I really wish I would have read this book back when I was a teenager! This was ahead of its time in terms of creating a protagonist for younger girls that was unapologetically herself.

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Katsa had no time for marriage, babies, or dealing with court monotonies. She didn't want to be tied down and was communicative with her needs! Love that! A strong heroine that ended up with her version of a happier ever after - keeping her freedom, having a loving and supportive partner, and being the survivalist badass she was destined to be.

I loved the growth she went through with Po, and how sweet this boy was! Due to her upbringing Katsa had very limited interactions with people, and had few (if no) friends. Seeing her relationship with Po begin as sparring partners and grow into a depiction of a healthy friendship

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and then relationship

was so wholesome and great! Katsa had to learn to trust others with her feelings and emotions and Po was such a great fit for her. Also can we take a minute to admire Po? He's a prince that doesn't care for power or controlling others. He lets women take on high ranking jobs within the village and it's based on merit or their grace, NOT gender. When he practices and fights with Katsa, its to make them both better and doesn't come from a place of competition or needing to beat her to prove himself. He respects her for her strengths, and accepts her for who she is. He is unapologetically communicative with her about his feelings. Some swoonworthy propaganda for the teens.

While reading, i'd sit and think "oh sweetie, you have no clue that he loves you" and it kept a smile on my face. I'm here for the wholesome young and oh so tender love, and getting to watch her grow emotionally and accept that love. There were so many good themes! We have a girl that is feared by all because of her talents. She grows up and learns her own morals, stands her ground and doesn't back down when she makes her own choices, and accepts the consequences for her actions. ALSO, we had some healthy depictions of sex that wasn't focused on Katsa being "deflowered" or "ruined" because she did something that is completely healthy and normal. Hooray for not shaming her for exploring her needs and for not making it a bigger deal than it needed to be. I'd also like to thank the author for not writing this badass heroine only to

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have her realize that she can't live without a guy and will give up her morals and beliefs to make him happy.

Never have I ever been so pleased with an ending!

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We get to have them live in their own version of a happily ever after? Both traveling around and doing what they want, usually apart from one another, but still remaining together because the RESPECT one another and TRUST the other to NOT NEED THE OTHER TO BE COMPLETE. No marriage or babies, but bother characters are living their happily ever after. Slow clap.

I hope all teen girls get a chance to read this book and think about some of the themes. (Not saying they need to follow everything to a T, but it's always good to know there are options out there that can be explored, discussed, and pondered over.) It's nice to know that there are more realistic depictions of relationships and women's wants in YA books. SO IMPRESSED WITH THIS ONE!