This book gets a lot of crap for not being exactly like Graceling. and that's very true. Not even in plot, it's an entirely different genre to Kristin Cashore's previous work. I have mixed feelings about this, I was expecting another sweeping adventure epic because I could read a million of them so long as they're written by Kristin Cashore. But I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I liked the author mixing things up. Everyone references her blog on green triangles. She makes an excellent point. 
 So there was no epic quest halfway through this book. There was no mustache-twirling baddie. The Villain died ten years before the events of the story. Genre-wise, this is a loaded gun. Mystery, romance, political, healing, there is SO MUCH GOING ON. It's nearly flawlessly executed, with a few plotlines that could have been tightened a bit. 
 When we last left Bitterblue, she was a recently orphaned- potentially molested- princess of a severely messed up nation. (she wasn't really molested, but with Leck, it's best to assume the worst) 
 Now she's older, years after her coronation and still on a major learning curve, being separated from the people with her best interests at heart, Katsa and Po. 
 So this is the new queen learning curve/investigation of her father's crimes. It is intense and compelling as all hell. I poured over this book, spent every second of free time reading it. It was so suspenseful and had such a great mystery element to it. 
 Saf. I could punch that smug bastard, the kiss him, then slap him, like some demented Spanish soap opera. I loved him. I hated him. I loved to hate him. I hated to love him. Inner turmoil. When he was a basic love-interest when Bitterblue was sneaking out, he was at his strongest. Rogue-ish and sexy. Then he stole the crown and oh...the stupidity. That mess, that terrible mess of the crown subplot. I could live to see that cut out. It added nothing and tangled up so many other complicated parts. Their relationship had it's purpose though. While he could be an asshole, his disrespect, rudeness, and hard-headedness weren't directed at a queen. Bitterblue was given the freedom to have someone judge her as a person, not a queen. Sparks was very liberating for her. She needed that. And she sacrifices nothing. I'm sick of girls giving up power to be with a flawed, jackass boy. bitterblue doesn't. She and Saf have sex a couple times, he leaves her, she lets him go, easy peasy. It's Kristin Cashore, of course nobody gets married or compromises or makes any serious commitment. 
 Katsa and Po are shoved into this as well, basically acting married while not really being married. I wish we had their POV or something instead of these awkward fly-on-the-wall moments with Bitterblue, because they are the greatest couple EVER. Unghh. 
 Saf and Bitterblue consummate their hot burning love after witnessing a trusted adviser commit suicide in a blizzard. He was probably still drowning while they headed up to that tower. Not kidding. This is a Kristin Cashore novel. Casual sex! 
 Then Saf has to go away and this is my favorite aspect of the book. Thank you, KC. You do not sacrifice for a guy like Saf. You sleep with him a couple times and look back on the relationship fondly. I like Saf as a jumping-off point, hopefully she'll hop into bed with Giddeon, who got totally redeemed this book. 
 KC is always so character-driven, this book is no exception. These poor, broken advisers are so smartly written. Katsa, Po, Raffin and Bann light up every page they share. Bitterblue grows so much strength and wisdom. Saf and Teddy are a blast to sneak around at midnight with. It is dense with real, well written people and relationships. 
 The reveals of this book hit like a fist, and the emotions and tragedy will have you reeling. The romance leaves you excited and swooning. so many great characters, and KC is never afraid to slow things down and just let them talk and develop. It's such a good read. It took me a while to appreciate how great this is, and I love it as it's own standalone book. yes, I missed all the elements of Fire and Graceling, but I love what made this different. With the right mindset, this book can not disappoint.