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A review by aforestofbooks
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
I have this problem where I write reviews for previous books in a series, and they're pretty good reviews if I can say so myself, and then I finish the next book and the idea of writing a review is too daunting because how am I supposed to live up to my last review.
*cries*
Anyway...this book. A masterpiece. Honestly, I shouldn't have expected anything less than a masterpiece, but I will admit, the first quarter of this book had me in doubt. I wasn't 100% sure where the story was going, and the lies and confusion really got to me. As the reader, <i>I</i> felt confused. And only thinking back, I realized how it mimics what Bitterblue is going through. She's just as confused and lost as the reader, and as the story continues, you slowly start putting the puzzle pieces together.
First of all. If you're reading this and haven't read the book, the new edition has beautiful art of the bridges and maps of Bitterblue's castle, and her and Leck's rooms. CHECK THE BACK OF THE BOOK. If you're like me and like to follow the characters around a castle on a map, you'll love it. Also, I was admittedly a little confused about how Winged Bridge worked, and the picture of it made it so much clearer.
There is no possible way to start this review and encompass everything I want to talk about, but let's start with Leck. We knew he was evil and we had kind of an idea of things he did during his reign. This book takes everything we knew about Leck and makes it 10000% darker and more disturbing. I know this book came out before content warnings were a thing, but this book definitely needs them. The last quarter or so of the book was difficult to read for sure. One thing I will say is, that Kristin Cashore handled the telling of Leck's crimes very well. I was saying to some friends how if this book had been written by a white male author (*cough*GRRM*cough*) or was optioned for film by the people who made GOT, we would 100% have gotten POVs from Leck and Thiel, Runnemood, Rood, and Darby. Are those POVs necessary to the plot? Absolutely not. Because Kristin did an excellent job portraying the horror of Leck's reign and his crimes without that. But we know white male authors love to write about rape.
Which...trigger warnings...there is mention of off-screen rape, not just to adults, but young girls. It's difficult to read at times, especially because I felt like I was Bitterblue discovering things as she was discovering things. My brain wasn't really allowing me to make my own predictions. So when Bitterblue comes to realizations of what people did or who people are, I was just as shocked as she was.
I absolutely loved seeing the whole gang together. Katsa, Po, Raffin, Bann, Helda...even Giddon grew on me. The one thing I'll say is, the Estill revolution plot line–while very interesting in and of itself–almost took away from Bitterblue's story. Seeing all of our old favourites coming and going and being busy with Council business kind of made it hard to keep track of what was going on and who was where. And while I understand that it sort of emphasizes how confusing life can be and how much can be going on amongst everything else, and that being a Queen is a challenging job, I think it would have made for a better reading experience if it wasn't included or was a thing that had already happened and the gang was in Monsea for a much needed "vacation."
Besides seeing the old gang...sdflkdsfjskfjsdkfjdskfjdsfjsdfk WE GET TO SEE FIRE AGAIN. I knew that's where we were headed. The more we learned about Leck and how he decorated his castle and his obsession with art and bridges and ciphers, the closer we got to see the Dells again. AND WHEN WE FIND OUT THAT FIRE'S STEP-DAUGHTER IS THE COMMANDER OF THE DELLIAN ARMY I NEARLY SCREAMED BECAUSE HANNA IS A COMMANDER LIKE HER PAPA AND HER PAPA MUST BE SO PROUD OF HER AND IMAGINE ALL THE HORSIES SHE GOT TO RIDE FINALLY I LOVER HER SO MUCH.
Literally the last bit of the book and all the reveals really made this book for me. Saph's grace being dreams, and how Fire might finally be able to sleep well like sjdfkdsjfdsk I COULD CRY NOW. Murgda's baby is alive!!! HAVA AND BITTERBLUE ARE SISTERS. Like I didn't even consider once that Leck was her father because I was honestly trying to block off all memories of the horrible stuff, but wow. And Madlen being a spy from the Dells. Like fsdjfsdkf SO GOOD.
Also I love how Katsa is like "yeah the Dells didn't see a messed up, ungovernable Monsea and decide to colonize it" LIKE THE TEA THERE
I'm skipping so many things.
I really loved the addition of Saph, Teddy, and their sisters. Saph did kind of annoy me though. The enjoyment he got from making Bitterblue miserable and worried didn't sit well with me. <s>It honestly reminded me of Leck in a way.</s> Sorry. And while he does realize he's acting like a child and comes to forgive Bitterblue for lying, I'm glad the way this book ended with them parting. It worked out for the better, and I'm totally okay with Bitterblue having a first love that doesn't work out because that's way more realistic.
