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    The Bitter Kingdom
    The Bitter Kingdom
    The Bitter Kingdom
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Bitter Kingdom

    Written by Rae Carson

    Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda and Luis Moreno

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    “I love this series to pieces and so should you.”—Marie Lu, bestselling author of Warcross

    The third book in Rae Carson’s award-winning and New York Times–bestselling trilogy! In the deeply satisfying conclusion, seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen Elisa travels into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny. Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Brandon Sanderson.

    The champion must not waver. The champion must not fear. The gate of darkness closes.

    Elisa is a fugitive. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves, and they await her at the gate of darkness. Her country is on the brink of civil war, her own soldiers ordered to kill her on sight.

    Elisa will lead her loyal companions deep into the enemy’s kingdom, a land of ice and snow and vicious magic, to rescue Hector and win back her throne. Her power grows with every step, and the shocking secrets she will uncover could change the course of history.

    Don’t miss Empire of Dreams, Rae Carson’s action-packed return to the world of The Girl of Fire and Thorns!

     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateAug 27, 2013
    ISBN9780062280282
    The Bitter Kingdom
    Author

    Rae Carson

    Rae Carson is the author of two bestselling and award-winning trilogies, as well as the acclaimed stand-alone novels Any Sign of Life and The Empire of Dreams. Her debut, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, was named a William C. Morris Award finalist and an Andre Norton Award finalist. Walk on Earth a Stranger was longlisted for the 2015 National Book Award and won the Western Writers of America Spur Award. Her books tend to contain adventure, magic, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. Originally from California, Rae Carson now lives in Ohio with her husband. www.raecarson.com

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    Reviews for The Bitter Kingdom

    4.5/5

    79 ratings28 reviews

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    • 5/5
      A truly triumphant conclusion to a marvelous trilogy. Highly recommended!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Thanks to Edelweiss and Greenwillow Books for allowing me access to this title.

      I LOVED this book! It was a great conclusion to an amazing series. The characters are so easy to relate to and who doesn't love a good romance in their adventures.

      I think my favorite part of this was when Elisa finally accomplishes her purpose. What a great symbol of new life and a new beginning.

      Overall, this was perfect for YA lovers everywhere.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Good ending!!!!

