| |
1 |
The Bitter Kingdom
Author:
Carson, Rae
|
| |
|
Series:
Girl of fire and thorns, #3
|
| |
|
Class:
Fiction
Age: 12-19
Language: English
Demand: Moderate
|
LC: PZ7.C242
Grade: 7-12
Print Run: 100000
|
|
ISBN-13: 9780062026545
LCCN: 2013011912
Imprint: Greenwillow Books
Publisher: William Morrow
|
|
Pub Date: 08/27/2013
Availability: Out of Stock Indefinitely
List: $17.99
|
| |
Hardcover
|
|
|
Physical Description:
|
433 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
H 8.25",
W 5.5",
D 1.37",
1.13 lbs.
|
|
LC Series:
|
The girl of fire and thorns trilogy
|
|
Brodart Sources:
|
Brodart's For Youth Interest: Popular
Brodart's Insight Catalog: Teen
Brodart's TOP Young Adult Titles
Brodart's YA Reads for Adults
|
|
Bibliographies:
|
Booklist High-Demand Hot List
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 12th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 13th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 14th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 15th ed.
New York Times Bestsellers List
New York Times Bestsellers: Children's Series
Senior High Core Collection, 19th ed.
Senior High Core Collection, 20th ed.
Senior High Core Collection, 21st ed.
Senior High Core Collection, 22nd ed.
Young Adult Fiction Core Collection, 4th ed.
|
|
Awards:
|
Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
Horn Book Guide Titles, Rated 1 - 4
Kirkus Starred Reviews
Publishers Weekly Starred Reviews
|
|
Starred Reviews:
|
Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
|
|
TIPS Subjects:
|
Fantasy
|
|
BISAC Subjects: |
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Romance
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Girls & Women
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / General
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
|
|
LC Subjects:
|
Courts and courtiers, Juvenile fiction
Fantasy
Fantasy fiction
JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
JUVENILE FICTION / General
JUVENILE FICTION / Royalty
Kings, queens, rulers, etc., Fiction
Love, Fiction
Magic, Fiction
Magic, Juvenile fiction
Prophecies, Fiction
Prophecies, Juvenile fiction
|
|
SEARS Subjects: |
Fantasy fiction
Kings and rulers, Fiction
Magic, Fiction
Prophecies, Fiction
|
|
Reading Programs: |
Accelerated Reader Level:
5.3
,
Points: 16.0
Lexile Level:
760
Reading Counts Level:
5.6
,
Points: 23.0
|
|
|
| |
| Annotations |
| Brodart's TOP Young Adult Titles | 08/01/2013 |
| It's time to brave the unknown. The sorcerer-queen seeks her lost love, her country's safety, and what remains to be told of her destiny as she heads into the enemy's territory in this conclusion to the Fire and Thorns trilogy. 448pp. |
|
| Starred Reviews: |
| Kirkus Reviews | 07/01/2013 |
| A queen can defeat the conde who stole her throne, but it means nothing if her land is destroyed by fire-throwing invaders. Queen Lucero-Elisa ne Riqueza de Vega--Elisa to her friends--has lost her throne, her bodyguard/nurse and her beloved (The Crown of Embers, 2012). All she has left is the Godstone in her navel, and it's brimming with more power than ever before. Slowed by the need to protect a helpless child, trained in magic by a failed sorcerer, threatened even by the weather--she's traveled so far ice falls from the sky!--Elisa knows her first priority is to protect her country from the invading Invierno animagi. The Inviernos, tall, fair-skinned and not-quite human, believe that generations ago, Elisa's people came to this land and destroyed their magical birthright; now they want revenge. Despite the Godstone marking her as a once-in-a-century prophesied heroine, Elisa must save the day with her "only lasting power," her smarts. This well-read girl spent her childhood studying warfare and international diplomacy and has the skills to lead both a war party and a country. Her foretold destiny is resolved with a marvelous and refreshing twist on literary tropes. A smashing ending to a trilogy that began with problematic body hatred but developed into the stellar journey of a girl who would be queen. (Fantasy. 13-16). 448pg. KIRKUS MEDIA LLC, c2013. |
|
| Publishers Weekly | 07/01/2013 |
| Ages 13-up. The action-packed conclusion to Carson's excellent trilogy opens hard on the heels of 2012's The Crown of Embers: young Queen Elisa and her companions trek into enemy territory to rescue the man she loves, while a traitor back home attempts to overthrow her. Elisa's journeys take her to the wintry lands of Invierne, where she hopes to destroy the source of the Inviernos' magic and bargain for peace; to the Basajuan desert, where only her most audacious plans have any chance to stop the war; and home to try to regain her throne through wits and political skill. The plot takes time to gather momentum, but Carson moves the story along with terrific world-building and character development. She also tackles classic fantasy tropes, springing off into unusual and refreshing directions that reinforce her story. Elisa learns to wield the full power of the Godstone, but it's her brains, courage, and ability to inspire people that continue to bring her success. Carson brings her series to an end with a thrilling climax, but readers will hope more adventures lie ahead. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Sept.). 448p. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2013. |
|
| Journal Reviews |
| Booklist | 09/15/2013 |
