Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea. Her kingdom has finally escaped the terrible reign of her father, a violent psychopath able to control minds. But his influence has had lasting effects on the hearts and minds of the people. Her advisors plan to pardon everyone who worked for the former king, and forget every bad thing that happened. Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and only once Bitterblue begins sneaking out of the castle at night does she begin to learn the truth. Her kingdom has been under a decades long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past. .
The middle was a bit slow but by the end, I could not put this one down. Throughout the book, more mysteries unfold, and the reader is a little overwhelmed, but they are all answered in the dramatic and very satisfying ending. Fans of Graceling and Fire will love this book!