The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns, #3)

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The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3)

by Rae Carson (Goodreads Author)

4.4 of 5 stars 4.40 · rating details · 171 ratings · 64 reviews

"Rae Carson has proved she's a master and has shaken up the YA genre."-USAToday.com

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 writer...more

Hardcover, 435 pages

Expected publication: August 27th 2013 by Greenwillow Books

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May 12, 2013 Keertana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley-and-first-reads, 2013-favorites, kick-ass-heroines, swoooon, rainy-day-re-reads

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 yo...more

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May 08, 2013 KM rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-fantasy, harper-collins, netgalley-edelweiss, kindle-books, favorite-heroines

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 col...more

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May 10, 2013 Angelica marked it as to-read

Shelves: must-read-before-year-ends

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?!?!?!

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Jan 17, 2013 Marija Jesretic rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Mar 25, 2013 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

I follow Rae Carson on Twitter was lucky enough to catch a Tweet about her book being available in ARC from Edelwiess. I tweeted her back and she suggested that I sign up with Edelwiess and request an ARC of The Bitter Kingdom, and being a librarian I am lucky enough to get access to released ARC copies of books. I couldn't have been more excited about this one, because the wait for fall would have been excruciating and having this in my hands months before the publishing date made me about ten...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Riley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, young-adult

Really smart and satisfying conclusion. I'm sorry to see this series end, as the characters and the world are so compelling, but I look forward to reading much, much more from Rae Carson.

Notes:
- It's wonderful and amazing how much Elisa has grown over the course of the series.
- Mula was a great new character. Storm turned out pretty awesome too.
- (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

The Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson is one of the best YA fantasy series I've read a long time. I wasn't sure I'd like the first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, at all when I first heard about the series. The whole premise of Elisa's "godstone" seemed a bit too far-fetched and "sci-fi" for me, but once I started the novel I could hardly put it down. I read through the next two books, The Crown of Embers and The Bitter Kingdom, the same way.

The final book in the series, The Bitter Kingdo...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 104-in-2013, 2013-sept-release, arc, brilliant-brilliant-brill, harper-collins, love-this-author, loved-the-ending

Amazing. This is one of the few series I've read were ALL 3 books were amazing. Fabulous characters and a plot that doesn't let up. One of those books that sucks you in completely that you don't even want to get up to go the bathroom or eat. I wanted to slow down my reading to make the experience last longer, but I couldn't! I had to know what was going to happen. This series is one of my all-time favorites, and Rae Carson is in the category of "can do no wrong". As a reader, there are certain a...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Katherine Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-new, fantasy, young-adult

Just finished The Bitter Kingdom and I can say it was a great book to conlcude the series. Crown of Embers left us in limbo--Hector had just been taken, and Elisa promised to follow him into Invierne to save him. The Bitter Kingdom opens with Elisa hot on Hector's trail, and she must travel deep into Invierne, test her ability against powerful sorcerers, then go back and save her country from civil war...basically all the things your average 17 year old deals with...

What I loved:
-Role reversal i...more Just finished The Bitter Kingdom and I can say it was a great book to conlcude the series. Crown of Embers left us in limbo--Hector had just been taken, and Elisa promised to follow him into Invierne to save him. The Bitter Kingdom opens with Elisa hot on Hector's trail, and she must travel deep into Invierne, test her ability against powerful sorcerers, then go back and save her country from civil war...basically all the things your average 17 year old deals with...

What I loved:
-Role reversal in that Elisa gets to save Hector--no damsel in distress here!(although he later returns the favor)
-The development of Elisa's character from the beginning of The Girl of Fire and Thorns to the end of The Bitter Kingdom. When we first met Elisa she was a shy and hesitant girl subject to the whims of her father and sister. By the end of the series she has become a confident, strong young woman who loves herself. One of the scenes I loved best in this book was when Elisa's sister says she looked beautiful:
I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. "I'm beautiful to the one person who matters."
[Alodia] nods. "Hector's mouth will drop open when he sees you."
"I hope so. But I meant me. I'm beautiful to me."
-Not everything goes perfectly. Just like when Humberto dies in The Girl of Fire and Thorns, not everything goes smoothly for Elisa in The Bitter Kingdom. Sometimes Elisa has to offend or even hurt people. Sometimes she must hurt others' livelihood in order to escape. And sometimes her carefully laid plans go awry. But Elisa always tries to make the best decision, the one that will ultimately result in the best outcome of her people.
-I really loved Storm's character in this book and the introduction of Mula. I can definitely see a companion novel featuring one of these characters!