      There were many things I liked about this series and many things I wish the author would have explored more. Overall a good book that I would let my girls read along side of me in their late teens.
    • 4/5
      Parts of it did drag a bit for me but Elisa's story of her chase to rescue Hector and to save her kingdom is compelling and interesting. I felt that everything was wrapped up a little too well but overall it entertained and kept me going throughout. As it was the last book I wanted to know how various parts of the story would resolve and how people would survive. Elisa emerges as her own champion and as champion of many people around her, she makes sacrifices and hard decisions but they're right in context, she also learns from her errors.Sorry it's over, looking forward to more by this author.
    • 5/5
      The third book in the series that began with The Girl of Fire and Thorns finds Elisa on the run from Conde Eduardo, who has begun a civil war in her kingdom. Hector, the captain of her guard, has been captured and Elisa, her maid Mara, Belen and Storm will attempt to rescue him.The first books were truly enjoyable reading, and the final book in the trilogy lived up to my expectations. Elisa is the bearer of a Godstone, and prophecy dictates that she has some great service to perform; she doesn't know what that means, but she strives to make the best decisions and plans that she can for her friends and her country. She has grown much from a princess who was kept in the dark to a more self-assured queen, even if she has moments of questioning her choices and motives. I'm sure I would enjoy revisiting this trilogy in the future.
    • 4/5
      Overall, the trilogy was a great read, although I wouldn't pick it out as a re-read. Book 1 was so promising, with interesting character development which seemed to flatline in Book 2 and certainly not improved in Book 3. However, the plot was complex and kept me interested through the 3rd novel. The final chapters came across as rushed with no real sense of drama, so I was left feeling blah about the dénouement. A few other irritations: Hector's personality becomes less assertive and interesting as the love affair is confirmed; Storm was a strong personality as Lo Chatto but seems relatively wishy washy in the end; and what about Elisa's much touted, fabulous destiny? An oasis in the desert? losing power from her godstone at the end? I'm not convinced that was a strong ending. Perhaps Carson wanted to show Elisa as totally independent of magic to emphasize her personal strength, but I don't think this scheme was credible.
    • 5/5
      Loved this -- pretty much the perfect ending to a fabulous series. Rae Carson's world is so luscious and real, and I have come so far with my love for Elisa's character. There is a true sense of progression in this series that feels more complete and real with each book. From the writing to the gorgeous world building to the characters and the romance, every element in THE BITTER KINGDOM conspires to make me wish this series hadn't come to a close.
    • 4/5
      The thing I like most about Elisa as a heroine is her ability to see what is the best for everyone, not just for herself or her friends. She makes sacrifices and she compromises and she gains loyalty because of this part of her character. It was satisfying to see how her role as the Godstone bearer plays out and how even there she does the unexpected. Satisfying end to the series.
    • 5/5
      Amazing Journey and Wonderful Ending! *sheds tear* I want to yell to the mountains the ending to this book.. and everything inbetween. But I won't spoil it for you. I can't review until I settle down :D
    • 5/5
      The entire series was great, I gave it a solid 5-star rating, perhaps the best book in the series. I got absorbed in the book, couldn't put it down, wanted to know more. Many nights I stayed up late to finish a chapter and ended up reading another one. The Girl of Fire and Thorn Trilogy is well worth your time. Rae Carson, you knocked this out of the park.
    • 4/5
      Great ending to a great trilogy. I'm interested to see if Carson will be coming out with a follow-up series set in the same world; there were a few ends that didn't get wrapped up very neatly, but in such a way that it didn't bother me. It feels like she's got something else planned for this world.
    • 5/5
      *Many thanks to Greenwillow Books and Edelweiss for granting early access to this title. I received a free galley in exchange for an honest review.*

      I almost don't know what to say about this book. I've read a lot of really fabulous books this year and some of them have risen to the top of my all-time favorites list. This is one of them. I kind of feel like most of what I have to say is going to consist of nonsense words, because this book made me feel slightly incoherent. I'll do my best to get my brain functioning again.

      Let's start with the story, shall we?

      Unlike the first two books in the series, The Bitter Kingdom is told from both Elisa and Hector's points of view. Normally, I am not a fan of dual POVs. I find them tedious and difficult to get into. Sometimes the characters bleed together and it's nearly impossible for me to tell who is speaking.

      Not the case here, at all. Rae Carson should teach classes on how to write a dual POV book. It was perfect for me. Hector and Elisa both had a strong voice that came through. Even if the chapters hadn't been labeled, I'd have known who my narrator was. It was so well done. I'd even call it brilliant. Also, it makes me want to get my hands on MORE dual POV books, and that's a rarity for me.

      I loved how the story flowed and how we were allowed to be part of things. I *really* don't want to spoil things for anyone, so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on the story. However, one thing needs to be said: If you think you know what Elisa's quest as the Bearer is, think again. I was STUNNED. Absolutely stunned. It made perfect sense though. (Feel free to comment on this and let me know if I'm cracked for thinking it made sense.) Elisa needed her actual task to be what it was in order to realize that she was strong. That she was capable and ready.

      Also, FINALLY. If you've read it, you know what I mean. *insert giant grin here along with maybe inappropriate giggles*

      Let's move on to characters:

      Hector: As strong as ever...in fact, strong enough to let Elisa do her job without trying to step in and be all manly. He's confident enough in his manhood to let a woman take the lead. I LOVE that about him. Nothing about letting Elisa fulfill her mission unmans him. In fact, for me, it makes him that much MORE manly and amazing. The two of them work together like clockwork and I love it. They're a true partnership.

      Elisa: I don't even know where to start. I've liked Elisa from the very beginning of the series, and this book made me absolutely love her. She is everything I want to be: strong, capable, loving, firm but compassionate, feminine but not girly, trustworthy. Seriously, if I had to pick a character to emulate in life, Elisa would be one of the ladies at the top of my short list. She is brilliant.

