Bitterblue

Return to Kristin Cashore's captivating Graceling Realm with a heart-wrenching tale set eight years after the events of Fire Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue and her country were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck's death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck's reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened.
Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and it's only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle - curious, disguised and alone - to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past. Whatever that past holds. Two thieves, who have sworn only to steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever.
They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart ... Readers love Bitterblue:'Bitterblue features a cast of well-written, compelling side characters, a hilarious appendix written by an actual character, a cast that is around 70% queer and 90% characters of colour, a f***ing glorious slow-burn mystery, a f***ing glorious character arc for a young woman in a tight space, and a narrative around colonialism that sticks out in my mind to this day.
I cannot get past how much I adore this book' Goodreads reviewer, ? ? ? ? ?'This book! It was so wonderful and so sad at the same time! The feels..................... I love Queen Bitterblue so much!' Goodreads reviewer, ? ? ? ? ?'Bitterblue met all of my hopes and expectations (and they were high, let me tell you) .