Bitterblue | 
pickThis was a book full of twists and turns. My stomach was in knots at the end trying to figure out how Cashore was going to bring the readers any peace. Bitterblue has been a loveable character since Graceling and you get to see her growing into her role as queen and trying to solve the mysteries of her father‘s reign. Be prepared for a lot of mystery and intrigue as you go through the queen‘s reign.
pickWhat a treat to revisit this world after so many years! I love this series and Bitterblue was no exception.
#winterreadathon book 6 finished @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
pickI loved how this had several familiar characters from previous books. I also could relate to Bitterblue who was the main character.
This wasn't really easy book to read because this wasn't happy at all - more like disturbing.
This was a bit too long and for that wasn't as intriguing as this could have been. Still this had realistic characters and I enjoyed the world.
#SeriesRead2022 #TheSupernaturalYear (Symbols) #JumpStart2022 #JoyousJanuary
so-soCashore has shown readers that she can write any number of strong female leads of all types, and with bitterblue, she has rounded out the emotional spectrum in all 3 books. This book was much darker, heavier, and more serious than the 2 previous, and aptly so. Being able to see our favorite characters later on, surviving and processing trauma, was a deeply emotional experience to read but go into it very carefully.
so-soBitterblue isn't the most literarily dense book, it's a clear ya fantasy, but the political ecosystem is so finely articulate while still being wholly simple & straightforward & I loved it. She created a kingdom of deception that includes so many moving parts while steering clear of the dreaded info-dumping that plagues books that extend too far. Bitterblue walks u through mysteries of her kingdom & I loved uncovering the secrets kept from her.
Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to their own affairs; and she was alone, and empty and unbelieving again. How acutely sometimes the presence or absence of people mattered
Working from home on a cold and snowy day means your lunch can consist of hot chocolate and a book! 😍📚💕
Will finish first for #24in48
Who all‘s participating?
Made my first book purchases of 2021! I wanted an easy-to-read copy of BITTERBLUE (my hardcover‘s crammed full of 4-leaf clovers), my print copy of FIRE is an ARC, and I‘m awfully taken with the new covers, so today‘s $1.99 sale gave me a good excuse.
pickI liked it much better than the second book. Less political intrigues.
Bitterblue felt like one of my friends. I could relate so much.
That‘s really YA that I could get addicted to. No cliché love triangles but instead stories where I can‘t tell how they go. ? More of this, please.
I was sad when I reached one main plot milestone because I perfectly understood Bitterblue‘s counsellors …
I liked that there was more in there than good or bad.
So, here I am. Already downloading the final volume of that trilogy.
It jumps back to the future, that means back to the time where Kadsa and Bo live since Bitterblue is this time‘s protagonist.
It‘s quite long with more than 9 hours to listen to. Let‘s see if I get them done in 2 weeks‘ time.
pickSlower than the previous graceling novels, but still a great mystery.
pickProbably my least favourite of the trilogy and there were just a lot of parts that were difficult to read about everything Bitterblue's dad did. This series strength is its main characters though. Fire has got to be my absolute FAV but Bitterblue has those same traits that I loved...plus the endings of each 3 books are just so refreshing.
so-so2.5/5⭐ The 1st half was good. The 2nd half stuffed in so many plotlines I could barely follow. Plus each plotline's major emotional points happened back to back, so they didn't individually have enough impact time on the characters/reader before the next. I liked the characters' relationships with each other, but storywise it really fell apart.
Warnings for suicide, emotional trauma, and memories of rape, torture, and forced body/mind control.
Almost halfway through ‘Bitterblue‘ and thoroughly enjoying it. I think it‘s the way Cashore portrays friendships that has me hooked.
pickI just finished a really good book, and now I‘m mad: an autobiography by me
Post-mammogram purchases. BITTERBLUE is one of my absolute favourite books, but my copy's stuffed with four-leaf clovers so it's a little hard to read. This new copy solves that problem!
