The Bitter Kingdom

Girl of Fire and Thorns #3

by Rae Carson

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure

449 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2013

About the author

Rae Carson was born in 1973 in California and now lives in Arizona. She developed an enthusiasm for storytelling in her earliest childhood. She studied social sciences and worked in various industries after graduating from university before she realized her dream and became a writer. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is her debut novel.

In her own words, she "write[s] books about teens who must do brave things. [Her] books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. [She] especially love[s] to write about questions [she doesn't] know the answers to."

Has also published as Rae Carson Finlay.

Reviews

[Keertana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddamn. Rae Carson, you are a genius. A genius among geniuses. If you only promise to write books that are this good in the future, I will raise a pedestal in your honor. No joke.

The Bitter Kingdom is damn near perfect. Hell, it probably is perfect but since I'm too blinded by the perfection that is Hector, I'm unable to call anything else perfect in comparison to him. *swoons*

Top 5 Reasons To Read The Bitter Kingdom. (In case you needed any convincing...which you HOPEFULLY don't because if you do, you are INSANE.)

1. HECTOR! As if there was a better reason to read this book. The Bitter Kingdom has a few glimpses into Hector's mind and what I loved about these were that they were short, concise, and yet carried so much weight in the story. The Bitter Kingdom is not a loud, in-your-face conclusion the way Clockwork Princess is. Quite thankfully, there is no endless drama and breaking of hearts and tears and useless epilogues. Instead, there is a slow, steady, and loyal burn of everything from trust to friendship to romance. The Bitter Kingdom is one of those conclusions to look back upon and smile; one that will induce a warmth throughout your whole body. It is simply so very sweet and true and the strength of the romance in this installment lies not with sexual tension (Carson teased us enough with CoE!), but rather with simple one-line statements that cause your stomach to flip and flutter. Furthermore, Carson doesn't try to additionally build the existing relationship between Hector and Elisa. Instead, what she does is portray them as equals and convey to us the strength of their bond. It's beautiful and will leave you grinning like a complete fan-girl or just sighing softly as you flip through these pages.

2. Elisa. I just love this girl. From Book 1 to Book 2, we've seen her grow and change tremendously and it truly seems as if Elisa is at her peak by the end of Crown of Embers but Carson continues to push her, to test her, to see how far she can go and how strong she can become. And I love that. And, best of all, I love that she grows into her own in this novel without the guidance of the people she's always had. Without Hector, without Ximena, without Alejandro or her father or her sister, Elisa finds herself and becomes who she truly is, stripped away of all that. And it's more than a little marvelous to witness.

3. Storm! Honestly, the only other book I've read that features a close friendship between a man and a woman is Through the Ever Night. I absolutely loved the tight friendship between Aria and Roar in that book and I love the bond that forms between Storm and Elisa in this one. It's more subtle and Storm doesn't have the charismatic aura that Roar possesses, but I loved these two just the same, if not more.

4. Mara. Elisa and Mara truly grew to care for one another and become a support system for each other in Crown of Embers and while that continues, it also changes in this installment. One of the most egregious faults with this book probably lay in its subtlety of everything. From the romance to the friendships to growth, nothing is overly emphasized or stressed, rather being touched upon and intricately woven into the plot line. While this worked out perfectly for me, mostly because it felt so much more realistic and the development I wanted between the characters already had such a strong foundation, it might affect other readers a bit more. Doubtful, but it might. On the other hand, though, I truly appreciated the skill with which Carson wrote this piece.

5. THE MINES OF MORIA! YOU SHALL NOT PASS! Seriously, I'm not even kidding, there ARE mines in this book. Admittedly, when I first saw the mention of "mines" and "snow" and "mountain" all I could think about was Lord of the Rings and I was a little worried Carson would try to pull a Tolkien. But, thankfully, she doesn't and the adventure scenes in this are riveting, well-written, and covered with plot-twists. I love that The Bitter Kingdom finally reveals to us the extent of world-building in this realm, its past, its present, and tackles on so much more too. Very lightly, Carson touches upon more religious themes, but mostly she discusses different cultures, diplomacy, and co-existence. Like its predecessor, this novel contains a LOT of politics and political intrigue, full with Megan Whalen Turner-esque twists that will come barreling out of nowhere. And it is so, so good.

If you haven't already figured out, The Bitter Kingdom is not only a must-read, it's a must-pre-order-now-and-make-a-pedestal-for-Rae-Carson-already read. In fact, if there are any qualms I have with this book, it is only that there wasn't nearly as much making-out between Hector and Elisa as I wanted. Granted, even if this whole book was just making-out between Hector and Elisa, it STILL wouldn't be enough, which just goes to show how unbelievably amazing this novel is. Rae Carson, you have my heart. Just don't go breaking it with your next series. Or making it weep for swoon-worthy guys like Hector. Honestly, my heart can only take so much "When will my Prince Charming Hector come?" longing.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

HECTOR!!!!



Hector has quickly become one of my favorite YA book boys. I'm not even sure what's so swoony about him, besides the fact that he's marvelous. If you've read the books, you know. You just know. Once he shaved that moustache, it was one big swoonfest every time he stepped into the scene.

I also really loved the new setting in this book! Girl of Fire and Thorns had a desert feel to it, and Crown of Embers had more of a tropical thing going on. But Bitter Kingdom is definitely set in a cold, snowy world that really sets this one apart from the other two. You could tell that Rae Carson really had a lot of fun with this setting, and I definitely loved it!

STORM!!!



I. Love. This. Character.

I didn't really know what to feel for him in the beginning of Crown of Embers, but as the book went on, he really started growing on me. Then I looked up about 75% of the way through and realized that i absolutely loved him. He's even more fabulous in The Bitter Kingdom, with his brutal honesty and stoicism. After Hector and Elisa, he's my favorite character by far. Elisa can have Hector, but can I have Storm?

Is that weird?
I don't know.
Whatever.
He's awesome.
#noshame


ELISA!



Elisa is one of my absolute favorite heroines in YA. I've loved watching her grow and mature throughout the series, and I think she really stepped into her own in The Bitter Kingdom. She's developed so much from the self-loathing princess that we met in The Girl of Fire and Thorns. And I love that her inner change is mirrored with her outer change, the way her body transforms from something soft and unused to something hardened by trials--it's all so metaphorical, and I heart it.

All the other characters are fantastic, as well. I loved our new addition of Mula, the slave girl. She cracked me up. And Belén and Mara were great too. (On a side note: I really like that Belén is given the chance to redeem himself, which totally surprised me. Rae Carson is a tricksy lady for sure, always getting the jump on me with the way she plots her stories...)

