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Winterkeep

(Graceling Realm #4)

Kristin Cashore

4.20 · Rating details · 130 ratings · 120 reviews

Something is rotten in the heart of Winterkeep...

Four years after Bitterblue left off, a new land has been discovered to the east: Torla; and the closest nation to Monsea is Winterkeep. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the ...more

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Hardcover, 528 pages

Expected publication: January 19th 2021 by Dial Books For Young Readers

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Winterkeep (Graceling Realm, #4)

Kristin Cashore

Release date: Jan 19, 2021

Enter to win a hardcover copy of WINTERKEEP, the next installment in the New York Times bestselling Graceling Realm series by Kristin Cashore!

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Giveaway dates: Dec 19 - Jan 18, 2021

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Average rating 4.20 ·

Rating details

· 130 ratings · 120 reviews

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Start your review of Winterkeep (Graceling Realm, #4)

Jul 27, 2020 Lea (drumsofautumn) marked it as to-read

Shelves: to-be-released, most-anticipated-2021

1.) Graceling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.) Fire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.) Bitterblue ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[update sep 16th: this cover is PURE perfection!!!!!! like I am absolutely in love with it!!]

I am SHOCKED at the amount of negative pre-reviews I am seeing about this. I, for one, am incredibly excited about another installment in this series, especially considering that Kristin Cashore has always talked about wanting to expand this series and world.. and also why the HECK not. It's an amazing world filled with amazing characters.
You all are b ...more

flag 103 likes · Like · see review

Dec 12, 2020 may ➹ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-and-a-half-star, diverse, my-soul-hurts, earc, fantasy, pov-3rd, pov-female, rep-lgbtqiap-wlw, rep-bipoc, young-adult

immediately after I finished this book, I wrote in my notes, “god im. why am i literally about to cry I CANT DO THIS AGAIN i refuse to shed tears over the work of a white woman yet again NO” so that’s how it’s going

this was very good :’) rtc, 4.5 probably

flag 82 likes · Like · see review

Jul 02, 2020 Helena of Eretz ✰ marked it as to-read

Shelves: high-fantasy, young-adult, arcs, asap

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I'll admit that I'm a bit hesitant about this...

Following along this trend of continuing older 2010's-era YA series: Shatter Me, Darkest Minds, Fire and Thorns, Hunger Games, Twilight and now Graceling ... I hope that this doesn’t ruin the love that I have for this series. ...more

flag 51 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2020 ˗ˏˋ aphrodite ˊˎ˗ marked it as to-read

Shelves: new-releases-2021

NEW GRACELING REALMS BOOK????????

flag 36 likes · Like · see review

Jun 22, 2020 Tatiana marked it as to-read

Shelves: not-yet-available, ppb

Another author revisiting her old series. Ag. I guess, fingers crossed and hope dies last, but I am not optimistic, especially considering how underwhelming Cashore’s last two books were. Maybe I’ll be miraculously surprised? 🤔

flag 27 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2020 shre ♡ marked it as to-read

2010 era authors are really keeping us going in 2020.

flag 25 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2020 Angelica marked it as to-read

authors need to know when to let their series end.
It's like all the authors of the previous decade have decided that this was the perfect time to come back into the spotlight.

First The Hunger Games, Twilight, Shatter Me, The Iron Fey, and now this????? ...more

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2020 Alexandra Elend Wolf is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: most-anticipated-releases

I'm so excited to be reading this!!!

Even though I honestly believed that the series was done with, it's been years since the last book was published, I've grown warmer to the idea and now I am truly into it. I mean, there's still plenty to explore in this world.

I'm so glad to be able to review this before it's officially out.

Here is to a fun new read.

P.S. I'm really digging these new covers.
__________________

Oooh, that cover looks pretty good.

Am I infinitely more hyped to read these books ju ...more

flag 28 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2020 Kilikina marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2021, acquire-at-all-costs, apocalyptic-land, fantasy, save-the-world, january, ya

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dial Books for this ARC chapter sample in exchange for an honest review

The Graceling Realm series is one of my all time favorites. I prayed & hoped Kristin would continue to write another book/series in this world, and I was elated when I saw Winterkeep was finally announced.

What I’ve loved most about this series so far, besides its characters, is it’s incredible world building. It’s been years since I’ve read Butterblue, yet when I read this chapter sampler i ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Jun 01, 2020 Hannah added it

Shelves: 2020, high-fantasy, ya, beta-read

NOT HUMBLE, JUST A BRAG

You're gonna love it. I can't wait to read the final. ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2020 Hollis rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020-reads, baa-baa-black-sheep, disappointing, fantasy, romance, ya, family-focused, grief-or-loss, meh, finished-in-december-2020

Woe, for I am bummed.

