The Bitter Kingdom (Girl of Fire and Thorns Series #3)

by Rae Carson

Overview

“I love this series to pieces and so should you.”—Marie Lu, bestselling author of Warcross

The third book in Rae Carson’s award-winning and New York Times–bestselling trilogy! In the deeply satisfying conclusion, seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen Elisa travels into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny. Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Brandon Sanderson.

The champion must not waver. The champion must not fear. The gate of darkness closes.

Elisa is a fugitive. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves, and they await her at the gate of darkness. Her country is on the brink of civil war, her own soldiers ordered to kill her on sight.

Elisa will lead her loyal companions deep into the enemy’s kingdom, a land of ice and snow and vicious magic, to rescue Hector and win back her throne. Her power grows with every step, and the shocking secrets she will uncover could change the course of history.

Don’t miss The Empire of Dreams, Rae Carson’s action-packed return to the world of The Girl of Fire and Thorns!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062026569
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	07/23/2019
Series:	Girl of Fire and Thorns Series , #3
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	151,839
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Rae Carson is the author of two bestselling and award-winning trilogies, as well as the acclaimed stand-alone novels Any Sign of Life and The Empire of Dreams. Her debut, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, was named a William C. Morris Award finalist and an Andre Norton Award finalist. Walk on Earth a Stranger was longlisted for the 2015 National Book Award and won the Western Writers of America Spur Award. Her books tend to contain adventure, magic, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. Originally from California, Rae Carson now lives in Ohio with her husband. www.raecarson.com

Editorial Reviews

What a conclusion to a spellbinding trilogy! The Bitter Kingdom cements Rae Carson as one of the best fantasy authors to grace the shelves. I love this series to pieces, and so should you.” — Marie Lu, New York Times best-selling author of the Legend trilogy

“The perfect conclusion to one of the most brilliant modern YA fantasies on the market today. Readers will love this whole series, and while I didn’t want to leave Elisa’s world, The Bitter Kingdom hits all the right notes. This is YA fantasy as it should be.” — Beth Revis, author of the nationally best-selling Across the Universe

“Action-packed … excellent … with terrific world-building and character development. … Also tackles classic fantasy tropes, springing off into unusual and refreshing directions.…Carson brings her series to an end with a thrilling climax.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A smashing ending to a trilogy that …developed into the stellar journey of a girl who would be queen.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“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.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“This is that rare series in which each volume is better than the last. … An action-packed and thoughtful end to an ambitious series.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Elisa continues to be a heroine worth rooting for … and by the fairy-tale ending, readers will have no doubt that her newly formed empire will thrive. … An altogether satisfying conclusion to an entertaining trilogy.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

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.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

This is that rare series in which each volume is better than the last. … An action-packed and thoughtful end to an ambitious series.

Horn Book Magazine

The perfect conclusion to one of the most brilliant modern YA fantasies on the market today. Readers will love this whole series, and while I didn’t want to leave Elisa’s world, The Bitter Kingdom hits all the right notes. This is YA fantasy as it should be.

Beth Revis

What a conclusion to a spellbinding trilogy! The Bitter Kingdom cements Rae Carson as one of the best fantasy authors to grace the shelves. I love this series to pieces, and so should you.

Marie Lu

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. Ages 13–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

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

School Library Journal

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 né 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)

Kirkus Reviews