This preview of Winterkeep is definitely just the thing to get someone excited and ready for this long-awaited release! Releasing years after the most recent installment, this first look at Winterkeep gives just enough information to remind old fans about the world of Graceling, as well as provide context to new readers picking up this series for the first time! This preview introduces what promises to be a wonderful and new adventure in yet another world to be explored by our favourite familiar faces.

I'm so excited to read this whole book! I love stepping back into this universe and learning more about what is going on in their world. I was immediately into and ready to know more!

Really liked it. Can't wait to have the full book anda discover a new place and see these characters grow even more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this short chapter sampler of Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore. Winterkeep is book number four in the Graceling realm books.
In Winterkeep we find Gideon helping Gracelings escape Estill for the freer Monsea as the militarized Estill considers those with powers are property of the government. It is dangerous and difficult work but Giddon is part of the council which is now an important and large network stretching across many countries.

Upon returning to Monsea Giddon passes a mysterious message to Queen Bitterblue about a powerful mineral it’s connection to the loss of her envoy sent to a country across the sea called Winterkeep. Soon it will become clear that the Queen will have to visit Winterkeep herself to discover the mystery of the mineral zilfium and what it means to the people of Monsea.

This was a exciting opener to the latest book in the Graceling saga. I’m excited to see where the story takes us next and I appreciate the more adult tone (Bitterblue and Giddon are both in their twenties) that Winterkeep takes.

Noo I didn't realize this was only a preview! I can't wait to read the full book. I love this world and this series.

2.5 stars *may change (I don't know how to rate this??? 3 stars is usually books that are very average, but I don't feel like this fits with my other 3 stars.)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc.
The most difficult books to rate are the ones that didn't leave an impact on you. I can talk for however long about something that was terrible or something that was fantastic. Something that's just there? Yeah, I've got no words for it.
I don't love the idea of adding onto a series from years ago, but if the author has more stories to tell then who am I to stop them? I just wish that story that was being told was a bit more interesting.
Following a trend, we're looking at a new land and exploring a place call Winterkeep (cue title sequence). Don't ask me what happened in this book. I would not be able to answer that question. To be fair, I'm not a plot-driven type of reader. I rarely ever care about what happens in the story when compared to the character work, but I'd at least like to be able to name some events.
It's been a long time since the last Graceling book or since I've even thought about it, so this was a different experience for me. The writing style doesn't really click anymore.
I mean, the real problem with this book is that it simply wasn't for me. I can see why other people would read and love it, I can see why people might hate it. personally? I don't care.

This is more exciting than counting down to Christmas! I wish I had the self restraint to wait until the book came out but instead tortured myself by reading the excerpt. It threw me right back into the Graceling world and I’m intrigued to see how the new magic system in the newly discovered land ties in with the existing world and politics.

I've waited for this books for YEARS. I can't wait to read the whole book and i'm very glad to read this excerpt.

"The highly anticipated next book in the New York Times bestselling, award-winning Graceling Realm series, which has sold 1.3 million copies.

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."

I know you've been wanting to return to the Graceling Realm too!

I was so excited when I heard there was going to be another book in the Graceling Realm. These books were my entire life growing up. They were one of the few series that got me into reading more.

When I got approved for a teaser of the new book - Winterkeep - I was thrilled, and let me tell you, this did not disappoint! This story continues with Bitterblue and we get to meet a new character, Lovisa. While the chapter teaser was amazing, it definitely has me wanting more.

I cannot wait to read the entire book!

Since only a preview section was provided, I can't review the whole story. But the start draws me right in. Familiar characters are back, although stronger and older. From the opening pages, we follow them into sticky situations where their ethics lead them to act. Characters are complicated and realistic, dialogue is natural but interesting, and emotional allegiances are sure to create a tangled web. Cashore's writing is evocative without weighing us down in description. The world builds naturally around the reader as we follow the MCs. I'm so looking forward to reading the rest of the book.

I´ve waited for this book since 2013 and now it´s almost here! Unfortunately I missed that this was only an excerpt from the book but from what i got to read, this holds the high standard of Cashore´s other books (not that I´m suprised). I cannot wait to get my hands on the real thing!

SO excited to read the whole thing! This sneak peak reminded how much I love Cashore’s writing, and it was very interesting being in Giddon’s pov. Can’t believe we’re getting another Graceling book.

I am HERE for the Giddon and Bitterblue ship. I cannot wait the ten days until this book is officially out. However, the excerpt has a lot of recap of Bitterblue that I found unnecessary. I love the cliffhangery "ending" of this excerpt, so hopefully the rest of the book is less filler and more substance!!

Well crap, I got my hopes up and dashed as I didn't realize this was only a sample. I read all the previous books in this series and was super excited to read this next installment but when I opened up my kindle and saw only a few little dots I was like, NOOOOOOOO. But alas it sets up the story and you want to keep reading so good job on the teaser.

Grrrrr. I specifically looked to see if this was just a preview when I saw it was available to download now, and I still somehow missed that it was only three chapters!

It's hard to leave a review on so short of a snapshot of a novel, but it did a great job setting up the stakes of the book and reintroducing a lot of old, beloved characters. I'm excited to see where this story goes!

Review of the chapter sampler provided by Netgalley

I must admit, I went into this book without reading any of the other Graceling books, because I heard that they were companions. Naturally, I was confused about what was going on in this sampler, but that was entirely my own doing. However, the little bit of the world and the story that I learned from this sampler had me intrigued for the other books in the series. The tidbit that I read of this world was enough for this series to work its way up on my TBR and I’m excited to learn more about this world.

Hi yes this was quite the tease. I try and avoid samplers because I get so hooked and then have to wait for the rest of the story! I did thoroughly enjoy this and can't wait to finish the story!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me this sampler for an honest review!

5/5 stars. Thank you to penguin teen for sending me this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was amazing, it was fast paced and magical. The fierce characters and romance made me love this book so much and it was so hard to put down. The world building was fantastic. Winterkeep brought you into another world. It was an amazing way to end the series, and I would definitely recommend even more after reading this.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a chapter sampler, so there’s not a lot to review, but it has me wanting to go back, read Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue to help me recall the characters, then read the full book when it comes out.