But although Hector was tied up and weakened, he was not helpless either. She was no longer cautious and filled with self-doubt, but finally comfortable in asserting her power as Queen. Not only was it fun to watch the queen rescue the soldier, but it evidenced Elisa's tremendous growth since the first book. I loved how Rae Carson turned the damsel in distress trope on its head by having Elisa be the one to go after Hector. So we are able to watch as he undermines and sabotages his captors, trying to delay their plans until Elisa comes for him. But in The Bitter Kingdom, we are treated to something we never got in the first two books: Hector's point of view. Before they can get to Hector, Elisa and her companions must overcome both the harsh winter weather of Invierne and the mysterious, deadly magic wielded by the Inviernos. In this case, Queen Elisa and her small band of allies are traveling to the hostile territory of Invierne to rescue Hector, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and also the man who holds Elisa's heart, who was taken captive at the end of The Crown of Embers. The Bitter Kingdom begins with one of my favorite epic fantasy conventions: The Long Journey Into Unknown Lands. As proclaimed, 'Rae Carson has proved she's a master and has shaken up the YA genre.'

Full of sorcery, adventure, sizzling romance, and secrets that challenge everything she believes, this is a bold and powerful conclusion to an extraordinary trilogy.

And she must rise up as champion-even to those who have hated her-or her kingdom will fall. Elisa will stand before the gate of the enemy. Martin's style of sweeping and deeply satisfying epic fantasy, the third and final book in the trilogy takes the young queen on a journey more dangerous than any she has faced before. Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and George R. Veronica Roth called The Girl of Fire and Thorns 'intense, unique. Elisa, the seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen, will travel into an unknown enemy's realm to win back her true love, save her kingdom, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny. The third book in Rae Carson's award-winning The Girl of Fire and Thorns fantasy trilogy.

The bitter kingdom