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A review by leahjanespeare
Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
SPOILERS FOR BITTERBLUE (the book) For real. Do not proceed if you have not read it. So read it pronto and I'll see you afterward.
Wow, where do I even begin? I waited 10 years for this book (as I had an arc of Bitterblue), 5 more months until I read it after purchasing it on release day due to extreme anxiety that I wouldn't like it, and then I read all 520 pages in a day and a half. My mind is whirling. Let the book depression sink in.
How do I sort out my thoughts?
Bitterblue: Yes, yes. I kinda hated Bitterblue in her own book. ...well, no. I hated that she didn't get her 'guy' at the end. And she was very naive and annoying. And the book Bitterblue was entirely different from the first two books. Anyway, part of my hesitation to begin this book was my dislike for that one. BUT leading up to the Winterkeep release, I reread Graceling and Fire (for the upteenth time) and also Bitterblue for the first time since 2012, and guess what? I didn't hate Bitterblue anymore. I am not sure why, maybe because I matured and wasn't ready for her story the first time around? This series has always been an adult crossover audience in my opinion, and I certainly wasn't an adult in 2012. Now, it was nice to reconnect with her, and I have a new appreciation for her as a person. Bitterblue didn't have a super active role in this book as a whole for REASONS which actually made me kind of sad, but she already had a lot of her story told, so it was time to share the screen.
Giddon: Oh, my heart. How I loved getting Giddon's pov in this book. I didn't really think twice about him in Bitterblue, just that he was mopey about not winning Katsa's heart. But I am so glad his story continued, you can see he's matured these past 13 years since we first met him in Graceling. In fact, since time passed in the books alongside the real world, his growth feels all the more real to me since I've grown too. His devotion and true heart run deep, and I teared up a number of times hearing his internal dialogue and sentiments. Such a wonderful fellow.
Lovisa: Lovisa is the new main human character that shares the page with Bitterblue and Giddon. I will admit, it took me a long time to warm up to her. She is harsh, damaged, traumatised. She has an interesting relationship with sex and affection. The darker themes in this book (suicide idealation, abuse, neglect) mostly revolve around her, and it's a bumpy ride. Her character itself portrays a painfully realistic and complicated picture of a young woman who needs help to find her own strength within. So, acknowledge her complexities, do not judge her, and be amazed at her story.
The villains: Remember Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter from His Dark Materials? Yeah, the Cavenda parents make those two look like inept schoolchildren. Their pure manipulative talent is horrifying and yet all too possible to imagine. I can't say a whole lot without spoiling things, but trust me, whatever you initially think of the two: it's much, much worse.
The foxes! The blue foxes. It's been a while since I've come across a fictional creature that intrigued and terrified me like these foxes. What a creative creation to introduce into this world, and I am excited to explore them in (hopefully??) future books. They were the icing on the creepy cake that was Winterkeep as a whole and it wouldn't have been the same without them.
Overall, this fantasy world is arguably one of the best I've ever read and that has been constructed. It's also a queernormative world. Within it live complicated and terrible and wonderful people but never is sexuality a remote plotpoint or notable mention for any of them. There is magic, monsters, miracles. The inhabitants of the world itself are still learning about other areas and different kinds of people, with different beliefs and customs. It's dangerous (the monsters), sex positive (no slut shaming), and exciting. I really can't express my love enough.
Winterkeep was worth the ten year wait and I am ready to wait patiently another ten years for more.
Wow, where do I even begin? I waited 10 years for this book (as I had an arc of Bitterblue), 5 more months until I read it after purchasing it on release day due to extreme anxiety that I wouldn't like it, and then I read all 520 pages in a day and a half. My mind is whirling. Let the book depression sink in.
How do I sort out my thoughts?
Bitterblue: Yes, yes. I kinda hated Bitterblue in her own book. ...well, no. I hated that she didn't get her 'guy' at the end. And she was very naive and annoying. And the book Bitterblue was entirely different from the first two books. Anyway, part of my hesitation to begin this book was my dislike for that one. BUT leading up to the Winterkeep release, I reread Graceling and Fire (for the upteenth time) and also Bitterblue for the first time since 2012, and guess what? I didn't hate Bitterblue anymore. I am not sure why, maybe because I matured and wasn't ready for her story the first time around? This series has always been an adult crossover audience in my opinion, and I certainly wasn't an adult in 2012. Now, it was nice to reconnect with her, and I have a new appreciation for her as a person. Bitterblue didn't have a super active role in this book as a whole for REASONS which actually made me kind of sad, but she already had a lot of her story told, so it was time to share the screen.
Giddon: Oh, my heart. How I loved getting Giddon's pov in this book. I didn't really think twice about him in Bitterblue, just that he was mopey about not winning Katsa's heart. But I am so glad his story continued, you can see he's matured these past 13 years since we first met him in Graceling. In fact, since time passed in the books alongside the real world, his growth feels all the more real to me since I've grown too. His devotion and true heart run deep, and I teared up a number of times hearing his internal dialogue and sentiments. Such a wonderful fellow.
Lovisa: Lovisa is the new main human character that shares the page with Bitterblue and Giddon. I will admit, it took me a long time to warm up to her. She is harsh, damaged, traumatised. She has an interesting relationship with sex and affection. The darker themes in this book (suicide idealation, abuse, neglect) mostly revolve around her, and it's a bumpy ride. Her character itself portrays a painfully realistic and complicated picture of a young woman who needs help to find her own strength within. So, acknowledge her complexities, do not judge her, and be amazed at her story.
The villains: Remember Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter from His Dark Materials? Yeah, the Cavenda parents make those two look like inept schoolchildren. Their pure manipulative talent is horrifying and yet all too possible to imagine. I can't say a whole lot without spoiling things, but trust me, whatever you initially think of the two: it's much, much worse.
The foxes! The blue foxes. It's been a while since I've come across a fictional creature that intrigued and terrified me like these foxes. What a creative creation to introduce into this world, and I am excited to explore them in (hopefully??) future books. They were the icing on the creepy cake that was Winterkeep as a whole and it wouldn't have been the same without them.
Overall, this fantasy world is arguably one of the best I've ever read and that has been constructed. It's also a queernormative world. Within it live complicated and terrible and wonderful people but never is sexuality a remote plotpoint or notable mention for any of them. There is magic, monsters, miracles. The inhabitants of the world itself are still learning about other areas and different kinds of people, with different beliefs and customs. It's dangerous (the monsters), sex positive (no slut shaming), and exciting. I really can't express my love enough.
Winterkeep was worth the ten year wait and I am ready to wait patiently another ten years for more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, and Grief