What I didn't like:
-There were a couple of minor things that were not wholly believable to me. For example, at one point some of the characters needed snowshoes. Storm describes what they are and Belen is magically able to create some in a very short amount of time despite having never heard about, much less seen, snowshoes before. Like I said, it is minor and easily overshadowed by how great the rest of the novel is!(less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Gabrielle (TheYoungFolks.com) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Amazing!! An action-packed and moving finale! If you aren't reading the Fire and Thorns trilogy yet, you are MISSING OUT.

Full review at TheYoungFolks.com: http://bit.ly/15mmuQk

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May 21, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-mt-bookpile

Not a bad finale to the trilogy, but not wonderful, either. As with the other books, we have battles, talk about the Godstones, Elisa growing into her role as Queen, etc.. And, of course, there's a trek away from and back to Joya. The underground scenes reminded me of Lord of the Rings, which isn't new to me - for whatever reason, few writers do something new and different with mines and caverns.

Elisa's growth wasn't as great as I had hoped. That might be due to her being only 17, or because he...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Vivienne marked it as to-read

3.94 and Fire and Thorns, #2 isn't even out yet. Really now?

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May 18, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-want

What's great ending to an amazing series! This book brought out many emotions in me. I fell in love right from the start with Elisa and her companions, each and everyone touched my heart like they did hers. They each taught her something about herself she didn't know.

Elisa becomes an even stronger heroine in this book. Everything she does she does out of love. God everything about her pulls you in and makes you feel hopeful.her emotions come through the pages and wrap around your heart. She is e...more

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May 17, 2013 Burgandy Ice rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!!!

Recommended to Burgandy by: Calico

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 unwitti...more 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.(less)

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Apr 16, 2013 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley

So many things to love.. First: HECTOR!! The last time I’d read a surprise POV from a favorite character was in MERCY’S newest book except Adam left me slightly uninspired a bit desperate for more of him. HECTOR in this one, though? I am tempted to go all fangirl on all you guys.

But the best thing in this though is how it’s not just about Elisa… but her and everyone else, how they all step up and prove just how important they are. All they did for her and she for them? It revealed loyalty… and...more

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May 09, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, ya-fantasy

**4.5 stars**

Read more reviews on my blog http://thebiasedbookie.blogspot.com/

If you are a fan of fantasy and you have not read the Fire and Thorns series yet, then there is seriously something wrong with you (and don't go blaming your parents)! Rae Carson has proven she's a writer to be reckoned with, for not only did she write a phenomenal ending to this series, but the second book was just as good, if not better than the first. Not many writers in the realm of trilogies can say that. So when...more **4.5 stars**

Read more reviews on my blog http://thebiasedbookie.blogspot.com/

If you are a fan of fantasy and you have not read the Fire and Thorns series yet, then there is seriously something wrong with you (and don't go blaming your parents)! Rae Carson has proven she's a writer to be reckoned with, for not only did she write a phenomenal ending to this series, but the second book was just as good, if not better than the first. Not many writers in the realm of trilogies can say that. So when I saw this book for sale on Ebay, my pocketbook couldn't say no (somehow I always know what I want)!

What I LIKED about this book
Carson did not disappoint! This last book was action packed and had twists at every turn. I must confess the first third of The Bitter Kingdom was a little slow and agonizing for me, mostly because of the relationship between Hector and Elisa. And while we're on the subject of Hector and Elisa...WOW! What a couple! I giggled like a school girl through most of their conversations. Their chemistry in this last book is definitely expanded upon and therefore the relationship was that much more sweeter for me. Now I know a lot of you are worried about the ending and Hector...seeing as Elisa's first love, Humberto was killed. Carson is not afraid of writing heart-wrenching endings. Without giving away spoilers, all I will say is the ending had my heart on fire! Sorry, my lips are sealed...that's all you're going to get!

