Blog Tour: The Bitter Kingdom (Review)

The Bitter Kingdom  by Rae Carson

Release: August 27, 2013

Source: Blog Tour ARC 
Publisher: Greenwillow
Pages: 448 
Series: The Girl of Fire and Thorns #3

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The epic conclusion to Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. The seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen will travel into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny.

Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most.

Elisa is a Queen, her true love is being held captive, and she must now enter dangerous enemy territory to rescue him and save her country from civil war. It's the final showdown between Inviernos and Joyans. Elisa's journey leads her down a path of discovery and knowledge. She discovers her true purpose, the "act of service" meant for her when God put the stone in her navel. 

With that said, this epic conclusion to The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy doesn't disappoint. It is action-packed, and takes some twists and turns I was not expecting. Specifically, Elisa's "act of service". I admit, her act of service seemed almost ordinary. After giving it some thought, though, I know that it should have been her purpose all along.

Two things stand out in this series, making it one of my favorites series of all-time: character development and world building. 

I've said it before, but Elisa's character development is by-far the best Young Adult literature has to offer. She goes from being insecure and uncertain to a Queen that has taken control and seeks to save her country, no matter the cost. And Hector! He continues to be swoon worthy--my ultimate guy crush. The other cast of characters are equally as fascinating and complex.

And then the world, it's fantastic. It's rich with religious culture and traditions that make the existence of Godstones not only believable, but essential. From the desert landscape, all the way to the icy mountains that boarder Invierno land, this world is mind-blowing. I can only hope Rae revisits this world one day.

As for The Bitter Kingdom, it's the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. There is definite resolution, but not without some heartache and blood shed along the way. It isn't my favorite book in this series, but it more than met my expectations. If you haven't read The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and you love fantasy action and adventure, this is the book for you. I don't think my love for this series will ever waver. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Rae Carson is the award-winning author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy. She was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for Fall 2011 and was a finalist for the Morris, Cybils, and Andre Norton Awards. Her first novel was named to ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list.

Rae lives in Ohio with her husband, novelist C.C. Finlay, two stepsons, and two very naughty kitties. She is hard at work on her next trilogy.

Website /Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

TOUR SCHEDULE 

8/19/2013- Ivy Book Bindings- Guest Post

8/20/2013- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Interview

8/21/2013- Refracted Light Reviews- Review

8/22/2013- A Backwards Story- Review

8/23/2013- The Starry-Eyed Revue- Interview

8/26/2013- Candace's Book Blog- Review

8/27/2013- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

8/28/2013- Citrus Reads- Review

8/29/2013- Hobbitsies- Interview

8/30/2013- Fiktshun- Guest Post

GIVEAWAY 

A signed set of the complete trilogy. US Only

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