Was anyone else dissapointed how Saf and Bitterblue ended up?

[Emily]

Honestly, this is another example of the girl going for the bad boy when there is another alternative who would be loyal and is simply a better match. SPOILER: It's like Tessa and Jem in Clockwork Angel, or Day and Anden in Prodigy, there are so many other examples. (I wrote the match with the better match, not with the bad boys.) Forget Saf, it would have never worked. Too different.

[Kat]

I loved the book. I love this whole series in general, Kristin Cashore is an amazing author. However, I'm not going to lie that I do wish there was a bit more romance towards the ending for Bitterblue. Like In Graceling or Fire. I do wish that Bitterblue ended up with Saf and they didn't decide to be just friends. All in all this book was yet another on of Kristin Cashore's works that captured me.

[Madeline]

slightly. I want them to be together forever. But thats probably not going to happen *Disappointed sigh and crying on the inside* I absolutely love those books, and im pretty sure that i can quote about a quarter of it. once while i was quoting, the part where Bitterblue and Saf say goodbye, i began to cry. it was in gym class, so everyone thought that i was weirder than i already am. so thats a lot.Anyway.... my insides basically explode when i read about them-through out the whole book. I am addicted. saf is my favorite character and to show so i wore a necklace with purple circles like eyes, and with my friends i had a conversation about how to die eyes purple. I really want her to write another book. I am writing a lot. But back to the question at hand, i am slightly disappointed, but its the only way for it to end (Sadly) Saf when he found out that she was queen her said that he didnt want to be "Stuck in the castle as a commoner friend" *Insides breaking* So yeah.

[Layne]

I was pleased with how Saf and Bitterblue's relationship ended. Though, at first reading the book, I was disappointed because I did not really like Saf's character. But on my third reading of the book (If you think 3 readings is bad, I've reread Graceling 8 times) I grew more attached to Saf and it made me realize that Sapphire and Bitterblue Couldn't be able to end up together. Bitterblue is Queen and has to rebuild a Kingdom that was left by her demented father. Saf is not royalty nor would he make a good King.

I, for one, was hoping that Bitterblue and Giddon would have ended up together. I love how these two act to each other and Giddon would make a better husband to Bitterblue as well as a better King to Monsea.

Also, while Fire and Katsa both found love, I found it refreshing to have a main-female lead that does not end up with anyone. Though, this might just be my dislike for romance novels, but after really thinking about it; I was happy that she and Sapphire did not end up together.

My opinion could be my dislike of romance, my love towards Bitterblue and Giddon together, or my neutrality to Saf. But I love both the book Bitterblue as well as the character Bitterblue.

I think that Bitterblue is a better book than Fire (Please don't get me started on Fire, I really hate that book. Sorry.) But, I think Graceling is the best of the three.

[Julia]

I feel like there was no "talk" about their relationship or standing. I felt like it left their story incomplete. I don't think there will be an addition to Bitterblue. This was not my favorite, but it is still a solid book. I loved all the parts with Katsa and Po. :)

[Julia]

I totally see that too. I was kind of shipping it.. :)
Casey wrote: "Call me crazy but I almost saw a relationship brewing between Gidden and Bitterblue there....."

[mels]

I wasn't. I want Saf all to myself.

[Jld]

When I first started reading, I was excited with the assumption that this time the reckless one would get the girl (I've always considered Archer/Saf as the reckless ones and Brigan/Giddon as the mature ones). Even though deep down inside I knew that Fire and Brigan were meant to be, it was really hard for me to accept that Fire didn't end up with her first love. By the end of Bitterblue, however, I didn't feel that same loyalty towards Saf.

Archer was flawed, but Saf never loved Bitterblue as deeply as Archer loved Fire. I would have supported Saf more if he had appeared as concerned when Bitterblue was attacked as Archer had when Fire was shot by the poacher, but his "She's been stabbed," didn't exactly come across as frantic as Archer's "Fire. Are you alright? Where else are you hurt?" Bitterblue was not Saf's first priority; Holt and Hava were the ones directly by her side checking to make sure she was alright. Yes, he came to help, but his treatment of her wass not the same when he was mad at her and when he was not; his love is not unconditional. Both Fire and Bitterblue consented to have sex recently after they experienced tragic loss, more because they were vulnerable and desperate for comfort than for true love. Further, Bitterblue's "Let me dream that we leave each other as friends," reminded me a lot of Fire's breakup with Archer. "We were friends before. We must find a way to be friends again."

On the other hand, both Bitterblue and Giddon and Fire and Brigan have relationships that are more stable and reliable. "Do you guys remember when she was reading Leck's journal and Giddon got so angry and then practically begged her to stop putting herself through it? How Helda said he's been ill and lost his appetite over it?" I feel like Giddon got upset when Bitterblue hurt herself, but Saf got upset when she hurt him. Also, Bitterblue always had to go to him; Saf never made the effort to come to her first. He didn't even tell her that he was planning on joining the expedition to the Dells; she had to find out through the grapevine.

[Jld]

I'd also like to note that the age difference between Bitterblue and Giddon is pretty much the same as Fire and Brigon.

[Rin]

I just wished there was more Giddon...