What I DISLIKED about this book
I know fantasy books are action-packed, but I felt like there was a little too much going on in The Bitter Kingdom. Elisa and her friends were always in some kind of peril, and were constantly traveling back and forth to save something or someone. Which leads me to my next point. Elisa pretty much always got her way. Oh sure, there were times when friends were hurt or Elisa had to get herself out of a pickle, but Elisa was always triumphant. I think I would have liked a nail-biting, unforeseen outcome to a problem rather than several quick "you know she gets out of this" obstacles. Does that make any sense?

Parting Thoughts
The Bitter Kingdom was a fantastic ending to an remarkable trilogy, 4.5 out of 5 stars. Rae Carson fans already know they have to get their little paws on this book in August. What are the rest of you waiting for? Go pick up this series! I would recommend this series to fans of fantasy, and if you enjoyed Graceling, Finnikin of the Rock or books by Tamora Pierce. I'm sad to see this trilogy end, but maybe I'll get lucky and Carson will write something else? Hey, a girl can dream!(less)

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May 07, 2013 Erin Arkin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, fantasy, swoony-book-boyfriends, books-i-will-love-forever-and-ever

The Bitter Kingdom is the third and final installment to the Fire and Thorns trilogy and if you have not yet started this one and enjoy a good fantasy series, I definitely recommend you get moving. Just a warning – I am going to do my best to review this without any spoilers but I can’t promise anything.

The novel dives right in to the action. Book two left off with Hector being taken by the Franco to get Elisa to willingly sacrifice herself to the Inviernos. If you have read any of these books y...more The Bitter Kingdom is the third and final installment to the Fire and Thorns trilogy and if you have not yet started this one and enjoy a good fantasy series, I definitely recommend you get moving. Just a warning – I am going to do my best to review this without any spoilers but I can’t promise anything.

The novel dives right in to the action. Book two left off with Hector being taken by the Franco to get Elisa to willingly sacrifice herself to the Inviernos. If you have read any of these books you know that Carson isn't afraid to kill off main characters and because of that I spent all of Part 1 (Ok, really the whole book) worried about what was going to happen.

Carson does a great job of weaving in chapters from Hector’s point of view. They don’t rotate but there is enough there to see what he is going through while Elisa, Storm, Belen, and Mara are closely behind. One of the things that I loved was that even while separated from her, Hector was doing everything he could to protect Elisa from Franco and the Inviernos.

Throughout the series Elisa has clearly grown into a strong woman and leader. She has made mistakes and experienced quite a bit over the span of a year and a half (marriage, kidnapping, war, etc) but it has made her stronger and allowed her to realize she is more than what others expect of her. I loved that she came to realize this and recognized that she isn't perfect but she has a support system that will help her get through anything.

The characters definitely shine in this one. Storm came through here and I will be honest, there were times where I wasn't so sure what he was up to but I was glad to see things end up the way they did for him. Belen and Mara were great and definitely integral to the story to help move some things along. The introduction of Mula/Red was also a great addition as she turned out to add another layer to the story. Hector was perfect in my opinion. He truly loves Elisa and still takes his role with the royal guards and protector very seriously. In the end, he is the one that Elisa truly trusts seeing every part of who she is.

Just to include one of my favorite highlights….

Hector bends and presses a kiss to my temple. He wastes precious moments holding his lips there, and then says, “For just in case.”

photo tumblr_me6yipO2GS1qe7mkp_zpse227715e.gif

Overall I thought this series was very well done. It had a lot of action, some wonderful characters that developed throughout the entire series, and it was a great story. I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes any and all of those things along with a little magic and fantasy.

This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare.

