Bitterblue

Graceling, Book 3

By: Kristin Cashore

Narrated by: Xanthe Elbrick

The long-awaited companion to New York Times best sellers Graceling and Fire.

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 35-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.

©2012 Kristin Cashore (P)2012 Penguin

Critic reviews

A New York Times best seller

YALSA, Best Fiction for Young Adults

ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults

A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year

The Bulletin Best Books of the Year

A BCCB Blue Ribbon Title

A New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Book of the Year

"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 literarly tradition." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Brilliantly detailed and brimming with vibrant and dynamic characters." (SLJ, starred review)

“A story that transcends the genre with its emotional and philosophical weight.” (BCCB, starred review)

Another good book!

I was sad after I finished reading Bitterblue, sad that it was over :'( . I have loved Graceling and Fire just as much as I loved this one. I do wish there were a tad more romance though like there is in Graceling. I didn't like what happened on Wing Bridge in the watch tower... there could have been sooooo much more detail, it was the first time for her and yet no detail of if she even liked it or anything (Katsa and Po's first time was beautifully detailed). Why put it in the story only to brush barely over it, like it's such a casual unemotional thing. Well I'm done venting lol. I really did love the book like all of Kirsten Cashore's work.

loved it!

I have really enjoyed reading/listening to the Graceling series books (Graceling: book1, Fire: book2, and Bitterblue: book 3) by Kristin Cashore. The books are very well written. I love the characters and how they and the different stories kind of intermingle together. Also, I love Zanthe Elbrick's narration.
*Madina*

Best of the Trilogy

After listening to Graceling and Fire, this was amazing. So many things were discovered, the narrator was wonderful, and a female without powers is represented as strong, but human. Definitely read this if you enjoyed the first two.

Couldn't quit listening!

Very good book! Narrator uses a different dialect than the full cast version for Graceling, but enjoyable.

A lovely story

When I have children this, and the other two books in the series, will be the books my children learn to fall in love with reading to.

Great!

I read this book when I was thirteen. Though I very much enjoyed it I was left with the disappointment that though Bitterblue had a great romance the story was not about the romance. Now as I listen to this story I'm so very glad that this story wasn't about a young queen needing a prince because though thirteen year old me did not understand, this story shaped my perspective about myself. I think more thirteen year old girls should read Katsa's, Fire's and Bitterblue's stories. I think society makes it so that a girls most important achievement will be finding a man she loves. But books like these show how important it is for a girl to find herself and discover that she can be courageous brave and strong.

I recommend you listen to this book (though first listen to Graceling and Fire). The voices and music in this audiobook allowed me to feel as if I was there in Bitterblues castle.

Graced with writing

Cashore must be graced with writing, for her fantastic descriptions and enthralling story made me feel like I was alongside Bitterblue throughout her adventures. May we see another book soon!

Story Teller

The story is great the voice actor had some voices that sounded like she had a stuffy nose I did not like that voice took a bit away from the experience. The only other thing I did not like was that Katsa became an Irish girl with a thick accent. Killed it for me when imagining the character. The voice actor is great but the pairing of Katsa as an Irish girl was the wrong choice. Plan out the characters from the prior books before changing one of the main characters voices.

My all time favorite book!

I’ve been a fan of the series since I was a child. Reading them over and over again. I’m now a young adult and I still get so much joy from these books. This one in particular touches my heart. Cashore dives deep into the emotions of someone in deep pain, going through tremendous life experiences and the way she does it is simple beautiful. I love this story and know I’m likely to read it again and again in the future

Beautiful, mesmerizing

Another perfect book with a bit of mystery and several old friends! Bitterblue comes into herself as Queen, from sheltered girl who follows her advisors, down a rabbit hole of information and misinformation. And finally to the truth.