Lets start with the good : where this book really shines is the worldbuilding. While the world had expanned a time or two in the first three books of the Graceling Realm series, it goes even further in WINTERKEEP. That plus the in-book passage of time, and new problems, is what keeps this series feeling fresh and, particularly in the case of coming back to a series so many years after publishing what seemed to be the final book, makes it feel less like the cash grab we so of ...more

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Dec 09, 2020 Lauren Don’tGoBrekkerMyHeart rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviews, favorites

*cries eternally*
This was soooooo good!

Okay something that I need to get off my chest immediately is that I'm tired of seeing people in this review section saying this is just another Midnight Sun or Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds (idk if that is even the correct title) because this is not like those books at all. I've never been given the impression that Cashore is writing this continuation as a means for more money because each book has only added to the lore in a bigger and better form. She's *cries eternally*
This was soooooo good!

Okay something that I need to get off my chest immediately is that I'm tired of seeing people in this review section saying this is just another Midnight Sun or Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds (idk if that is even the correct title) because this is not like those books at all. I've never been given the impression that Cashore is writing this continuation as a means for more money because each book has only added to the lore in a bigger and better form. She's also used her novels numerous times to start conversations in the YA community about issues like feminism, environmentalism (happens in Winterkeep), etc. I'm not going to linger on this anymore because I'm going to switch to my mix of pure, obsessed fangirl and analyst, but this is a note to all those annoying haters.

To start Winterkeep takes place five years after Bitterblue. I know a lot of YA people are not big fans of the books after Graceling because they start to have a slower pace, hold more adult themes, etc. and to that I say they sure do.
It makes them MONUMENTALLY better.
I would highly compare Winterkeep to Bitterblue because Cashore is expanding this world to new lengths I could never have forseen before. It also takes some time for the intense action sequences to happen, but it is well worth it. Just because the action isn’t as forthcoming as it is in Graceling or even Fire does not mean this book isn’t incredible. It’s very political to be honest. Lots of sneaking and scheming.
Lovisa, our newest character recruit, is a morally ambiguous teen, at times, who is torn on her allegiances and duty to her home Winterkeep or her to loved ones. Bitterblue, on the other hand, is just trying to protect and run her kingdom while dealing with another continent with insane technological advances (when compared to the Seven Kingdoms, the Dells, and their continent overall). When Bitterblue and crew start to see some mysterious and deadly circumstances taking place, they plan to get to the bottom of it.
Winterkeep is another piece of growth for this world. I laughed. I cried. And I most certainly screamed my head off. There's so many emotions that coil and boil throughout this story from the entire range of characters. I liked this installment specifically because a lot of the side characters in Bitterblue come farther into the light. Enigmas like Hava become invaluable to the storyline, and I've always been curious about her character after finding out her backstory towards the end of Bitterblue.
Now I cannot say much else because then I'd spoil you all, and that would be horrific because this is an amazing book. What I can say indefinitely is that I went through Winterkeep so quickly that it did not even feel like a 500+ page novel. I'm devouring the lore left and right and just trying to keep up with these marvelous foxes. Ooops I've said too much.. *wink wink*
Anyway, this book was incredible, and I know I've said this multiple times already, but I just need to say it again. Cashore steps beyond the bounds of YA to bring in environmental issues to the Graceling-verse and even a darker element to politics than ever seen before. She's always been an author even before the 2010's that discussed topics not yet mainstream, but she uses her fantasy books as activist messages essentially. It's brilliant and valuable.
P.S. As a little aside, they’re some changes to this story than what happened in Bitterblue. Keep the 5 years in mind because of course nothing is the same as it once was. People growth, mature, etc.

Just like without Cashore's previous books they're some heavy triggers, and I'm going to list as many as I can recall.
TW: Animal abuse, child abuse, gaslighting (mostly parental), prisoner starvation, near drowning, sexual assault (not rape but specifically rough, cruel sexual touching without permission), suicidal thoughts, kidnapping, claustrophobia, environmental cruelty/ deterioration, and bomb warfare. ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2020 ♠ TABI⁷ ♠ marked it as to-read

Shelves: edelweiss

ayyy this cover is doing good things to my eyes

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2020 Cori McCarthy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-s

First of all, I want to thank Penguinteen for sending me this ARC through Netgalley! This was one of my most anticipated books of next year, and I am so excited I got to read it a little early!

Magical World-Building. Fierce Characters. Epic Romance. This book gives you all this and more! Winterkeep was such a magical read, and probably my favorite out of all four books in the Graceling Realm series! It was fast-paced with so many new characters that I found it hard to put this book down. I will ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2020 J.A. Ironside rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, 2020-releases

4.5 stars

ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

There seems to have been a lot of doubt about this book in terms of why is it being added to the series now or at all? No doubt this is in the wake of Suzanne Collin new Hunger Games prequel and the Twilight Companion novel, Midnight Sun. I'm struggling to understand the negativity because unless the author seriously retcons everything, why wouldn't you want more of what you love? And if it did just encapsulate a moment you would 4.5 stars

ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

There seems to have been a lot of doubt about this book in terms of why is it being added to the series now or at all? No doubt this is in the wake of Suzanne Collin new Hunger Games prequel and the Twilight Companion novel, Midnight Sun. I'm struggling to understand the negativity because unless the author seriously retcons everything, why wouldn't you want more of what you love? And if it did just encapsulate a moment you would rather no one messed with, you can choose to just ignore new material. I know - concept!