      The others: I loved Storm. I love how we get to see him in his element and how he comes into his own. I love that he's allowed to grow and develop as much as any of the Joyans. I love that Rae Carson doesn't make him the bad guy just because he's an Invierno. I love that he's loyal to Elisa AND to his family. He does so much and I adore him.

      Mara/Belen/Ximena: All of them play key parts in this story. Every single one of them is necessary, and I love them all. They're all completely loyal to Elisa in their own ways. They're the types of friends that you want around you. They'll have your back for sure.

      I don't know what else to say about this practically perfect read. Oh, who am I kidding?! It WAS perfect. Brilliant. Beautiful. A must-read.

      5 Eiffel Towers

      Content Advisory:
      Language: Mild
      Sexuality: Moderate
      Violence: Moderately Heavy
    • 1/5
      I wanted to like this one so badly because as I was reading it I couldn't put it down and it was fun at first but I'm still not sure why I didn't like it in the end. Here's a list of what contributed to my strong dislike and I just *know* I'm in the minority.It was a journey to point one and two type of book, in this case three points. Elisa needed to get to Hector before the Inviernes killed him then she needed to head back to Queen Cosme's kingdom and establish a treaty with her and Princess Alodia. Okay cool, but that was literally it. They took a detour and went to Invierne country for a while, Elisa did something stupid then got out and went back to the original plan. The treaty discussion was like two seconds long and the arguments pissed me off. I won't spoil because if I had to suffer through it I want others to suffer through it too.Two points of views were wasted. No offense, but Hector's voice wasn't too different from Elisa's, which is why I'm guessing they decided to mark the difference. It was literally a waste of like five chapters...I can't even remember because I couldn't tell the difference until my brain switched gears and remembered that sometimes Hector had a POV.On the bright side I learned to respect Elisa a little more. I mean, sure she's a conniving little dictator but hey, a woman who knows how to wield power and keep it has my respect. I'm still not sure what makes her so special but if others want to be treated like doormats by her then who am I to stop them.Cosme :( Belen :(Mara *rolls eyes* if someone was furniture it was her. Which makes me feel bad because I read the short story based on her background and I started to like her a little. Had I not read it, I might have been angrier with her part in the secondary love arc. Okay here's another pro: the romance was cute. Not mind blowing hot and sexy but mature and sensual. I'm still not sure why Hector is all that great either now that I think about it even though he was one of my favorites at first. Now all I can think of is how he's really only eye candy in this book. Great, now I just turned it into a con.Back to cons: maybe it's just me but I hate it when character's faiths are completely radicalized. Elisa was all warm and tingly with the feeling of closeness she got with her tummy rock in the first book but then all of a sudden she's questioning her faith just because things aren't going her way. When she finds out some stuff related to her godstone her faith is completely changed to the point where she becomes agnostic or something. I don't know but it confused me how much she had changed in an instant. Things were kind of always going her way until her superduper magical powers were taken away and she actually had to do something on her own. Oh and don't get me started with how she randomly became BFFs with Storm, now that was a relationship that made me go back and reread twice to make sure I was interpreting it correctly.I should have liked this book. There were a lot of things that I liked but the random recharacterization of many people made me confused and frustrated.
    • 5/5
      My favorite of the series. Queen Elisa has finally come into her own in this final installation in the Fire and Thorns trilogy--she is strong, confident, powerful, and can think well on her feet. Best of all, she both recognizes and accepts her own strengths. My favorite line, from near the very end: she is complimented by her sister, and responds with "I'm beautiful to the one person who matters." followed by "I meant me. I'm beautiful to me."
    • 4/5
      I read the entire trilogy in less than 48 hours. That's gotta say something. So, this is a review of the trilogy as a whole, because in my mind, they almost run together.

      A friend recommended the first book, and honestly, I wasn’t a fan. I mean, pudgy princesses who live in a desert aren’t really my cup of tea. However, the moment I opened the sequel, I was hooked. The plot became much more complex yet also equally comprehensible, and character development skyrocketed. The cliff-hanger ending would have made me mad if I actually had to wait for the third book, but I was duly compensated for all that and more by the fulfillingly idyllic yet perfectly realistic ending which stayed true to character while bringing nice romantic closure.