Teddy is adorable. I want to hug him. He deserves all the books and printing presses and I hope he writes his dictionary.
Also, all the ministries. I want a Ministry of Mental Well-being. BUT. THE MINISTRY OF STORIES AND TRUTH. After seeing the repercussions from Leck's rule, I really loved how this was handled. Giving people the opportunity to talk about their stories as a way to heal, but also allowing people to heal in their own way...it's the way it should be done. And it made me love Bitterblue more as a character, especially as we see her struggling between wanting to know the truth but realizing the truth was too difficult for her to bear at times.
DEATH. OKAY MY GRUMPY LIBRARIAN WHO BECAME A FAVOURITE BY THE END OF THE BOOK (please whatever you do read the cast of characters at the back of the book because his commentary is incredible). ALSO HIS CAT AND HIS LOVE OF BOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH. HE IS SUCH A GOOD MAN, DOING SO MANY HARD, IMPOSSIBLE THINGS FOR HIS QUEEN, BUT HE LOVES HIS QUEEN SO MUCH I CAN'T.
Who else can I scream about?
Oh. Po and Katsa. I will admit, I was scared about Po letting people know his secret. But I also can't imagine him living with that secret for his entire life, especially with people he works with and sees regularly. I'm glad he was finally able to tell the people he loves, and I really hope Skye comes around. I am worried still about what King Ror will think.
ALSO...Bitterblue wanting to be hugged and touched by Katsa broke my heart. Bitterblue needs more hugs and friends who stay close by seriously. ALSO BITTERBLUE SMOL LIKE ME SO I LOVE HER EVEN MORE.
Giddon grew on me as a character. I was not a huge fan of him in Graceling, especially the things he said to Katsa, so seeing him in the castle and his relationship with Bitterblue made me nervous because their age difference was too big and I did not want "something" to happen between them. It didn't, and I'm glad. And I hope it stays that way. I did love their friendship though and how much Giddon trusted Bitterblue and vice versa.
While this book is long, it kept my attention and was worth it. It brought to light so many things and really expanded this world Kristin has created even further. I am so excited to read Winterkeep and Seasparrow now! And I'm glad I started off 2023 with this book!
4.75/5 stars.
*cries*
Anyway...this book. A masterpiece. Honestly, I shouldn't have expected anything less than a masterpiece, but I will admit, the first quarter of this book had me in doubt. I wasn't 100% sure where the story was going, and the lies and confusion really got to me. As the reader, <i>I</i> felt confused. And only thinking back, I realized how it mimics what Bitterblue is going through. She's just as confused and lost as the reader, and as the story continues, you slowly start putting the puzzle pieces together.
First of all. If you're reading this and haven't read the book, the new edition has beautiful art of the bridges and maps of Bitterblue's castle, and her and Leck's rooms. CHECK THE BACK OF THE BOOK. If you're like me and like to follow the characters around a castle on a map, you'll love it. Also, I was admittedly a little confused about how Winged Bridge worked, and the picture of it made it so much clearer.
There is no possible way to start this review and encompass everything I want to talk about, but let's start with Leck. We knew he was evil and we had kind of an idea of things he did during his reign. This book takes everything we knew about Leck and makes it 10000% darker and more disturbing. I know this book came out before content warnings were a thing, but this book definitely needs them. The last quarter or so of the book was difficult to read for sure. One thing I will say is, that Kristin Cashore handled the telling of Leck's crimes very well. I was saying to some friends how if this book had been written by a white male author (*cough*GRRM*cough*) or was optioned for film by the people who made GOT, we would 100% have gotten POVs from Leck and Thiel, Runnemood, Rood, and Darby. Are those POVs necessary to the plot? Absolutely not. Because Kristin did an excellent job portraying the horror of Leck's reign and his crimes without that. But we know white male authors love to write about rape.
Which...trigger warnings...there is mention of off-screen rape, not just to adults, but young girls. It's difficult to read at times, especially because I felt like I was Bitterblue discovering things as she was discovering things. My brain wasn't really allowing me to make my own predictions. So when Bitterblue comes to realizations of what people did or who people are, I was just as shocked as she was.
