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A review by aforestofbooks
Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Another incredible book that completely took me by surprise! I was not expecting to fall in love with Hava as much as I did, but it really is all because Kristin Cashore decided to write her pov in first person. I rarely enjoy first person pov, especially when it comes to fantasy, but I don't think this book could have been written in any other way. I don't think Kristin Cashore could have done Hava justice if this book wasn't written in first person.
To be inside of Hava's mind, to listen to every thought, suspicion, moment of self-doubt, anger, frustration...not only helps you understand the trauma Hava's been through and how that's shaped her every experience and interaction, but also connects you to Hava in a special way. It's almost confusing trying to understand why she acts the way she does, why she's always picking fights, and attacking people with her words. And trying to understand Hava trying to understand who she is and what she's supposed to do. Honestly, this book hit me in ways I was not expecting, because writing this out, I finally understand why Hava is so confused. She's spent her whole life surviving, and when she no longer has to survive, it's difficult to figure out who you are as a person without that fear and anxiety hanging over your heard. It's hard to trust people when you're not sure if they'll be taken away from you or if you'll be pushed to second-best.
God, I understood Hava's pain at not being told by Bitterblue directly that she's in love with Giddon and now they're a couple. Because while Hava would never admit it, she loves Bitterblue and sees her as <i>her</i> Bitterblue, and to have to share her with someone else is hard, especially when you grow up with having so little and what little you did have was taken away. To trust and be seen by one person for your early years, only for them to be murdered and be left alone, and then to finally be seen by someone or multiple someones, only to push everyone away constantly by being rude and questioning orders because all you're trying to do is protect yourself from getting hurt again...It makes so much sense. And Hava's anger makes so much sense. The scene we get with her and Hope at the end of the book where she goes to that abandoned castle and realizes that what she's seen her father do to her mother has made her so angry she can't differentiate that anger from other anger was such a pivotal scene for Hava. In some ways, Hava is so similar to her uncle, except he gets triggered by his memories and reacts with violence, whereas Hava has been keeping her trauma as a ball of anger that is constantly there, burning.
Every book Kristin Cashore has written focuses on trauma in different ways. And I think what I love about her books is that it helps you understand your own trauma/actions/experiences in a different light. I think it helps you understand yourself better, just like her characters come to conclusions about their own experiences.
Anyway, on to the rest of the book.
FIRSTLY...MAPS. We got a beautiful detailed diagram of the ship. And I, for the life of me, do not understand ships, but I think I now sort of understand them??? I might be the only one who appreciated the diagram of the ship, but I constantly referred back to it as Hava was exploring and sneaking around the <i>Monsea</i>.
I was not expecting so much of this book to take place at sea, but the pacing was perfect and kept me on the edge of my seat. This book reminded me a lot of Graceling, and we even get references to parts of that book with Grella's Pass and Bitterblue's journey across the mountains as she escaped Leck. In many ways, it felt like this series came full circle; Bitterblue starts off as a child trying to survive the horrible journey through Grella's Pass and finishes the series with surviving the brutal cold and glaciers of the north. (If this happens to be the last book in the series, it's kind of perfect).
Despite all the characters we get to know on the ship, I didn't have a hard time keeping track of most of them. They were all unique in their personalities and I enjoyed getting to know them and see Hava interact with them. Linny was probably my favourite of course. And I am glad we don't get a full-on romance between him and Hava, but a slower build-up at their own pace. It felt so realistic, especially for people who both have trauma.
THE FOXES. Okay this part was equally adorable but also sad. But I absolutely love baby foxes and seeing Adventure have to be a dad/grandfather and take care of them was so cute. Hope's story was so sad, but I love Hope so much and her <i>my girl</i> and <i>chocolate</i> comments made me want to cry. I'm glad she found a home with Hava. Blueberry's death was heartbreaking though. But I am obsessed with Moth and everyone trying to teach her how to be a "good tyrant" lol. She is so much like Hava and I love her so much for it.