And besides characters (which is definitely my favorite part of this series), I also really liked the plot of this book. I liked that we got to see Invierno, that the romance between Elisa and Hector finally surfaces for real, and that they travel underground via tunnels a la the Mines of Moria from The Lord of the Rings.

Really, this book was just awesome. Here's looking at you, Rae Carson.


You're awesome.


But...but...now the series is over.



How am I going to get my YA high fantasy fix anymore?! I guess I'll have to throw my net a little wider, read some Melina Marchetta and Cinda Williams Chima.

But until then, I'll just be mourning the loss of one of my favorite fantasy series.

Don't mind me, I'm just weeping.

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, while technically perfect and a highly enjoyable read---fell a bit short of my expectations. I've enjoyed the other books in the series, but I don't know...I can't exactly pinpoint it, but this book just didn't leave me completely satisfied; it just feels like I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I said it was technically perfect, and I meant it. The writing is great, the plot is quick-paced, and action-filled; character development was well-done. It does have its faults, but they are minor, and they did not bother me too much. It just lacked...something.

Or maybe I'm just having an off-day.

This is a continuation of a series, and you do need to read the previous books. There is a lot going on in this book, guys. I hate to use the clichéd phrase "the action never stops," but in the case of this book, it really is true, and it is a lot of fun. Right off the bat, Elisa and company are on the run. There is no explanation of what was going on, we are immediately immersed in the midst of Elisa going in pursuit of the captured Hector. There is no slow moment; they cannot afford to lose any time at all. Back in their country, there might be an imminent civil war, and they are under danger from the Inviernos, so they have to rush rush rush; there is no time to waste.

For a good 75% of the book, we are on the move, constantly traveling, through mountains and forests and bad weather, snowstorms, and---the mines of Moria!!!!! I giggled when we came across that scene, because it was so reminiscent of The Fellowship of the Rings, even if it's not that similar. Come on, traveling through terrible weather, and having no other choice but to take an alternate route through the possibly treacherous mines? Nevertheless, that was probably my favorite segment of the book...mostly because I keep drawing mental comparisons.

New characters are introduced, but only a few, and they are all relevant. I really think the entire book was well-written, I was never bored, the party's actions and decisions are rational, the plot moved along at an easily comprehensible pace, and I really loved that the character all play a significant role in the events of the book. There are no extraneous characters here.

I have one wee complaint about Elisa. In the previous books, she is plagued with self-doubt, and I loved watching her grow. I have always wished that Elisa would become a stronger character. Well, um, I have to kind of eat my words, here, because I felt that in this book, she is a little bit too strong, a little bit too perfect. It seems like such a stupid grievance, but while Elisa still has her moments of doubt, her moments of silliness, they are overcome almost immediately, as she grits her teeth and powers through it. The self-doubt is still there, but it is minute, because of her determination to just get through this. She becomes a little bit too much of a martyr, for my liking. And I KNOW, I KNOW that she has to make all these sacrifices because of who she is...I still kind of miss her weaknesses.

What I do love about Elisa is---finally, her acceptance of her own body, her own beauty.

“You look beautiful,” Alodia says.
I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. “I’m beautiful to the one person who matters.”
She nods. “Hector’s mouth will drop open when he sees you.”
“I hope so. But I meant me. I’m beautiful to me.”

The other characters, Belén, Mara, Hector, Storm, all feature promimently in this book as Elisa continues her quest, and they are truly essential to the story. I would venture to say that Hector is the weakest character in terms of character development, and to me, he was altogether forgettable, at times. If not for his status as Elisa's love, I don't think I would remember Hector much at all within this book. I love Mara and Belén's growing relationship, although I did want to bonk Mara on the head sometimes, for all her stubbornness.

Of all the characters, I think I fell a little bit in love with Storm in this book...he plays a major role in the events, and his loyalty and devotion (that never crosses the line into love, no love triangle here, not even a hint of it, HALLELUJAH) to Elisa, as well as his own character development made him the most attractive character to me. I do love my haughty, stoic characters, who nurture a warm interior, and Storm is the personification of that. He just needs a good cuddle, really!

I could have done without the addition of Mula as a side character in the book. I seriously doubt Elisa and Mara's judgment when they decided to bring her on, and I still seriously doubt their judgment after finishing the book. Given their mission, bringing Mula with them was a decision that felt incredibly unwise. She turned out to be useful, but they didn't know that at the time. It was a decision made from the heart, not the head, and there were too many ways that this choice could have gone wrong and bite them in the ass. A child has no place on a mission of such importance, and could only have brought them down.

“Are you the commander?” Mula asks, squatting down near his head. He manages a nod as his eyes are drifting closed. “I’m Mula, but that’s just my name for now. Did you know that Elisa is the queen? She has a sparkle stone. She healed me because I’m her best slave. Want to see my feet?”

I also found Mula incredibly annoying.

I wanted less Mula, and more of another new character, Waterfall.

The plot seems too much at times. There were so much going on in this book, that at times, some things felt really rushed. The last part of the book could easily be split into a book of its own; things were glossed over and events just resolved themselves too easily, for the sake of time and space constraints within in the last section of the book. I am glad that this series drew to a satisfying conclusion, but I can't help thinking this book would have been a lot better, split into two. For a book of this quality, I would not mind the wait.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

you know what?

I like Hector.

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You look beautiful," Alodia says.
I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. "I’m beautiful to the one person who matters."
She nods. "Hector’s mouth is going to drop open when he sees you.”
“I hope so. But I meant me. I’m beautiful to me.”

This trilogy definitely holds a special place in my heart.The characters are so wonderful,especially Elisa who develops so much as a character and Hector who shows us what an unconditional love is.I've never been prouder of a book character before as much as I'm proud of Elisa.And Hector.And Storm.And Mara.♥ Yes,this book had its flaws but it made me feel all the feels.



I only wish that we got more romantic scenes between Hector and Elisa and that Alodia was maybe portrayed a bit differently. But overall,this trilogy is really something special and delicate-even though the first book is a bit controversial,the second and third book are definitely amazing and worth all the hype.If anything else,I think this trilogy deserves more hype.It's really really good.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read time

I'm so happy. This series has held up so well. it is one of my favorite underrated series, with one of the best slow burn romances in it. Also, how could I ever forget Red Sparkle Stone, she is amazing.



It would destroy me to have you just a little

The Bitter Kingdom is the perfect ending to the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. Rae Carson has hit this one out of the park with the addition of a few new characters and the resurrection of other favorites from the first two books in the series. In addition there are scenes from Hector’s POV with added so much depth and understanding to his character that I loved him even more, if that was possible.

The Bitter Kingdom starts almost immediately after Crown of Embers and Elisa is on the way to find and save Hector. With the help of Mara, Belén and Storm, Elisa travels into enemy territory to destroy the power source of the Invierne and save the man she loves. This is such an action packed story full of trials, obstacles and adventures. Just when one problem is solved another jumps into its place, the road to Inveirne and back to save Elisa’s own kingdom is perilous.