      In short, I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! OMG. Very rarely - maybe once a year - I happen upon one of those books I have to read again immediately upon finishing. For 2013, THIS IS THAT BOOK!! No, that's not right... this book turned the entire series into THAT SERIES. I need to re-read this entire series again from the beginning and how grateful am I that there are Novellas!! I can't walk away from Elisa - not her, her man, her kingdom, her family, her friendships, her prodigy... none of 'em. I can't. I've unwittingly turned into a fan-stalker-dreamer, whatchamaycallit.If this book had not been broken down into four separate climaxes, I might not have slept or fed the family until I'd finished. I'm grateful for those moments of... "Phew! Got that done!" even while I was simultaneously delighted to see how much remained yet to be read. Everything that I've come to enjoy in this series is present. Each character deepens even further. The pace remains fast as each one arrives at conclusions and moves on to face new challenges.I highlighted a few (not-telling-where-they're-from) lines on my Nook just to showcase how Rae's writing style is so vivid:The icy air feels like tiny knife blades as I draw it into my lungs. We lock gazes. The rest of the world fades away, and without saying a word, we say good-bye.I felt it... the more I read, the more intensely I felt it until I found myself fully committed to Elisa. She's become one of my favorite heroes in lit. Ever. She's so... down-to-earth REAL. She always sees herself as the overweight trying-too-hard person she begins the series as. Her humility is beautiful. When it looks like low self-esteem, it's endearing.I can't reveal any more details of how awesome this book is without spoiling it, and that just isn't an option. I can share one more thing... Rae responded to my fanatical email (very daring of her) with this wonderful snippet:Here's a factoid that few people know: My not-serious, working title for the first book was ELISA'S BELLY. Which is ridick, but it helped me to keep in mind that I was subverting genre tropes (ie. the amulet of power) and ought to have a sense of humor about the whole thing. :)Wonderful and purposeful!! Even in the most serious of situations there is this uncanny rawness, this sense of reality-is-awkward. The mention of "belly" in particular just cracks me up in a way that feels real. I mean, every time I try to be serious and deep - those are the moments I trip over my shoelaces or run into a pole. For me, this series grasped reality in a new way while being entirely fantastical.I love it!My Rating: 5.5 - All-time fav. A series for my library!! I really want to keep this treasure of a series to myself. I love it on such a personal level. I'm kind of shy to admit how much I love it. Lol.
    • 4/5
      Elisa is a strong female character, who doesn’t shy away from tough decisions. There is a definite love interest, but that plays a very minor part in this book compared to Elisa’s mission to save her kingdom. There is some theological debate about the presence of God. There are several intimate scenes where it is definitely inferred that the characters have sex, but it is not written out in detail beyond removing clothing. Still parents might be hesitant to approve this book for young teens.
    • 3/5
      A few months after I finished The Bitter Kingdom, I was transferring Kindle books to my new phone (and ersatz e-reader), when I got confused about whether I'd even started the book. I couldn't remember at all beyond the very beginning, so I assumed I hadn't.But, as I discovered, swiftly skipping chunks as I went, I'd actually finished the entire thing. And it didn't leave a single impression on me, unlike the previous two books in the series, which I rather enjoyed.I did like reading The Bitter Kingdom the first time through and it was something of a can't-put-it-downer, so I don't really know why it didn't stick with me. I attribute it to just not being very strong, in the end. There is a lot of tension and "how will this be resolved", but I mostly just wanted to finish and see how everyone made it out.The very ending was disappointing, but mostly because I wanted things from Elisa that the narrative wasn't prepared to give me. Looking back, and even as I read it and was bummed that it happened, the story made perfect sense and showed that, after all, the series is mostly about Elisa's growth and learning her own power, not power bestowed upon her. And I did like that, but wished that the lesson came in a more satisfying way.I wish I could leave a stronger, more positive review for The Bitter Kingdom, but honestly, when I could barely remember a single thing about it mere months after reading it, I just can't muster the enthusiasm.
    • 5/5