(less)

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May 20, 2013 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Elisa is now an outcast from her own kingdom as she flees after a betrayal and somewhat successful from one of her noble subjects, who is out to steal her crown. But she is also on a journey to rescues Hector, the leader of the royal guard (and the man she loves) from death at the hands of the Invierne. With the help of some old friends and some new ones, and some surprises along the way, Elisa will travel through hostile territory into a land that could devour her. Will she be able to save Hec...more Elisa is now an outcast from her own kingdom as she flees after a betrayal and somewhat successful from one of her noble subjects, who is out to steal her crown. But she is also on a journey to rescues Hector, the leader of the royal guard (and the man she loves) from death at the hands of the Invierne. With the help of some old friends and some new ones, and some surprises along the way, Elisa will travel through hostile territory into a land that could devour her. Will she be able to save Hector without sacrificing herself? And when they escape Invierno will there be a kingdom left to return to? So, this book was EPIC! A summary can never quite do it justice and the one I've provided definitely reinforces that fact. The journey from Elisa's kingdom into enemy land with Beren, Mara and Storm (former Invierne royalty) was the start of the book, but it's once they rescue Hector that shit really starts to go down. Once they are in Invierno (having picked up a stray along the way) and have rescued Hector, the Invierne council tries to trick them and they end up escaping through mines with a supposed monster lurking in them. I kid you not (and you will see this comparison a lot most likely) but the only thing running through my mind was the adventure in Lord of the Rings down in the mines of Moria! Things are tied up quite nicely with Elisa's godstone as well, when she manages to complete her appointed task and it is no longer part of her life. I have to say that a lot of my favorite parts of this book involved Elisa's friend Storm and the little slave girl they pick up, 'Mula', who later renames herself. There are reappearances by Ximena, our favorite priest and of course, Cosme and Alodia who learn once and for all not to underestimate Elisa who shows them just what a bad-ass she is when they all come under attack! I did like that Alodia and Elisa's relationship and their issues with one another are NOT just resolved with a neat bow and given an easy solution. Yes, they love each other but they will always have a strained and uneasy relationship because of their interactions and dynamic growing up. Thank you Rae Carson, for giving us some REAL siblings instead of the generic BFFs found oftentimes in YA.
There is some heavy political dealing going on in this book, with contracts being signed and empires being created. But it never takes over the characters which are the main focus of the plot, and so manages to avoid straying into the realm of boring. I did think that the sudden control of the godstone magic that both Elisa and Storm gain in the middle of the book was somewhat contrived and I felt like it was in there as a bit of a plot device. But it didn't bother me, because the action was non-stop and distracted me from it's un-believability at times. The majority of this book was gritty and realistic though, in the best way possible. Not everyone is always happy with Elisa and sometimes doing the right thing means potentially hurting others and destroying property. This is also represented in the portions of the novel narrated in Hector's P.O.V. where we get a look inside his mind and are able to see the events of his captivity and subsequent rescue/escape unfold. He is definitely a kick-ass hero for sure. Strong and silent, but we get to see his deeper feelings as well. A well done P.O.V. switch, which can be a difficult thing to pull off. Especially in the last novel of a series with an established pattern of narration.
The ending of the book was awesome and there were some truly great parts to this book, but the message of empowerment and self-confidence was definitely a gigantic part of this book. It was a great ending to a consistently great series. I won't say any more to avoid spoilers, but if you're a fan of the first two in the series, you will be satisfied with the conclusion for sure.

Most Memorable Quotes:

(Storm's reaction to Elisa's sister Alodia)

'She's wonderful.' said Storm. He wears a loopy smile, as if someone put a little too much duerma leaf in last night's tea."

(Elisa's and Alodia talk about her 'beauty'. Best quote in a YA book EVER!)

'I startle at the compliment. Then I smile. "I'm beautiful to the one person who matters."
[Alodia] nods. "Hector's mouth will drop open when he sees you."
"I hope so. But I meant me. I'm beautiful to me."

VERDICT: 4.75/5 Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is August 27th, 2013.*(less)

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Apr 16, 2013 Carina Olsen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This trilogy is one of the best fantasy trilogies there is. All three books are amazing. I don't know how to talk about my love for these books. I just adore fantasy book so much, and these are incredible. The writing is perfect. The characters are amazing and strong and so loveable. And the story is perfect. Unique and special and all kinds of awesome. So glad I got to read this early. The Bitter Kingdom is the best one. So good.

