In the fourth volume of the Graceling Realm series, Queen Bitterblue decides to travel to the educationally and technologically more advanced country of Winterkeep, where two of her diplomats have mysteriously vanished. Often sick during the long voyage, Bitterblue disappears not long before their arrival. Her companions are stunned but determined to carry on. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Lovisa, whose parents support different warring factions within Winterkeep's parliament, is a boarding student at Winterkeep Academy. Returning home frequently to protect her young brothers from their vindictive parents, she stumbles upon a dangerous secret and decides to take action, ultimately risking more than she had imagined. Fantasy elements include an enormous sea creature, sentient foxes that can bond with people, and seal-like beings that communicate telepathically with humans. While the novel will please fans by following characters familiar from previous books, particularly Bitterblue (2012), Lovisa soon moves to center stage in a sometimes wrenching, increasingly absorbing coming-of-age story. Readers who admire Cashore's ability to create original settings, complex characters, and engaging narratives will find plenty to enjoy here.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: It's been almost a decade since Cashore released a novel in her blockbuster Graceling series; fans of the Graceling Realm are already lining up for this.

Cashore returns to the world of Graceling (rev. 11/08), Fire (rev 9/09), and Bitterblue (rev. 5/12) for the first time in some years and introduces Winterkeep, a nation distinctive for its higher education, democratic government, and telepathic foxes and seal-like "silbercows." When two of Queen Bitterblue's envoys vanish there, Bitterblue, her spy Hava, and her friend Giddon make the sea voyage to Winterkeep -- ostensibly on a diplomatic visit, but really to investigate the envoys' disappearance. A catastrophic accident drastically changes their mission. But this is also the story of Lovisa Cavenda, teenage daughter of two wealthy politicians from Winterkeep's opposing parties. Under the shadow of her domineering mother, Lovisa has often had to bury her anger, intelligence, and deep love for her siblings; but, always an investigator, she now uncovers a secret that sets her free and utterly alters her sense of purpose. Delicately, inexorably plotted, this is a captivating novel of action and ideas (a two-party democracy motivated by wealth; the diverse interdependence of humans and other creatures; the ethical challenge of lucrative but environmentally filthy resources; the compromises of statesmanship), an accomplishment all the more admirable in that Cashore achieves it largely through characterization. The warmth of relationships (even testy relationships) suffuses the story, and Cashore depicts Lovisa's hurt and emergent healing with an abundant compassion that reaches out to readers and to the complex, compromised world in which they find themselves. Deirdre F. Baker March/April 2021 p.83(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Return to the Graceling Realm in this follow-up to Bitterblue (2012). Five years ago, Queen Bitterblue of Monsea was picking up the pieces of her kingdom after the horrific rule of her disturbed father, King Leck. Now, contact has been made with a new continent, Torla. The closest country, Winterkeep, is a democratic republic with eco-friendly airships and telepathic animals. The story shifts among five third-person perspectives: Bitterblue; Giddon, who appeared in Graceling (2008); Lovisa, the teen daughter of the Keepish president; a telepathic fox named Adventure; and a mysterious 13-tentacled undersea creature. En route to Winterkeep, Bitterblue is assumed to have drowned but she's actually been kidnapped. Meanwhile, Lovisa (who's skilled at spying) attempts to uncover her parents' secrets while processing new revelations about them--and herself. Cashore excels at finely drawn characters and realistic portrayals of toxic parents' effect on their children. While the focus on the themes of sex and environmentalism risks veering too heavily into didacticism, this worthy addition to the series is sure to excite fans who, after eight years, may not have dared hope for another installment. This is both a timely primer on the dangers of a politically divided society and a good story. Keepish people are brown-skinned; half-Lienid Bitterblue is light-brown skinned; and Monseans are fair-skinned. A keeper. (map, note to the reader, cast of characters) (Fantasy. 14-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.