While most of the book focuses on survival, once most of them actually survive, things become quite political again. To start off it, I almost cried multiple times. First, when they came out of the glacier tunnel. Second, when Fire stepped out of the carriage. THEN WHEN WE SAW AN OLD BRIGAN. And then when Bitterblue finally reaches Monsea and is met with her soldiers all waiting for her and everyone sobbing and then Katsa and Po come riding in and Ror is right behind them djsfldsjfsdkfj I could almost start sobbing now. Considering how much has happened between Winterkeep and Seasparrow, I cannot imagine the anxiety and heartbreak everyone else was going through. And the second we're back in Bitterblue City, things go back to politicking. I really enjoy these parts of the book and I was excited to see Raffin and Bann again since I knew Bitterblue needed chemists and they were the only ones she trusted. Seeing the whole gang together (or at least there) was so nice.
I was a bit worried about the decisions Bitterblue would have to make, because it is a huge decision on what to do when you have the formulas for a dangerous weapon that everyone wants. But I loved the solution she came up with, and I also love Bitterblue for writing out her answers to her arguments on paper to prepare herself. Why is she such a sweetie. ALSO SHE CALLS HAVA SWEETIE ALL THE TIME AND I REALLY CANNOT.
Hava has some really iconic lines in this book, which on reread, I will have to take note, but her telling Bitterblue "you have daddy issues" made me snort out loud. And then Instagram heard and showed me a real where a therapist was like "maybe you don't have daddy/mommy issues and its your dad/mom who had issues raising you" which huge mood, someone tell Bitterblue and Hava quick. Also, Hava just saying the wrong things and making everyone worried, especially at Bitterblue and Giddon's secret wedding where she's like "maybe I should be angry at myself instead of everyone else" and Bitterblue and Giddon are like "wait-no-that is not what we meant" and Hava runs away. She's so iconic really.
I don't know what else to say about this book. The survival aspects of this book, especially being inside of Hava's mind can be difficult to read. It's hard to truly imagine what she went through and seeing her brain shut down, unable to remember things or process things, felt so realistic to what actual trauma is like. Kristin Cashore does such a good job at capturing these moments and making them feel real. Hava being reminded of their journey constantly in the castle, and having to come to the realization that now she has trauma from her time living there under Leck, but also trauma from her journey back to Monsea that keeps coming back, and her need to get away and see something new. It all makes so much sense and is done so well. I think the one thing I take away from these books is how accurate the representation has always felt for me. These books aren't just stories, but experiences that are relatable to the reader.
Overall 4.75/5 stars. I cannot wait to read whatever else Kristin writes next.
To be inside of Hava's mind, to listen to every thought, suspicion, moment of self-doubt, anger, frustration...not only helps you understand the trauma Hava's been through and how that's shaped her every experience and interaction, but also connects you to Hava in a special way. It's almost confusing trying to understand why she acts the way she does, why she's always picking fights, and attacking people with her words. And trying to understand Hava trying to understand who she is and what she's supposed to do. Honestly, this book hit me in ways I was not expecting, because writing this out, I finally understand why Hava is so confused. She's spent her whole life surviving, and when she no longer has to survive, it's difficult to figure out who you are as a person without that fear and anxiety hanging over your heard. It's hard to trust people when you're not sure if they'll be taken away from you or if you'll be pushed to second-best.
God, I understood Hava's pain at not being told by Bitterblue directly that she's in love with Giddon and now they're a couple. Because while Hava would never admit it, she loves Bitterblue and sees her as <i>her</i> Bitterblue, and to have to share her with someone else is hard, especially when you grow up with having so little and what little you did have was taken away. To trust and be seen by one person for your early years, only for them to be murdered and be left alone, and then to finally be seen by someone or multiple someones, only to push everyone away constantly by being rude and questioning orders because all you're trying to do is protect yourself from getting hurt again...It makes so much sense. And Hava's anger makes so much sense. The scene we get with her and Hope at the end of the book where she goes to that abandoned castle and realizes that what she's seen her father do to her mother has made her so angry she can't differentiate that anger from other anger was such a pivotal scene for Hava. In some ways, Hava is so similar to her uncle, except he gets triggered by his memories and reacts with violence, whereas Hava has been keeping her trauma as a ball of anger that is constantly there, burning.
Every book Kristin Cashore has written focuses on trauma in different ways. And I think what I love about her books is that it helps you understand your own trauma/actions/experiences in a different light. I think it helps you understand yourself better, just like her characters come to conclusions about their own experiences.