Anyway, I really enjoyed Winterkeep. I loved the Graceling series in general although my least favourite was Bitterblue, which just didn't land for me when I read it. Winterkeep moves on around five or six years after Bitterblue. The queen of Monsea has adjusted well to ruling and despite her country's financial troubles, has helped people to move forward and heal after the tyrannical rule of her father. After the discovery of the Dells, explorers have also located other lands including Winterkeep.

Winterkeep thinks of itself as a more evolved land. It's governed by a president and senate of politicians instead of a royal family and feudal system. It has sophisticated infrastructure for trade, commerce, medicine and education. And it has its own myths, legends and magical creatures. However below this beau idelle, all is not well. Two of Bitterblue's emissaries die in suspicious circumstances and a piece of information shows that perhaps Winterkeep is not trading with Monsea in good faith. Bitterblue decides to lead a delegation to Winterkeep to see for herself - and that's when things go drastically wrong.

The themes of the Graceling series have always been unflinching and mature but delivered in a very accessible way. Winterkeep builds on this, looking at the pushes and pulls between family, between differing nations, between progress and innovation versus environmental concerns, between loyalty and integrity. One of the strongest themes is truth; concealed truth, edited truth, the truths you are too obtuse to see or try to protect yourself from and the truths that other people deny you. The prose is easy and engaging so you could be forgiven for not realising how many complicated strands are woven in here. This is multi layered and clever, funny and sweet and poignant. Sometimes it is our differences and our willingness to accept them that allow us to find common ground.

I especially enjoyed Giddon's character arc and the adventurous Telepathic Fox's pov. Louvisa's pov is challenging but utterly pitch perfect for someone surviving in the middle of a situation of physical and emotional abuse without really allowing herself to know that's what's going on because there's no room to process it while it's happening.

In short, Fire is still my favourite book in the series but this comes a close series. If you're interested but unsure, give it a go. It really is a beautiful addition. ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 15, 2020 Kristie marked it as to-read

Shelves: series, 2021, ya, fantasy

I have noticed several series that were "done" that have added books recently and I am really excited for this one. YA and fantasy aren't always my favorite genres, but this is one of the series that I really enjoyed. I also don't typically do re-reads, but I think I might re-read the previous books before this one is released. ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 06, 2020 Sally marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, tbr-2021

Omfg I can’t believe I’m alive to read the continuation of Bitterblue/Giddon in canon. 😱

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jul 29, 2020 Michelle marked it as to-read

COVER!!! I’m loving it!!

7/2020: WHAT?!?! What is happening! Another Graceling book! Oh my god!!! I’m freaking out!!

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2020 michelle (magical reads) marked it as to-read

Shelves: released-in-2021

i am LOOKING directly at it !

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Sep 17, 2020 Arielle ⭐ Cursebreaker ⭐ marked it as to-read

Shelves: i-need

HOW AM I ONLY JUST NOW SEEING THIS??!!??!?! Bitterblue shook me to my very core. I need to immediately re-read.

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 19, 2020 Gretal rated it really liked it

Shelves: everybody-wants-to-be-a-cat

I'll write a review, maybe, after it comes out, but I don't want to ruin this for anyone. I know there's many people greatly anticipating this. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2020 Maris Bave marked it as to-read

Oh my gosh oh my goshohmygosh it's finally happening!

I did not anticipate it going in this direction, since at the end of Bitterblue (view spoiler) but I can't say this doesn't sound like an excellent adventure too. ...more

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May 29, 2020 Jennifer marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Whaaaat? 😭😭

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 29, 2020 Ingrith marked it as to-read

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAYYYYYY

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2020 Franzi marked it as to-read

A NEW GRACELING REALM BOOK???? That was my favourite series when I was younger omg

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Oct 19, 2020 Sya rated it it was amazing

Kidnapped queens and lonely girls; brave, sad men and stressed out foxes; airships and glaciers and a sad and lonely sea creature wrapped up in political intrigue. Gorgeous and compelling and my favourite read this year. Thank you to the publisher for copy in return for an honest review.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 23, 2020 Hannah marked it as to-read

Shelves: upcoming-squees-2021

AHHH. How did I not know about this earlier??? I still have enough time to reread all the books before it comes out.

This is like a dream come true. :O :O

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Jul 10, 2020 Gaia marked it as to-read

EDIT: THE COVER LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE OLD ONES BUT IM NOT COMPLAINING

hm? what? hello?

a few years ago i would have been the most thankful person to see this but i have seen too many unexpected book sequels turn out so bad that now im just scared whenever a new one appears...

THAT SAID. the graceling series was such a big part of my childhood and i absolutely loved it back then and have been meaning to reread it for years so i will just take this as a sign to do that and look forward to this four ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review