Elisa really grows into herself on the journey and finds a special strength within herself from an unexpected place, she is not just the bearer of the Godstone, she is a great ruler in her own right. Elisa is strong and powerful in this book, brave and wickedly smart in her political maneuverings. More than once I was shocked and impressed at the strength she showed and the way she arranged all the alliances.

But there are plenty of tender moments shared between Elisa and Hector along the way to make your heart flutter a little.

”I am strong enough, man enough, to be subject to you.”

Because that is one of the things I loved best from Crown of Embers and this book as well. The growing love between Hector and Elisa that seemed completely organic and ‘real’ never forced or absolutely perfect.

I think sometimes when we find love we pretend it away or ignore it or tell ourselves we’re imagining it. Because it is the most painful kind of hope there is.

The break out character in this story for me was Storm though. He stole the show a few times and I loved the bond that he formed with the group of travelers. He was a great addition to the story and sometimes in his innocence of sarcasm was too funny. He acts harsh and hard but he is fierce and became one of my favorite characters. Red is also a new favorite of mine, she was such a cute child and really added heart to the overall story.

Elisa is wise beyond her years; she has traveled so far from the Girl she was in GoFaT to the woman she is in The Bitter Kingdom. It is bittersweet to leave this series, but I loved how it is tied up with just enough opening for you to think about what will happen later in Elisa’s life and kingdom and I left this world with a big smile on my face and happiness at the overall outcome and fates of those in the story.

Overall Series Ratings Were:
Girl of Fire and Thorns 3.5 stars
Crown of Embers 5 stars
The Bitter Kingdom 4.5 Stars

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. This series. Wow. There are few books that have left me waiting anxiously for what seems like a long time to not end in disappointment. I couldn't imagine, when I started this book, how it would all turn out. I speculated and dreamed up my own ending while waiting to get my hands on this and for once, the book was so much better than anything I could dream up on my own.

Very rarely do books like these end in a way that I thought was just darn perfect. Usually there is something in the ending that leaves me unsatisfied, such as story lines left unfinished or forgotten as the author weaves the story to an ending any which way she can. I felt this was well planned, well written and superbly executed. We even get a bit more of the ending than normal. A lot is usually left to the imagination of the readers, and those who are like me who get frustrated and want to scream "How does it really end?!" get frustrated at the abrupt ending. Rae Carson has taken the time and effort to finish her story. Finish it she did and it was beautiful.

Another thing to praise? Obviously, after reading this story, Rae Carson doesn't feel the need to draw things out as long as possible. There are several things in this book that I thought would span the book, or most of it, but it didn't. The pace is perfect and the story thrived because it wasn't polluted with story filler. I was kept on the edge of my seat with an amazing story and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. This series belongs on the keeper shelf.

[Nastassja · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I am queen of Joya d’Arena and bearer of a living Godstone. I kneel to no one.”

Final books are always the hardest for me to write about. It is the end, and I know that there wouldn't be any sequels and things will stay the way they ended. At some point I am relieved how everything ended but some resolutions left me disappointed.

The plot. The crown of embers ended with Elisa and Co on the run. They must save Hector, find out the truth about Godstones, and then Elisa must again prove to be the ruler of her people and restore her rights as a queen. This part of the trilogy was action packed, without any stops to catch a breathe and think. I believe I have a few white hairs after finishing the book. But it was worth it. We finally have a map and now can see what is where and how to get there. The first part of the book was my favorite. When the characters traveled through abandoned mines, I've become claustrophobic. It was a scary place, really, and the creatures that roam the place... well, let's just say they are not pleasant. Brrrr. Also, we've got some answers but not all of them and some things are left unsaid.

“It is human nature to concoct explanations to fill the great void of the unknown.”

I get that we can't have everything we want, but I hoped for more closure maybe? Things are kind of ended up abruptly for me and I was not prepared to say goodbye. The second book stays my favorite, this one is on the second place.

The characters. Elisa was the strongest character in this book. She almost didn't doubt herself and proved to be a true queen. But I missed the weaker Elise, the one who endured and suffered and won hard. It made her more human to me, not regal but alive. I still am proud of her and her accomplishments, but somehow power made her less interesting character. Though, most moments with her were still amazing and Elise is still one of the best female characters in YA for me.

It’s possible I’ve been through too much, lost too much. War damages different people in different ways; Hector taught me that. King Alejandro became spineless and incapable. His father before him was rash and unpredictable, if I’m to believe court gossip. Perhaps this is my damage. Maybe I am numb to fear because I am broken.

What I really loved about Elise, that she puts more trust in herself than in god now.

The truth is, I’m not sure if God looked out for us, or if we won the day ourselves. I’m not sure of anything about him anymore.

Peace is such hard work. Harder than war. It takes way more effort to forgive than to kill.

Poor Elise, imagine to be on a run almost for a year (I am counting all three books in one); it can be very tiring, especially when you always have to worry if this is a day when doom will finally catch up with you.

These are the kinds of decisions I hate. It seems my choices too often are reduced to a single question: How would I rather die? Starvation? Scorpion venom? Falling to my death?

Yeah, hard choices.

We have chapters from Hector's POV in this book and I liked being in his head. He was strong and wonderful and protective. His relationship with Elise is slow-burning and intense and sensual. I totally ship this couple

“But I’m powerless,” I whisper.
“Yes, powerless,” he echoes. “Which is why I have no desire to do this.” He kisses my forehead, letting his lips linger. “Which is why I can easily say no to this.” He presses his lips to mine, teases them open, and kisses me long and deep. “And why I am not utterly compelled to do this.” He yanks my body against his, and his hand slips under the hem of my shirt. “Do you see, Elisa?” he says, his voice dark. “How little power you have over me?”

He has not stopped grinning like a little boy about to open his Deliverance Day gifts. He leans closer until our lips are a finger’s breadth apart. He brushes a strand of hair from my neck, and I shiver. “If we were alone right now,” he says, “I would . . .”
“I would let you.”

“I love you too,” he whispers in my ear. “Wholly. Madly.”
“Does this mean you’ll marry me?”
“I suppose.”

But. BUT. In the second half of the book Elise was way stronger than Hector. She and only she had to make hard decisions. Hector kind of dangled in the background, and I found that his personality dimmed, and there were other much more interesting characters like Storm. Oh Storm, you are my favorite. He's got a really good character development in this book. I have a serious crush on him. Storm seems so careless on the outside but he cares and oh, how deep he cares.

Storm chuckles. “Queen, chosen one, horse thief. Let it never be said that you are not accomplished.”