Anyway, on to the rest of the book.
FIRSTLY...MAPS. We got a beautiful detailed diagram of the ship. And I, for the life of me, do not understand ships, but I think I now sort of understand them??? I might be the only one who appreciated the diagram of the ship, but I constantly referred back to it as Hava was exploring and sneaking around the <i>Monsea</i>.
I was not expecting so much of this book to take place at sea, but the pacing was perfect and kept me on the edge of my seat. This book reminded me a lot of Graceling, and we even get references to parts of that book with Grella's Pass and Bitterblue's journey across the mountains as she escaped Leck. In many ways, it felt like this series came full circle; Bitterblue starts off as a child trying to survive the horrible journey through Grella's Pass and finishes the series with surviving the brutal cold and glaciers of the north. (If this happens to be the last book in the series, it's kind of perfect).
Despite all the characters we get to know on the ship, I didn't have a hard time keeping track of most of them. They were all unique in their personalities and I enjoyed getting to know them and see Hava interact with them. Linny was probably my favourite of course. And I am glad we don't get a full-on romance between him and Hava, but a slower build-up at their own pace. It felt so realistic, especially for people who both have trauma.
THE FOXES. Okay this part was equally adorable but also sad. But I absolutely love baby foxes and seeing Adventure have to be a dad/grandfather and take care of them was so cute. Hope's story was so sad, but I love Hope so much and her <i>my girl</i> and <i>chocolate</i> comments made me want to cry. I'm glad she found a home with Hava. Blueberry's death was heartbreaking though. But I am obsessed with Moth and everyone trying to teach her how to be a "good tyrant" lol. She is so much like Hava and I love her so much for it.
While most of the book focuses on survival, once most of them actually survive, things become quite political again. To start off it, I almost cried multiple times. First, when they came out of the glacier tunnel. Second, when Fire stepped out of the carriage. THEN WHEN WE SAW AN OLD BRIGAN. And then when Bitterblue finally reaches Monsea and is met with her soldiers all waiting for her and everyone sobbing and then Katsa and Po come riding in and Ror is right behind them djsfldsjfsdkfj I could almost start sobbing now. Considering how much has happened between Winterkeep and Seasparrow, I cannot imagine the anxiety and heartbreak everyone else was going through. And the second we're back in Bitterblue City, things go back to politicking. I really enjoy these parts of the book and I was excited to see Raffin and Bann again since I knew Bitterblue needed chemists and they were the only ones she trusted. Seeing the whole gang together (or at least there) was so nice.
I was a bit worried about the decisions Bitterblue would have to make, because it is a huge decision on what to do when you have the formulas for a dangerous weapon that everyone wants. But I loved the solution she came up with, and I also love Bitterblue for writing out her answers to her arguments on paper to prepare herself. Why is she such a sweetie. ALSO SHE CALLS HAVA SWEETIE ALL THE TIME AND I REALLY CANNOT.
Hava has some really iconic lines in this book, which on reread, I will have to take note, but her telling Bitterblue "you have daddy issues" made me snort out loud. And then Instagram heard and showed me a real where a therapist was like "maybe you don't have daddy/mommy issues and its your dad/mom who had issues raising you" which huge mood, someone tell Bitterblue and Hava quick. Also, Hava just saying the wrong things and making everyone worried, especially at Bitterblue and Giddon's secret wedding where she's like "maybe I should be angry at myself instead of everyone else" and Bitterblue and Giddon are like "wait-no-that is not what we meant" and Hava runs away. She's so iconic really.
I don't know what else to say about this book. The survival aspects of this book, especially being inside of Hava's mind can be difficult to read. It's hard to truly imagine what she went through and seeing her brain shut down, unable to remember things or process things, felt so realistic to what actual trauma is like. Kristin Cashore does such a good job at capturing these moments and making them feel real. Hava being reminded of their journey constantly in the castle, and having to come to the realization that now she has trauma from her time living there under Leck, but also trauma from her journey back to Monsea that keeps coming back, and her need to get away and see something new. It all makes so much sense and is done so well. I think the one thing I take away from these books is how accurate the representation has always felt for me. These books aren't just stories, but experiences that are relatable to the reader.
Overall 4.75/5 stars. I cannot wait to read whatever else Kristin writes next.