Review Redux: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Grad Student review this A YEAR AGO.  Bitterblue is the third book in the Graceling Series, following Graceling and Fire. Slow to the plate over here:

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart (GoodReads)

See Grad Student's full review here,   and our previous reviews of Book 1, Graceling here, and here.  We also loved Book 2,Fire, reviewed here.  Are you sensing the theme?

My Review Redux:  This book is great! It has all the classic elements of a fantasy story without (too many) eye rolls or ridiculously complex and twisted plots. I loved the characters, especially Po and Kasta,  and Saf, the complexity and how the story carried over from Graceling and Fire.

This series is a real gem, if you too haven't read it yet, what ARE you waiting for!?  Slow claps to Cashore for a very compelling series.

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore (2x)

Grad Student Reviewed Graceling by Kristin Cashore earlier this year (see review here). Recently I gave it a go as well. Let me tell you- I LOVED IT!  Couldn't put it down.  One addition to GS's review:

• Level of Paranormal Romance: I disagree with GS- I was totally into the connection and love between certain book members... WIN.

Love this book. Go read it, and then get ready for the sequel, Fire.

Here is the cover of the French edition of Graceling- let me tell you, 13 year old Crazy Camper would have run through library aisles to get this book.


Via

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Remember when I put this on my Top Ten Tuesday: Spring Reads? of course, 'cause it was 2 days ago. Well, yup, I came, I saw, I conquered. Graceling by Kristin Cashore=Read. BAM.

In the world of Graceling people are born with Graces, giving them incredible skills. for Katsa, that means being able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight. She is an unstoppable fighter, but a bit of a short-tempered person, in part because people fear Gracelings in general and her dangerous gift in particular. As the niece of a despicable king, she is forced to work as his thug, doling out pain to misbehaving subjects. But she also heads a secret council that, like Robin Hood, works to right wrongs across the seven kingdoms. Then Katsa meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, who becomes a fighting companion, an ally for the council, and one of her only friends. Together they stumble onto new secrets about her Grace and a terrible threat to their kingdoms. DUN DUN DUN-Adventuring Time! The adventuring is the best part of this. ninja kicks! horse riding! spying on the bad guys! hiding from the bad guys! swan wrestling! yes, even swan wrestling!

Originality: 6. A Made-Up Country where people have Magical Gifts? (HELLO, TAMORA PIERCE) but I still liked it. I liked how Graced people had 2 different colored eyes and how you could be Graced with anything in theory--swimming, fighting, mind reading--but I kept trying to come up with silly Graces. Whistling maybe?
Absurdity: 1. Its fantasy. You suspend disbelief and just go with it.
Level of Paranormal Romance: 4. Does it count as "para" if there is some mind reading involved? The romance wasn't a big draw here, at least for me. I just thought, yes, yes, share that eye contact and feelings, do some making out, but come on! There is fighting and questing to do!
Level of Harry-Potterness: 4. This was basic storytelling, no fancy tricks. Some funny banter between Po and Katsa and Bitterblue though, so ya! for that.

LUCKILY my favorite part of the book, Bitterblue (she is smart and observant and has the driest sense of humor I have ever heard of in a ten year old) is the focus of the third book in the Seven Kingdoms series, coming out this spring. WIN.

Top Ten Tuesday: Spring Reads

Today's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, is all about books we are looking forward to reading this spring. Some of these are new, some just new to me, but I can't wait! (I intend on having a much longer reading list after seeing everyone else's lists.)


1. Bright's Passage by Josh Ritter. Crazy Camper might be his number one fan (he is a musician) and Sweet Tea and I have been with her to a concert. Check out his music! And this book got lots of buzz (Stephan King really liked it, no big deal for a first book or anything).
2. Wilfair by Alysia Gray Painter. Forever Young Adult's review sold me. Plus, it has the best blurb ever: 
"A late-blooming nineteen-year-old runs a posh hotel next door to a shy guy and the little motel he oversees. Strange things happen, adventures are had, feelings are felt, and cheese dip is eaten." Feelings! Cheese! Yes!

3.Graceling by Kristin Cashore. How have I not read this yet!?

4. The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch. A historical-thriller by a descendent of the Kuisls, a famous Bavarian executioner clan? heck ya.
5. Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan. I am approaching fangirl territory with Green, and I don't mind a bit.
6. Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott.  Anna's review at Anna Reads sold me. Multiple identities and revenge and magic and epicness. Sounds right up my alley. 
7. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. It won awards. It looks charming. NPR liked it. I trust NPR book reviews. 

(What is that random space? blog formatting, why do you torment me?)