Rae Carson

The Bitter Kingdom

The bitter kingdom

arwen

“Hector, I have to ask. Do you want to be an emperor? Because I could make you one.” “No need,” he says, reaching up to brush my bottom lip with his thumb. “I’m a good leader, but you’re a great ruler. I am strong enough— man enough—to be subject to you.” “Are you?” I arch an eyebrow at him. He scoops me up and carries me to the bed, where he lays me gently down, grinning enormously. “I am.” “Show me,” I command. He shows me.

Raven K

yup. this was just as addictive as the second. I really enjoyed Hector's pov every few chapters. he's definitely one of my favorite characters so it was nice to see some of the story from his eyes. when I started this series, I didn't know what to expect, mostly because I was uncertain about a lot. but this is going down as one of my favorite series. I don't think there's anything I didn't like about this series. Elisa was so much more powerful in this book and I found myself rooting for her every chance I got. The side characters were also very enjoyable. this series went by too fast and I'm just glad I get to reread it whenever I want. it will always be dear to my heart ☺️🖤.

Rachel Kanyid

In the final volume of Carson's 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. 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.

Joanne 

AMAZING STORY, WELL WRITTEN. MUST READ

This entire series is so good that I am now sitting at work unsure what to do with my life. The story and characters have me so wrapped up in their lives that even though the series is finished, I feel so unfinished. What am I supposed to do now, please tell me!

I guess I am off to curl up in a ball and hope this feeling improves as my brain processes everything

Livia

A really solid ending, although the civil war thing at the end is resolved way too easily and too quick

Mary Rose Luksha

You guessed it...walking walking walking then everything’s wrapped up with a nice little bow. But I gave this one four stars because hey, I read all of them and they were pretty good, and by the third book I knew there was going to be a lot of walking so I feel like I can’t really complain since I knew what I was getting myself into.

Maria Banning

A-ma-zing!!! I just don't want this series to end. It would be fabulous to see a spin-off on Queen Alodia and Storm. That is all I will say!

Haley Parker

I absolutely loved this book! It was a great way to end an amazing trilogy. I'm so glad I continued after the first book, ive just become more and more attached to these characters! Especially this book, I really found that so many of these characters were lovable and easy to get attached to it was amazing! Definitely suggest this trilogy to anyone whose a lover of fantasy you will definitely love this series!

Sahi K

This was a much anticipated finale, especially after the ending of The Crown of Embers. And I have to say, this starts off with a bang. Elisa has friends with her but none to guide her anymore. She is the one they look up to and she uses all her intelligence and smarts to make plan after plan to find Hector. We get a few chapters with Hector’s POV and I loved knowing how he thinks and strategizes. I really understood what they meant to each other and how they were so perfect together. Elisa becomes a formidable Queen and Hector is her perfect partner, not at all intimidated at being her subject and trusting her implicitly. The revelations of Storm’s history and his growth here is tremendous. He and Elisa become friends and partners in magic and it was great to see them help and save each other.

There was a lot of action, the plot was very engaging and very fast paced. The ending felt a little rushed but it was still the exact ending I wanted for Elisa and all her friends. This has been a great series with wonderful storytelling but I will remember it most for its fierce heroine who doesn’t need anyone to save her – she is the one doing the saving – and the healthy relationships throughout of all kinds – Love, female friendships and also male female platonic friendship. There are very very few YA books that handle all relationships so well. I definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in YA fantasy.

Neele Jan

Kristen

"I'm beautiful to the one person that matters.... I'm beautiful to me."

The transformation the main character, Elisa, undergoes made this a very profound story for me. Elisa begins the series depressed, thinking she's useless and wishing she was "worth two sons" like her older sister. She accidentally begins an adventure that jumpstarts her evolution, not only into someone who has the ability to change her world, but as someone who finally believes in herself and, more importantly, comes to love herself. I was completely swept away by this story.

With the exception of the first 130 or so pages of the first book, all three books are action-packed and completely engrossing. Elisa begins the book with no real friends, none who are with her because they WANT to be with her, but she makes true and lasting friendships through her story. I love the way these are depicted, all the different types of friendships she forges, and the way loyalty and love come naturally to these friendships. And Elisa herself becomes a fantastically strong character. If I hadn't already been sold on this series, the way Elisa's battles played out in this final book would have still got 5 stars from me. She doesn't back down, and she never once gives up and waits for someone to come save her. She doesn't need anyone to protect her. Sometimes, she does have to be saved by her friends, and she proves that that's okay, and most importantly, having to be rescued doesn't make you weak. But she doesn't cower in a corner and wait for it to happen. It was such a breath of fresh air compared to other YA novels. 

I also adored the love story. It was true and strong, and it wasn't insta-love-y. That was the most amazing thing. In fact, I don't think Elisa mentioned more than once or twice how handsome she found him to be until she had already admitted being in love with him to herself. I found that, as well, to be refreshing, compared to all the female protagonists that drone on and on about the handsome faces and toned bodies of the boys they just meet so that you "know" who the love interest is from the very beginning. The love interest isn't obvious in this story, they grow together, which makes it even more exciting to watch.

And then, Hector. He's absolutely incredible. He never once doubts Elisa, even when she doubts herself and thinks she's weak and lacking. He builds her up and believes in her. He's constantly offering thoughtful and intelligent advice, and he SHOWS how smart he is. I LOVED that. We SEE throughout the series how smart he and Elisa are. We're not consistently told they're smart, then watch them do silly and stupid things for the sake of "action" or "moving the plot along". Again, majorly refreshing for a YA series. 

And finally, the world. I found the worldbuilding to be magical. It's a war-torn and ravaged land that has the potential for beauty and greatness. The magic system is a natural and mysterious thing that inhabits the very earth beneath their feet. It was beautiful and fun and interesting.

