Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Titel: Bitterblue
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Dial
First published: 2012
Pages: 563 (Hardcover version)
Series: Sequel to Graceling and companion to Fire
Star rating: *****


Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.


Ever since I finished Graceling in the beginning of the year I have wanted to read Bitterblues story, and she was one of my favourite characters in Graceling if not my favourite and that is saying a lot. Therefore when starting this story I had rather high expectations and it didn't surpass them but it didn't disappoint either. 

First of the pictures at each part was just so great and I had of course looked at all of them before starting and there they made no sense but as I got to each part I was like: "Ahhh, now I get it.." And also the key at the beginning of each chapter was just great.

I liked the characters in this book, both the new ones and my old friends from Graceling. I liked to see that Bitterblue had grown so much from the little scared girl from Graceling to a young woman. I felt I could identify with her a lot. As much as you can with a queen in a fantasy world. The need to know and her curiosity. She also grew a lot in this book because she had to figure out how rule her kingdom where she had previously just been guided by her advisers and she had to be more independent. 

I liked her advisers and their stories and how they all just fitted together in the puzzle. Just how different they were and yet somehow the same.

Saf and Teddy were just awesome! I really them in general. Well mostly Teddy and his book of words and Book of truths. Saf was just cool in his own way...

I really liked seeing some of the great characters from Graceling. Especially Po and Katsa but they were a little too much somehow. I liked Gideon a lot better in this one then in Graceling. We got to see a lot more of his character and I got more depth in this one.

All the ciphers and how the plot just came together in the end was really great and I really really liked that part, and just the plot in general.

All in all this a wonderful book by Kristin Cashore, and I therefore Rate it 4 stars or maybe 4,5, but it wasn't quite a 5 star for me. Can't wait to see what Kristin comes out with next.