Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
I hated the romance of Giddon and bitterblue. It feels very manipulative like this older man/brother figure having sexual thoughts about someone he has known since she was a child (and she’s not much out of childhood now). I didn’t like how much Bitterblue trusted Giddon in the last book, I just didn’t think it made sense that she arbitrarily chose this one old dude who had been terrible in the past and didn’t show much trustworthiness to tell everything. I was scared that book would veer into a romance between the two of them and was so relieved when it didn’t happen. But, now it has. It’s not an issue where I just don’t like the couple (I don’t) but I also just don’t think it makes sense. And it is not a pleasing story arc for someone who is “supposed” to be a hero and someone to look up to. It feels like she has been groomed from childhood to care for this man who is much older than her. Just as an aside I felt like the beginning mention of Saf disappearing and being in love with Skye were just randomly placed and made no sense for the greater context of the book. Skye and Saf were never mentioned again. Just felt like a weird loose end.
Otherwise, I did like the worlds expansion to a new region and a focus on environmental conservation. Also loved Adventure Fox.