obligated to read the Six of Crows duology. Don’t get me wrong, most of the time, I really enjoyed the Grisha Trilogy.   It was right up my alley in genre, characters, style, and content.   All of that lined up, but it still felt a little flat to me. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but even with the perfect formula it still didn’t rise to my list of favorites. And that was that. However, I still felt like I made a commitment that I needed to see through, and so I picked up the Six of Crows duology.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo instantly felt different then her previous trilogy. The characters were more interesting, the setting felt more natural to her writing, like she had settled into it and really let it live. The Grisha Trilogy was good, but this was dynamic. For all my fans of Young Adult fantasy, the Six of Crows duology is where Bardugo shines.

The gritty, dangerous Six of Crows characters are the seediest, least trust worthy, and yet most loveable, relatable characters.  This is because the world within this duology, that Bardugo created, is irresistible. The other place where these books shine is their plots. Full of twists and turns, familiar faces, and new characters that will haunt our dreams, these books keep you on the edge of your seat in a way the Grisha Trilogy never could.

After finishing Six of Crows, I was worried that Crooked Kingdom would go to far and masticate the brilliance of Six of Crows. Sometimes I think we take things too far in an attempt to have more of a good thing, but my fears were misled. Crooked Kingdom fell in line with Six of Crows and kept moving in the right direction, both enriching the first, but also bringing so much more.

Don’t get me wrong though. Part of the charm of both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom is the return to the world of the Grisha Trilogy. Sure they take place in Ketterdam not Ravka, but coming in with a familiarity of the world made me, as the reader, feel like one of the gang. Like I was in on the brilliant heist.

There seems to be a bit of a formula in the fantasy fiction genre. Sometimes its hidden in an inventive story, sometimes its predictable and easy to identify. The latter doesn’t make for bad literature, just a little more run of the mill. Where Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy felt to me like it fell in the latter category, the Six of Crows duology falls in the first. Full of anti-heroes and relatable villains, both Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are easy to read, and even easier to loose yourself in. With vivid worlds, twisting plot lines, and juicy characters, these books will keep you enthralled and entertained.

What We Love About the Beers 

First, let’s start with Six of Crows. Obviously, we were attracted to this pairing because the same of the beer, Sticky Situation by Gun Hill Brewing Company, felt straight out of the infamous Dirtyhands’ mind itself. What could possibly be more fitting? But then, we tried it, and full transparency this was not our favorite beer. We love Gun Hill Brewing Company, but this just isn’t their best offering, in our humble opinion. And then it struck us, doesn’t that make it even more perfect? Here is a book about a gang of misfits, failures, and frauds banding together and honestly beating bad guys and good guys a like? So, what could be more fitting than a run of the mill beer, masquerading as the perfect match, thus becoming exactly what Six of Crows needs? Too complicated an explanation? Exactly!

Gun Hill’s Sticky Situation is okay. It is their version of a dubbel, but tastes more like a tripel. In fact, it is very alcoholic tasting for a 7.5% ABV beer, probably to the liking of our favorite Ketterdam underdogs. In all fairness, we drank this beer after coming back from Germany and Belgium, where we had some of the best dubbels and tripels we have ever had, and sticky situation just didn’t stand up.  However, with its reddish-brown appearance, earthy notes, and full-bodied dry finish, this wanna-be dubbel would fit right into the world of Six of Crows.

For Crooked Kingdom, on the other hand, we truly did find the perfect match, no tricks this time. Paradox of the Powerful by Southern Tier instantly made us think of the Grisha in Crooked Kingdom that are faced with the chance for unparalleled power with Jurda Parem (a drug that enhances their magical abilities), but also the doom that comes with its use. This is truly the paradox of the powerful. Beyond the name’s significance, this beer is very good. With heavy lacing, honey, pear, orange notes, and a dank hop flavor, this is a great offering from Southern Tier. Just like the story the flavors of this beer are new and fresh with every sip. It is a refreshing and juicy beer that is very easy to drink. In fact, I could have had a few without feeling weighed down.

It was the perfect match for the culmination of Bardugo’s best writing, of what we have read of course. Paradox of the Powerful is a great culminating match for the Crooked Kingdom and the Six of Crows duology. It is a unique beer, that is refreshing and enjoyable; just like these books. These made a great pair. The perfect powerful, imaginative world, full of dynamic characters, paired with a flavorful, full-bodied beer to compliment. Are you ready for this magical reading/drinking experience?!

JANUARY 4th! ONE REVIEW DOWN, SO MANY MORE AHEAD. HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAR FRIENDS AND READERS! WE HOPE YOUR NEW YEAR IS FILLED WITH EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER DREAM OF. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US THIS FAR, WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHERE THIS JOURNEY TAKES US. SO HERE’S TO DISCOVERING NEW WORLDS THROUGH THE BOOKS WE READ, ADVENTURING TO PLACES THAT BROADEN OUR ACUTAL WORLD, TRYING NEW THINGS AND NEW BEERS THAT GROW OUR PASSIONS AND OUR TASTEBUDS, AND MAKING THE TYPE OF CONNECTIONS ALONG THE WAY THAT MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE. WE CAN’T WAIT TO CONTINUE THIS AMAZING JOURNEY! 2019, HERE WE COME!

What a year 2018 was. Like all those before there were terrible lows and there were amazing highs, but above all we feel so lucky to have dug out a little space for ourselves here as a part of this community. So, here’s to the year ahead and continuing to peruse our passions and make connections.

