The Bitter Kingdom
Girl of Fire and Thorns Series
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, with her own soldiers ordered to kill her on sight.
Her Royal Majesty, Queen Lucero-Elisa né Riqueza de Vega, bearer of the Godstone, will lead her three loyal companions deep into the enemy's kingdom, a land of ice and snow and brutal magic, to rescue Hector and win back her throne. Her power grows with every step, and the shocking secrets she will uncover on this, her final journey, could change the course of history.
But that is not all. She has a larger destiny. She must become the champion the world has been waiting for.
Even of those who hate her most.
About the Girl of Fire and Thorns Series
Books in series order
- 1.The Girl of Fire and Thorns(2011)
- 2.The Crown of Embers(2012)
- 3.The Bitter Kingdom(2013)
- 4.The Empire of Dreams(2020)
- +The King's Guard(2013)
- +The Shadow Cats(2012)
- +The Shattered Mountain(2013)
Reading age: 13+ years
This series should be read in order.
Once every century, one person is chosen for greatness. But the prophecy is vague, and Elisa, always overshadowed by her accomplished older sister, has no idea why she was chosen or how she will fulfill the expectations. Her future is unknown and her potential is tremendous—even if she doesn’t realize it. A king asks her to save his troubled country. A savage enemy hunts her for its own—dead or alive. A revolutionary asks for her heart. And in the midst of ferocious battles and harsh quests, Elisa will find herself. She will find the strength she’s always possessed. She’ll find deep and abiding love. She’ll awaken the power that only she can control. And she’ll face those who want to rip all of it away.
Lush, adventurous, and wrenching, this trilogy will delight fans of Kristin Cashore’s 'Graceling' series and Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books.
"Palace intrigues, desert rebellions, kidnappings, forbidden romance, and bloody betrayals, along with not a little time at the banquet table, make The Girl of Fire and Thorns a delicious debut, even before Elisa begins to ask meaty questions about the nature of faith and her destiny in a country on the verge of war." — Paolo Bacigalupi, Printz Award-winning author of Ship Breaker.