This book has the perfect ending to this amazing trilogy. There is...more This trilogy is one of the best fantasy trilogies there is. All three books are amazing. I don't know how to talk about my love for these books. I just adore fantasy book so much, and these are incredible. The writing is perfect. The characters are amazing and strong and so loveable. And the story is perfect. Unique and special and all kinds of awesome. So glad I got to read this early. The Bitter Kingdom is the best one. So good.

This book has the perfect ending to this amazing trilogy. There is a lot of action. So many deaths. Heartbreak. Love. Romance. The Bitter Kingdom has it all. I never wanted it to end. But I'm happy with the ending. For the most part. I do want more; so much more. But it is also perfect, and I'm so thrilled about it. I know that I will re-read these books. After I get my hardcover :)

Since this is the end of a trilogy, you should not read my review if you do not want to get spoiled about the first two books. Because there will be spoilers. Lots of them. But hopefully not for this book ;) But there is a lot to talk about for me. Lots of characters I must mention. Well, only a few, but they are special to me. There is so much character love in this book. And I loved every part of it. Even all the heartbreak. It made me tear up many times. But it also made me smile and it filled my heart with warmth so many times. It could not have been better.

The Bitter Kingdom starts where The Crown of Embers ended. Elisa and her three companions are going after the kidnapped Hector; Elisa's love. At first there isn't too much happening, because they are mostly just trying to catch up to those who have taken Hector. But I loved reading about, still. Because Elisa is such an amazing character. I loved her so much. She's a lot stronger in this book. She kills people. She makes difficult decisions. And I loved her so much for it all. She's really a true heroine.

The book is told from her point of view. Which I loved. But we also get a few chapters from Hector's point of view! I loved those the most. It also made a lot of sense that we got to see his point of view, and I'm so happy about it. Even though his thoughts were mostly heartbreaking. But he is an amazing person. Loyal. Strong. Loving. He cares about Elisa so much. As a Queen, but also as a person. He loves her. And their love is just so damn amazing, and I'm really glad that I ended up loving it too, hih :)

I don't really want to give away more about the plot. We get to see a lot of running and traveling, and it is all amazing. We get to see a lot more of the Inviernos. Some of them are okay. Like Storm and his sister, Waterfall. But most are not. There are so many evil people. And I just loved reading about them all. Such an amazing plot. We also learn a lot more about the Godstone, and the power it have. It is awesome. I enjoyed reading about Elisa's Godstone in this book a lot more than I did before. I liked it.

That is all I'm saying about the plot. Well. It is an adventure. An amazing adventure. Full of danger and awful things. But also happy moments. And evil creatures. Like the scorpions in this mine. Shudders. So awful. And they are done so well, that I loved it all so much. The plot in this book is better than in the first two books. And it all makes sense. And I loved reading about it all. There is lots of conflict, but yeah. I loved that too. This story is just so amazing, and I couldn't have loved it any more than I did.

There is so many characters in this book. Have mentioned Elisa and Hector, who I love the most. They also have the most amazing love story. Swoons. But also, sobs. So good. I might have disliked that they didn't talk nicely about dead Alejandro.. Makes me feel I shouldn't have loved him in the first book. Still. Wish we had seen more of his son, Rosario. But he is still just as amazing as always. Love. We see a bit more about Ximena as well. Still not sure how I feel about her. Love and hate, like Elisa feels about her.

Mara and Belén is a big part in this book. And Storm too. They are the three people who are going after Hector with Elisa. I just adore Mara so much. She's an amazing friend. And I loved her relationship with Belén :) Although I wish it had been a bit more. Still, so sweet. We also meet another new character, Mula. Just a little girl. And she's so amazing. I adored her. We see a bit more about Alodia. Wish we had seen her and Elisa together more. Because I kind of love her a lot. And Storm is amazing! Adored him.

I think that is all I had to say about this book. The Bitter Kingdom is just amazing. Epic. It is the perfect finale. And I loved every part of it. Just wish it had been longer :) But it is perfect just the way it is. I loved reading about Elisa and everyone around her. I really loved reading about this amazing world. It is all done so well. Although I still don't approve of all that long traveling, lol ;p But it makes sense, still. I loved the fighting. The drama. But mostly I loved the romance. It is all kinds of perfect. I adored it.

