A new week, a new Monday and with it a few new reviews on this edition(s) of Mark This Book Monday!
I'm gonna start with the final book on a trilogy that wrapped up a fantastic fantasy series and that I'm sad to see ended even if it was quite a satisfying one.
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When it comes to the final book in a trilogy you've loved you always approach with a mix of excitement, caution and a little sadness. You really don't want the story with this characters to end, but you really need to know what happens after that ending in book 2 and you're hoping the final book will be as good as the previous books.
Well, The Bitter Kingdom did all that and more, so it's quite an ending for a great fantasy series. Since it's the final book in the trilogy I'm gonna make sure I don't give any spoilers for it here, but there will be spoilers for book 1 and 2 for sure.
The Bitter Kingdom picks up right where Crown of Embers left us, with Hector kidnapped by the enemy to try and force Elisa's hand, and with Elisa decided to not cower and do the rescuing herself with her more trusted friends' help and an enemy that is a friend to help them find their way into Inviernos territory. The book is told in dual perspective, alternating between Elisa's and Hector's and it really compliments very well not just on the emotional narrative, but also on showing us a bigger picture of the story.
The Bitter Kingdom is a journey in which Elisa continues to discover who she is on her own, not just as a queen, not just as a Joyan and most definitely, not just as a Godstone bearer. The growth of Elisa's character from self-deprecating pampered and underappreciated princess to kick-arse queen is quite an impressive journey and I've never stopped rooting for her and enjoying seeing her become more than anyone expected her to be (well, everyone except maybe Hector). We see her holding her own with magic, fighting against the elements and making the kind of hard choices someone in charge needs to make, all of that without losing her kindness and loyalty to her friends.
Hector's character has also grown from what was the side character of Captain of the Royal Guard and friend and ally to Elisa to be the front stage love interest. He's not just there to add conflict, he compliments Elisa's way of thinking with his dependable common sense and tactical knowledge and he believes in her in a way even she has a hard time believing on occasions. Their relationship grows during the perils of the journey and it is cemented during all the rescuing of each other that the end up doing!
The plot has some very interesting revelations, a lot of political maneuvering and quite a few unexpected twists and revelations. We discover so much more about Inverno and Joya D'Arena and their pasts even if, at least in my case, one is left with the feeling that there is more to be found out about the past.
We meet new friends and enemies, we say goodbye to some dear old and new and we are left with a lot of hope for the future.
An extremely worthy ending for my favourite YA fantasy trilogy and very well deserved 4 and a half stars!!
View all my reviews
I'm gonna start with the final book on a trilogy that wrapped up a fantastic fantasy series and that I'm sad to see ended even if it was quite a satisfying one.
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae CarsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
When it comes to the final book in a trilogy you've loved you always approach with a mix of excitement, caution and a little sadness. You really don't want the story with this characters to end, but you really need to know what happens after that ending in book 2 and you're hoping the final book will be as good as the previous books.
Well, The Bitter Kingdom did all that and more, so it's quite an ending for a great fantasy series. Since it's the final book in the trilogy I'm gonna make sure I don't give any spoilers for it here, but there will be spoilers for book 1 and 2 for sure.
The Bitter Kingdom picks up right where Crown of Embers left us, with Hector kidnapped by the enemy to try and force Elisa's hand, and with Elisa decided to not cower and do the rescuing herself with her more trusted friends' help and an enemy that is a friend to help them find their way into Inviernos territory. The book is told in dual perspective, alternating between Elisa's and Hector's and it really compliments very well not just on the emotional narrative, but also on showing us a bigger picture of the story.
The Bitter Kingdom is a journey in which Elisa continues to discover who she is on her own, not just as a queen, not just as a Joyan and most definitely, not just as a Godstone bearer. The growth of Elisa's character from self-deprecating pampered and underappreciated princess to kick-arse queen is quite an impressive journey and I've never stopped rooting for her and enjoying seeing her become more than anyone expected her to be (well, everyone except maybe Hector). We see her holding her own with magic, fighting against the elements and making the kind of hard choices someone in charge needs to make, all of that without losing her kindness and loyalty to her friends.
Hector's character has also grown from what was the side character of Captain of the Royal Guard and friend and ally to Elisa to be the front stage love interest. He's not just there to add conflict, he compliments Elisa's way of thinking with his dependable common sense and tactical knowledge and he believes in her in a way even she has a hard time believing on occasions. Their relationship grows during the perils of the journey and it is cemented during all the rescuing of each other that the end up doing!
The plot has some very interesting revelations, a lot of political maneuvering and quite a few unexpected twists and revelations. We discover so much more about Inverno and Joya D'Arena and their pasts even if, at least in my case, one is left with the feeling that there is more to be found out about the past.
We meet new friends and enemies, we say goodbye to some dear old and new and we are left with a lot of hope for the future.
An extremely worthy ending for my favourite YA fantasy trilogy and very well deserved 4 and a half stars!!
View all my reviews
Yay! Glad you loved this :D I did too. <3 Oh, Hector is just amazing. Such a great Fantasy series.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on my blog last week. <3
Love, Carina @ Carina's Books
Thank you Carina!
DeleteYeah, Hector is such a great guy! Capable of respecting Elisa's awesomeness and being awesome on his own too!
You are really a bookworm, aren't you!
ReplyDelete:)
That I am!! =D Unrepentantly so!
Delete