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augustrogue's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A bit disappointed and frustrated with this book, which I fully expected to be at least a 4-star read based on my enjoyment of the rest of this series. Unfortunately it was "just okay" overall - the prose itself flowed well and was generally pretty good, and there were a few moments I really enjoyed, but not enough to get past a lot of the worldbuilding and character motivation issues.
Things I did enjoy:
* Some of the world building was pretty cool! I liked the concept of the ambles, the description of the landscape, and the politics of the different airship fuel sources.
* Enjoyed getting more Giddon and Hava! Their parts were probably my favorite; I wish there was a bit more of it.
* The action, when it happened, was exciting. Like the escape from Lovisa's family home, and the fox figuring out how to help Bitterblue. Actually, Adventure Fox was one of my favorites too.
Here are some of the things that bothered me about this book:
* Why does it seem like all world exploration is happening during the main characters' lifetime, despite things like boats and apparently airships already being in existence? Bitterblue and Co. really didn't know the Dells or Winterkeep even existed, nor had anyone ever visited from those places, until just now? I repeat, there are AIRSHIPS.
* Apparently the language of the Middluns is called Lingian, after Gracelings. This is like if a country's language was named after like, a unique disease or mental health condition. But an outsider named their language. Did they not have a name for their own language before? What.
* Okay, so. Let's talk about race. The first couple of books only had white people and vaguely tan Lianid people. Sure. So in this book, the 4th in the series, you introduce a continent where everyone is dark-skinned/brown. Sure. They live in the far north, where it snows all the time and has glaciers. ...Pardon? (If this was the only worldbuilding issue, I'd shrug because I don't really care if having POC in particular settings "makes sense." Representation and diversity is a good thing. But it just feels like.. kind of a weird geographical choice, I don't know. The map in general has a clear "making this up as I go" vibe, especially with how squared off the Middluns are.)
* The blue foxes. Did you know they're not actually blue, they're gray? If you didn't know, you'll be told about 3 or 4 times. They definitely feel, hmm, a bit derivative of His Dark Materials daemons, though I do understand that Pullman's books don't have a monopoly on bonded animals that talk to you and spy on people. But honestly Lavisa's parents feel a lot like Lyra's parents, too. Down to the fur coats and traveling around on airships and uh, the abuse.
* Almost all of the characters have dialogue that has a shallow, slightly ditzy and childish vibe, to the point that I couldn't tell the difference in maturity between a 16 year old protagonist and the ones in their 20s or 30s.
* Characters have a... strange relationship with casual sex in this book. Don't get me wrong, I am 100% pro-casual sex if a person wants that. But what feels like a disproportionate amount of time is spent thinking about it compared to the actual plot. The way Bitterblue is like "oh yes, I have so many lovers but I don't actually care about any of them" doesn't really fit with how otherwise sensitive and empathetic she is. It at least makes more sense for Lovisa to kind of have a fucked up relationship with it, considering her upbringing and how manipulative the people around her are. There is also a very odd exchange where Nev asks her grandfather if he has "ever experienced sexual jealousy" and he's like, oh yeah, totally, your grandmother slept with lots of guys before me. (... Okay?) And then Lovisa leaves the room because it's making her feel weird/bad. There's really no point to this exchange other than that.
I feel a bit bad that this review is so negative, I really enjoy the Graceling series normally, but this one just wasn't it for me. Will I read Seasparrow? Upon reflection, even though I think it features Hava, who I do like... probably not. I think I'll stick with my nostalgia for the first book, as if it were a standalone.
Things I did enjoy:
* Some of the world building was pretty cool! I liked the concept of the ambles, the description of the landscape, and the politics of the different airship fuel sources.
* Enjoyed getting more Giddon and Hava! Their parts were probably my favorite; I wish there was a bit more of it.
* The action, when it happened, was exciting. Like the escape from Lovisa's family home, and the fox figuring out how to help Bitterblue. Actually, Adventure Fox was one of my favorites too.
