Reviews with content warning for Violence - Die Beschenkte

I really enjoyed this book. Like a lot. I thought the main characters were so dynamic and lovable. I loved them together and I worried when they weren't together. I love love love Po. I love love love LOVE Bitterblue. The only reason why this book didn't get a higher rating is because of the lull in the middle with the traveling and trying to evade. However, the emotion in it is what pushed me through.
I'm excited to keep going.

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the_berries_books's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Katsa is so annoying and the dialogue was so dry I got sleepy every time I picked this book up

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essauthor's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The read was fun. I found the "graces" interesting, and they got my writer brain going.

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drtx_bwt's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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cicizzy's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

One of the few books of my childhood I like to reread a lot which is why this review is probably heavily biased by nostalgia.

The worldbuilding is pretty simple and the names lack a bit of creativity for me but that does make it easy to remember the countries and people

I personally don’t like the way people talk. It didn’t bother me when I was a kid but now it seems a bit unnatural. But maybe that’s also partly the translations fault. But kudos to the translator for using „Ihro Majestät“ and not „Ihre Majestät“. If it’s a more medieval setting it’s nice that they use more outdated forms to address people.

The main couple has a respectful relationship. The male lead is not the typical asshole type like many other romantasy heroes. It’s one of my most favorite things about the book.

Katsa might be a bit crazy sometimes but she has a working brain, she listens to people and she is also a strong character. Cashore knows how to write strong characters who still don’t always win fights.

I also love that it doesn’t end with Katsa becoming Bos wife and being reduced to a wife and mother role. There is obviously nothing bad with being a wife or mother but in some books that suddenly becomes the only role of heroine in the ever after and her own ambitions or the belief that she didn’t want to marry/have children are suddenly forgotten. That doesn’t happen to Katsa.

Bo is just a great man. He isn’t arrogant or an asshole, he treats Katsa with respect and he has no problems showing emotions. He is a healthy love interest and I really love that.

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