I like this book a lot. It was probably 4.5 Stars, I’m just not sure I’d reread it. Basically Bitterblue is another great chapter in the tale of the Graceling world and it really brings the previous two books together. It’s nice because each book could be a standalone but read all together you get a great sense of the world and characters.

This book occurs 8 years after Graceling, and Katsa and Po still play prominent roles (much to my delight). If you’ve read Graceling, you will know Bitterblue’s backstory and how the other characters come into play, but if you haven’t I’d still say you can read it. It would contain some spoilers to the other books, but I honestly think anyway to read these three novels is the right way. (I must say, reading them Graceling, Fire, and then Bitterblue seems the best way...)

I loved this story for the issues it really tackles. Such as, can a “bad person” be “good”? And can “good people” do “bad” things? And how do we deal with guilt? Especially identifying as a “good” person? But also throw it the fact that someone has manipulated everyone’s thoughts and feelings with mind control...

I also like the way that this book covers first love and sex. It always shows the characters being very consensual with each other, but also in regards to pleasure on all sides. It’s by no means a huge part of the plot, it’s just nice that it’s not a basic: “most magical night” or a “one person gets off and forces the other person along” kind of scenario.

All in all another highly enjoyable book from Ms. Cashore.