This is one of my all-time favorite series. I completely adored the powerful story, and I will definitely reread it in a few years.

Hannah

b.andherbooks

Satisfying conclusion to Carson's trilogy. Queen Elisa really comes into her own power, and learns some really excellent woman-empowering lessons along the way. I truly enjoyed seeing her as the hero, rescuing her man (a la Princess Leia) and learning that it is her brain that is the true source of her power and strength, not some mystical stone in her stomach. AND FINALLY, there was a map. If you are doing fantasy and your characters are roaming all over kingdom come, you need a map.

My gripe with this series remains I am still wanting some back story to the godstone, the power it draws upon, and the mythology of this deity that is constantly referred to. However, still a ton of fun.

Megan

maybe like a 3.75?? I don't think i quite connected to this book as much as the others in the series but I still really enjoyed it!! the last quarter was amaaaazing!

check out our liveshow tonight for more of my thoughts!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KwvL...

Meagan

This series is really great. You root for the main character and who doesn't love a story about a strong female lead? From shy and following orders to making her own and doing what she wants with her life, you love every character. The romance is sweet and realistic allowing you to see a blooming romance instead of an overnight one. Very religious tint to the series obviously but not crazy. I really enjoyed all of the books and reread the entire series again!

Lacey

Wow. I… I don’t even know what to write. Where to start. I really don’t think I can do this book justice. Well, I can at least say that I l o v e this book with all of my heart. The Fire and Thorns series is one of my absolute favorites, if not my very favorite fantasy series of all time. I am completely in love with this series. And I am so very happy with this last book in the trilogy. Oh and I just want to give a humungous THANK YOU to Epic Reads for the ARC! Totally squealed when I found out I won :)

So I had been dying to read this book ever since I finished The Crown of Embers, since CoE ends with a wicked cliffhanger. But not only that, I fell completely head-over-heels in love with the series, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the final book. The fantasy world-building is absolutely divine. It’s so well created, so fleshed out, that it feels like a real world to me. And I just love the Spanish influence Rae Carson has put in the world building (and I’m so grateful that I took Spanish classes in school!). I’m sure I’m pronouncing some names and words wrong, but whatever! The world where Elisa and Hector and Mara and Belén and Storm live in is so incredibly well written, so alive, it’s like its own character.

Elisa is a badass. She is one fantastic heroine. I love that she changes so much throughout the entire series, starting from an insecure, nervous girl, to one who reaches her full potential. She’s the damn queen of her kingdom, for christ’s sake, and she’s only 17! If there’s any heroine I would look up to, it would be Elisa, and I admire her inner strength, her intelligence, her independence, and basically everything about her because she’s amazing! I have a total girl crush on her. Throughout the entire book, she proves to everyone that she is fully capable of leading her kingdom, that she has what it takes to rule firmly, but compassionately. She doesn’t take anything for granted, and she values her life, the lives of those she loves, and the lives of those who live in her kingdom. And every time she comes up with an idea (which are always so epic and badass), I’m just like, You go, Elisa. Show ’em who’s boss queen. And at the heart of the series, I love that Elisa shows that you can pretty much do anything you set your mind to, if you give it all your effort. You don’t need to rely on outside forces to do what you want, because you have always had the capacity to accomplish what you want inside of you. And Elisa proves that even though she has the Godstone, she doesn’t always need its help to accomplish a goal.

It was a huge, lovely surprise when I started reading, and all of a sudden, there were chapters in HECTOR’S POV. I was so shocked, but excited, because Hector is the. b e s t. The BEST. He is one of my favorite book boyfriends ever. His love for Elisa shines through clearly, but doesn’t completely overcome everything else about him. His love for Elisa, his queen, and his quiet strength, loyalty, and dedication to his kingdom are so beautiful and inspiring.

“I love you the way a drowning man loves air. And it would destroy me to have you just a little.”

Both Hector and Elisa are independent people, and if they were to lose one another, it would devastate them, but they would survive and move on. And I love this. They have an epic love, but it’s not the be-all end-all for them. But basically, what I’m trying to say is that Elisa and Hector are perfect. Separately and together.

Every part of The Bitter Kingdom is intense. Rae Carson goes all out in the final book and holds nothing back. I was frightened for the characters one moment, and laughing the next. The secondary characters are incredibly well done, and I was surprised by how much I came to care for Storm, and by how much I was rooting for Mara and Belén. This book made my heart go absolutely crazy. It would be pounding because of some intense scene where someone is almost killed, or it would be melting because of some sweet words Hector says. I just wanted everyone to stay alive and survive through their journey, but the author is obviously a sadist (NO I’M KIDDING I LOVE YOU RAE CARSON!), because these characters do not have their journey cut out for them. Rescuing Hector, fighting Inviernos, killing nasty scorpions, Elisa and the gang are put up against so many things, but they never give up. AND I LOVE THEM SO FREAKING MUCH.

I can’t recommend this series enough. It’s epic. If you love fantasy, you’ll love the Fire and Thorns series. Even if fantasy’s not your thing, I’m pretty sure this series can change your mind about that. Love love love this series so much, but I’m so sad that the trilogy is over, even though I loved every bit of how it ended.

Also posted at Booklovers For Life

Liked this review? Subscribe to Booklovers For Life for more!

Katerina Thorson

Oh my god, oh my god, this book and the feels t gave me!!!! Can I just talk about how much I loved this series for hours and hours on end!!! Like what?! And what?! 
I can't even behind to tell you how the ending kept me raptured and just wanting more from this author!!

Read this series and you won't regret it!!!

The Bitter Kingdom

Reviews