The long-awaited companion to the New York Times bestseller
Graceling and Fire
Prod dets
Bitterblue
Series: Seven Kingdom, book 3
Pub: 2012,
gollancz
Author: Kristin Cashore
Genre: fantasy
Format: paperback (lar); 539pp w/ 49
chapters
Age Range: YA
Synopsis
Eight
years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country, were
saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and
her land is at peace.
But the
influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities,
lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck’s
death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed
terrible acts during Leck’s reign; and to forget every dark event that ever
happened. Monsea’s past has become shrouded in mystery, and it’s only when
Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle—curious, disguised and alone—to
walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her
kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now
their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past.
Whatever
that past holds.
Two
thieves, who have sworn only to steal what has already been stolen, change her
life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them,
who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart....
Thoughts
Let’s
start with an understanding. I understand now why this book took so long to
come out. I’ve never really complained about the fact that it took nearly two
years from the last one even though it was meant to come out a year earlier,
but it’s understandable that it took so long.
This
book is full of complex facts that need to be fully understood and worked out
in order to even begin to write it.
And
to pull it off as well as Cashore
did that a book as long and complex as this one was easy to read, understand
and didn’t in any way bore you with too many facts or run around.
I
am truly in awe of the woman for making me forget everything and become so
invested in the story line from the moment I opened it up till I put it back
down. It’s not an easy task and even less so for me, because Fantasy/mystery
(which this one seemed to spill into) isn’t truly my favourite aspect in books.
Yeah....and
now the book.
You
see, here’s the thing...I loved it; I thought it was great and I couldn’t stop
reading once I started. I’d love to write out all the things that I loved about
the book
Like
the way Po, Kasta, Giddon, Raff and Bann played into the whole show.
Or,
Saf the guy that changed her perception of things she thought were given to her
straight
Or
Helda and Madlen
Or
how I got a little annoyed of Bitterblue, but understood it, more so when she
had to understand it herself, though she never saw what she was doing to Po
when it was clear that’s what was happening.
Or
Fire’s roll and the way the Dells where found
Or.....
Yeah,
I could gush and push ever part and point and player and facts that went down,
or the whys and the who’s and the things that were both sweet and sad.
But
that would ruin everything because eventually I would say one thing or another
and spill something that needs to stay hidden.
I
will say that Cashore did and
beautiful job in twisting and turning everyone and everything that happened
around her so that the story line was intriguing and even though you were
always a little sure what was going on you didn’t know details and you so
wanted the details.
It’s
all about details, this book. Secrets and understandings and forgiveness to
those who needed it more than anyone would know, and yet for what they did you
are of two hearts.
And
I’ll add the one thing that I loved about this book and I hope for everything
that this is the last one in the series even though she’s left room for more. But
it’s the way the end of the book was satisfying and yet left endless possibilities
to more.
I
absolutely love when the story, though complete is left with a sense that
everything is still moving, that bigger things are to come, and you want to
know what they are, but it’s nice that you won’t, that you’re left to think of
those things and to have you own thoughts on what’s next for them all.
That
you can have them doing and being what you wish rather than have it printed
there in front.
I
love this, love the openness of possibilities that is at the end of this book,
and yet, it’s over, there is nothing left unturned that needed turning. No answers
that needed telling.
I’m
still very much in love with Graceling, and neither this book, nor Fire has
stood up to it, or surpassed it, to me. But they are both worth the read. As I
see it, sitting here with Bitterblue fresh in my mind, it’s about as good as
Fire, they are on the same level, Gracling is just better.
But
that’s me, what do you think?
Series
☼☼☼
No comments:
Post a Comment