Characters in The Bear and the Nightingale

Vasilisa "Vasya" Petrovna

A wild, fearless girl who can see the old household and forest spirits, and the only one willing to defend them.

Konstantin Nikonovich

A charismatic young priest whose zeal turns the village against its old traditions.

Anna Ivanovna

Vasya's fearful, devout stepmother, who also sees the spirits and dreads them.

Medved

A one-eyed bear-demon, the imprisoned twin brother of Morozko, who feeds on fear and disorder and works to break free as the village's old protections weaken.

Morozko

The blue-eyed winter-demon of folklore, drawn into Vasya's fight to protect her village.

Also in The Girl in the Tower, The Winter of the Witch

Pyotr Vladimirovich

Vasya's father, lord of the northern estate.

Dunya

The family's old nurse and keeper of the fairy tales.

Solovey

A magical, intelligent stallion given to Vasya by Morozko, and her closest companion.