The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

The Bitter Kingdom 
by Rae Carson
Read: May 2013
Published: August 27, 2013 by Greenwillow Books **UPCOMING**
Source: Around the world arc tours

Category: Fantasy YA
Series: Girl of Fire and Thorns book 3

NOTE: The Bitter Kingdom is the third book in a series. Click the book titles to find my thoughts on Girl of Fire and Thorns and Crown of Embers. This review does contain some spoilers if you have yet to start the series. However, these books are incredibly consistent, and reading my review for book 1, HERE will give you a great overview of the series.

The epic and deeply satisfying 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.

"Carson joins the ranks of writers like Kristin Cashore, Megan Whalen Turner, and Tamora Pierce as one of YA's best writers of high fantasy."-Locus magazine

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. Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy. (From Goodreads)
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When I reviewed Girl of Fire and Thorns a few months ago, I said 5 things about Elisa and her story. After spending time with Elisa over three books, I wanted to go back through those same five points and update them now that her story is coming to an end. 

I love how consistently strong this series has remained, and how much the characters in it have grown, without changing what I've loved about them since the beginning. 

1) Then: Elisa is Fat
Now: Elisa is a formidable force. 
Elisa changes tremendously in this series and her looks are only a small part of that. Sure she's no longer an overweight, sedentary princess, but she's faced down enemies and heartbreak, experienced betrayal and made impossible decisions. One of my favorite aspects of the Fire and Thorns series is Elisa's personal growth and transformation. She is someone who is able to make difficult choices for the good of her kingdom, but who also isn't a robot. Elisa still feels deeply and has her own personal desires. But she knows that sometimes they aren't the most important things (thankfully, sometimes they do line up with her professional needs).

Even though Elisa has grown as a person, what hasn't changed is how much I've been impressed with her character since the beginning of the first book. From my review of book 1:  I was constantly in awe of her ability to make wise strategic decisions...She continually impressed me with her bravery, care of others and her determination to keep going no matter what she faced. At the end of the series, I can still say the same thing about her. 

2) Then: Elisa has a stone in her bellybutton. 
Now: Elisa still has a lot to learn about herself and her purpose. 
When the third book starts, Elisa is still trying to figure out her purpose, especially why she's been chosen to bear a godstone. Of course I won't tell you exactly what she discovers about that, but I love reading about Elisa's struggles with her faith and identity. Especially, how much she still has to learn about the power of her stone and about herself. Elisa's faith is complex and her struggles with it are realistic. Like anyone who has personal beliefs, not all of her questions are answered. Some information is always going to be a mystery and that makes this story more true and more powerful. 

3) Then: Elisa travels throughout the book. 
Now: Elisa's travels make her a better ruler.
The landscape Rae Carson has created and Elisa's travels throughout it, remain one of the most vivid parts of this series. Thankfully, Elisa is still exploring her world: this time it is a rescue mission into the heart of enemy territory. But it's not just the colorful settings and adventure story that has drawn me to this series (although I continue to be enthralled by that aspect). It's the people and cultures Elisa meets, and all the information that she internalizes along the way. Everything that Elisa encounters changes her a little bit and makes her a stronger ruler. She also must constantly be on alert, and rely on others during her travels (more on that below). 

Elisa's adventures also bring to light the complex political situation of her world, allowing her to understand her opponents a little bit better. What she finds is that there isn't really an evil, bad entity out there. But each side has their own goals and interests, and that makes them more complex and sometimes sympathetic. 

4) Then: Elisa Fall in Love
Now: Elisa and Hector are an amazing team. 
The power of Elisa and Hector's relationship isn't measured in romantic moments - achingly sweet as they are - but in their strength as a team, and how well they compliment and support each other. The ways that they strategize together and keep each other focused. Even though Elisa is clearly the queen, she and Hector balance each other well. But they are also willing to make hard choices, and both have bigger responsibilities than each other. Guys, the love story in this series is so good. It feels real. 

I just adore Hector. He is a fantastic male lead, and in this book he even gets his own point of view. Seeing into his mind made me love him more, but it also provided further proof at how amazingly well suited he and Elisa are for each other. Carson does a great job at showing the reader over and over again, why she paired these two. That more than swoony moments (though they are here too), makes their relationship stand out to me. 

But Elisa knows that nothing is certain, most especially the lives of those we love, and she and Hector have a lot of obstacles in the way of their happiness. 

5) Then: Elisa suffers losses.
Now: Elisa gains perspective. 
Elisa doesn't take anything for granted. She has a wisdom that only comes through loss and life experience. She knows that ruling a kingdom that is at war, means tough decisions and sacrifices - sometimes even people she loves. But Elisa is not an island either. Through her travels and struggles, she has built personal relationships with friends and advisers who are loyal to her, several of which are unlikely allies and close friend. From former traitors to enemies, I love the powerful team of support that Elisa builds in this story.

The Bitter Kingdom comes out August 27. If you have yet to start this series, now is the perfect time to do so. It is definitely counted among my favorite series of all time. 

Love Triangle Factor: None

Cliffhanger Scale: Series finale!