This isn’t the first time Chris and I have had a hiatus in our posts. Newsflash: keeping up with the blog and doing real life at the same time is a lot. Although, I’m sure you all know this already. But, you know what? It’s worth it. So, in this upcoming year, we are going to keep pushing, keep reading, keep drinking (of course), and keep writing. There is something magical about holding a book, letting the words sink into you soul, sipping on the perfect, one-of-a-kind beer, and then sharing the experience with others. A little self-care, turned shared experience. I don’t know to me, that’s magic. Anyway, all this is to say that, sure, sometimes “blogging” feels like a pressure. Creating content can be stressful (especially when you are a perfectionist, like me), but the pay-off is so worth it. Stick with us; we’ll get the hang of it sometime.

What We Love About the Book 

Bob Woodward’s FEAR is an intimate look into the election of Donald Trump to the presidency and the insane goings-on within the highest office. As is to be expected, the inner workings of the current administration are just as bad, if not worse than you could’ve imagined. Bob gets exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the administration, past and present, and in fact recorded the conversations with the interviewee’s as to deliver the information to the readers “straight from the horse’s mouth”. Woodward uses a calm, impartial tone throughout the entire book, which at times must have proved extremely difficult. It’d be so easy to get upset but he handles every conversation with courtesy and grace. The book moves quickly and covers the time from a few years leading up to the 2016 election until about June of 2018. You read about the high turnover rate in his administration and all of the events that lead up to each one.

As hard as it was to sit and read all of this insider information, some we’ve heard on the news or directly from the tweeter in chief, I think this work of Woodward’s is of the utmost importance to read. It’s going to piss you off and it’s going to disgust you, but it reveals much more information than has been made public up to this point and the people giving you the information lived it all first hand. I couldn’t imagine anyone in Trump’s court would actually sit down and read it, believing it is just another snowflake’s liberal drivel. But, I’d find it even harder to believe that if they actually took the time to read it, they’d still stand by him.

Donald Trump is a liar. He freely admits it. The plan to make him president of the United States started way back in 2006, and Steve Bannon is one of, if not the biggest reason, he won the election.  And, frighteningly enough, that seems to be at the bottom of the list of wrongs that have been committed.

If you don’t like the way you hear Trump talk in front of the cameras, you’ll surely hate the way he talks behind the scenes. The book could just as easily be called “Damage Control”. Though I won’t use this forum to expound upon my dislike of the POTUS, know that it is fierce, strong and particularly fresh after this read. I can’t say I liked this book because I vehemently despise the content, but it is a well written and important piece of non-fiction in these turbulent times. I would strongly recommend anyone and everyone read it.

What We Love About the Beer 

Honestly, we were going to pair this book we a beer we hated.  It left such a bad taste in our mouths that we wanted to pair it with a beer that did the same.  But then we stumbled upon Four Quarters Brewing Company’s DIPA called Space Force, and the artwork and irony were too good to pass up.  I mean, check out that ugly caricature of Donald Trump as he destroys space (probably after he destroyed earth, let’s be honest).  Anyway the political satire of it all was just to good to pass up.

Also, though the book might have been hard to stomach, Woodward did do an upstanding job in his reporting and writing.  It is a testament to him that through the sludge-like awful topic, he was able to write this important and disturbing book.   So, to do Woodward and the importance of the information in this novel justice, we paired it with a beer we very much enjoyed.  Space Force was quite good; a great double IPA.

With tropical, citrus, and honey notes, Space Force was a pretty good beer, made more interesting by its artwork and political statement.  It was not super hazy, but fairly juicy with a nice, bitter finish.  Not a beer I would buy over and over again, but one that is certainly worth trying!

Quick Sidenote 

We couldn’t help but bring this to your attention! Check out our new library card (featured in our post picture)! The Knowledge is Power library card, is a limited special edition New York Public Library card.  We pick ours up yesterday, because who could pass up this beauty?! The NYPL’s campaign states,

“Reading/Education/Writing/Literacy/Debate/Learning/Research/Listening/Discussion/ Thinking/Discovery creates knowledge & knowledge is power.”

Nothing could be more true, and more relevant.  Like Bob Woodward’s Fear, there is nothing more important than educating yourself, and being open to new ideas.  No matter how scary, or foreign, or different, or unappealing something might be, now more than ever we have to challenge ourselves to learn more and understand deeper.  Only then can we form meaningful opinions and connections.  Knowledge is power.

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THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE REVIEWS AND PAIRINGS THAT WAS HARD FOR US TO WRITE ABOUT.  WE WISH WE COULD BRING YOU ONLY THE MOST ENJOYABLE CONTENT, BUT IN OUR HEARTS WE CAN’T IGNORE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.  AND, IF WE CAN BE A LITTLE PART OF THE CONVERSATION, AT LEAST WE CAN BE DOING SOMETHING.  SO, PLEASE, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.  AGREE OR DISAGREE, IT DOESN’T MATTER.  LET’S START A CONVERSATION. ABOVE ALL, GO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6TH (IF YOU NEED ANY HELP VOTING, REACH OUT TO US! WE WANT TO HELP OR CHECK OUT ROCK THE VOTE FOR LOTS OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION).  THANKS FOR STICKING WITH US!  WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OUR READERS AND FOLLOWERS.  PLEASE FOLLOW US HERE, AND ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND OUR WEBSITE!  UNTIL NEXT TIME BEAUTIFUL READERS, KEEP READING AND VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6TH!