Sakura of DOOM

(sequel to Graceling and companion to Fire, though I feel Fire is much more relevant)

Bitterblue is the young queen of Monsea, and she gradually learns that what she knows about her kingdom isn't quite what is going on.

Or: terrible synopsis trying not to spoil previous books.

As a summary, this book has many things I like, from ciphers to people learning how to handle their power to the process of recovering from trauma, both to individuals and to the entire country. It also has many of Cashore's other flaws, such as terrible, terrible naming and prosaic prose, along with some new ones in terms of pacing and character development. Bitterblue's character in particular suffers from the pacing; I was very frustrated when she would frequently have the same realization over and over and over. Which, realistic, but not particularly fascinating reading. There's also a bit too much bait-and-switch in the plot when Bitterblue is trying to find out who is telling the truth and who is lying, so much so that it makes some of the later reveals less shocking because you're so frustrated by the switching back and forth. The romance is also much less interesting than the ones in previous books.

I found the book very slow going until the last third or so, but I also think the last third is worth getting to, especially if you're interested in governance and recovery from widespread trauma. Still, it could have used much more editing.

( Spoilers for all three books )

Recommended if you like books about people learning how to govern or books about individual and institutional trauma and recovery, though you do have to slog through a fair amount to get there.

Also, randomly, what books do people know and/or rec about people learning to govern? It's a theme I really like, and one that many things handwave after the Glorious Revolution. I find this frustrating because I'm much more interested in what happens after the new rule is in place. Most of the ones I can think of also involve female rulers, but that's probably just because I read mostly female protagonists. Mine: Laurie J. Marks' Elemental Logic series, Laura Kinsale's Shadowheart, Lloyd Alexander's The Beggar Queen, probably some of Ono Fuyumi's Twelve Kingdoms series (haven't read all of them), bits of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy and def. the Shadow Queen books, I think Michelle West's House series (haven't read), Megan Whalen Turner's King of Attolia, ... ?

I think magicnoire and rachelmanija would like this in particular, if they haven't read it already.

Katsa has grown up Graced; she has the different-colored eyes that set Gracelings apart, and her Grace is to kill. As such, she's been trained to be the assassin for her uncle the king. Katsa hates it, but she's trapped, and it doesn't help that people are already frightening of Gracelings, much less ones with a Grace like Katsa's.

When she tries to find the kidnapped Prince of Lienid, she ends up meeting his grandson Po. Adventures commence!

I'd avoid reading the back cover copy; it's not horribly spoilery, but I think some elements of the book are more fun to stumble into.

I adore Katsa. She's extremely physical and determined and every inch a fighter without ever being spunky or spirited, and I especially love that she's not completely socialized. She's horrifically awkward around people in a very believable way, and I like that she never does become emotionally proficient and that the physical always calms her down. And! She doesn't want to get married or have kids, and she doesn't change her mind about this!

Po is also wonderful, and I am so glad that even though he's great, he's also still a supporting character. The book remains Katsa's, no matter how large a part Po has to play in her journey. I did roll my eyes a little at his precious-metal-colored eyes (gold and silver), and I think both his Grace and Katsa's could be powered down a little, but overall, the characterization of the two characters and how they interacted was marvelous.

There's another character who comes in halfway through the book whom I also adore.

Aside from gender-role examination (sometimes handled well, sometimes a wee bit clunky), there's also a good look at power and kingdom that I liked.

Anyway, this was well written and well thought out, I loved loved loved Katsa and Po and the two of them together, and I'm looking forward to whatever Cashore writes next.

Links:
- gwyneira's review
- rachelmanija's review