Bitterblue cover art

Bitterblue

Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, Book 3

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Bitterblue

By: Kristin Cashore
Narrated by: Emma Powell
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About this listen

The long-awaited companion to the New York Times best sellers Graceling and Fire is finally here!

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 35-year long spell of a madman.

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 possess an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart.

©2012 Kristin Cashore (P)2012 Orion Publishing Group Romance Royalty Science Fiction & Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

"This is gorgeous storytelling: exciting, stirring, and accessible." ( School Journal)
"A WOW of a book. I HAD to know how it ended" (Tamora Pierce)
"Fresh, hopeful, tragic and glorious" ( Kirkus Reviews)
All stars
Most relevant
Loved it. Beautifully read. Hope there is another in this series in the future.

wonderful book

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This book was my favourite of the series. Plot summary, young queen inherits kingdom in disarray from her psychotic father. She stumbles across deadly secrets a decade old and one question leads to another. tension builds, the malice of her father is palpable. schemes against her instigated by unknown but powerful sources spread their tendrils ever closer to her. And, in neighbouring countries, monarchies are falling. Who can she trust, what is really going on, and will she survive it all. The story is well read too. more please.

highly enjoyable, liked this one lots.

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I loved both Graceling and Fire, but this is the best book yet from Kristin Cashore, and certainly enough of a stand alone to be read without the other two.

Bitterblue is a queen trying her best to come of age, but stymied at every turn by the secrets that shadow her kingdom, leftovers from her father's cruel 35 year rule. Her advisors assure her that everything is fine, that the people are happy and recovering, but something drives Bitterblue to dig deeper. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more determined someone is to stop her.

An absolutely WONDERFUL book.

Also a word here for the narration, which adds wonderfully to the text without ever overshadowing it - top notch narration.

A tale of mystery and reconcilliation

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I didn't enjoy this as much as Graceling! It was a little slow to start as it built its characters but it was never unengaging!
I find Cashore's writing really descriptive and makes the reader really envision the characters - to believe in the characters - to like them even!
The story takes off without the reader knowing it at first and the frustration can be felt as the protagonist really cannot trust anyone! Everyone around her is lying for whatever their reasons!
A very enjoyable story by a talented writer!

Very well written fantasy

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I cannot say strongly enough how much I enjoyed reading this book, and what a relief. I'd just completed the Hunger Games series and needed another to stem the disappointment I'd completed them. Bitterblue was just what I needed, when I needed it. Within two week I'd listened to all three books in the series. This is defiantly my favourite of the three, I found the twists surprising and at no point did I guess what was coming. Well done Kristin Cashore. Are we likely to get a fourth book?

Seriously good...

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