He catches Mara and me staring and rubs his hair, frowning. “It will grow back,” he assures us. “By the time we reach Invierne, it will be less shameful.”
“I’m relieved to hear that your vanity has weathered this egregious trial unscathed.”
“Thank y— Oh. Sarcasm again.”

I know, he is so self-assured sometimes, but I adore him.

Storm leans toward her and says in a teaching voice, “Joyans consider it is rude to express one’s true opinion unless it is unequivocally flattering.”
Her brow furrows. “Then how do they express anything at all?”

Haha, indeed, how!

In the afternoon, Storm suggests we make snowshoes. We’ve never heard of such a thing, and we ask him to demonstrate, but he scoffs, saying, “I was a prince of the realm. I bought snowshoes—I didn’t make them.”

“A deathstalker,” Hector says. “Larger relative of the common cave scorpion. They glow when frightened. Their sting is painful and mildly poisonous but not usually serious. The problem is when they swarm. Multiple stings can be lethal.”
“Ugh,” I say.
“Yes. I agree they are ugh,” Storm says.

Really, every moment in Storm's company is a pleasure. If I would compare him to other fictional princes I like, it would be Nikolai from Grisha trilogy. I want a separate spin-off from Storm's POV.

I love the friendship between Storm and Elise. It started rocky but transformed into something really precious:

My heart twists. Storm and I have gone from enemies, to uneasy allies, to grudging friends. I would never tell him so, but I am fond of him.

Talking about the topic of friendship in this book, I'd say it has the best kind of friendship - the one that fought for through thorns with bloody fingernails:

I look around at my companions. “This might be it. The gate of the enemy. None of you are required to accompany me. It’s your choice.”
Belén shrugs. “It’s a perfect plan.”
“As easy as falling in love,” Mara adds.
��Foolproof,” Hector agrees.
I don’t deserve such friends. I blink against the sting of threatening tears and say, “All you Joyans are filthy liars.”

Female friendship is amazing. I have no words, I always wanted a sister and what Mara and Elise have is precious:

There’s a hole inside me that she fills, something I wouldn’t get from being queen or winning a war or even being with Hector.
“You’re the sister I never had,” she adds.
“And you’re the sister I always wish I had.”

Overall.This book was great. Last books of the trilogies are not always fulfilling; often they are disappointing. Compared to them, The bitter kingdom is an amazing conclusion to an amazing series. But still, I can't shake the feeling that something is lost to me, something more; the ending did not make me as happy and filled with satisfaction as I'd like to be when finishing a series I really enjoyed. Maybe it's me and everything is alright with this book, I don't know... It is a highly recommended series from my side and one of the best fantasy YA I've read this year.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 Stars**

A fantastic ending to an amazing trilogy. Elisa's character development was phenomenal. She started out as this character with so much self doubt and fear and ended with so much confidence and bravery. Elisa is one of my favorite female heroines of all time.

I had to take away 1/2 a star because I probably should have read this sooner. It took me a little longer to reconnect with the story and the characters, but once I did I was just so engrossed.

Also, I was just freaking swooning over Elisa and Hector.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usual heroine:
"You steal the man I love? Well, I'm going to cry in the corner for half a book, feel sorry for myself and then just do my best and try to get to you while being stupid once in a while to make the book exciting."
Elisa:
"You steal the man I love? Ha! I will first get a backup plan for my kingdom and then follow you saving lives, yours included, being totally badass, relying on the intelligence of my beloved, and acting like a true warrior."

Seriously though. When everything is taken from Elisa she simply decides to take this exact everything back and to take it one step further by securing the peace between the nations, creating alliances and saving lives. Oh, and becoming champion of course.
There is no hesitation, no doubt in Elisa. This girl used her brain from the very first page of the entire series, but in the final book she becomes a true monarch.
Determined, with an iron will, intelligent and wise.
She stays unbowed without losing her humanity and her heart. Fortunately, she doesn't degrade to a weakling and doesn't give up. To her credit, she doesn't even think about it.
I think we all noticed that in many actually most books the heroines still have some damsel-in-distress traits and very typical weaknesses.
Think about it, how many books did you read where the heroine is not only a queen, has to fulfill a prophecy, is very far from being physically perfect and is presented strong-willed and assertive? I am sure, not many.

Hector is proves that he is a real man in this book. He doesn't doubt Elisa, he is nobel and loyal as always, and he teaches a very important lesson to the reader- sometimes you have to let somebody save you. I loved him in this book.
I don't want to ramble a lot, to be honest. Do you know the feeling when you could complain in a one-star review for ages, but don't want to write a lot in a five-star one?
Yeah.
Secondary characters were as deep and alive as the main characters, the plot was full of interesting twits and turns and didn't lack action. The setting was new and exciting, especially the mines. The plot development and the world itself was very original, it didn't remind me on any other series I've read, which I was thankful for.

Definitely going to come back to this series more than once. I highly recommend it to all those who love fantasy and those who love strong protagonists and something new and refreshing!
Have fun!

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: war, death, animal death, violence, slavery, torture, death of a sibling (not the protagonist's), death of a loved one, serious injury, serious injury to a loved one.

4/7/2019
Sticking with 5 stars this time around, although let's be real: a decent chunk of that is because I ship it a frightening amount.

9/2/2017
On reread, I'm bumping this up to 5 stars. The relationship is perfection. Elisa has come so far from the shrinking violet we met in the first book, and it's awesome to see an overweight character a) get a happy and loving relationship with a guy who thinks she's perfect as she is, b) lose weight through running all over the continent as part of her story, but still talk about how her thighs rub together when she walks and how her arms are chubby and how her legs are now muscly but not skinny, and c) be totally fine with her body, just as it is.

Like, in the first book? Elisa's all "OMG, no wonder Alejandro doesn't want me, look how skinny his mistress is". But by this book, she's all "My body can do awesome things. Food is delicious. I'll never be thin, and I'm 100% okay with that".

Add in awesome secondary characters and the fact that Elisa's service to God isn't what she thinks it's going to be, and you've got yourself one hell of a finale.

15/2/2016
4.5 stars.

There was a LITTLE too much running-all-over-the-map stuff in this one for me to give it a full five stars, but it still wrapped up the trilogy very nicely. Elisa comes into her own so well through the course of the series, and this shows just how far she's come. I love the romantic relationship that unfolds in the course of this story, I love that not everyone gets a happy ending, I love that it's such a Latin-American world.

Essentially, the whole series was a delightful surprise, and I ship it like whoa.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in this series and for me the best one so far. It’s true that I’ve had a bit of a bumpy ride at times but overall I’ve really enjoyed this series.

I had several issues especially with the first book but despite the problems this series has turned out to be addictive reading. I found I just couldn’t put it down.

