Description

Return to Kristin Cashore’s captivating Graceling Realm with a heart-wrenching tale set eight years after the events of Fire

Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue and her country were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace.

But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck’s death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck’s reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened. Monsea’s past has become shrouded in mystery, and it’s only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle – curious, disguised and alone – to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past.

Whatever that past holds.

Two thieves, who have sworn only to 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, who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart …

Readers love Bitterblue:

‘Bitterblue features a cast of well-written, compelling side characters, a hilarious appendix written by an actual character, a cast that is around 70% queer and 90% characters of colour, a f***ing glorious slow-burn mystery, a f***ing glorious character arc for a young woman in a tight space, and a narrative around colonialism that sticks out in my mind to this day. I cannot get past how much I adore this book’ Goodreads reviewer,

‘This book! It was so wonderful and so sad at the same time! The feels………………… I love Queen Bitterblue so much!’ Goodreads reviewer,

‘Bitterblue met all of my hopes and expectations (and they were high, let me tell you) . . . I can truthfully say Kristin Cashore is one of my favorite authors ever, and I will wholeheartedly devour anything she writes’ Goodreads reviewer,

‘This series breaks my heart and patches it all back together again’ Goodreads reviewer,

‘Bitterblue is near perfect. I haven’t been this captivated while reading in a long, long time’ Goodreads reviewer,

Publisher Review

This is gorgeous storytelling: exciting, stirring, and accessible - SCHOOL JOURNAL A WOW of a book. I HAD to know how it ended There aren't enough words to describe how awesome this book is - ROMANTIC TIMES Some authors can tell a good story; some can write well. Cashore is one of the rare novelists who do both. Thrillingly imagined and beautifully executed, Bitterblue stands as a splendid contribution in a long literary tradition - The New York Times Book Review Brilliantly detailed and brimming with vibrant and dynamic characters - SLJ, starred review of Bitterblue There are some books that stick with you for years, and Kristen Cashore's Fire is one of them. Thoughtful, steamy and completely original, Fire is YA fantasy at its absolute best - Sabaa Tahir, author of New York Times bestselling Ember in the Ashes on Fire