My walk also took me past a BRAND NEW LITTLE FREE LIBRARY! I didn't get a picture, but I did talk to the woman who runs it. She's excited at how much interest there's been. I'm gonna take a bunch of books over there tomorrow.
pickIn this companion to Graceling, Bitterblue is now a young woman &queen. But she struggles to rule her kingdom that was controlled by a madman for decades. Unsure of whom to trust, she is surrounded by secrets, lies, & ciphers. This went on a little long but it ties back to the other books. I enjoyed Bitterblue's arc & how she grows from insecure to more cognizant of her wealth, privilege & power. Themes of trauma, recovery & healing are explored.
I love surprises hidden beneath book jackets. #nakedbooks
All of my books with #PrettyEndpages are at my parents' house, so I had to steal this picture from the Internet. #SeptemberLibrary17
This is the rainbow they taught us to sing in French class when I was a little kid. Bleu, vert, jaune, rouge, orange, ou-ou blanc. #bookrainbow #fallintobooks
pickI liked this book, but I wouldn't say it was the best fantasy novel/series I've read. Saying that, this last book in the Trilogy tied the previous two books together really well. Easy to follow the storyline and good if you don't want to concentrate too much 😅
A good start to the day... This is what's needed to wake me up at 5am every day 😂 #BreakfastAndBooks
pickThis was mind blowing. The effects of trauma are explored in such interesting and disturbing ways. Such a dark and more mature YA then most. Everything feels messy and confused on purpose and you definitely feel like you are in Bitterblue's shoes. Loved it!
pickThe story of Bitterblue, in the sequel to Graceling, dragged from time to time but was ultimately an excellent tale. So sad this trilogy is over...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to Hatful of Hollow by The Smiths a bunch today, and I finished reading Bitterblue. My emotions have sure taken a beating. Sigh. What a great album and what a great book.
I've been having so much fun making spirals and here's me putting one together
Are you a fan of Kristin Cashore? I need to make to to reread here Graceling books and I can't wait until Jane Unlimited
A post-Tidying Festival partial shelfie of my freestanding bookcase. I kept everything that sparked joy when I held it and discarded stuff I can always borrow from the library when I want to reread it.
pickStrong finish to the trilogy, I didn't like Graceling but loved Fire and am glad I kept going. Had the chance to hear the author speak on how she learned about trauma recovery to write this, I think it's the most powerful of the 3. Speaks strongly to healing. Bitterblue has to find strength in isolation as friends come and go and she learns who to trust. Fact: Cashore thought this would be her "fun" book, but that didn't exactly go as planned.
Everything's neatly stacked up. Now if I can just figure out which ones used to be in the TBR piles... 😅🤓📚 #newhouse #shelfie #bookgeekery
pickSo, I did enjoy this story overall, and it was fun to be with Katsa again, too. The history of Leck and his evil doings, the mysteries of the castle and the townspeople, all really interesting to read about. Just thought, like Fire, it was a little too long with a few too many tangents. But good dialogue and memorable characters, and I loved the artwork!
#novemberland #whitequeen #bookishcrown
Here are a few of the novels I have read involving royalty. ASOIAF by George R R Martin has a lot of 'crowns' from Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses, both North and South of the wall, past and present.
Graceling has Royalty in several of the lands, and the Princess Bitterblue becomes Queen in Bitterblue. Finally, Cinder has Royalty both on Earth and the Moon.
So many crowns! 👑
pickI was a bit skeptical about this. The first 2 books in the series were less about royalty & much more about the creatures in the land, & that's what I had fallen in love with. But this book was amazing. Bitterblue goes through huge trials as a new Queen in a different land than the one in the previous books. She deals with people with special powers that give control or expertise over certain things. This started my love for Queen protagonists!
It's nice to revisit some old friends when you're making a #bookrainbow 😁🌈 It also shames you into dusting 😕 #septphotochallenge
The color photo challenges are fun but make messes of my shelves 😊
#shadesofblue #somethingforsept #septemberphotochallenge #shelvingbycolorisfun
pickRead this second even though Fire came out second because I'm pretty sure this was the sequel and Fire is a companion to the other two! I liked seeing the character development and how Bitterblue comes into her queendom! Leck is a well developed villain who still gives me chills!
Up next. Kindle is upstairs charging and this is downstairs and needs to be read before it expires. I absolutely loved Graceling, but was meh about Fire. Hoping this one is more like the first.