There’s already loads of great reviews so I’m keeping mine short and sweet.

The fact is I’ve not been very generous with my ratings because things bothered me and I rated accordingly. But having finished it I believe it’s a better series than my ratings suggest.

It’s a great adventure and while the heroine isn’t beautiful and stick thin. What she is is intelligent and loyal, she’s young and yes she makes mistakes but she learns from them.

It’s well worth a read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need this book like Bella needs Edward; in a totally inappropriate, co-dependent and life-consuming way.

2013... I want more of my Hector now.

After reading

4.5 stars. Incredible.

[Shannon A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and sweet ending to this series. I had a lot of fun marathoning it this week :)

[Marija Jesretic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished #2 and oh.my...GLOOOOB! ; ___ ; HECTOOOOOR, OUR LOVE! When everything was getting SO GOOD. Oh, Rae Carson, you know how to push all of our buttons. Thank you much!
Who's the damsel in destress now? ;D

[Maria Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitivamente uma das melhores séries que eu já li até hoje. A parte fantástica não é a melhor de todas, mas a protagonista é maravilhosa!! Ela se desenvolve de uma forma crível e no final você fica desejando ter a metade do autoconhecimento, perseverança e inteligência que ela tem.
O romance é uma parte pequena da série, mas é o mais equilibrado e bonito que eu já li em um livro de YA. Os dois se respeitam como pessoas e amantes. Não nada daquele esquema "preciso te proteger", "morrerei sem você", blah blah blah. É mais, "eu apoio você no que for necessário."
A amizade feminina do livro é maravilhosa também. Na verdade, todas as interações entre mulheres desta série são fantásticas. É a primeira série que realmente menciona a protagonista pensando e tomar anticoncepcional e planejar fazer sexo com alguém. Não é algo que simplesmente acontece e magicamente uma camisinha aparece (wink wink Cidade do Fogo Celestial).
Adorei essa série e muito me surpreende que ainda não tenha sido publicada no Brasil.
Se você está procurando uma série com protagonista forte, romance delicioso e temas feministas, encontrará tudo isso aqui!

[Kells Next Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a good leader, but you're a great ruler. I am strong enough-man enough-to be subject to you.

I know that it took me long to finally finish this amazing trilogy but I don't regret it one bit. It's always such bitter sweet sorrow for me when reading the final in a Fantastic read. All the characters we great. I will especially miss Storm, Elisa and Hector. These three specifically made this read a roll coaster of gratifying pleasure.

I love Carson's style of writing and the lead heroine Elisa was amazing. I personally found it refreshing to have a lead that was ( or should I say ) feels realistic. She's the average girl ( that deals with weight issues, eating binges etc ) that most of us can identify with.

This is a must read for those that have not done so as yet. I'm quite such that you will enjoy it as much as I did. ♥ ♥

~~5 I wish that this would not end Stars~~

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A trilogy that started with superb worldbuilding and atypical characters in The Girl of Fire and Thorns and continued with court intrigue and an epic love story in The Crown and Embers deserved no less than a stellar conclusion. It was with no small amount of trepidation that I picked up Bitter Kingdom into my shaking hands, afraid but eager to learn Elisa and Hector’s fate.
In Crown of Embers, we left Elisa and Hector in a dreadful situation, apart and with far too many obstacles between them, with little hope for the future they both deserved. With that, The Bitter Kingdom promised to be a journey like no other, emotional, intense and entirely satisfying. I dare not imagine the pressure Carson was feeling while writing this finale, but I applaud her for handling it splendidly.

For the most part, Rae Carson gave her trilogy exactly the ending it deserved. We were allowed to witness our favorite characters grow, become even more independent, determined and fierce. We got to see them fight not only for the rights that were given to them by birth, but also for those they’ve acquired through bravery and intelligent handling of every situation. In the end, we were given plenty of time to say goodbye with bittersweet smiles on our faces. But was it all enough? Yes… and no.

There were, admittedly, times when I felt that pages/words could have been put to better use. Bitter Kingdom, while epic in so many ways, slowed down and almost dragged in places. The journey through the desert felt unnecessarily long and tedious, and the tunnels that came later gave me the exact same feeling. I wanted to be with these characters, but I wished they would take me somewhere else.

What The Bitter Kingdom offered that wasn’t there before were several chapters from Hector’s point of view. Usually, introducing another POV so late in a trilogy can be a double-edged sword, but for obvious reasons (i.e. our never-ending love for him) Hector’s was most welcome. I was afraid he’d lose that slightly enigmatic air about him, but even with these glimpses into his thoughts, he remained as fascinating and desirable as ever… if not more.

Along the way and perhaps despite the circumstances, Elisa became a force to be reckoned with. In The Bitter Kingdom, we find her ready to fulfill her role as the queen and bearer of the Godstone. That lost, silent girl we met in Girl of Fire and Thorns is long gone and in her place is a woman and a warrior, intelligent and fierce. Seeing her finally accept herself filled my heart with enormous pride and joy.

While this trilogy isn’t free of faults, it’s still a wonderfully imaginative YA fantasy I’ll never hesitate to recommend. I’m also quite sure we’ll see many more great books from Rae Carson and I’m anxious to learn what comes next.



A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.

[The Jolly Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,2/5
ΘΕΤΙΚΑ

Η γραφή ήταν εξαιρετική. Μου φάνηκε ότι διαβάστηκε πιο εύκολα από τα πρώτα δύο που σημαίνει ότι η Rae Carson βελτιώθηκε σαν συγγραφέας. Παρ’ ότι έγιναν τρεις χιλιάδες πράγματα δεν πήγε πιο αργά σε κάποιο σημείο.

Έχει πολύ δράση. Περίπου στο 70% του βιβλίου, τρέχουμε πέρα δώθε σε βουνά, δάση, σπηλιές, καταιγίδες στη θάλασσα και εχθρικές πόλεις.

Γνωρίζουμε λίγους αλλά σημαντικούς και άμεσα σχετιζόμενους νέους χαρακτήρες (με εξαίρεση ίσως θα έλεγα την Mule, ένα μικρό κοριτσάκι που μπήκε κάπως από το πουθενά). Όλοι είχαν κάποιο ρόλο να παίξουν και δεν υπερέβησαν την χρησιμότητά τους στην ιστορία.

Από όλους τους χαρακτήρες, για εμένα ο καλύτερος ήταν ο Storm. Η αφοσίωσή του και αγάπη του για την Elisa (που όχι δεν δημιουργεί ερωτικό τρίγωνο αλλά μια δυνατή φιλία) μαζί με την ιδιαιτερότητά τους ως προς τη συμπεριφορά και τον τρόπο ομιλίας τον έκαναν τον αγαπημένο μου από όλη τη σειρά. Αν υπήρχε νουβέλα για εκείνον θα την αγόραζα χθες που λέει ο λόγος.