I was annoyed by Saf but the did the most honorable thing he could

[Cyana]

I totally wanted her to end up with Giddon. I wasn't crazy about Saf. Let's face it Bitterblue's life just sucks. I mean who wants all that responsibility anyway. She was a lot stronger than I would have been. Considering her father was a freaking sadistic psychopath. And her country was in shambles.

[Lilac]

I am 100% satisfied with the ending.

Sure, it would've been nice to see Bitterflue and Saf together. They're cute together, and they clearly like each other a lot. BUT in reality a queen and a commoner will always have a power imbalance, just because she's the freaking queen. I seem to remember that Saf expressed he was uncomfortable with it.

So I'm glad Kristin Cashore didn't go for the TWOO WUV 5EVA!!!1! route. It's yet another thing that makes these books so good-- they portray different types of love and recognize that "love" on its own is not enough to sustain a relationship.

[Sadie E.]

It was sad that Saf and Bitterblue had to part, but I was not in love with the idea of them in love. I felt Saf was exceptionally one-dimensional feeling for one of Cashore's books, though that's entirely my own feeling. The book was more a coming-of-age tale for Bitterblue and the means of closure for the story of Leck.

I do feel that we were definitely left with the impression that Giddon and Bitterblue may perhaps develop a romantic relationship. One has to understand that while in that time, it may not have been a big deal, adolescents are Cashore's audience, and as this thread here is evidence, people don't react all that well to a woman (and only barely a woman) having a relationship with a significantly older man, as several people have discredited the potential romance on account of his age.

[Katrina]

Payton wrote: " SPOILER so Saf and Bitterblue ended thing off with just being friends. Which I thought was stupid! I wanted her to have a love at the end. She definately deserved it!"

I was not happy either!

[Sarah]

I totally agree I was so waiting at the end for them to end up being together... But now she's alone.. Again..

[Sarah]

But I do like the whole thing with Saf's Grace and then him meeting Fire...

[Brenna]

This kind of irked me too! But at the same time, I love that Cashore's books tend not to end super super happy. Yes, there is usually love, but there is also something tragic, ie (view spoiler)[ In Graceling, Po and Katsa come together, but Po loses his eyesight, and in Fire, Fire and Brigan come together, but Asher is killed. (hide spoiler)] (because I have no actual clue in what order these books should be read, I'm taking care not to spoil the other books).
Honestly, I don't think that I ever believed Bitterblue and Saf would end up together. Throughout the book he is described as ACTUAL trouble, not just the bad-boy image we associate with many characters in Cashore's books. Saf is quick to love and quick to anger. He could never be what a Queen needs.
I do feel slightly hopeful, because although I feel like the book ended pretty abruptly, Bitterblue discussed how in the Dells, royalty-commoner marriages as well as homosexual marriages are permitted. It gives me slight hope that maybe (?) Cashore will write another novel.

[Lilac]

Brenna wrote: "It gives me slight hope that maybe (?) Cashore will write another novel. "

I follow Kristin Cashore's blog and she IS writing another novel...but unfortunately it's not a Graceling book. Still, her work is amazing, so I'll def read it.

[Dawyn.S.]

yeah,me too
but i was soooo disappointed,like after graceling and fire then,BAM!NOTING...dreamed soo much more for them

[Julia]

I always see readers bitching when a book doesn't pair up couples the way they want. Get over it.

In the specific case of Bitterblue:
Saying goodbye to, or not being with, somebody you love is not necessarily a bad ending. Taylor Swift was recently quoted talking about the beauty in unrequited love. But in some ways what she says applies well to any situation where you can't be with the one you love.
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/taylor-swift-gives-advice-about-love-to-young-fan-on-instagram-2014257

Often what I see readers wanting is for the one-and-only-one-true-love concept. I.e. a character falls in love exactly one time in the entire duration of their life, ends up marrying that person and lives happily-ever-after. But how often does that really happen to people? Even people who are able to get married once and stay married till they die often have other relationships before they meet the one they marry. Some of these relationships end badly, but others just end. Sometimes love isn't all it takes, and when that happens you go your separate ways. That doesn't mean you stop loving them.

I think friendly love is just as beautiful as romantic love. In some ways more, because it asks for nothing in return. Bitterblue lost a boyfriend, but she gained a truly loyal friend. There's nothing bad about that.

[Lilac]

@Julia. Yes! Thank you for saying it so articulately.

[Sandy]

What if...she ended things as friends just so he wouldn't have to be king and he would be able to travel and they actually do have a relationship but to hide it they both decided to he friends and OH GEEZ I HOPE ANOTHER BOOK COMES OUT AND WE CAN GET AN ANSWER.

[Lindsey]

ugh I haven't finished yet and I shipped them so hard.... whatever. just whatever. is it only me or do all the couples you want to be together just dissipate at the last second?? Saf is gorgeous and Bitterblue is perfect for him... and deserves him too!!!!!! I was so excited to read the rest of the book, cuz I was like, of course they're going to ride off into the sunset together, right?? Nope. Just no. Well, it was obviously a really good book, to have stirred up this much emotion inside of me... I just keep going back to their kiss page and reading it <3

[Rossy]

Hii lol is there anyone who has read the book recently that wants to discuss it? I just finished and I feel lost and idk who to talk to haha

[Samantha]

I'm team Giddon.

[Susan]

Saf and Bitterblue ended up as just friends, which isn't the worst outcome but I wish they were more. It had a perfect set up for them to be.