TITLE: Fire
AUTHOR: Kristin Cashore
AUTHOR WEBSITE: kristincashore.blogspot.com, GracelingRealm.com
GENRE: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
PUBLISHED: October 5, 2009 – Dial Books
MY RATING: 5
AUTHOR WEBSITE: kristincashore.blogspot.com, GracelingRealm.com
GENRE: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy
PUBLISHED: October 5, 2009 – Dial Books
MY RATING: 5
SYNOPSIS:
(Courtesy of Goodreads-No Spoilers!)
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells.
The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and
south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with
spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
REVIEW:
I’ve seriously fallen in love with
fantasy fiction. FIRE is a "companion" book to GRACELING, and it is fantastic.
When I cracked open this book, it brought me back to the seven kingdom world
she created. It began with a Graceling but the main character was not a
Graceling. But it didn’t disappoint. The story is weaved around a monster girl
named Fire. Monsters were beautiful creatures in the shape of normal animals
but they are gorgeously colored—fucia, turquoise, bronze, etc. Monsters have
the ability to control human minds. It was a treat to read about Fire and
envision what she looked like with the unnaturally fiery red, orange and pink
hair. She captured everyone’s attention in good ways and bad. When a
character is written that way you can’t help but be entranced by her too.
Fire is apparently a feminist (as well
as Katsa, from GRACELING.) Fire is a believable character but when
compared with the main character in the previous novel, it was at first hard to
differentiate the two because they are both independent, feminists, push away
the love interest and put themselves in unnecessary danger. But after finishing
the entire book, I can gladly say they parted and when their separate ways. I
just hope Cashore doesn’t use this same type of character for the MC of her
third novel.
Fire is the last remaining human-monster
in the Dells. A rocky mountainous land where a war is impending and there are
plenty of storylines to keep an eager mind busy. Fire has an appreciation for
right and wrong and there is plenty of mistrust from everyone because she is a
monster. I loved this story.
RATING:
Obviously I give it a 5. Excellent:
Worth every minute, I’d probably read it again. The main story wasn’t as
good as GRACELING but the ending of FIRE was better! I’m eagerly awaiting the
next companion book. (BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore.)RECOMMENDATIONS:
I’d love for my pre-teens and teens to
read these. Obviously, they have made my favorites list!