Η ίδια η Elisa βασίζεται πλέον περισσότερο στον εαυτό της και όχι στον Θεό και την πέτρα. Θα ξαναπώ όπως έγραψα στην κριτική του δεύτερου βιβλίου ότι έχει μια από την σωστές σταδιακές δομήσεις χαρακτήρα που έχω δει σε γυναίκες στα βιβλία.

ΑΡΝΗΤΙΚΑ

Ξεκινώντας με το τελευταίο θετικό μου έχω ένα μικρό παράπονο ως προς την Elisa. Από το πρώτο βιβλίο την βλέπουμε να γίνεται μια δυναμική γυναίκα που βάζει πάνω από όλα τον λαό της ακόμα και αν αυτό σημαίνει την προσωπική της δυστυχία. Ωστόσο νιώθω στο τρίτο ξέφυγε λίγο και έγινε υπερβολικά κυνική και σκληρή. Δεν μου έκατσε καλά το ότι ήταν έτοιμη να θυσιάσει ή να ξεγελάσει και να εκμεταλλευτεί αγαπητά της άτομα τόσο εύκολα. Δεν λέω ότι κακώς το έκανε απλώς η Elisa που ξέραμε θα είχε λίγο παραπάνω αμφιβολίες για τις πράξεις της ή τουλάχιστον τύψεις.

Ο Hector σε κάποια σημεία έχασε το ενδιαφέρον μου, κυρίως για όσο ήταν μακριά από την Elisa γιατί συνειδητοποίησα ότι όλος ο χαρακτήρας του χρίστηκε γύρω από την ανάγκη προστασία της Elisa και φυσικά να είναι το ερωτικό ενδιαφέρον οπότε μόλις τον απομακρύναμε ήμουν κάπως…μεεχ.

Παρά την εύκολη γραφή και την ενδιαφέρουσα πλοκή και χαρακτήρες, έλειπε κάτι από την ιστορία. Δεν θα έλεγα ότι λείπει πάλι το συναισθηματικό μου δέσιμο με όσα συμβαίνουν γιατί δεν ήταν ακριβώς αυτό. Αν μιλάγαμε για μαγειρική θα έλεγα ότι λείπει κάποιο έξτρα μπαχαρικό που ξέρω ότι θα το λάτρευε ο ουρανίσκος μου. Δεν μπορώ να προσδιορίσω όμως ποιο στοιχείο ήταν αυτό.

Γενικά

Αρκετά βιβλία που ολοκληρώνουν την σειρά δεν είναι πάντα ικανοποιητικά ούτε νιώθω ότι αποτελούν το τέλειο τέλος της ιστορίας. Το The bitter kingdom όμως δεν πέφτει σε αυτή την κατηγορία. Πιστεύω ότι ήταν η συγγραφέας έκανε πολύ καλή δουλειά και δεν έμεινε κάτι άλυτο.

Πραγματικά δεν περίμενα να αγαπήσω τόσο αυτή τη σειρά γιατί από την περίληψη δεν περιμένεις κάτι πρωτότυπα ενδιαφέρον. Ανυπομονώ απλά να γίνουν εκπτώσεις για να τα αγοράσω και τα τρία και να αποκτήσουν μόνιμη θέση στη βιβλιοθήκη μου.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You look beautiful," Alodia says.
I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. "I’m beautiful to the one person who matters."
She nods. "Hector’s mouth is going to drop open when he sees you.”
“I hope so. But I meant me. I’m beautiful to me.”



When I started Fire and Thorns I definitely did not expect it to become one of my favourite high fantasy series of all time, and yet here I am absolutely loving it.
The first book was enjoyable enough, it was the second two instalments that made me fall in love with all the characters - especially the amazing development of Elisa, the different worlds its magic and believes, and of course the swoonworthy romance. Fire and Thorns was truly memorable fantasy series for me and I know this is not the last time I'll visit this world.

What I loved:

“Storm chuckles. “Queen, chosen one, horse thief. Let it never be said that you are not accomplished.”


* The main heroine Elisa - her believable character, her mistakes and the way she continued to improve and grow throughout this series. Her stunningly realistic character development was one of the best aspects of this series.


“I think sometimes when we find love we pretend it away, or ignore it, or tell ourselves we’re imagining it. Because it is the most painful kind of hope there is.”


* the romance - I simply loved Hector. We even get to see a bit of his own chapters. And let me tel you, this was exactly how I've imagined his voice to be. His chapters were short, on point and greatly contributed to this last book. When I started this series, I definitely didn't expect to find one of my best book boyfriends there, and here I am, completely in love with Lord Commander of the Queen's Guard.
It was such a slow burning romance, and I loved the ways Hector was supportive of Elisa and gave her confidence (especially in book two, in this one we see Elisa gaining confidence wholly of her own). Their relationship was based on friendship, trust and admiration and I loved that! It was a true partnership of two equals.


“Promise me you'll live," he insists. "Because when this is all over, we must discuss how you sometimes kiss me to shut me up, and how I'll no longer stand for it.”


* We finally get to see even more of the fascinating world - and magic - Rae Carson created! I was especially excited about getting to see the frozen Invierne. I loved all the varied cultures Carson created, their different beliefs and histories. The hatred between the two cultures was based on distrust, grudges held too long, ignorance and lack of understanding of one another. The world - its struggles and magic - felt real.


“Storm leans towards her and says in a teaching voice, "Joyans consider it is rude to express one's true opinion unless it is unequivocally flattering."
Her brow furrows. "Then how do the express anything at all?”


* Amazing side characters and friendships - I especially loved the friendship between Elisa and Storm. Here we have an amazing f/m friendship that is not in the least romanticized. How rare and precious in this genre! I also love the friendship between Elisa and Mara. And the sweet cinnamon rolls that were both Red and little prince Rosario.


“Belén shrugs. "It's a perfect plan."
"As easy as falling in love," Mara adds.
"Foolproof," Hector agrees.
I don't deserve such friends. I blink against the sting of threatening tears and say, "All you Joyans are filthy liars.”





“Weren't you scared?" I ask.
"Yes. But it was a good scared."
"There's a good kind?"
"Oh, yes." Her voice drops so low I have to strain to hear. "Orlin made me scared all the time. Scared I would starve. Scared I would get too cold. Scared he would hurt me again or get so mad he'd throw me to one of the men. That was nasty bad scared." She pauses, scuffing her boots against the floor. "But you never hit me, even though I'm your slave... You always feed me. You call me my true name. Now when I'm scared, it's not because of meanness. And today, I chose my own scared. It's always a good scared, when you get to pick it your own self.”
- Red

* All the positive messages behind this story.


