Reviews - Die Wahrhaftige | The StoryGraph

1.6k reviews for:

Die Wahrhaftige

Kristin Cashore

4.03 AVERAGE

thenovelmaura's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to Penguin Teen for the eARC of this book, which was one of my most anticipated 2021 reads. I love the Graceling Realm series and I couldn't believe Cashore decided to continue the trilogy eight years after Bitterblue came out! While the plot of this book is standalone, I do think you'll have an easier time with the world building and large cast of characters if you've read the other books first. Honestly, I was confused by the beginning, since several perspectives are introduced and a few are characters we've never seen before. Although it was satisfying to see how everything tied together later in the story, it required a lot of patience to make it to that point.

I'll also say that this is a lot more political than the rest of the series (at least more than Graceling, which I re-read recently), and I was hoping for more action or exploration of the new continent, rather than descriptions of Winterkeep's political parties and their debates on legalizing a certain resource. Still, Cashore's writing kept me coming back for more, and all the characters, mysteries, and magical creatures started to grow on me. She is so good at describing grief and characters' responses to trauma that I'm left constantly in awe. I don't think this fully lives up to the rest of the series, but if you're looking for that 2010 YA nostalgia factor, you'll probably be as satisfied as I was.

I was going to give this a higher rating, but a friend pointed out to me that Giddon first met Bitterblue when she was 8 years old (and he stayed in Monsea with her while she was growing up). While I enjoyed the way their relationship was described in this book, I don't think I would have been able to view it in the same light had I remembered that information while reading it. A large age gap is fine, but I don't understand how you could be romantically interested in someone you met when she was 8 and you were in your 20's.

Content Warnings

jennayra's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

kxmalakhan's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

If you’re not familiar with this series, the Graceling realm has different lands, humans and creatures. Each book has completion but they all closely link to one another. They do need to be read in order to be enjoyed in the best way.

I was not done with Bitterblue at the end of the same named book and so when Winterkeep picked up her tale again alongside Giddon and Hava, I was pretty pleased. Winterkeep itself was a land of capitalism, supposed ethics but in reality, it was a place of few scruples. I might not have liked the land but I did like the worldbuilding. The characters were colourful and I had favourites like Lovisa and Ad Fox.

Talking of foxes and this cover, foxes are pretty pivotal to this story. I had a bit of love-hate-love relationship with these creature characters but they did grow on me. I liked the idea of the silbercrows and even the keeper became likeable after a difficult start. I love the way that the author introduces new lands, creatures and experiences in each book; it’s a wonderland.

As to some of our old Graceling realm friends, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I don’t want to say why, but that premise is so poignant in this book. The feels I got from the characters that were apart were huge and I had stickies all over my paperback.

As they drank, Hava asked Arni so many questions that Giddon was able to retreat into a kind of stupor. Raise cup to face, tip liquid in. Think nothing, feel nothing.

The main and side characters were epic as always. Giddon and Hava had Banter for days. Giddon held my heart in this book. The villainous characters were very three dimensional, sly and sometimes appearing otherwise. I loved to hate these guys.

Winterkeep was a page turner with a storyline to keep you guessing. It had flow and pace that really worked for me. I loved the early tragedy (sicko) and how that played out into the rest of the story.

I’m so excited for fans to read this long awaited installment and I hope they love it like I did.

Thank you to @gollancz for the early review copy.

This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.