The hardest thing about each book in this series is letting go of your favorite characters, and coming to love others. But it is so worth because the new characters and locales are just as rich and engrossing as ever. It definitely wasn't perfect, but it was also the first book I've felt compelled keep reading since early 2020, and I will always and forever love this world.

Fabulous addition to the Graceling universe and sets up the potential for the next installment beautifully. Characters mature, the world expands, and the plot evolves. This book deals with the environment and corrupt politicians along with friendship and sexual entanglements.

Definitely covers some intense and dark topics, and I had mixed emotions about reading about Bitterblue so many years after the original books, but this was good!

A mysterious new land, a missing envoy and being underpaid for her land’s goods leads to Bitterblue and some of her friends setting sail to Winterkeep. This book is told from multiple perspectives which makes it interesting as you learn more about Winterkeep, telepathic foxes, and the fictional (or maybe not so fictional) Keeper. It is good to be back in the Graceling Realm in a brand new story! 🦊🥶👑

The novel Winterkeep was gripping and extremely intriguing. A variety of topics were explored by the characters and readers of any age.

I really enjoyed this addition to the Graceling universe. It was unique from the other books in the series, but it still had similarities so you could tell they were from the same series. The all-knowing fox species was a little weird and took a while for me to get used to, but once I did, I kind of enjoyed reading from the foxes perspective. I don't think this was my favorite installment of the world, but it was still enjoyable.

Wonderful title. I look forward to more from the author! The story was a great mix of fantasy and intrigue for all audiences.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Growing up the Graceling Realm books were very special to me, especially Graceling which I discovered when I was twelve years-old. I reread this series numerous times, so I was ecstatic when I heard that Cashore was returning to this world with Winterkeep. I am glad we were able to recount with some older favorites like Bitterblue, while also getting to meet new characters with strong voices like Hava, Giddon and Lovisa.

Like many people, I was a bit hesitant to read this new installment, because, naturally, I had fears that it would not resonate with me the same way. Now, I will say that this book felt different because we were in the more industrial, and democratic society of Winterkeep. So yes, this book is different and a quite a bit darker than the initial trilogy, but for me it did not take away any of the beauty of the story. I enjoyed the magic system and how it was interwoven with nature, as well as the triumphs and tribulations.

This book can definitely be read on its own, but for the best reading experience I recommend reading the Graceling Realm trilogy first. I could definitely see more stories taking place within this timeline and I would be happy to pick them up if that does occur.

CW: parental abuse
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the eARC of this book, which was one of my most anticipated 2021 reads. I love the Graceling Realm series and I couldn't believe Cashore decided to continue the trilogy eight years after Bitterblue came out! While the plot of this book is standalone, I do think you'll have an easier time with the world building and large cast of characters if you've read the other books first. Honestly, I was confused by the beginning, since several perspectives are introduced and a few are characters we've never seen before. Although it was satisfying to see how everything tied together later in the story, it required a lot of patience to make it to that point.

I'll also say that this is a lot more political than the rest of the series (at least more than Graceling, which I re-read recently), and I was hoping for more action or exploration of the new continent, rather than descriptions of Winterkeep's political parties and their debates on legalizing a certain resource. Still, Cashore's writing kept me coming back for more, and all the characters, mysteries, and magical creatures started to grow on me. She is so good at describing grief and characters' responses to trauma that I'm left constantly in awe. I don't think this fully lives up to the rest of the series, but if you're looking for that 2010 YA nostalgia factor, you'll probably be as satisfied as I was.

One thing I think I needed to say this book should come with trigger warnings. It's heavy and dark and sad and devastating. It treats very difficult topics and the kind of things that are just a little too much and should never happen.

I really enjoyed the world building and the story, I was new to this series and i enjoyed most of it.

Four years after Bitterblue left off, a new land has been discovered to the east: Torla; and the closest nation to Monsea is Winterkeep. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons. But when Bitterblue’s envoys to Winterkeep drown under suspicious circumstances, she and Giddon and her half sister, Hava, set off to discover the truth–putting both Bitterblue’s life and Giddon’s heart to the test when Bitterbue is kidnapped. Giddon believes she has drowned, leaving him and Hava to solve the mystery of what’s wrong in Winterkeep. Lovisa Cavenda is the teenage daughter of a powerful Scholar and Industrialist (the opposing governing parties) with a fire inside her that is always hungry, always just nearly about to make something happen. She is the key to everything, but only if she can figure out what’s going on before anyone else, and only if she’s willing to transcend the person she’s been all her life. A beautifully written story for young adults and adults to enjoy! I’m new to this series, there were some parts where I was missing information from the other previous books but overall was not confusing or lost. The characters are well developed and the fantasy world is exciting. Thank you to Dial Books, NetGalley, and the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Four years after Bitterblue left off, a new land has been discovered to the east: Torla; and the closest nation to Monsea is Winterkeep. Winterkeep is a land of miracles, a democratic republic run by people who like each other, where people speak to telepathic sea creatures, adopt telepathic foxes as pets, and fly across the sky in ships attached to balloons.

But when Bitterblue’s envoys to Winterkeep drown under suspicious circumstances, she and Giddon and her half sister, Hava, set off to discover the truth–putting both Bitterblue’s life and Giddon’s heart to the test when Bitterbue is kidnapped. Giddon believes she has drowned, leaving him and Hava to solve the mystery of what’s wrong in Winterkeep.

