Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published May 2012
576 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Speculative, Alt. History
Publication Information
The long-awaited companion to New York Times bestsellers 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 thirty-five-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.
Ages 14+
"Starred Review. Devastating and heartbreaking, this will be a disappointment for readers looking for a conventional happy ending. But those willing to take the risk will - like Bitterblue - achieve something even more precious: a hopeful beginning." - Kirkus Reviews
"Starred Review... the story loses some steam... Nonetheless, devotees of the earlier books and fans of Megan Whalen Turner's intricate political fantasies will relish this novel of palace intrigue." - Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review. Cashore's imagined world is brilliantly detailed and brimming with vibrant and dynamic characters." - School Library Journal
This information about Bitterblue was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Photo: Daniel J. Burbach
Kristin Cashore has written for The Horn Book Guide, The Looking Glass: An Online Children’s Literature Journal, and Children’s Literature in Education. She received a master’s degree in children’s literature from Simmons College. Graceling is Ms.Cashore’s first novel. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
Author Interview
Link to Kristin Cashore's Website
Name Pronunciation
Kristin Cashore: ker-SHORE (emphasis on the second syllable)
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