Book Review: Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3), by Kristin Cashore

Finally got a chance to finish another book!  I am soooo glad the weekend's finally here!

Genre: YA Fantasy
Date Published: 2012
Number Of Pages: 537 pages
Publisher: Dial Books

Goodreads

Synopsis: In a world where a small percentage of people have an extreme skill called a Grace, King Leck's Grace allowed him to tell lies that everyone believed. 
When Bitterblue became queen at ten years old, she thought her father's murder meant the end of his violent, sociopathic influence. 
She was wrong. 
The intensely anticipated companion to the New York Times bestsellers Graceling and Fire is even more "rageful, exhilarating, wistful," and romantic. Now eighteen and believing her advisors are overprotecting her, Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle at night to walk the streets of her own city, disguised and alone--risking her life as well as her heart. 

My Rating:

★★★★★ and an official favorite!

...for being an excellent conclusion to an excellent trilogy

Fire (Graceling Realm #2), by Kristin Cashore

Genre: YA Fantasy
Date Published: October 2009
Length: 461 pages
Source: Owned copy

Goodreads | Barnes&Noble | Amazon

Synopsis: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom. If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

My Rating:

★★★★★ and a ♥ (again!)

...for being a strong and empowering novel.

Book Review: Graceling (Graceling Realm #1), by Kristin Cashore

Genre: YA Fantasy
Number Of Pages: 471 pages

Goodreads

Synopsis: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.
She never expects to become Po's friend.
She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...

My Rating:

★★★★★ and a ♥

....For continuing to be an empowering novel for girls

My Thoughts:

I love this book. It isn't the best written story ever, and there are parts of it where you feel like it could go just a little bit faster, but the female protagonist completely makes up for anything that's lacking.

We see this everywhere nowadays: movies/books with strong female lead. Sometimes, it makes sense to say that the female character is a strong character. Other times, we're left wondering "what strong female character?" For me, any female protagonist who doesn't need a guy in any way is a strong character. Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy has Lisbeth Salander. Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy has Katniss Everdeen.
And now Graceling has Katsa of the Middluns.
Katsa doesn't need a guy to help her. At all. No one can beat her in a fight, and there is nothing out there that she can't do. She does have one weakness, of course, but she is able to overcome that weakness on her own, without a guy's help. The male character, Po, isn't really there because she absolutely needs him; he's there more as an emotional element to the story than anything else.
I really appreciate stories where one can truly say there's a strong female protagonist, and that's why this book will continue to be a favorite of mine for a good long time. The writing is simple, the plot tends to drag in places, but Katsa turns out to be worth every minute of it! Highly recommended for anyone who likes to read stories with "a strong female lead".

Favorite Spotlight Part II: The Graceling Realm Trilogy, by Kristin Cashore

Time for Favorite Spotlight number two!  And this one is a fun one!

The Graceling Realm Trilogy

By Kristin Cashore

# Of Books: 3
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Words To Describe These Books: Creative, Exciting, Empowering, Strong Female Leads

I first read this YA series a few years ago.  I can't remember why I picked it up (I think someone else on Shelfari liked it a lot), but I do remember getting hooked from the very beginning.