Lovisa Cavenda is the teenage daughter of a powerful Scholar and Industrialist (the opposing governing parties) with a fire inside her that is always hungry, always just nearly about to make something happen. She is the key to everything, but only if she can figure out what’s going on before anyone else, and only if she’s willing to transcend the person she’s been all her life.

A beautifully written story for young adults and adults to enjoy! I’m new to this series, there were some parts where I was missing information from the other previous books but overall was not confusing or lost. The characters are well developed and the fantasy world is exciting. Thank you to Dial Books, NetGalley, and the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

So many years after Graceling, Fire and Bitterblue, it felt so strange to go back into the same universe! But after a bit, I remembered how it was and was hooked once again! Here we discover another kingdom, rich in discoveries, in magic and in secrets! And poor Bitterblue is not having the best of time there! Between the mysterious Keeper, Blue addiction, political plots and new characters entering the game, Kristin Cashore offers us here again a journey that we will not forget! ⁣

While I loved Graceling, and especially Fire, Bitterblue was never my favorite of the series, so I was a bit hesitant to read this, realizing it was more of her story and not more of the others. I give this book 3.75 - 4 stars. The world building was fabulous (and oh the foxes!) But the story was very depressing, which right now is not really what my brain needs (Pandemic and all)

As always, well written and a complete story, cautiously recommended if you're in the mood for sad.

Two of Bitterblue’s advisers have perished in a shipwreck. They managed to send a message for Bitterblue before they perished. The message tells her to look into zilfium, a fuel used in the Torlan continent but illegal to use in Winterkeep. She discovers that she’s been swindled out of money when selling materials from her kingdom’s mountains, unknowingly selling traces of zilfiium that are found next to those materials. She’s angered and decides to visit Winterkeep, taking Giddon and Hava with her. She’s swept overboard and her crew thinks she perished. Instead, she’s being kept hidden away from her crew and most of Winterkeep. We meet her kidnappers and see the conditions she’s kept in. An array of characters fills the pages and intrigue turns the story. This latest addition to the Graceling realm adds another interesting culture to this vast world. Spies, loyalty and grief spin a complex riddle, 4 stars!

Kristen Cashore is a favorite. Enjoyed this so much.. I loved the Graceling series and book talk this with students when I talk about quality fantasy.

This is the first Graceling Realm book I've read. That didn't affect my understanding of the story. Cashore seamlessly wove in needed background information. The story did hold my attention, and I liked Cashore's world-building. But I didn't particularly like the main characters and was bothered by their casual approach to sexual relationships. So although it's well-written, I'm not motivated to read others in the series. For those who have read and enjoyed the others, this is recommended.

As a lifelong Kristin Cashore and Graceling Realm stan, I am crying so many tears of joy.

Winterkeep is the fourth installation in this series, and takes place in Torla, a land bordering Monsea that our previous characters have recently discovered and formed a relationship with. Unlike the kingdoms we've been used to, this land is democratic and industrialized, with giant marketplaces and flying airships. But it still maintains some of the magic of the other lands, with it's telepathic foxes (!!!) and sea creatures. In some chapters we follow known and loved characters such as Bitterblue, Hava, and Giddon as they investigate some Monsean political issues in Torla, but our main protagonist is a Torlan girl named Lovisa, the daughter of two prominent politicians.

Like I said, I've loved this series since I was teenager, and just as teenage me bonded with Katsa, and Fire, and adult me bonded with Bitterblue, present day me fell right into this new land and story, and I am so happy to welcome more books, characters, and types of magic into this world that I love so much. Lovisa's life as a University student, her relationship with her parents, and her perception of the politics happening around her. The telepathic foxes who bond with humans but also must protect the secrets of foxkind. The silbercows who rescue drowning humans and hope the humans will do right by the ocean and its creatures in return. The Keeper, the airships, all of it is so wonderful and I'm so glad it's here for me to love.

This books keeps with the themes of the rest of the series, and like the other books, explores new facets of them in unique ways. We're watching girls and women heal from traumas, grow into their strength and purpose, and acknowledge their role in healing the harm the generations before them have caused. Cashore always writes about this in a way that is introspective, honest, and empowering. However this book also feels new and different in it's sharper focus on politics and environment, and obviously its fresh setting which feels like a new region as well as a new time period and all the new topics and issues that come with that for our characters to grapple with. I also appreciate her continuing to make her cast of characters more diverse and inclusive with each book.

I knew I was excited for Winterkeep the moment I heard it was coming out, but I was still surprised by just how much love I felt while reading it, and how much joy this series still brings me all these years later.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me a review copy of this book!

I love this trilogy by Kristin Cashore and this surprise sequel did not disappoint. It takes place four years after the previous book, Bitterblue. I’m also low key obsessed with the new cover art and seriously considering re-purchasing the entire series to match the new cover.

Provided an arc on NetGalley by Penguin Teen. Thank you!

4 stars.

This book followed the previous Graceling books in the vein of a young woman thrust into a seat of power. She has people on all sides vying for that power and wanting to take advantage or manipulate. Lovisa as a main MC is one I enjoy getting into the head of. The way she was raised has left her feeling used, confused, and to have developed these insane expectations. She has an inquisitive mind and is always questioning things, which can lead to much drama. Overall, being in her head is very interesting and I did enjoy her POVs.

Overall, the book does start slow, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing because I enjoyed being back in this world and seeing everything set up for the second half of the book. Which, by the way, really picked up. Also, we do visit some old characters (I won't spoil who), but the growth of one in particular was so exciting to see!
Plus, there are some very witty remarks which gave this book a touch of humor too.

Basically, it was a great installment to the Graceling realm and I was so happy to be back here after such a long time!