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em_moonchild's review against another edition
4.75
The author really created one of the most horrifying villain character. It made me sick, cry and stare at the wall.
Aside from that, I loved Bitterblue as a character and I loved seeing her growth in this book.
I definitely recommend this book but do look up the content warnings
Aside from that, I loved Bitterblue as a character and I loved seeing her growth in this book.
I definitely recommend this book but do look up the content warnings
catinaflatcap's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Infidelity
laerugo's review against another edition
4.0
this might be my favorite of the graceling series so far, but it is very different than the others. i liked the mysteries, and i think bitterblue might be the strongest voice of all three protagonists—or maybe cashore had just improved as an author by the time she wrote it, because i think bitterblue felt the most relatably and understandably appropriate for her age. although i wasn't entirely satisfied with the way some things resolved, the way the questions were teased out over time and the politics of monsea kept this an interesting read for me.
there were a few things that i think didn't work—i appreciate the effort to tie both universes together, the seven kingdoms and the dells, but i think the introduction of fire and the dellians was a little hamfisted and unnecessary. the katsa/po scenes were also a little over the top but i didn't mind it so much because bitterblue loves them both and they are very dramatic people, so it's understandable they would be a big part of her point of view whenever they were in the room. i also think this could've been at least a hundred pages shorter, because it suffered from pacing issues at times, but i liked the characters so for the most part, i didn't mind it when it dragged because i simply enjoyed reading about them.
there were a few things that i think didn't work—i appreciate the effort to tie both universes together, the seven kingdoms and the dells, but i think the introduction of fire and the dellians was a little hamfisted and unnecessary. the katsa/po scenes were also a little over the top but i didn't mind it so much because bitterblue loves them both and they are very dramatic people, so it's understandable they would be a big part of her point of view whenever they were in the room. i also think this could've been at least a hundred pages shorter, because it suffered from pacing issues at times, but i liked the characters so for the most part, i didn't mind it when it dragged because i simply enjoyed reading about them.
dayamarie's review against another edition
3.0
This was the least favorite of the series for me. The plot wanders for three quarters of the book, but I did enjoy the ending and how it all came together. I was glad that the author brought back Katsa, Poe and Fire in book three. It made for good closure to the series.
ellie_gonzalez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
chameleonhound's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, and Grief
lahars_little_library's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Child abuse, Trafficking, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, Infidelity, and Medical content
lilygraph's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beaktastic's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book even more than Fire and much more than Graceling. I feel that Cashore has gotten better with each iteration in this series.
Bitterblue returns to the setting and characters from the first book but eight years on from the events of that book, but allusions are made throughout to the Dells country from the second book. This book specifically follows Queen Bitterblue as she tries to uncover what atrocities her tyrant father commited when he was alive, and to try and move her Kingdom on from that reign. People are being murdered in her city though and Bitterblue comes to suspect that many things are being hidden from her.
This book involved a lot of mystery and intrigue, and kept me guessing throughout about what would actually happen and who was behind it all. I don't think I really guessed any of the major plot twists far in advance either which was nice. The book gripped me quite early on and kept me wanting to read.
There were many themes which were similar to some brought up in previous books, but Cashore also moved on and explored some different ones as well. The major themes were Bitterblue trying to deal with the horrible legacy of her father, similar to Fire but it's explored in a different way. It was also nice to see the effort that Bitterblue and her council are having to go through to try and rebuild, as it's the kind of thing that you don't often see explored in books, films etc. - the idea of rebuilding and moving on after the 'evil tyrant has been defeated and the happy ending has been had' if you know what I mean. It also did not involve the theme that had annoyed me in the past of how marriage as a way of stripping freedom etc. from women which was nice.
The romance in this book was different as well, as it wasn't a major part of the plot like it kind of was in previous books which kind of makes more sense. It was obvious early on that Saf was Bitterblue's main love interest and it was nice to see their different kind of romance. And I also liked the relationship between Bitterblue and Giddon and could kind of see a relationship developing there too.
Overall, it was a good book and it was really interesting and gripping and although it dealt with similar themes to the previous books it also took on a fresh take to them as well.
Bitterblue returns to the setting and characters from the first book but eight years on from the events of that book, but allusions are made throughout to the Dells country from the second book. This book specifically follows Queen Bitterblue as she tries to uncover what atrocities her tyrant father commited when he was alive, and to try and move her Kingdom on from that reign. People are being murdered in her city though and Bitterblue comes to suspect that many things are being hidden from her.
This book involved a lot of mystery and intrigue, and kept me guessing throughout about what would actually happen and who was behind it all. I don't think I really guessed any of the major plot twists far in advance either which was nice. The book gripped me quite early on and kept me wanting to read.
There were many themes which were similar to some brought up in previous books, but Cashore also moved on and explored some different ones as well. The major themes were Bitterblue trying to deal with the horrible legacy of her father, similar to Fire but it's explored in a different way. It was also nice to see the effort that Bitterblue and her council are having to go through to try and rebuild, as it's the kind of thing that you don't often see explored in books, films etc. - the idea of rebuilding and moving on after the 'evil tyrant has been defeated and the happy ending has been had' if you know what I mean. It also did not involve the theme that had annoyed me in the past of how marriage as a way of stripping freedom etc. from women which was nice.
The romance in this book was different as well, as it wasn't a major part of the plot like it kind of was in previous books which kind of makes more sense. It was obvious early on that Saf was Bitterblue's main love interest and it was nice to see their different kind of romance
Spoiler
and it was kind of nice that it ended in a more bitter sweet and realistic way than in the previous books, although I do wish it could have ended a little happier!Overall, it was a good book and it was really interesting and gripping and although it dealt with similar themes to the previous books it also took on a fresh take to them as well.