Winterkeep is the triumphant return to the much loved Graceling Realm series from Kristin Cashore and will not disappoint long-time or new fans.
From the blurb;
'For the past five years, Bitterblue has reigned as Queen of Monsea, heroically rebuilding her nation after her father's horrific rule. After learning about the land of Torla in the east, she sends envoys to the closest nation there: Winterkeep - a place where telepathic foxes bond with humans, and people fly across the sky in wondrous airships. But when the envoys never return, having drowned under suspicious circumstances, Bitterblue sets off for Winterkeep herself, along with her spy Hava and her trusted colleague Giddon. On the way, tragedy strikes again - a tragedy with devastating political and personal ramifications.
'Meanwhile, in Winterkeep, Lovisa Cavenda waits and watches, a fire inside her that is always hungry. The teenage daughter of two powerful politicians, she is the key to unlocking everything - but only if she's willing to transcend the person she's been all her life.'
Once again jumping years withing the story and returning to Bitterblue, Winterkeep feels like a fresh start to the Graceling Realm series, a sense that is cemented with the complete shift in location.
Travelling across the sea we find our cast of characters in a entirely new world, with new creatures, powers and political manoeuvring to wrap our heads around.
We're also introduced to an older and wiser Bitterblue who has embraced her queenly responsibilities, and her friends and family alike, to become a fair and just queen whose character still hints to the girl she used to be, and the adventure she longs for.
With switching perspectives throughout this novel we are given a broad view of this new world, and a lot of the answers about how it functions come from new character Lovisa as she uncovers secrets about her family's political ties.
Never lacking in fast-paced action Cashore continues to treat readers to the highlights of her fantasy world writing that made us fall in love with the original three novels: romance, magic, and strong female leads.
As Winterkeep brings us back to, and opens up more of this complex fantasy world, readers are drawn back into the waiting arms of the Graceling Realm, and slotted amongst it's plots, turns and twists as comfortably as coming home after a long vacation.
We give Winterkeep Four Stars
ISBN - 978-0-8037-4150-8 First published in the United States of America by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021
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