I think there was potential here, for sure, and I definitely maybe had too high a set of expectations after revisiting and rediscovering my love for books one to three all over again, but.. this just didn't work for me. Not as a fan of the series or as just a reader of fantasy. I couldn't love it, could barely like it, and it seemed to take me way too long to get through. I'm sad.

This review is ALL spoilers, so if you are a fan of the series and plan to read it, go to another review. Hard-hitting is definitely a word to describe it. But also wonderfully hopeful and healing in all it's own ways. Just like without Cashore's previous books they're some heavy triggers, and I'm going to list as many as I can recall.For the past five years, Bitterblue has reigned as Queen of Monsea, heroically rebuilding her nation after her father's horrific rule. After learning about the land of Torla in the east, she sends envoys to the closest nation there: Winterkeep — a place where telepathic foxes bond with humans, and people fly across the sky in wondrous airships. But when the envoys never return, having drowned under suspicious circumstances, Bitterblue sets off for Winterkeep herself, along with her spy Hava and her trusted colleague Giddon. On the way, tragedy strikes again — a tragedy with devastating political and personal ramifications. She stopped in the middle of the room and stood there with her eyes on fire and her fists clenched, and Giddon was amazed, as he always was when she was angry, at how much power, fury, and force her person could convey. ”

Speaking of Bitterblue, I can't tell you how proud I am of my girl in this one. Seeing her grow and understand her own power, and how she should use it, makes me so happy. She has always been one of my faves, but with every book I relate to her and care about her even more. I love how stubborn, kind and thoughful she is, and how she always strives to do the right thing, even if it's not easy. Her insecurities also make her so dear and near to my heart, and I'll always cherish her.You’re going to be the friend to me that you’ve always been, and I’m going to show you that you’re safe now. We are not going to lose each other. You’re not alone with your fears, Bitterblue. We’re a team now, you see?” And of course the 'monster' also believed by some to be the legendary Keeper and the silbercows and blue foxes all try to lend magic to the story, but don't really work in the end. I know a lot of people were a bit apprehensive at the idea of another book in the Graceling Realm series, and I’ll admit I never really understood that. I feel like it’s pretty clear that in each installment of this series, Cashore explores different characters, settings, and issues, and that’s exactly what she does in Winterkeep—we are transported to the nation of Winterkeep, with new and old characters, taking on political corruption through a new lens.

But when Bitterblue’s envoys to Winterkeep drown under suspicious circumstances, she and Giddon and her half sister, Hava, set off to discover the truth–putting both Bitterblue’s life and Giddon’s heart to the test when Bitterbue is kidnapped. Giddon believes she has drowned, leaving him and Hava to solve the mystery of what’s wrong in Winterkeep.

That being said, I think it did a magnificent job at showing Lovisa's journey and how all of that would, very realistically, be processed. Even if it's not pretty. Cover Reveal: THERE IS A DOOR IN THIS DARKNESS by Kristin Cashore". Penguin Teen. 5 September 2023. Her debut novel, Graceling, was published in October 2008. [4] The book was nominated for the Andre Norton and William C. Morris awards and earned a place on the Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year for 2008. [5] Her second book, Fire, was released in October 2009, and is described as being a 'prequel-ish companion book' to Graceling. [6] Fire received the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award. [2] Prince Po: Prince Greening Grandemalion (or simply "Po") is the seventh son of King Ror and Queen Zinnober of Lienid. His only other known brothers by name are Prince Skye and Prince Silvern. He is the romantic partner of Katsa. He is Graced with sensing other beings, and became blind in Graceling. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons.

The Graceling saga is rejoined by Kristin Cashore. What should have been a celebration, is really a disappointment. Although continued in the world started in Graceling and with a few characters from earlier books, this muddle does not deliver.The themes of the Graceling series have always been unflinching and mature but delivered in a very accessible way. Winterkeep builds on this, looking at the pushes and pulls between family, between differing nations, between progress and innovation versus environmental concerns, between loyalty and integrity. One of the strongest themes is truth; concealed truth, edited truth, the truths you are too obtuse to see or try to protect yourself from and the truths that other people deny you. The prose is easy and engaging so you could be forgiven for not realising how many complicated strands are woven in here. This is multi layered and clever, funny and sweet and poignant. Sometimes it is our differences and our willingness to accept them that allow us to find common ground. When the characters are forced to deal with it, well, it is rawly and touchingly depicted going quite into the way it affects someone and just how devastating of a battle this kind of abuse can be. Kristin Cashore (born 1976) is an American young adult and fantasy writer, best known for the Graceling Realm series. So, yeah, I ship it, really ship, if it took me a little bit of processing time before I got there. Cashore returned to the Graceling Realm series with Winterkeep, which was released in January 2021. [9] Seasparrow, released in November 2022, was the fifth book in the series.