When Queen Bitterblue took the throne of Monsea, she was a child, and her advisers ran the kingdom for her. Now she is beginning to question their decisions, especially how they handle the legacy of her father Leck, who who ruled through his Grace—a special talent for mind-altering—and his taste for darkness and violence. Bitterblue needs to know Monsea’s past to lead it into the future, so she begins exploring the city sreets at night, disguised and alone. As she does, she meets two thieves, who hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart. is a gateway to the Graceling Realm that braids together magic, memory, and romance. "Some authors can tell a good story; some can write well. Cashore is one of the rare novelists who do both. Thrillingly imagined and beautifully executed, stands as a splendid contribution in a long literarly tradition." — on * "Brilliantly detailed and brimming with vibrant and dynamic characters." — , starred review of “There are some books that stick with you for years, and Kristen Cashore’s is one of them. Thoughtful, steamy and completely original, is YA fantasy at its absolute best.”—Sabaa Tahir, author of bestselling A bestseller ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Best Book of the Year Blue Ribbon Title