Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore - a wonderful third book
via Amazon.com - See the link below.
Entering Bitterblue's world
I don't know about you, but when I find an author or series of books I love I get a little obsessed. Do you know what I mean? I practically devoured the last two books by Kristin Cashore, Graceling and Fire, so when I discovered on Amazon that there was a book called Bitterblue by the same author due out at some point, it went straight on to my wish list.
Though I'm sure it actually wasn't, it seemed like years ago since I found out about this book, so I was over the moon when I was lucky enough to win a copy of it through a Gollancz competition. I couldn't wait for it to turn up, so I could dive straight in...
After eagerly awaiting the arrival of the book - and I was pleased it didn't take too long to get to me - and ripping open the packaging I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a much thicker volume than I had expected. The cover, a luscious blue, was up to the same standard as the previous books and I couldn't wait to get started.
Turning the first few pages, I was again delighted to find another surprise, illustrations. Admittedly more common in fantasy than most other genres, it still isn't something you expect in every book you read. And these are not the typical type of illustrations you get with your regular fantasy book. Yes, there is a map and I discovered at the end of the book there are more, but these illustrations are more than just maps.
Bitterblue is split into five parts - over periods of time - and the start of each part is illustrated with a double-page picture and I have to say, I love them. The illustrations are not twee, as you might expect, but more quirky and different and with a great use of just black and white. I know I'm going on about them and at the end of the day they don't make or break a story, but I like different and I like the unexpected and these are both - though I would have liked to have seen some that are at the end of the book, earlier in the novel.
I don't know about you, but when I find an author or series of books I love I get a little obsessed. Do you know what I mean? I practically devoured the last two books by Kristin Cashore, Graceling and Fire, so when I discovered on Amazon that there was a book called Bitterblue by the same author due out at some point, it went straight on to my wish list.
Though I'm sure it actually wasn't, it seemed like years ago since I found out about this book, so I was over the moon when I was lucky enough to win a copy of it through a Gollancz competition. I couldn't wait for it to turn up, so I could dive straight in...
After eagerly awaiting the arrival of the book - and I was pleased it didn't take too long to get to me - and ripping open the packaging I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a much thicker volume than I had expected. The cover, a luscious blue, was up to the same standard as the previous books and I couldn't wait to get started.
Turning the first few pages, I was again delighted to find another surprise, illustrations. Admittedly more common in fantasy than most other genres, it still isn't something you expect in every book you read. And these are not the typical type of illustrations you get with your regular fantasy book. Yes, there is a map and I discovered at the end of the book there are more, but these illustrations are more than just maps.
Bitterblue is split into five parts - over periods of time - and the start of each part is illustrated with a double-page picture and I have to say, I love them. The illustrations are not twee, as you might expect, but more quirky and different and with a great use of just black and white. I know I'm going on about them and at the end of the day they don't make or break a story, but I like different and I like the unexpected and these are both - though I would have liked to have seen some that are at the end of the book, earlier in the novel.
The Story of Bitterblue
The book itself was not what I expected either. I have to admit I don't actually know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this - which is also good. Without giving anything away - I hope - we find Bitterblue about eight years after we first met her, now as Queen of Monsea. She's becoming a young adult and is trying to make some sense of the kingdom she rules, but she's kept very busy with paperwork and routine and rarely gets to see much of her city, let alone her country.
But there's a problem, her people are trying to recover from her father's tyrannical rule, but nothing seems to make sense. She has advisers, though they were around before she was queen, she's still in contact with the people who freed her from her father's twisted rule, but everything appears confusing and contradicts itself. Her father, King Leck, did so much damage with his 'magical' and strange abilities to the people of the kingdom and those around him, that Bitterblue is not certain exactly who she can trust. So in frustration she sneaks out into the city during the night and starts seeing her kingdom for herself. This is where, of course, it all gets interesting. She meets new people, discovers strange things and probably finds more questions than answers, but this is the fun of this book.
But there's a problem, her people are trying to recover from her father's tyrannical rule, but nothing seems to make sense. She has advisers, though they were around before she was queen, she's still in contact with the people who freed her from her father's twisted rule, but everything appears confusing and contradicts itself. Her father, King Leck, did so much damage with his 'magical' and strange abilities to the people of the kingdom and those around him, that Bitterblue is not certain exactly who she can trust. So in frustration she sneaks out into the city during the night and starts seeing her kingdom for herself. This is where, of course, it all gets interesting. She meets new people, discovers strange things and probably finds more questions than answers, but this is the fun of this book.
Overall, Cashore's work is wonderful
Kristin Cashore at the 2012 Texas Book Festival, Austin, Texas by Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0.
I don't want to spoil the story for anyone; I hate that - don't you? (I'll never forget someone walking into the canteen at work and announcing to everyone, who had just been killed off in the book I was only halfway through at the time!) But I really enjoyed this book, just as much as I remember enjoying the previous two. There is a part of me that wishes I'd reread them before I'd started this one, but it is in no way necessary - this book stands on its own.
As she did before, Kristin Cashore writes well and in a way that is easy to read, it just rolls along. Even though she touches on some complicated stuff at points, such as ciphers, I didn't find myself having to go back and read passages again, just so I was clear on what was going on - I know I've had to do that with other authors before.
So if you like good fantasy, if you like interesting storylines, strong female characters (hurrah!) and something that's easy to read and won't bog you down, then I recommend this book. It dawned on me the other day, there's no huge battle scene here, no major moment that everything hinges on, but to me that's what makes this so good, so interesting. This is a young woman who has to deal with major issues, terrible horrors, different and interesting people, and, AND she has to learn about herself and who she can trust, who she can believe when they tell her about what happened in the past, and decide what to do about the future. I loved it. And when I find out the name of the next book Kristin Cashore is going to write, that one will also be going on my wish list.
In the meantime, I may just reread the first two...
As she did before, Kristin Cashore writes well and in a way that is easy to read, it just rolls along. Even though she touches on some complicated stuff at points, such as ciphers, I didn't find myself having to go back and read passages again, just so I was clear on what was going on - I know I've had to do that with other authors before.
So if you like good fantasy, if you like interesting storylines, strong female characters (hurrah!) and something that's easy to read and won't bog you down, then I recommend this book. It dawned on me the other day, there's no huge battle scene here, no major moment that everything hinges on, but to me that's what makes this so good, so interesting. This is a young woman who has to deal with major issues, terrible horrors, different and interesting people, and, AND she has to learn about herself and who she can trust, who she can believe when they tell her about what happened in the past, and decide what to do about the future. I loved it. And when I find out the name of the next book Kristin Cashore is going to write, that one will also be going on my wish list.
In the meantime, I may just reread the first two...
More on Kristin Cashore - Use these links to find out more
Her only personal online presence. Her UK publisher. Website dedicated to the books by Kristin Cashore. An article from Publishers Weekly interviewing Kristin Cashore on the evolution of her book.
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