Here are some of the things that bothered me about this book:
* Why does it seem like all world exploration is happening during the main characters' lifetime, despite things like boats and apparently airships already being in existence? Bitterblue and Co. really didn't know the Dells or Winterkeep even existed, nor had anyone ever visited from those places, until just now? I repeat, there are AIRSHIPS.
* Apparently the language of the Middluns is called Lingian, after Gracelings. This is like if a country's language was named after like, a unique disease or mental health condition. But an outsider named their language. Did they not have a name for their own language before? What.
* Okay, so. Let's talk about race. The first couple of books only had white people and vaguely tan Lianid people. Sure. So in this book, the 4th in the series, you introduce a continent where everyone is dark-skinned/brown. Sure. They live in the far north, where it snows all the time and has glaciers. ...Pardon? (If this was the only worldbuilding issue, I'd shrug because I don't really care if having POC in particular settings "makes sense." Representation and diversity is a good thing. But it just feels like.. kind of a weird geographical choice, I don't know. The map in general has a clear "making this up as I go" vibe, especially with how squared off the Middluns are.)
* The blue foxes. Did you know they're not actually blue, they're gray? If you didn't know, you'll be told about 3 or 4 times. They definitely feel, hmm, a bit derivative of His Dark Materials daemons, though I do understand that Pullman's books don't have a monopoly on bonded animals that talk to you and spy on people. But honestly Lavisa's parents feel a lot like Lyra's parents, too. Down to the fur coats and traveling around on airships and uh, the abuse.
* Almost all of the characters have dialogue that has a shallow, slightly ditzy and childish vibe, to the point that I couldn't tell the difference in maturity between a 16 year old protagonist and the ones in their 20s or 30s.
* Characters have a... strange relationship with casual sex in this book. Don't get me wrong, I am 100% pro-casual sex if a person wants that. But what feels like a disproportionate amount of time is spent thinking about it compared to the actual plot. The way Bitterblue is like "oh yes, I have so many lovers but I don't actually care about any of them" doesn't really fit with how otherwise sensitive and empathetic she is. It at least makes more sense for Lovisa to kind of have a fucked up relationship with it, considering her upbringing and how manipulative the people around her are. There is also a very odd exchange where Nev asks her grandfather if he has "ever experienced sexual jealousy" and he's like, oh yeah, totally, your grandmother slept with lots of guys before me. (... Okay?) And then Lovisa leaves the room because it's making her feel weird/bad. There's really no point to this exchange other than that.
I feel a bit bad that this review is so negative, I really enjoy the Graceling series normally, but this one just wasn't it for me. Will I read Seasparrow? Upon reflection, even though I think it features Hava, who I do like... probably not. I think I'll stick with my nostalgia for the first book, as if it were a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
traceyanderson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
thedevouringbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty
cepbreed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.25
I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF I TOTALLY CALLED IT AFTER READING THE LAST BOOK!!! Bitterblue and Giddon have my entire heart and each chapter of longing and want made me fall for them more. The pining was beautifully done and the set up in the last book, even if unintentional, made them an instant favorite of mine. Soulmates don't always need to find each other immediately they just need to have their "its always been you" moment. God I love Cashore's ability to flesh out characters in her entirely unique way. Each interaction is purposeful, each conversation adds layers to the personal narratives of the characters involved, it's masterful. I've never felt so close to a character in a fantasy novel as I do with Lovisa. She is remarkable and vulnerable. Just that is enough to inspire me. Thank you Kristen Cashore for this series that I never thought I'd love so hard. I'd like to travel back in time and simultaneously punch and hug the person I was when I picked up the first book. She was naive in expressing a dislike for the series, but wise to continue on despite that initial opinion. I'll remember these books forever.
Ranking of the books: Bitterblue, Winterkeep, Fire, Graceling
Song:
Ranking of the books: Bitterblue, Winterkeep, Fire, Graceling
Song:
- Mirrorball - Taylor Swift
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Minor: Drug use and Infidelity
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
lumberelk's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying and Suicidal thoughts
with_drea's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4.5. Overall, I enjoyed this one more than Bitterblue, but Fire still wins the series in my mind. That said, in many ways this book helps me enjoy Bitterblue more in hindsight.