I absolutely loved seeing the whole gang together. Katsa, Po, Raffin, Bann, Helda...even Giddon grew on me. The one thing I'll say is, the Estill revolution plot line–while very interesting in and of itself–almost took away from Bitterblue's story. Seeing all of our old favourites coming and going and being busy with Council business kind of made it hard to keep track of what was going on and who was where. And while I understand that it sort of emphasizes how confusing life can be and how much can be going on amongst everything else, and that being a Queen is a challenging job, I think it would have made for a better reading experience if it wasn't included or was a thing that had already happened and the gang was in Monsea for a much needed "vacation."
Besides seeing the old gang...sdflkdsfjskfjsdkfjdskfjdsfjsdfk WE GET TO SEE FIRE AGAIN. I knew that's where we were headed. The more we learned about Leck and how he decorated his castle and his obsession with art and bridges and ciphers, the closer we got to see the Dells again. AND WHEN WE FIND OUT THAT FIRE'S STEP-DAUGHTER IS THE COMMANDER OF THE DELLIAN ARMY I NEARLY SCREAMED BECAUSE HANNA IS A COMMANDER LIKE HER PAPA AND HER PAPA MUST BE SO PROUD OF HER AND IMAGINE ALL THE HORSIES SHE GOT TO RIDE FINALLY I LOVER HER SO MUCH.
Literally the last bit of the book and all the reveals really made this book for me. Saph's grace being dreams, and how Fire might finally be able to sleep well like sjdfkdsjfdsk I COULD CRY NOW. Murgda's baby is alive!!! HAVA AND BITTERBLUE ARE SISTERS. Like I didn't even consider once that Leck was her father because I was honestly trying to block off all memories of the horrible stuff, but wow. And Madlen being a spy from the Dells. Like fsdjfsdkf SO GOOD.
Also I love how Katsa is like "yeah the Dells didn't see a messed up, ungovernable Monsea and decide to colonize it" LIKE THE TEA THERE
I'm skipping so many things.
I really loved the addition of Saph, Teddy, and their sisters. Saph did kind of annoy me though. The enjoyment he got from making Bitterblue miserable and worried didn't sit well with me. <s>It honestly reminded me of Leck in a way.</s> Sorry. And while he does realize he's acting like a child and comes to forgive Bitterblue for lying, I'm glad the way this book ended with them parting. It worked out for the better, and I'm totally okay with Bitterblue having a first love that doesn't work out because that's way more realistic.
Teddy is adorable. I want to hug him. He deserves all the books and printing presses and I hope he writes his dictionary.
Also, all the ministries. I want a Ministry of Mental Well-being. BUT. THE MINISTRY OF STORIES AND TRUTH. After seeing the repercussions from Leck's rule, I really loved how this was handled. Giving people the opportunity to talk about their stories as a way to heal, but also allowing people to heal in their own way...it's the way it should be done. And it made me love Bitterblue more as a character, especially as we see her struggling between wanting to know the truth but realizing the truth was too difficult for her to bear at times.
DEATH. OKAY MY GRUMPY LIBRARIAN WHO BECAME A FAVOURITE BY THE END OF THE BOOK (please whatever you do read the cast of characters at the back of the book because his commentary is incredible). ALSO HIS CAT AND HIS LOVE OF BOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH. HE IS SUCH A GOOD MAN, DOING SO MANY HARD, IMPOSSIBLE THINGS FOR HIS QUEEN, BUT HE LOVES HIS QUEEN SO MUCH I CAN'T.
Who else can I scream about?
Oh. Po and Katsa. I will admit, I was scared about Po letting people know his secret. But I also can't imagine him living with that secret for his entire life, especially with people he works with and sees regularly. I'm glad he was finally able to tell the people he loves, and I really hope Skye comes around. I am worried still about what King Ror will think.
ALSO...Bitterblue wanting to be hugged and touched by Katsa broke my heart. Bitterblue needs more hugs and friends who stay close by seriously. ALSO BITTERBLUE SMOL LIKE ME SO I LOVE HER EVEN MORE.
Giddon grew on me as a character. I was not a huge fan of him in Graceling, especially the things he said to Katsa, so seeing him in the castle and his relationship with Bitterblue made me nervous because their age difference was too big and I did not want "something" to happen between them. It didn't, and I'm glad. And I hope it stays that way. I did love their friendship though and how much Giddon trusted Bitterblue and vice versa.
While this book is long, it kept my attention and was worth it. It brought to light so many things and really expanded this world Kristin has created even further. I am so excited to read Winterkeep and Seasparrow now! And I'm glad I started off 2023 with this book!
4.75/5 stars.