Reviews with content warning for Child death - Bitterblue

Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

37 reviews

aina26's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Just finished reading the 3rd book in Kristin Cashores Graceling series. Highly highly recommend picking up this series if you haven't (or picking it up again if you have!). The story across the first 3 books has been so interesting and captivating. The writing style is beautiful and all-consuming. I especially like that every character sounds like they are in a period setting (something that I've noticed a lot of newer fantasies set in eurocentric medieval settings struggle to achieve. Everyone sounds like they're from 2024.. )

I really appreciate that this book's fantasy isn't so outrageous or complicated. It still feels grounded, with just a Touch of extraordinary.

I also really appreciate that the romances in the books are not the Main Plot. The things happening around them and to them are the driving forces of the story, and the romance happens organically on the side.
It makes the characters (and repeat characters in subsequent books) feel real.

The first book really surprised me with its big twist and the climactic ending. The 2nd book provides an interesting well of knowledge that becomes relevant in this book. Like a secret you, the reader, are in on and you're waiting for Bitterblue to figure it out.

Bitterblue may be my favorite thus far, for its complexity in the truths uncovered thus far in the story. It's one big messy mystery. Even at the end, when you think you finally have all the answers, it still manages to surprise you. Emotionally charged and beautifully written, this story will stick with me for some time.

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comfyreadingtime's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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aleyajo's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Leck is quite possibly the best villain and he isn’t even alive in this book.

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starlightorchestra's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

Very difficult to read as a trauma survivor but it’s an excellent book and I look forward to reading the next soon

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cicizzy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was darker than the other two in my opinion. It’s dealing with the aftermath of the torture of the people in Monsea by Leck. The people are understandably not fine. The book portrays different ways in which the people in Monsea deal (don’t deal) with the trauma and how Lecks reign affects the kingdom even many years later.

I really wanted to hug Bitterblue several times while reading the book.

Bitterblue is struggling. The people around her act in weird ways she doesn’t understand. She feels like she doesn’t know what’s going on in her kingdom. So she starts sneaking out to find answers and meets new friends. But instead of clear anders she just finds more riddles and puzzle pieces that won’t fit together. This book had more mystery and less action than the previous ones.

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theevilcactus1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Not quite as perfect as Fire, but still a solid addition to the series. Bitterblue feels like a very distinct character from Fire and, although politics and mind control are major themes in both books, they are explored in very different ways here, and I appreciated that they felt like very different stories (while still belonging in the same universe).

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booklifeisthelife's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a decent book. It was a bit slow at times and difficult to stay invested but I still mostly enjoyed it. I adored the main character and loved the side characters as well. There was depth to them. They weren't merely side character existing just to exist. There was mystery (which isn't my favorite thing) that was done well. I liked learning what we did. I'm really hoping

bitterblue can make a good kingdom and set them on a good path now that she will soon have people around her that support her ideas. That wont constantly push her ideas down. That want to make the kingdom a better place.

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