“It is human nature to concoct explanations to fill the great void of the unknown.”


As for what I didn't like, I have no idea. I'm always trying to be objective, but in this case I completely loved it all. I had a few problems with the first book, but the next two completely swept me away. If you have read book one and liked it but are hesitant about picking up the sequels, I'd recommend for you to continue with this series. Loved it!





“Peace is such hard work. Harder than war. It takes way more effort to forgive than to kill.”

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Reading:

This book can not come out any sooner can it? I NEED IT LIKE A DROWINGNG MAN NEEDS AIR! (You all know where I got that from.) I've got to wait till August?!?!?!







After Reading:

“I think sometimes when we find love we pretend it away or ignore it or tell ourselves we’re imagining it. Because it is the most painful kind of hope there is.”

This is a very “quick” and horrible a review because I have procrastinated and I never want to right a review after I’ve read another book (said book being . Anyway, here we go!!

This book was such a disappointment to me and I know what some might say and that many will be surprised but I honestly believe that The Crown of Embers was the best book in the whole trilogy. In the last book there were so many suspenseful momenta that had you biting your nails till the very end. There was action and love and just plain awesomeness from both Hector and Elisa and all the other characters like Mara, Belen and Storm (especially Storm cause he’s awesome). Then in this book, though there is still action and love and lots of awesome characters, there was something lacking. Something that Crown of Embers had and this one did not.

Hector has been taken and Elisa and the rest of the gang (minus Ximena) are out to save him. To do so they must go deep into the heart of the cold and bitter Invierne (hence the name The Bitter Kingdom). Then they must go back home and stop the general from taking over Joya d’Arena and the Inviernos from taking over all the other territories. With that you think it will be the awesomest thing EVER!

But it’s not.

It’s great and the story is good and it’s always good to see Hector (my book boyfriend) and Elisa at work together because they have such great chemistry and are awesome together and alone. We also get to see a lot more Storm, which is awesome because he is honest and loyal and even though he is an Invierno he is just as Joyan as the rest of the group. Then there is Mara and Belen, the best friend and the one eyed fighter/spy/awesome person. Now we also get a new character, Mula, who I can’t say much about but the point is that everyone is back and everything is great but there was something off.
I felt like a lot of time was wasted and Ms. Carson just wanted to fill up space and try to tie all the loose ends at the very end and I didn’t like it. I felt like the end was rushed, like it all got resolved both too quickly and too conveniently. Also it wasn’t action-y and suspenseful enough for the end of a trilogy.

The Iron Queen is one of my favorite books EVER! I won’t go too much into detail but in the end you could not stop reading because you knew that it would kill you if you did. There was action till the last page when you really just wanted to start crying because of what had happened. There was no happily ever after (not that I’m against that) but the characters were always fighting and it wasn’t a sit and talk and an easy way around it. In The Bitter Kingdom I felt it lacked that nail biting finish where you fear so badly for these characters and that action and suspense till the very end.

To be honest I’m not even sure if I’m explaining this right or if any of you will understand what the heck I’m saying but too bad, it’s already been said.

In the end, was the book awesome? NO, Crown of Embers was awesome. But, was the book good? YES, very good actually. I totally recommend it to all people with the ability to read (though you might want to start with the first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns).
There you have it folks, the somewhat epic and entirely good book to the Fire and Thorns trilogy! May there be many other books like this and its predecessor, Crown of Embers.

READ ON MY FRIENDS!!!!

[The Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last book in the Fire and Thorns trilogy – the first two being The Girl of Fire and Thorns and The Crown of Embers (Girl of Fire and Thorns). This was a great ending to a wonderful series. A lot of this novel takes place in the realm of the enemy, and it was excellent to see Storm’s homeland. Elisa finally grows into who she is supposed to be with some major surprises along the way. Romance blooms, politics are played, and a fight is had to reclaim a kingdom. This novel also gives us chapters from Hector’s point of view which just rocked. We even get a new gal character from the mountains who is spunky and helpful and fun. Now I am not usually a romantical sort of Captain when it comes to reading if it gets in the way of the plot, but I have to admit the romance was the highlight of this novel for me. I loved seeing the characters grow in their love for each other and the process that entailed. In fact I enjoyed how all the novels dealt with love and loss. I was highly satisfied with the conclusion of the story and the trilogy as a whole. I highly recommend all the books.

If you liked this review by The Captain visit her blog at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...

[h o l l i s · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, what do you expect? I love this series with a fiery passion. Of course it gets a five. But it gets that five because this finale is so much of what YA fantasy isn't. It is unique, remarkable, exceptional, and the character growth, the journeys, are all so realistic and wonderful. And the romaaaaance. Don't even get me started.

I'm not sure this one sucked me in as much as the other audiobooks but that is definitely my fault as I found myself distracted, and rewinding, constantly. Again, my fault, not the book. However I'll admit to not being won over by the second narrator that was introduced in this installment. I got so used to Jennifer Ikeda's narration of Hector, not to mention that he is one of my favourite characters and thus I had huge expectations, that Luis Moreno just didn't totally satisfy my needs. But I'm a picky bitch and I know for a fact that my audio-expert buddy is loving him, so. Whatever.

I know this isn't the last time I'll read this series and it'll be fun to go back to reading it, instead of listening, for my next adventure. But I so loved this new experience and highly recommend not only this series but the audios, too.

[Eilonwy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a bit of dragginess in the middle, this book redeemed itself with a worthy confrontation with the villain, and a perfect character arc and body-acceptance arc for Elisa. This is definitely one of my favorite trilogies.

[Cinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic ending to a fabulous trilogy. I just love Hector being awesome...

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this trilogy and found this to be a very satisfying conclusion.

[Ferdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - Spoilers

-Mostly enjoyed it, the action, characters and romance kept me hooked. However, I was disappointed that the majority of The Bitter Kingdom was basically a long journey - I hate it when a story mainly consists of a journey, I don't find it imaginative or particularly entertaining.

-One of the best aspects of the series was the character growth of the heroine, Elisa. She started off fat and useless and transformed into a confident leader. It was refreshing to read a YA heroine who was a positive role model, most YA books tend to have heroines who constantly whine and who only think about their love interest. Elisa cared about other people and things, her love life wasn't her main priority. I was kind of hoping that Elisa wouldn't end up quite so perfect, her growth was admirable but by the end she did come across as a bit of a Mary Sue. I was glad that she wasn't an intolerable sort of Mary Sue though, she still managed to be likeable.

-I enjoyed the different friendships between Elisa, Belen, Storm and Mara - I prefer it when the heroine isn't a loner, and has important relationships outside of the hero.
Heroines who have friends and family just come across as more layered and complex to me, whereas loner and orphan heroines who have no friends usually read as one dimensional to me.

