Winterkeep (Graceling Realm)

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Again, at the time of the book, both parties are already adults that can consent and have been friends for many years but it was difficult to wrap my mind around it. Which I did at the end. Because, honestly, they are really cute together and good for each other. I also loved the exploration of a new setting with different political issues that were still reminiscent of problems in the previous books, with the ever familiar political corruption simmering underneath. The themes of this book (and series) are brilliant and all too recognizable in our own world, from the varying impacts of abuse and trauma, on children and animals and kids long grown up but still learning how to cope with the lingering effects—to the endless, cyclical fight to detect and stop corruption from blooming where there is power (and someone, somewhere, always has power). In Winterkeep specifically, I was also pleasantly surprised to see environmentalism and the effects of irresponsible governments on nature. Cashore always delves into these issues with so much nuance, grace, and care for the characters who are at the heart of it, while balancing some of the darker content with other lighter moments, and Winterkeep is no exception.

This world kept wanting to be bigger than she was letting it. Why did she keep trapping herself inside small things? Delicately, inexorably plotted, this is a captivating novel of action and ideas . . .an accomplishment all the more admirable in that Cashore achieves it largely through characterization.”— Horn Book, starred review i do not know how this book was allowed to get made in its current state, nor do i understand the conditions of its making. (publishing is an upside-down town, but cashore thanks her longtime editor, the same as its prior books.) the quality of the prose drops off a sharp and immediate cliff and remains in a freefall no one caught. a character says "creepy" as a scene-setting descriptor at least five times—different characters, i mean. residents of a medieval-esque fantasyland that has always been casually, unstiltedly a convincing medieval-esque fantasyland will just be, like, "my boyfriend." Though I don’t believe it to be notably longer than the other books in the series, it *felt* hugely overlong. It’s a slow slog punctuated by redeeming moments that—while charming—aren’t enough to stop the reader from feeling mired in an unengaging political plot and entirely too much filler material. For the past five years, Bitterblue has reigned as Queen of Monsea, heroically rebuilding her nation after her father’s horrific rule. After learning about the land of Torla in the east, she sends envoys to the closest nation there: Winterkeep—a place where telepathic foxes bond with humans, and people fly across the sky in wondrous airships. But when the envoys never return, having drowned under suspicious circumstances, Bitterblue sets off for Winterkeep herself, along with her spy Hava and her trusted colleague Giddon. On the way, tragedy strikes again—a tragedy with devastating political and personal ramifications.Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons.

The highly anticipated next book in the New York Timesbestselling, award-winning Graceling Realm series, which has sold 1.7 million copies. I especially enjoyed Giddon's character arc and the adventurous Telepathic Fox's pov. Louvisa's pov is challenging but utterly pitch perfect for someone surviving in the middle of a situation of physical and emotional abuse without really allowing herself to know that's what's going on because there's no room to process it while it's happening. For the past five years, Bitterblue has reigned as Queen of Monsea, heroically rebuilding her nation after her father’s horrific rule. After learning about the land of Torla in the east, she sends envoys to the closest nation there: Winterkeep–a place where telepathic foxes bond with humans, and people fly across the sky in wondrous airships. But when the envoys never return, having drowned under suspicious circumstances, Bitterblue sets off for Winterkeep herself, along with her spy Hava and her trusted colleague Giddon. On the way, tragedy strikes again–a tragedy with devastating political and personal ramifications. The beginning of the book, despite how familiar I felt with the characters and world, took me a while to get into. one of my best traits is that I am normal about characters from the Graceling Realm series. No one would ever accuse me of being deeply obsessed with this series to a ludicrous degree and thinking about it constantly. That would be crazy.The fact that there is a pretty significant age gap between them made me, well, uncomfortable. Usually, I can get behind that fact since both characters are adults and all but the fact that one of the parties had known the other since they were children, and they were already basically adults at that point, did give me pause and left me reeling. Cashore’s fourth Graceling novel features two strong, but very different, female protagonists . . .this gripping tale of spies, romantic tension and moral dilemmas . . . [A]magnificent addition to the series.”— Shelf Awareness, starred review It had taken her so long to give up that key, the key to her cage. But it was a cage that no longer existed, because she’d destroyed it, by herself.”

Kristin Cashore has revealed that the next Graceling Realm book is in revisions, and Hava is one of the characters. Imagine a whole book about war time espionage with this sarcastic BAMF. I CAN'T WAIT. The queen had offered to shoulder her burden, but Lovisa wanted strong shoulders of her own, to carry well whatever she was given.” Cashore revealed that Nev's POV focusing on her animal medicine studies and her shitty boyfriend was cut in the final draft. It's a shame but understandable. We still got a lot of her story though and I enjoyed every bit of it. This book left me with the same questions I had about the earlier books in the series, but more so. Who is the audience for this book? The world building is ok, but the elements, especially the political elements that drive the plot, are very simplistic -- which makes you think of middle grade fiction, as do the telepathic purple dolphins and blue foxes. And then there is the explicit and promiscuous sex. So not so middle grade. And then there is a sadism that is a feature of the series. I understand that, especially in a quest book, the children or young adults need to be on their own, but every parent in this series is a true sadist, or a homicidal maniac, or dead, often at the heads of their spouse. The story has no moral center, for any of the characters -- their motto is survival at any cost.Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dial Books for this ARC chapter sample in exchange for an honest review I would highly compare Winterkeep to Fire because Cashore is expanding this world to new lengths never before seen. It also takes some time for the intense action sequences to happen, but it is well worth it. Just because the action isn’t as forthcoming as it is in Graceling does not mean this book isn’t incredible. It’s very political to be honest. Lots of sneaking and scheming. Kristin Cashore writes grief so beautifully??? I teared up so many times reading character reactions/processing their grief, even when I knew the character in question wasn't dead. I could just FEEL their devastation.