You will all love The Bitter Kingdom. It is the perfect last book to this series. Even with all the heartbreak. It is just so amazing. So when it comes out in August, you need to read it right away. It is worth it. This whole series is worth it. And I'm so glad that I read them all :) Thank you, Rae, for writing a perfect fantasy series. <3 Thank you so much to the publisher, Greenwillow Books, and to Edelweiss for the chance to read and review TBK early. <3 I'm so, so happy that I were able to read it this early.(less)

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May 02, 2013 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. We have followed Elisa into deserts and jungles, through grief and defeat, through love and triumph. Now we follow her on her last epic journey: into the very heart of the enemy's kingdom. (Spoilers from here.)

Hector is kidnapped and on his way to the Invierno kingdom, and Elisa follows him, desperate to both regain the man she loves and stop a civil war from turning into a world war. She's given up the great bounty offered at the source of her Godstone's power, the Zafira, but she is stronger t...more We have followed Elisa into deserts and jungles, through grief and defeat, through love and triumph. Now we follow her on her last epic journey: into the very heart of the enemy's kingdom. (Spoilers from here.)

Hector is kidnapped and on his way to the Invierno kingdom, and Elisa follows him, desperate to both regain the man she loves and stop a civil war from turning into a world war. She's given up the great bounty offered at the source of her Godstone's power, the Zafira, but she is stronger than ever from that journey. Armed with her determination and her friends, she marches towards destiny.

Elisa has been the shining jewel in this trilogy from the very beginning. In The Girl of Fire and Thorns we met a slightly spoiled, very bored, and nervous princess. She's been bearing the weight of her Godstone and her "destiny" since the day she was named, but with no idea of what that weight really means. Sent off by her father and politically savvy older sister to marry a king she's never met from a neighboring kingdom, Elisa has no idea what is in store for her. She arrives to find that her husband is a coward, his kingdom is in shambles and on the brink of war, and then she's kidnapped and hauled off to the desert to face her destiny. There she meets new friends and falls in love; she learns her own strength and leads a rebellion against her own husband; she goes into the enemy's camp and faces their destructive power. When she finally returns home it is as Queen, with her husband dead, and a crumbling kingdom ready for a strong ruler. This story is about Elisa finding her own strength, both physically and emotionally, and becoming a woman.

In the Crown of Embers we see Elisa grow even farther as she steps into the role of Queen. She has learned to love and fight, but now she has to take all those lessons and apply them to a whole kingdom. Faced with threats from without and within, she battles not only the enemy but also her own government. Suitors come before her, ready to become her consort. But Elisa's heart has fallen again, and possibly in the worst place: with the captain of her own guard. When she learns of the fabled source of the Godstone's power, she knows that she is destined to travel to this strange and distant shore to face the next stage of her destiny. Elisa finds the Zafira, faces its great power, and yet turns it down. Now she is woman, queen, and bearer, ready to face the end of her journey.

Now in The Bitter Kingdom, Elisa has been stretched and hardened into a strong and competent woman and ruler. She is confident, but not to the point of arrogance; strong, but not so much that she ignores help when she needs it. She is exactly the kind of heroine that YA needs in a world of Bellas.

The Bitter Kingdom builds from one stunning revelation to the next, pushing the bounds of the world and the story farther than you could have imagined. Every climax I could have guessed for the book came and went, and still the story built, tension rising. Carson pushes her heroine and her world to the brink, and when the climax and denouement finally come, it is beautiful and relieving. Some might say the ending is anti-climactic, but I thought it was perfect as the end to this world trilogy.

Rae Carson has truly proven herself a master of YA and fantasy. I can't wait to see what she does next.(less)

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May 20, 2013 Chanelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sequel, august-2013, arc-review

Absolutely fantastic end to a wonderful series.

The Bitter Kingdom takes place straight after the previous book ends. Hector has been taken and Elisa is determined to get him back. The adventure and the lessons learned, the friends gained, the enemies slain along the way make our characters stronger and we move with them, crying when they cry, laughing when they laugh.

