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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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
Disclaimer: I went into this book so ocularly impaired that I didn't know it was book 4 of a series, but it felt cohesive and whole on its own, without having to douse me with the garden hose of exposition.
I was really pleasantly surprised by this book! It has a very charming, cosy tone to it, and I think my favourite part of it is how the characters are written. The tension between them, whether relational, political, emotional or otherwise feels extremely grounded and authentic. The last three chapters serve as an epilogue for one of the book's main characters, and it's very sweetly and sensitively done. Will likely pick up the first installment and read the series properly at some point.
I was really pleasantly surprised by this book! It has a very charming, cosy tone to it, and I think my favourite part of it is how the characters are written. The tension between them, whether relational, political, emotional or otherwise feels extremely grounded and authentic. The last three chapters serve as an epilogue for one of the book's main characters, and it's very sweetly and sensitively done. Will likely pick up the first installment and read the series properly at some point.
Kristin Cashore knows how to write a book about political issues, that much has been clear in all these Graceling Realm books. I do like that we gained new characters mixed with the old to see how even in a completely different setting and context the people are still running into the same issues. Cashore also has a knack for showing the growth of a character, having them gain confidence and agency throughout the book. Having the five split perspectives also gave you even greater insight into the world.
I loved this one! Continued excellent characters, including non-human ones. Perhaps especially non-human ones.
Trigger Warnings: almost drowning, kidnapping, imprisonment, starvation, abusive parents, descriptions of dead bodies, sexual content (open door scene)
Well this book took me through a whirlwind lol. I won’t give too many spoilers for this story but I will mention what I liked and what I disliked, which will include small parts of the story in it. They won’t be very descriptive though.
Let’s start with the beginning and how much it threw me off from everything I knew after reading Bitterblue. I was kinda upset that Bitterblue and Sapphire lost their Aladdin and Jasmine thing that they had going on, but at the same time I liked that it showed over time people move on. I also wasn’t expecting the “replacement” to be Giddon…. I loved it though! Oh man, I ate all of that up! Bitterblue and Giddon’s relationship was the sweetest thing I have read, which was something I really needed. Whenever I read their chapters I would almost be in tears. Giddon has so many good quotes that I almost want to go back and annotate them so I can remember them forever. I just really loved those two!
However there was one character I really did not like, Lovisa. I knew almost nothing about her character at all. All that I knew is that she’s the daughter of 2 head government figures, her mother is abusive, her dad is a liar with rage fits, and all she talks and thinks about is sex. This girl needed therapy. There were chapters of her trying to convince her best friend to have sex with her just so she could be distracted from stress. The stress of her witnessing someone be murdered and also trying to save Bitterblue. Like what? I was so mad that her friend gave in too. Also I already have issues with sex scenes due to triggers, but sex scenes that involve people underage just gives me the ick. I don’t think adult authors should openly write that stuff, if anything just make it closed door.
Lovisa and Bitterblue’s relationship was horrible too. Lovisa just acted like a stubborn child and was mad at literally anyone for being happy. I understand that her life was turned upside down, but girl talk to these people! They want to help you! Her attitude was so annoying. Maybe it’s because I just don’t connect with her character at all and see things differently. For a while I felt like she wasn’t even needed in the book. She gets a bit better towards the end about working on government changes and she’s free from her family, but that’s not till the last 2 chapters.
As for the book overall, I enjoyed it. I think it could’ve been shortened quite a bit or added more segments about The Keeper and the foxes. I will read Seasparrow, but after that I don’t know if I’ll continue with any more of the series. I think it should’ve just remained as a trilogy.
Well this book took me through a whirlwind lol. I won’t give too many spoilers for this story but I will mention what I liked and what I disliked, which will include small parts of the story in it. They won’t be very descriptive though.
Let’s start with the beginning and how much it threw me off from everything I knew after reading Bitterblue. I was kinda upset that Bitterblue and Sapphire lost their Aladdin and Jasmine thing that they had going on, but at the same time I liked that it showed over time people move on. I also wasn’t expecting the “replacement” to be Giddon…. I loved it though! Oh man, I ate all of that up! Bitterblue and Giddon’s relationship was the sweetest thing I have read, which was something I really needed. Whenever I read their chapters I would almost be in tears. Giddon has so many good quotes that I almost want to go back and annotate them so I can remember them forever. I just really loved those two!
However there was one character I really did not like, Lovisa. I knew almost nothing about her character at all. All that I knew is that she’s the daughter of 2 head government figures, her mother is abusive, her dad is a liar with rage fits, and all she talks and thinks about is sex. This girl needed therapy. There were chapters of her trying to convince her best friend to have sex with her just so she could be distracted from stress. The stress of her witnessing someone be murdered and also trying to save Bitterblue. Like what? I was so mad that her friend gave in too. Also I already have issues with sex scenes due to triggers, but sex scenes that involve people underage just gives me the ick. I don’t think adult authors should openly write that stuff, if anything just make it closed door.
Lovisa and Bitterblue’s relationship was horrible too. Lovisa just acted like a stubborn child and was mad at literally anyone for being happy. I understand that her life was turned upside down, but girl talk to these people! They want to help you! Her attitude was so annoying. Maybe it’s because I just don’t connect with her character at all and see things differently. For a while I felt like she wasn’t even needed in the book. She gets a bit better towards the end about working on government changes and she’s free from her family, but that’s not till the last 2 chapters.
As for the book overall, I enjoyed it. I think it could’ve been shortened quite a bit or added more segments about The Keeper and the foxes. I will read Seasparrow, but after that I don’t know if I’ll continue with any more of the series. I think it should’ve just remained as a trilogy.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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:
Yes
We get even more new and compelling characters in this one, as well as satisfying returns to old characters. More magic and animal companions as well! But still plenty of dark plots to uncover and bring to light.