      I can’t believe it. I can’t believe that it is actually over. After all this time of living in such a beautiful, fantasy world, the story is over. Did I like it? Heck yeah! It was awesome and gave me just what I needed.Plot: The leaves off from where the last book ended, so be sure you are caught up in the series. I really enjoyed the adventure of pursuing her kingdom, taking down evil people and of course saving the one that she loves. Every chapter is over filled with great plot twists and turns. No page is left undone. This story is very fulfilling in every way. Even when I got to the end, I made a sad face cause I did not want it to be over.Love: I love this love. It’s definitely a love that is well fought for and well written. The story did switch between Elisa and Hector point of views. I really love this. The reader got to see what both Elisa and Hector are feeling. To watch them fall in love and fight till their very last breath leaves me breathless. I adore their few stolen moments of clarity and peace. And despite all the things they do for each other, they still go out of their way to help others. These two are wonderful people who I was very happy to finally see happy.Family: Things even work out for Elisa and her family. I’m glad that she met with her sister and got things back on track. Elisa in the end, created her own family by the friends that she cared for. Elisa has never failed to amaze me. She is a person I would want to be my friend.Awesome and amazing, The Bitter Kingdom is a solid adventure. Riveting and exciting, The Bitter Kingdom is a diamond in a rough. Rare and momentous, The Bitter Kingdom is excellent.
    • 5/5
      *This review contains spoilers for those who have not read the 1st and 2nd books* This series just got better with each installment. There is true character growth, even for the secondary players. Book 3 takes us to the heart of the enemy in Queen Elisa's quest for peace and to reclaim her land, not to mention her delicious relationship struggle with the commander of her guard, Hector. There is depth to the relationships in this compelling series paired nicely with political intrigue, a spiritual magic, and an epic journey.
    • 5/5
      Elisa must save the man she loves from her enemies. She must become a champion to the people who have hated her most.
    • 4/5
      This was a fabulous end to a terrific series. Starting almost immediately from "Crown of Embers" once again Elisa and her friends face many trials and adventures as they attempt to rescue Hector. Like the previous two books, this one is filled with fast-paced action to keep you reading as well as some tender moments for the romantics. This has been a wonderful debut for Ms Carson and I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
    • 5/5
      My relationship with Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns series is a complicated one, and probably always will be. When I first read The Girl of Fire and Thorns, I did not like it. As time passed and endless praise rolled in, I felt like maybe I'd not given the book a fair shot, so I tried again, this time with the audiobook. Why reread a book I didn't like? Because tastes can change. In this case, though, they really didn't. However, I still went ahead with the audiobook version of the series, which I'm sure would be looked at askance by many. Why would a person read the sequel to a book they've disliked twice? Because you never know. This time my persistence paid off, and I found myself wholly wrapped up in The Crown of Embers. Though I still have some rather large reservations about books two and three in the series, I also loved them in some ways. Make of that what you will.Though I do love romance in books, it's not often what makes a book for me. Generally, I would say I love the characters first and the romance between them second. In the Fire and Thorns series, the romance comes first. The arc of this relationship gets a full five star fanfare of cellos and unicorn whinnies, okay? (I'm just going to assume that would sound awesome. Roll with it, yo.) Hector and Elisa go from having no real romantic attachment in book one (note that this is the book I didn't like), but with a nice solid foundation of respect and mutual admiration, to love and impending marriage in The Bitter Kingdom. They do so slowly and with quite a bit of swoon.The ending scenes of this book almost made me happy cry, something I do much more easily than sad cry. Attending weddings of friends, I find a lot of the trappings of them quite sexist and unappealing. Carson's series is, I think, at its most beautiful and woman power-y right there at the end in a traditionally patriarchy-dominated ceremony. Hector loves that Elisa is powerful, and is man enough not to feel challenged by that, and just so much yes to all of that.One of the key selling points of Fire and Thorns is Elisa's weight. There aren't many novels about non-skinny heroines, and even less so in the fantasy genre. Now, Elisa does lose a good deal of weight over the course of book one while tramping about in the desert. This did concern me a bit, especially since the romantic interest in her really kicks up at that juncture. However, now that it's done, I'm really happy with the portrayal of weight in the series. Elisa never gets thin or reaches her society's standard of beauty, which is slim like our society currently holds up as ideal. Elisa will always be curvy or even overweight. Hector finds her very sexually attractive, and that's fantastic. What really makes the portrayal of Elisa's weight issues so powerful, though, is that Elisa herself comes to love her own body and to stop yearning to be someone else with a different body type. The reason people are beautiful is their uniqueness, and Elisa's road to self-love has been long and bumpy, but she made it and I think I finally like her as well.The Bitter Kingdom also spends much less time on the religion elements which made me so batty in book one. While I know this worked for some, I found the fact that it was basically relabeled Christianity both lazy and preachy. By The Bitter Kingdom, Elisa has no real idea what the deal is with god. She still prays and believes somewhat, but she's questioning. She no longer has that certainty that her way is right and is really seeking knowledge. Where before the series came off as dealing with religion, The Bitter Kingdom takes a much more theological angle, which I love. Fun fact: I minored in theology.So far as the cast goes, this is one of those rare books where I feel things but don't really identify with the heroine. Though I do have some commonalities with Elisa, we have never been able to bond. I respect her now and admire her, but we would never be best friends (maybe because I'm plotting her death to steal Hector? - kidding...mostly). Hector is everything fabulous, and other YA love interests should learn from him. He walks the line between protective and trusting perfectly. There's a place for protecting your lady and a time to step back and let her get shit done, and he knows when to do which thing. My favorite characters are Mara and Belen, and they are both just the cutest. The Bitter Kingdom gave me a couple of new ships, and I actually would really like another book set in this world about one of them. *coughs* (Who would have thought, right?) I'm a little disappointed that Rosario basically didn't show up in this book, since the little prince is kind of important, but oh well. (I'm asking for more moppet? What has this book done to me and my values?) Oh also, Red is an incredibly adorable moppet as well, and, yeah, she's the best, even if her name is straight up My Little Pony.The plot of The Bitter Kingdom meanders a little bit. There's a lot of journeying to one place and then hearing about a thing and needing to go somewhere else and OH HEY a plot point. It's not a huge issue, but I also wasn't really all that concerned about the plot overall. You basically know what the endgame is and ride that train all the way around the theme park until it gets to the final stop. There was one part that was straight out of Lord of the Rings basically, which was a little bit ridiculous to me, but, again, not a major problem for me either. Carson also took things a bit easily, with Lord of the Rings being a good comparison actually. The stakes are always really high, but she's not merciless to her characters, which I know some people love but I like knowing that anything could happen at any time.Only one aspect of The Bitter Kingdom seriously irked me. To explain it, I will have to delve into SPOILERS in this section, so stop here if you do not want to know, mmkay? In The Bitter Kingdom, Carson throws in this huge world building twist, but doesn't really address it. She just throws it out there like it's no big deal and I'm like WHUT. Anyway, Elisa and company learn that if an Invierno mates with a Joyan, their offspring will be unable to reproduce. These offspring are referred to as mules.Now, I seriously suck at science, but this immediately set off serious warning bells, because the reason mules, the product of horse and donkey sex, cannot reproduce is because they come from two disparate, if similar, species. Considering all of the racial themes in the series, this made me really uncomfortable, especially since the word mulatto, came from the same root word of mule. Now, it turns out the Joyans actually came to the planet and colonized it much like the Europeans came into the Americas, so they are actually not the same creatures, but I still feel like this is some really messy, sensitive subject matter to throw into book three. I especially do not feel like enough world building was put into this, since apparently one or the other of them is not human but alien. This begs so many questions. It's a pretty cool twist, but leaves me feeling hyper-curious and not entirely satisfied with the world building.The audiobook versions of this series have been marvelous. Jennifer Ikeda does a fabulous job with the different characters all the way through. I'm not as thrilled with the casting of Hector, who sounds a bit too much like Kevin Spacey for any guy as sexy and hispanic as Hector is in my head. Still, he doesn't do a bad job. I'm also not entirely sure Hector's POV was necessary in The Bitter Kingdom, but whatever.Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns series is one that I do think is well worth reading, even if it has always been varying degrees of problematic for me personally. The series gets better as it goes along, and features one of the best and healthiest romantic relationships.