New characters were introduced, which were assets to the story. It also made up for, what I felt, was a pointless plot in the prev...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Krys rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-releases, young-adult, series, 2013-august, arcs-manuscripts, own, first-person-narrative, court-intrigue, fantasy, alternating-dual-multi-narratives, read-in-2013, series-i-love

The Bitter Kingdom is the upcoming third and final book in Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns high fantasy trilogy. It marks the end of an adventure for Lucero-Elisa, a former princess of Orovalle and now Queen of Joya d'Arena. It's been quite the journey for our heroine. Through turmoil and strife, through uncertainty and despair, Elisa has held her own and come out a woman instead of a child. And I cannot love the series more for that.

* Spoilers ahead for those who have not read The Girl of Fire and...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Erin M. marked it as to-read

Gah!!! The suspense is killing me! I must find out what happens, especially with Hector!

THE WAIT.... Oh, the waiting.

Hopefully this book lives up to my expectations. I'm actually kinda nervous that it'll be a disappointing conclusion because then my series will be spoilt.

Anyway I'm eagerly anticipating this one.

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Mar 27, 2013 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya

The perfect conclusion to one of the most brilliant modern YA fantasies on the market today. Readers will love this whole series, and while I didn't want to leave Elisa's world, THE BITTER KINGDOM hits all the right notes. This is what YA fantasy should be.

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May 04, 2013 Andrea marked it as to-read

I need this book I need this book I need this book I need this book (say it with me!) I need this book I need this book I need this book HECTOR. If Hector dies I am going to kill peeps. No seriously.

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Feb 28, 2013 Isabelle Arnberger marked it as to-read

NO! This is the last book? I'll be crying rivers when it's over. Probably around the last 150 pages. And YES! Finally! I want Hector and Elisa to get together so bad!!

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Apr 16, 2013 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cant-wait

This book, the whole sieres, was wonderful. I can't say enough good things about it. The characters are deep and have a raw-ness to them that you don't find in just any book.
If you like a book you can't put down with a real heroine you can relate to then read this series. I found myself awake worried about Elisa (and Hector). ;) It is packed with just enough action but of course romance to bring a beautiful balance.

I tip my hat to Rae, this is a fine work of art. I'm so thankful she shared the...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Aimee (Coffee Table Reviews) marked it as to-read

I think I might go a little crazy waiting to get my hands on the last book. The way the second book ended? Pure torture!

29 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 Jisha Mishra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-release

I want this one to come out so desperately! The last part was good enough to EAT and now I'm ravenous for more ^_^

7 likes · like · see review

May 12, 2013 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2013/05...

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About Rae Carson

I write books about teens who must do brave things. I'm originally from California, but I moved to Ohio to marry my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. We live in Columbus with my teenaged stepsons, who are awesome. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about que...more

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Books by Rae Carson

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1)

The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns, #2)

The Shattered Mountain (Fire and Thorns, #0.6)

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Quotes from The Bitter Kingdom

“Until recently, I believed all horses were alike. They’ve been giant, four-footed animals with ugly dispositions and alarmingly large teeth for so long that it’s a bit startling to notice how different they are from each other. Mara’s mare, for instance, is a chestnut bay except for a wide white blaze down her nose that makes her seem perpetually surprised. My huge plodding mount is a dark brown near to blackcreature, with the most unruly mane I’ve ever seen. Her shaggy forelock covers her right eye and reaches almost to her mouth.
Mara’s mare head-butts her in the chest. Grinning, Mara plants a kiss between her wide, dumb eyes, then murmurs something.
“Have you named her?” I ask.
“Yes! Her name is Jasmine.”
I grimace. “But jasmine is such a sweet, pretty flower.”
Mara laughs. “Have you named yours?”
“Her name is Horse.”
She rolls her eyes. “If you want to get along with your mount you have to learn each others’ languages. That means starting with a good name.”
“All right.” I pretend to consider. “What about Imbecile? Or Poops A Lot?” — 2 people liked it

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The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3)

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