Winterkeep (Graceling Realm)

Product Information

She discovers that the two young men and their cohorts are involved in an underground movement to educate the kingdom's people. On the way, tragedy strikes again — a tragedy with devastating political and personal ramifications. Seeing Lovisa understanding the abuse that she has faced throughout the years and her entire character development in so many different aspects was the storyline that really made the book for me, more than any of the political intrigue or mysteries (althought those go hand-in-hand with Lovisa's storyline as well).

Cashore steps beyond the bounds of YA to bring in environmental issues to the Graceling-verse and even a darker element to politics than ever seen before. Her parents are not who she thought they were and she will become a big part of figuring out what is going on and why the little Queen has disappeared. it's not that i think her politics are insincere, i expect they reflect her reality, but that does precisely jack for her creativity. The teenage daughter of two powerful politicians, she is the key to unlocking everything—but only if she’s willing to transcend the person she’s been all her life. And while the intrigue along the way is quite good at times, the ultimate reason behind all the villainous plotting and heroic derring-do is um, rather dull.It’s not a perfect book in terms of editing; at one point it’s just backfilled that Bitterblue was trying to establish a democracy if power were to transition, which is structurally unsound storytelling and should be changed. Hava, who unintentionally helped in Bitterblue's attempted kidnapping, is a Graceling with a talent for disguise, and Bitterblue evade an attack. Her advisors Darby, Rood, Runnemood, and Thiel seem to be keeping her in the dark, and want her to act as a figurehead. Their initial question, what is the Keepish interest in Monsea, grows to become many questions as they meet more people and uncover more details. I can't even start on Cashore's change of dialogue style in this book, which is much less traditional fantasy, as the other books were, and much more Twitter-y.

The new world we discover in this one is also so mystical and wonderful, and it was amazing to get to see it through the character's eyes for the first time. The biggest themes, however, are environmentalism and warfare, themes that all the humans must grapple with as they trek through Winterkeep and themes that are at the heart of what the silbercows and their giant sea creature friend must do.

After his joint betrayal to Bitterblue with Thiel, Rood, and Runnemood, he and Rood were sent to prison. It has the same issue Bitterblue had, where the pacing is ruined by the characters constantly repeating the disparate threads of a mystery they know. During Bitterblue, Saf meets and develops a fractious relationship with the young queen, believing her to be a commoner as well. She has always been one of my faves, but with every book I relate to her and care about her even more.

Giddon, in particular, felt strange as if he didn't quite fit into the shape he'd once been formed of, and Bitterblue. Bitterblue confronts Thiel and Runnemood's remaining followers, gaining their loyalty when she forgives them for what they were forced to do, but determines that they cannot force others to suppress their past in the same way. Personally, I appreciate that this story both delves into consenting sexual relationship and sexuality. You’re going to be the friend to me that you’ve always been, and I’m going to show you that you’re safe now.i do not know how this book was allowed to get made in its current state, nor do i understand the conditions of its making.