It was so nice to see the growth in Bitterblue by looking at her relationship to Lovisa, especially because of how much Lovisa goes through. I do feel like Giddon & Lovisa both stole the show a bit for me— Giddon has grown so much since the first book in the series and I get real emotional about it. You could argue that Giddon & Bitterblue’s relationship seemed a little rushed, but I forgive it with the 5 year interim period & the inklings we saw in Bitterblue.
We also get a couple other nonhuman POVs in this, which was really cool to see, though I wish we’d gotten more of it. I feel really good about Ad’s story arc, but wish we saw more from the “Keeper,” especially considering they were our first POV in the book.
Aside from the characters, there’s a lot of hope & good messages in the text re: politics & the environment that I think would be valuable for anyone younger reading this. I’m a little too jaded for it, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
Holding out hope for a someday return to the Dells, but I love this new world & the people in it that we’ve met!
It was so nice to see the growth in Bitterblue by looking at her relationship to Lovisa, especially because of how much Lovisa goes through. I do feel like Giddon & Lovisa both stole the show a bit for me— Giddon has grown so much since the first book in the series and I get real emotional about it. You could argue that Giddon & Bitterblue’s relationship seemed a little rushed, but I forgive it with the 5 year interim period & the inklings we saw in Bitterblue.
We also get a couple other nonhuman POVs in this, which was really cool to see, though I wish we’d gotten more of it. I feel really good about Ad’s story arc, but wish we saw more from the “Keeper,” especially considering they were our first POV in the book.
Aside from the characters, there’s a lot of hope & good messages in the text re: politics & the environment that I think would be valuable for anyone younger reading this. I’m a little too jaded for it, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
Holding out hope for a someday return to the Dells, but I love this new world & the people in it that we’ve met!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Colonisation
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Queen Bitterblue is on her way to Winterkeep, a distant nation that was only recently discovered by the Monseans, when she is thrown overboard. She is rescued by mysterious sea creatures, only to find herself held captive. Meanwhile, Giddon, Hava, and the rest of the Monsean crew reach Winterkeep, heartbroken at the loss of their queen. There, they encounter the bitter antagonism between Winterkeep’s two primary political parties over the issue of zilfium, an important fuel that could potentially boost the economy but cause environmental devastation. Lovisa is the daughter of two of the most prominent politicians in each party, but she is not so sure that either side has it right. Politics, family, magic, and loyalty: Winterkeep has it all.
Kristin Cashore’s Graceling has been one of my favorite fantasy books since I read it back in 2012 or so, and I have avidly consumed every other book she has published since then. I love how she has continued to expand on the Graceling realm, adding new characters, countries, and magical creatures. The worldbuilding was definitely my favorite aspect of this book; Cashore always comes up with the most unique and interesting creatures and powers. I absolutely adored the blue foxes (I would die for Ad), as well as the silbercows and the legends of the mysterious “Keeper.” I thought that the story was less engaging than Cashore’s other Graceling novels, because the pace of the plot was sacrificed to make way for a lot of new worldbuilding. The politics, while fairly relevant to real, modern issues, were also less enjoyable to read about. I also felt that the romance in this book wasn’t as compelling as some of Cashore’s other pairings. Bitterblue and Giddon are a perfectly fine couple, but just didn’t have the same spark that I’m used to seeing in Cashore’s writing. Maybe it was the friends-to-lovers trope (which I usually don’t mind… as long as it’s done well), or the age gap (which I, personally, strongly dislike, though I know it doesn’t bother lots of people). Whatever it was, I just didn’t care as much about the two of them ending up together. Now Lovisa and Nev, on the other hand… I hope we get another installment just so I can see those two fall in love, because they clearly should!
Side note: I saw someone mention how they appreciated the way Cashore started including explicit descriptions of each character’s skin color as soon as you meet them, and after that I couldn’t help but notice it! It never felt awkwardly tacked on and flowed nicely with the story while also making sure that the diversity of skin color was clear and obvious to everyone.
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): Happy! And even better, definitely room for another sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal cruelty and Blood
harrownova's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
geekmom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
After a pretty clunky start, this novel delivers!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment