Bitterblue (novel)
Bitterblue is a young adult fantasy novel written by American author Kristin Cashore. It is preceded by "Graceling" and "Fire", and followed by "Winterkeep". The book was released on May 1, 2012. Plot. Eight years after the events of "Graceling", Bitterblue, now eighteen, is Queen of Monsea. She is determined to restore peace and justice to her land, and rebuild the kingdom left in ruins by her father, King Leck. Her advisors Darby, Rood, Runnemood, and Thiel seem to be keeping her in the dark, and want her to act as a figurehead. And so, Bitterblue disguises herself  as a servant and begins a truth-seeking campaign in the city. She stops at a tavern, which she learns is a story-room, where she hears stories about her kingdom and history. She meets the young thieves Teddy and Sapphire (Saf), who is also a Graceling, but oddly, does not know what his grace is. She discovers that the two young men and their cohorts are involved in an underground movement to educate the kingdom's people. Unaware of her true identity, they nickname Bitterblue "Sparks". As the politics around her get more complex, Bitterblue discovers new disturbing information  about her father, the information he destroyed, and that her advisors are former healers. Lord Danzhol tried to kidnap Bitterblue, and she kills him in self-defense. Her cousin Po, a blind Graceling and Katsa's romantic partner, arrives to help her. Saf tells her that he only steals things formerly stolen by Leck. Teddy is stabbed, and later his family's printshop is burned down. All these events are somehow connected, but the connection is elusive. Hava, who unintentionally helped in Bitterblue's attempted kidnaping, is a Graceling with a talent for disguise. She helps Saf and Bitterblue evade  whoever is trying to kill them. Bitterblue realizes that she has romantic feelings for Saf. Bitterblue goes to a murder trial, and finds that Saf is the one accused of murder. Saf sees Biterblue and recognizes her as the queen, not the commoner he believed her to be. When his alibi is proven and the case is over, he steals Bitterblue's crown and sells it to a trader Spook on the black market. Bitterblue manages to decipher hidden messages from her mother and discovers the depth of her father's depravity. She visits Saf to apologize for tricking him , and as she is leaving she is choked and stabbed. While she is recovering, she learns the part played by her advisors, who die or commit suicide one-by-one, except for Rood. Bitterblue takes measures to ensure the true history of the realm is recorded. Saf and his group do their part in the city. Saf and Bitterblue spend a night together. When all riddles are solved, all secrets in the open, Katsa returns from her expedition to the unknown East behind the mountains with Lady Fire (the protagonist of the previous book) and some of her people. They  ensure Bitterblue support in the upcoming wars. When they decide to return to their country, the Dells, Po's older brother Skye leaves with them, as does Saf. Bitterblue stays behind to found ministries and clean the mess left behind by her father once and for all. The book ends with Bitterblue and her half-sister Hava (born after Leck raped her mother, Bellamew) talking to each other. Reception. "Bitterblue" was named a "New York Times" best-seller, a "Kirkus Reviews" and "Publishers Weekly" Best Book of 2012, and the 2012 American Library Association Best Fiction for Young Adults. Bitterblue