Bitterblue (Seven Kingdoms #3)

Bitterblue is the third book in the Seven Kingdoms series by Kristin Cashore - a great fantasy series that we hope will continue on for many, many books. In the Kingdoms when people are born with an extreme skill it is called a grace and the person a graceling.

Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea. She became the queen when her horrible father was killed ten years ago. Unfortunately, the kingdom is still recovering from King Leck's reign. Leck was a graceling who had the gift of mind control - and he used it to abuse everyone around him while telling their minds that they liked it.

Bitterblue relies on her advisers to tell her how things are going outside of the castle. But she is beginning to feel like she needs to see her city for herself (other than her annual tour of the nicest parts). When she disguises herself and sneaks out of the caste, she is not completely surprised that the city is not as wonderful as she has been told. Many of the buildings are falling down and many of the people cannot read.

What follows is the story of a queen beginning to claim the power of her office and try to help her people - but, of course, it is not as simple as all of that. Someone is killing those in the city who are trying to improve things and Bitterblue is not sure who she can trust. When her friends Katsa and Po - who are on a secret council to overthrow bad kings - come to visit she may have a chance to change things.

Though no review could accurately capture the magical writing of Kristin Cashore, please know that you need to read this series. She is one of the best writers around today and deserves awards and accolades left and right! I will be rereading the series immediately.

Cashore, Kristin. (2012). Bitterblue. New York: Dial Books.

Fire (Seven Kingdoms #2)

Fire by Kristin Cashore is a brilliant follow up to her novel Graceling and the second book in the Seven Kingdoms series. This second book takes place well before the original with no overlapping characters but treats readers to more fascinating characters in the seven kingdoms.

Fire is made up of two stories that eventually converge. One is of a graceling (one with a special talent) who can alter people's minds. The other is the story of a human monster - in the land of the Dells there are ordinary creatures and then monster creatures of each species. Monsters are bright and beautiful and have power to influence the minds of humans for their own needs.

Lady Fire is a monster who refuses to use her powers to harm others and, in fact, only uses them to protect herself. But when she is called upon by the king to help protect the Dells, she must decide if her power can be used for the protection of others as well.

Fire is a book that is both beautiful and brutal while it addresses the nature of humans - using a monster who is humane and a man who is a monster. Cashore explores issues that are often glossed over in fiction and leaves the reader not only enjoying an addictive story, but thinking about their own role in the world.

Cashore, Kristin. (2009). Fire. New York: Dial Books.

Graceling (Seven Kingdoms #1)

Graceling is the debut novel by Kristin Cashore. It is the first in a series featuring the same land if not always the same characters.

When people are born with an extreme skill it is called a grace and the person a Graceling. The skill is accompanied by the changing of their eye color so that the eyes are two different colors.

Katsa's grace is the grace of killing - a grace she is burdened with and must learn to control so that she doesn't hurt someone she does not intend to hurt. Her uncle, the king of Middluns uses her grace to keep his citizens in line. Her reputation as a thug has spread across all seven kingdoms that make up the land. But Katsa does not enjoy hurting others.

To balance the pain she causes in the name of the king, Katsa has formed a secret council that helps people. During the council rescue of an old man she meets a strange man from the kingdom of Lienid - the first person she has met who can almost match her skill as a fighter. Together they will explore their graces and try to save a young princess in trouble.

Cashore has written a great young adult fantasy novel in Graceling. I will be watching her closely awaiting her next book!

Cashore, Kristin. (2008). Graceling. New York: Houghton Mifflin.