    • 4/5
      It feels good to finish out a series all in one go, something I haven't done in a while. As this book is a direct continuation of the previous book, I won't talk much about the plot due to spoilers. This book felt a bit more disjointed and scattered in it's plot than in previous books, with a lot of threads of story wrapped up fairly quickly and perhaps too neatly. However, Elisa really reaches her true heroic potential in this book, becoming a powerful rival both with and without the power of her godstone. She's clever and formidable. Though she's young, ruling a kingdom at seventeen, it's clear that she will likely grow into even a stronger ruler as she ages. The trilogy concluded in a satisfying manner and I enjoyed the journey.
    • 4/5
      A great conclusion to an awesome series! So much happened, I was never bored. I really enjoyed having Hector's POV every so often, it added more perspective to the story. The adventure was great and executed so well. I'm still processing because there was so much to absorb and enjoy. At times it felt like too much was happening and that there really could have been another book added on (to give more depth to the negotiations and the ending action). Overall though I really enjoyed this read :)
    • 5/5
      This series was probably my biggest surprise of the year. I can't believe how much I loved these books. They were just wonderful fantasy books with a beautiful romance and a terrific story. And will probably make my top 10 books of the year. I was so sad to see this series end. I could read about this world and these characters forever.
    • 3/5
      A good conclusion to the Girl of Fire and Thorns series, but I still found this novel less engaging than the previous two. It almost felt like too much action had been shoved into this novel in order to conclude all of the storylines. Nevertheless, well-worth the read as a conclusion to this trilogy.
    • 5/5
      I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley(dot)com and was very excited to read it since I have loved the previous two books in this series. This was a wonderful conclusion to the series. It’s beautifully written, has wonderful world-building, a complex story, and excellent characters.Elisa is forced to flee the country she is queen of and journey into enemy territory. When Hector is kidnapped, Elisa follows his kidnappers to the Gate of Darkness deep in enemy territory. There she will discover secrets about both the world and herself that will change the course of history.This series has been an amazing journey, especially when you compare Elisa from who she started out as to where she is now. Elisa started out as a spoiled, overweight, and whiny princess in the first book who let others decide the course of her life. In this book she is still occasionally a bit selfish, but she has also decided that she will be the master of her own fate. Elisa steps up to her responsibilities and fights to save the country, and the man, that she loves. She has grown in amazing ways from the first book and has become a character to admire.Hector is another wonderful character. He is respectful and supportive of Elisa, and even pushed her to become a better person at times. The relationship that him and Elisa have is wonderful because they end up both being better people because of it. The romance between the two is just so loving and sweet and wonderful to read about.There is just such wonderful world building here to. I love that this was more of a story about adventuring than politics (although there is a lot of that too). It was fascinating to finally visit the enemy kingdom and gain some understanding into those people. Then we get to journey deep into mysterious mines and encounter evil monsters...I mean seriously I love that there is so much adventure in this book. It reminded me of when the Fellowship ventures deep into the Mines of Moria. There are some excellent twists and turns in the plot. As with previous books there is a very religion heavy theme here, but also as with previous books, it really works well for this series because religion is such an integral part of their culture.The book is incredibly well written and was absolutely wonderful to read. The writing flows very well and the descriptions are beautiful. Things were tied up very nicely.Overall a spectacular conclusion to what has been a spectacular series. The characters have grown so much since the first book and the worldbuilding is excellent. The twists and turns make the book incredibly engaging, I loved it! I highly recommend this book to fans of epic fantasy or historical fantasy. It was just an absolutely well done fantasy read. Those who love Sarah Maas’s Throne of Glass series should definitely give this series a try as well.