-I wasn't a fan of Alodia, the way she was with Elisa was awful — she treated Elisa like a child and never gave her a chance to grow. I wish Elisa hadn't been so forgiving and understanding about all the secrets Alodia kept.

-I loved Elisa's and Hector's relationship, they had so much respect and love for each other. Most YA romances tend to be cliched or forced or even abusive. So it was nice reading a sweet, healthy relationship that made sense - Hector's POV only made their romance that much more swoony.

-The worldbuilding and secondary characters were done well. But I wasn't impressed with the actual story, I liked how determined Elisa was to save Hector and her country but I wasn't impressed that most of the plot was just a long journey. I dislike books that consist of the protagonists traveling different places - I always feel like something's missing in stories like that.

-I wasn't happy with not finding out the exact meaning behind Elisa's godstone destiny. Such a big deal was made out of her godstone, I would have liked its purpose to have been a key element in the resolution of the plot, the fact that it wasn't was a let down. The oasis was so random, what was so important about it? Why did Elisa need to discover the oasis? I'm kind of hoping there's a spin-off which explains the mystery behind it.

-All in all, the Fire and Thorns trilogy wasn't the most exciting fantasy series but it was still entertaining, and was thankfully free from over the top teenage angst.

**ARC from Edelweiss

[Dr. Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!!

I think I loved this even more than the other two because 1-Elisa is so confident and uses her intelligence as a power to scheme which is so damn magnificent! and 2- BECAUSE HECTOR HAS A POV AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

I really enjoyed the dual perspective between Hector and Elisa, their povs perfectly compliment each other just like they do. Hector is like literally the best and I have a love/hate relationship with his tendency to sacrifice himself for Elisa. I understand, but HECTOR YOU ARE PRECIOUS. Hear me scream for years about my bae.

Elisa is amazing in this book! I've always loved her character, but after book 2 her confidence in herself has skyrocketed and seeing her use her brain and everything to plan is amazing. I love characters that plot shit.

The plot in this is fast paced and full of answers to questions I've had the whole series. We find out so much about Invierno and the creation of the world. I loved finding out more about Storm and his home country--Storm's character arc in this was awesome and he's become such a great friend to Elisa.

[majo · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a moment when the main character Elisa says that "she is beautiful to the one person who matters" and then she says "I meant me. I'm beautiful to me" and if that doesn't show you the kind of message that this trilogy is all about, I don't know what will.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 1 out of 5]

*reels backward*

I have so many things to say.... where do I begin???

First off I knew going into this book I wasn't going to appreciate it. I have read the 1 + 2 ones and knew why I was reading this. I was reading it to warn others. STAY AWAY!! There are so many problems and bad morals for Christian's to be reading in this, it is not good for our minds or souls. So I was prepared to read just to give a review and now that I've finished I'm more disappointed than I care to admit.

Rae Carson had gotten my attention from book one with her amazing description and beautiful story line. That, however, is how I became so disappointed. Rae Carson has amazing talent and I learned a lot about writing from reading her book with a critical eye. ( An eat the fish but spit out the bones, type of thing ) I was disappointed in her content, in her knowledge level of GOD, in her abuse of real love, and in her display of strong feminist leadership. These morals are not godly, nor are they to be accepted. ( I'm not saying this believing she claims to be Christian, but I'm saying this to warn other Christians of the danger. )

Description : As I said this was the best part in the book. Every sentence contained bright words an imaginative details. It was so picture perfect and worthy of a 6+ stars in my category of words. For words mean a lot to me... but she used them in the wrong purposes. The landscapes, adventures, people, and places were so perfectly described that I cannot fathom how long it took Rae Carson to write all that. All I know was this was encouraging to me.... on some degree.

The Romance : My feelings on this subject are so disgusted. Her description of it and beliefs in it are so mixed up and messed up its sad. Elisa went through so much pain and loss with many different guys and then when she and Hector start to build a relationship I was unnerved. If all the rest were so disposable why all the sudden does she believe she loves him more??? If all the feelings and good times is what love is than I want no part of it. If thats how real love works than one man means no more than the next and their all disposable unless the passionate feelings are there. Love, however, is not correctly portrayed in this book and therefore it's not correct. Love is selfless, love is Kind, love is so much more than passionate feelings for one another. Love Is God.

The Content : This in itself would have turned me from the book. I knew, however, that if I didn't read through it all I couldn't give a Christian review and warn others... so I pressed on. There was so many gory scenes it was stomach churning. Extreme detail on how this man lost an eye or how Elisa killed that guy, or how to kill someone. For example : "I gut him hard, twisting with my knife until he crumples to the ground, sliding from the blade." This passage isn't even the worst one. Other particular content deals with way to much talk of body scenes and even a couple sex scenes ( needless to say I brushed through those... *gags* ). Adultery, flippantly talking of sex, flippantly talking of loving passionately only that person's body, etc / Ugh.... bad. Like I warned you. Also throughout the series there is major talk of God + Magic. Like they are meant to be together and God is portrayed so wrongly. Magic does not belong with God. 👿

Characters : This was the other part that I loved. I said before Rae Carson is gifted, but she's using her talents in a bad way and influencing wrong things. These type of book are some reasons why girls + boys are so messed up today. The people in this series were beautifully described and they were so unique, so original, so similar to the hurting people that walk the streets today. Listen, a relationship will not cure you of the loneliness and hopelessness you feel. Rae Carson did a wonderful job at Making Elisa grow through the series and deal with her problems, change with them and adapt. All the characters were so perfect and so real that when the book ended I was almost sad. Almost, but not.

Elisa : I disliked her selfish confidence at the end, where she believed she could do anything she set her mind to.

Hector : Okay so he's a cool fighter.... but so repulsive. ( And somebody tell me . . . . WHY DOES THE WHOLE WORLD LOVE HIM?? *vomits* )

Mara : I wanted to like her.... so much, but she encouraged Elisa's sinfulness.

Red / Mula : I'm so glad she came along.... but seriously girl. Shut it.

Storm : Ahh yes. His amazing characteristic of not being able to lie, but twist the truth. Reminds me of Fae. Also his sarcasm... xD I loved this guy! 💞 2nd favorite.

Belen : My favorite!! AN ASSASSIN!!! Although his rugged appearance and lustful nature could change....

Rosario : So cute!! 3 >.<

To sum it all up the points in this book were not good. There was way to many feminist ideals and men being servants to women.... Also the love prospects ( which I already went over ) and the God mixed with magic. I'm warning you.... STAY. AWAY. It's disappointing, disgusting, and far to gory. Do not be a fool, pick up that other Book that demands your attention. This one would only break your heart, in more ways than one.