Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)

by Kristin Cashore

Review originally posted at Simply Adrift.

Bitterblue. Bitterblue. Bitterblue.

Wow. After having read Graceling and Fire I thought I was all set for Bitterblue, I thought I would know the structure of this story, I thought this one would be a little tougher for me love. Well. Goes to show Kristin Cashore expected this of her readers. Because this book was practically hardly anything like the books before it yet it was subtly the same in a way and still, I absolutely loved it! It was very different to Graceling and Fire yet it completely held its own.

The book Bitterblue is set in the ‘City of Bitterblue’ in Monsea. Bitterblue is Monsea’s Queen and has been since her father was killed eight years before. This meaning she is young, still learning and trying to pull her country together after the reign of her psychotic father.

This story is a lot more political than Graceling and Fire yet at the same time it is still very exciting, wonderful and I couldn’t put this book down. Seriously. I spent a good eight hours in one night reading a large part of this book. And this book is huge. I love how we’re taken along on Bitterblue’s journey to becoming a better queen and to figuring out how she can help the citizens of the City of Bitterblue get over the traumatic years that her father reigned.

I loved the rebelliousness of Bitterblue, how she refused to completely believe that everything she was told was correct. This led to her going out into the city disguised to truly find out how her city was coping. Here she meets Teddy and his friend Saf, a couple of thieves. I loved the relationship between Bitterblue and Saf, it developed over time. The relationship with Teddy was sweet, Teddy was a very fun character and I found I liked him just because he was so likeable and caring.

I do have to say that I was very confused for the most of this book but only because everything that was going on was confusing and no one had any inkling of what exactly was going on. The plot line for this story felt very complex because once Bitterblue stumbled over one clue this led her to even more clues which led to more questions and still no definitive answers. It was fun trying to figure out what on earth was going on. And still I had no idea right up until Bitterblue finds out herself.

I was hooked from page one of this book. I never once got bored, I found it very difficult to put this down and even though it isn’t packed with action or adventure this book was still very exciting and a definite page turner.

Bitterblue was definitely a very good ending to the Graceling Realm. I am very sad that this series has ended and I will not get to read more stories about the fascinating gracelings!

Always,
Jordon

This review was originally posted on Simply Adrift