REVIEW: The Bitter Kingdom

The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3)
by Rae Carson

I always worry about reading a series that doesn't have every book published because then you have to wait for the next ones to come out and sometimes it doesn't live up to your expectation when it finally comes. This is not one of those series.

Since the releasing of the first and second books in the series, I have reread them probably a half dozen times each. This conclusion to this series tied up all loose ends, such as confrontations with Franco the assassin, Alodia her sister, the leaders of the Inveriene and her own traitorous quorum members. This book was realistic but still had a happy ending. The plot that has been building throughout the series was very well balanced throughout the book, with several exciting climaxes and a very fast paced story line.

The continuation of character development was fantastic and consistent with the other books. Elisa continues to become a strong, independent individual who, in the end, does not depend on her Godstone for power, but instead becomes the strong ruler that Joya D'Arena (along with Basajuan and Orovalle) needs, creating an agreement with the Inveriene so that they can live in peace instead of continuing to slaughter each other.

The romance of Hector and Elisa was everything I wanted it to be without going overboard or straying out of character. It was passionate, realistic and freaking awesome. In my opinion, they are a formidable and beautiful couple which the potential to challenge famous young adult fiction couples like Dimitri and Rose from Vampire Academy or Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games.

If you haven't yet embarked on this amazing journey yet, go pick up a copy of The Girl of Fire and Thorns at the library or the bookstore or download it on your kindle or borrow it from that girl at work that probably has it. This series is amazing and has secured it's place in my top ten. And I've read a lot of books!