supercheesegirl

I really, really loved this. It's exactly what I think is the best kind of fantasy: using magic and fantasy tropes to explore real-world problems - in this case, recovering and healing after surviving abuse. This book picks up nine years after the first Graceling book. Bitterblue, daughter of King Leck, is still trying to pick up the broken pieces of her kingdom. Leck had used his mind control powers on pretty much everyone for 35 years and committed horrible acts, and the people of Monsea were deeply damaged by Leck's reign. Bitterblue needs to sort out truth from lies and dig into the kingdom's painful past in order to help her people find closure and an honest path forward. The underlying trauma felt realistic, and characters responded to it in different ways. At the plot level, the story was entertaining, with a few different interwoven mysteries, and Bitterblue is a smart, funny heroine. Trigger warning for sexual and domestic violence and general atrocity, but if you can make it past the haunted memories, the message of survival and healing is a good one. Recommended (but I'd only consider this "YA" for 16+).