| Grades 9-12. Carson brings her well-wrought trilogy (The Girl of Fire and Thorns, 2011, and The Crown of Embers, 2012) to a satisfying conclusion as Elisa, bearer of the godstone that brings her both power and extreme danger, searches for her true love, Hector, captive of Franco's troops. Traveling with her trusted new maidservant as well as their prisoner, Storm, and the besotted Belen, Elisa must practice duplicity without falling victim to that of others. Romance, bravery, and suspenseful political wranglings drive and inform the characters on all sides. Readers new to the series should begin at its start, but, luckily, they'll have the whole series ahead of them as Elisa races to free Hector and take her rightful place of power. Goldsmith, Francisca. 448p. Booklist Online. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2013. |
|
| Horn Book | 09/01/2013 |
| High School. This trilogy ender (The Girl of Fire and Thorns; The Crown of Embers, rev. 1/13) begins with Queen Elisa on the run, her kingdom both overtaken by a usurper and threatened by invasion from the seemingly unstoppable Invierne, most of whom can access the same Godstone magic that makes Elisa unique among her people. Political goals align, for the moment, with her personal mission to rescue love interest and former Royal Guard captain Hector. Doing so brings her deep into Invierne territory, and she attempts to broker a treaty with them, hoping that it will be the key to retaking her kingdom. This book suffers a bit from all the survival drama of Elisa and co. running around in the wilderness while the political intrigues spin their wheels. However, once the gang reaches Invierne, Carson's skills kick in to deliver a satisfying wrap-up to the series' complex web of plot lines. This is that rare series in which each volume is better than the last, particularly in regard to Elisa's characterization. Here we see her come into her own considerable strength, which stems from a realistic combination of smarts, stubbornness, and grueling hard work and makes her an admirable leader, a position that her relationship with Hector, romantic and yearning as it is, never undercuts. An action-packed and thoughtful end to an ambitious series. claire e. gross. 435pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2013. |
|
| Horn Book Guide | 05/01/2014 |
| 2. Queen Elisa (The Girl of Fire and Thorns; The Crown of Embers) is on the run, her kingdom both overtaken by a usurper and threatened by invasion from the Invierne. Political goals align, for the moment, with her personal mission to rescue love interest Hector; doing so brings her deep into Invierne territory. Carson delivers a satisfying wrap-up to the trilogy's complex web of plot lines. cg. 435pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2014. |
|
| School Library Journal | 10/01/2013 |
| Gr 8 Up. Elisa, teenaged Queen of Joya d'Arena and Godstone bearer, leads her small but fiercely loyal group of friends and protectors in pursuit of her enemies, who have taken Hector, the man whom she's finally admitted she loves. The journey takes her into the heart of the Invierno lands, where she discovers their terrible secrets. She also experiences loss, betrayal, and the pain of making impossible decisions, and she learns to trust her instincts, intellect, and magic. Elisa continues to be a heroine worth rooting for as she grows in both physical and emotional strength, and by the fairy-tale ending, readers will have no doubt that her newly formed empire will thrive. Supporting characters and setting are equally compelling. The fast-paced story is filled with action and violence, as well as a few sexual situations that take place mostly offstage. An altogether satisfying conclusion to an entertaining trilogy. Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library. 433p. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2013. |
|
| ~VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine - Retired Journal) | 08/01/2013 |
| 4Q 4P J S. The final book in the Fire and Thorns series, The Bitter Kingdom picks up where The Crown of Embers (HarperCollins, 2012/VOYA October 2012) ends, with Elisa and her small band of allies chasing the Inviernos who captured Hector, Elisa's love. Bitter Kingdom is located in a cold, snowy world that sets it apart from previous settings and it is in this environment that the long journey to locate those that have taken Hector takes place. After the Inviernos are located, there are adventures that include cave scorpions, mines, and magic. Elisa has grown and changed tremendously by this point in the story, but her character continues to be pushed and tested. Readers will no longer recognize the chubby, self-loathing princess of the Girl of Fire and Thorns (HarperCollins, 2011/VOYA December 2011). As her outer body transforms into a strong, fire-tested queen, her inner person opens up to trust and love. Instead of the story being entirely from Elisa's point of view, a few chapters are told from Hector's and this helps with the character development of Hector and Elisa. The series' themes of acceptance, growth, and being true to oneself are solidly portrayed. This is a spell-binding book. It is not often that all three books in a series are equally enthralling. Those who love Tamora Pierce and Kristen Cashore will love the tales of Elisa. This title also can be read as a stand-alone.--Susan Allen. 448p. VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES, c2013. |
|
9780062026545,dl.it[0].title
|
|