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queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore is book 4 of the Graceling Realm series. I cannot stress how much I love this series! And it's completely underrated! I have loved every single one of these installments, and Winterkeep is no different.
We continue to follow Bitterblue a few years after the events of the previous book. We also get Giddon's perspective in this book, and he's a great character. Bitterblue and company travel to the newly discovered continent of Torla, a country made up of democratic republics and vast scientific advances. When Bitterblue is swept overboard on the journey to Winterkeep, she finds herself in the middle of a plot. We also get new characters, like Lovisa, the daughter of the Winterkeep President. Lovisa's life is turned upside down when she discovers what is hidden in her attic and what her parents are up to.
One of my favorite things about these books is that Cashore doesn't shy away from letting her female characters embrace their sexuality. Both Bitterblue and Lovisa are pretty open about having multiple lovers, and I suspect Lovisa to be somewhere on the Aromantic spectrum. I loved Lovisa's character and her growth throughout the book. She's tough, blunt, and honest and doesn't much care for expectations. I definitely related to her as someone who grew up in an abusive household without understanding how bad it actually was. I really felt for Lovisa when she finally figured out that's not normal. Giddon was such a sap this book. He cried so much, but it was kinda sweet. We get more from Hava too, and I read her as neurodivergent. We get sentient, telepathic foxes! And a sentient Sea monster that just wants to be left alone. I want to be able to talk to silbercows. They seem so cute and fun.
There is a lot of political intrigue in these books, and I'm a fan. I will say that this isn't the most fast paced books series, but it has so much in it. The world-building is just incredible. Cashore has expanded the world with each book and new character, and it just becomes fuller. Super looking forward to Seasparrow, but also dreading the end of this amazing series.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Suicide
rubyhosh's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Confinement and Grief
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
lubotomy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Outing, Sexual harassment, and Classism
lwooters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
talonsontypewriters's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Drug use, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit
Drowning. Slut shaming. Starvation. Relationship between characters who are currently both adults, but almost definitely met when one was around 10 and the other was an older teenager/adult.aseel_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
themoodreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
traceyanderson's review against another edition
- 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
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
kbairbooks's review against another edition
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
g_c_geeks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The addition of a new magic system and whole new set of political relations was really cool. I am always a fan of political intrigue.
I also really enjoy the different approaches to relationships that all the characters have, and I particularly enjoyed the difference in attitudes regarding sex. It’s really cool to see these topics discussed, however briefly, in YA.
However I do think the pacing was a little off in this book. Some plot lines were dragged out too much, others not enough. I also think the structure could be improved upon with a multiple POV story because it was not as clear as it could have been. And the switching of the POVs was not always at the best time imo.
Omg also I’m so confused at who has what skin colour in these books. Maybe I’m just dumb or maybe it’s because of conflicting cover art but I stg some characters were described as very pale and now all of a sudden they have brown skin?? I now just look at fanart and trust the general consensus there haha but ig the character descriptions do confuse me sometimes.
Overall I still enjoyed it and will pick up the next book when it comes out. Just probably won’t reread this one as much as the others, particularly Graceling and Fire.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts