Reviews

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

yafit's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

eesh25's review against another edition

2.0

(Spoilers for [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810] but not [b:Fire|6137154|Fire (Graceling Realm, #2)|Kristin Cashore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331535456s/6137154.jpg|6128277])

It breaks my heart to be doing this, because I love this series. I loved the world, the story and the characters of both Graceling and Fire. But this book just doesn't work.

Bitterblue was a book I was very excited about. I knew it was going to be connected to both the previous novels while also being a standalone and that it followed Bitterblue trying to be a queen and get her kingdom back on track after Leck — her psychotic, mind-controlling father who was killed by Katsa — fucked things up royally.

But unfortunately, the awesomeness I was expecting and anticipating never came.

The book is, quite frankly, a series of introducing plots and sub-plots that never get resolved. It didn't have the simple yet brilliant story of Graceling or it's kickass protagonists. It didn't have the complexity and political intrigue of Fire or the emotion that came with the novel. And Bitterblue's narrative is so dull that if it weren't for Po being present for such a large portion of the book, I would've started skimming halfway through. It was only my love for him that kept me reading.

The main plot of the book is regarding the mystery of what Leck did in his time. But that plot gets overshadowed by multiple sub-plots which get covered up by more sub-plots. I can accept that the author was trying to create the confusion that Bitterblue felt, in her writing. But at some point that confusion became too much.

Especially when so many things were left unresolved and so many sub-plots had no relevance to the main story.

One such plot was Katsa and the Council trying to find a way to dethrone a king. Not only was it glossed over for the most part, it was also left completely unresolved. Another one about Bitterblue's crown being stolen could've been cut out and it would've had no impact on the novel at all. Both of these sub-plots were unnecessary and there to... fill up pages, I guess? Even though this book is plenty big and could've done with fewer pages.

Saf, the supposed male protagonist, was introduced and then, about halfway through, dismissed. He was given a stupid sub-plot so that he could show up every once in a while to remind us that he still existed. But he had no relevance and his and Bitterblue's romance was poorly developed at best. I guess Cashore had to ignore him so she could focus on some other unnecessary sub-plot she wasn't planning on resolving.

What else? Oh, yes. I couldn't get behind Bitterblue. She was okay initially, but then turned out to be a bratty, spoiled child who was ignorant of everything from the condition of the kingdom to navigating her own freaking castle.

Honestly, what had she been doing the eight years since Leck's death? Did she prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a deep sleep that could only be broken when Kristin Cashore decided to write the novel? ...That seems unlikely since she did age. Maybe she was comatose!

Whatever the case, she was oblivious to everything and it made no fucking sense.

Only redeeming qualities this book has, is that it's beginning was okay, showing us about Bitterblue's mother's struggle, and made you think you were gonna get a promising and interesting mystery; and that the things that were wrapped up were done fairly well. And it has Po and Katsa in it, which I'm very happy about.

But overall, Bitterblue comes off as a novel that was published before it could be properly edited and I am thankful that all the books in this series are standalones because that means I can still enjoy Garceling and Fire.


Graceling Review
Fire Review

yodamom's review against another edition

4.0

This was a difficult story to read, painful in the heart. Bitterblue's struggles to come to terms with her Queen responsibilities, the horrible legacy left by her father, traitors everywhere and the need to be accepted. She looks at her trusted advisors and friends and sees something, or is it nothing ? Her heart will break more than once. Her status will keep her apart from many, and cause others to manipulate her.Sounds depressing doesn't it ? Somehow it's not. It is a story about perseverance, truths, and growth.
The story did what it should and had me entranced in the tale of Bitterblue, and her fight for redemption. The world was weaved with intricate details and complicated characters. My only complaint was that it did not go the way I wanted it too. I wanted something more for Bitterblue than what she was left with. A wonderful series.

irfan3's review against another edition

5.0

Now here's the one book that the main character is not a gifted person. I just loved it. :D

This book is definitely better than Fire. Bitterblue had a big quest, unlike Katsa or Fire who only wandering around searching for problems. And Bitterblue's quest is BIG, and she wasn't a graceling or a monster. But she has way lot's of true friends and friends who later turn into traitors. She's so kind and gentle-hearted. I really love this character. She's got a great mystery to solve and codes to decipher. She's dealing with what Leck had given her, Leck's mad legacy.

I really hate Saf, he's ungrateful for what Bitterblue gave to him. And he's way very annoying.

Anyway I liked the way the all three main characters meet. :)

This plot is nice and a bit twisted, but damn really sad, full of horror and madness. I want to give it a 4 stars, for the lack of a LOVE story inside. But it's well for a 5 stars. I think it's the best of the trilogy.

bookph1le's review against another edition

2.0

I was really disappointed in this book. The last 150 pages or so were good, but the bulk of the book was so much dithering that it frustrated me to no end. I felt this book spent far too much time waffling at the expense of some strong themes. More complete review to come.

robinhood2000's review against another edition

5.0

Wow! Just wow! I was intrigued the entire book, was never bored. The characters were realistic and alive and heartbreaking. Overall I really enjoyed this as a wrap up of the trilogy. I didn't read this as a child and presumed it would be bad but the entire series just blew me away! Recommend to everyone. (I would say more but I don't want to spoil anything.) Excited to read the new one!

gamecocksara's review against another edition

4.0

I wish I had read this book closer to having read the two previous ones so I would've remembered more details. Having said that, I still enjoyed it, but I will probably go back & read all three closer to each other at some point in the future for maximum enjoyment.

Oh, and I also wish that some of the maps/figures that were at the end of the book were up at the front. It was slightly irritating to come to the end of the book only to find illustrations that probably would've been nice to have known were there while actually reading.

gerdam's review against another edition

5.0

As is common in this series, the books are pretty separate, having characters in common, but the main character has changed. I definitely liked this one the most out of the 3 I have read thus far. Even though at times it felt a bit cluttered because there were so many storylines running parallel, everything started unraveling nicely.
I did feel as if the ending came too suddenly - all storylines got fixed so quickly, that it felt a bit unrealistic, given how much of the book was spent being in the dark about everything, and then suddenly everything got solved with the snap of a finger.
Definitely will finish this series and excited to see more of Bitterblue in the next book.

megan_armstrong's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

bobbelena's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5