The Girl of Fire and Thorns
by Rae Carson
September 20 2011 by HarperCollins Hardcover, 299 Pages
Review Galley
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.............Most of the chosen do.
Review
Since infancy Elisa was chosen by the Gods to be the stone bearer. What her calling or purpose is, she’s never known, but those around her and the people of her country know that she is special. Elisa cant see her uniqueness though, she only sees her beautiful older sister and wonders why God would choose her, an overweight, self-conscious girl who is awkward in all the things she does. More apt to eat warm scones then bother with the politics of men, Elisa is indulgent, caring in her own way for family, but selfish at the core when it boils down to it.
When Elisa is married off to a lavishly handsome king of another country for the bargain of her fathers military to aid them, she has no idea that life will bring the testing of her character. She’s plunged into a world of national politics, violence, war and a husband who keeps their marriage secret and has open relations with his beautiful skinny mistress. As Elisa mourns the loss of her home, her family and suffers a kidnapping that is sure to destroy her, she yet again discovers that life will turn her in another direction. As Elisa grows into being the woman the stone bearer had intended, she faces monstrous choices keeping herself alive, keeping herself sane and even falling in love with a man who sees past her weight. The easy life of maids and food at her whim become a thing of the past and Elisa will soon discover what true self-reliance is all about.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns has magnificent world building, as I dove in with these characters I felt as though I was in the desert with them. I felt the heat and the warm fingers of the middle-east culture surround me and I saw through Elisa's eyes the mysterious religion and myth type feeling that surrounded the people. Although this is YA, I found the writing and the plot to be very mature, so much so that some ya readers may find themselves challenged to finish Elisa's story. While Carson throws in a few awkward teen moments of self-esteem issues and first love, the majority of the content was serious in its fantasy like setting. I very much enjoyed Carson s writing and her talent to detail, although Im left with a mixed feeling over Elisa's character.
Part of me while fascinated with her life and appreciating Elisa's biggest flaw, her overeating (in which for the first time, I meet an actual young woman in ya, who eats, has weight problems and all the self issues that come with it) but I couldn't help feeling annoyed by the distance radiating off her. She posed a gnawing sensation for me as a reader, because I wanted to know her so much more and as I started to climb over her wall she pushed me back down over and over again in the story. I felt that way about many of characters though, a few of Elisa's captors very much intrigued me and I really wanted to dive in and get their perceptiveness, however like Elisa, they all kind of had this scaled wall to climb. For writing and the plot I really liked this novel, for characters though my reaction is mixed. I know this book is a part of a series so hopefully the many layers of Elisa and her side characters will be revealed. For book one it ended beautifully, no major cliff-hanger and nothing left unanswered that cant wait until later, all in all a very well done novel sufficient in world building and introducing culture into fantasy.
Part of me while fascinated with her life and appreciating Elisa's biggest flaw, her overeating (in which for the first time, I meet an actual young woman in ya, who eats, has weight problems and all the self issues that come with it) but I couldn't help feeling annoyed by the distance radiating off her. She posed a gnawing sensation for me as a reader, because I wanted to know her so much more and as I started to climb over her wall she pushed me back down over and over again in the story. I felt that way about many of characters though, a few of Elisa's captors very much intrigued me and I really wanted to dive in and get their perceptiveness, however like Elisa, they all kind of had this scaled wall to climb. For writing and the plot I really liked this novel, for characters though my reaction is mixed. I know this book is a part of a series so hopefully the many layers of Elisa and her side characters will be revealed. For book one it ended beautifully, no major cliff-hanger and nothing left unanswered that cant wait until later, all in all a very well done novel sufficient in world building and introducing culture into fantasy.
Rating
The Girl of Fire and Thorns is recommended to the mature teen and adults (15&Up) and contains: Violence-including murder, war-type fighting, kidnapping, mild sensuality, religious/myth type oracles and middle-eastern culture.
3.5/5- YA- Fantasy-Culture-(Not sure how to categorize)
Thanks to Harper for Review Galley
Really excited about the world building in this; lately I've been really into worlds rather than characters so this might work really well for me.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar reaction to this one Tina! I struggled with Elisa and the world a little bit all through part one, I just had trouble getting engaged. But then when she got taken into the desert, the walls between me and her seemed to crumble a bit and she became someone I could relate to. I'm very interested to see what she'll be like moving forward!
ReplyDeleteIve been wanting to read a review on this thanks girl. These ef sounds intreging. I will have to check it out. I have struggled with weight myself since i finished college. Its hard because i cant diet i love food to much so i just try to be more active. Its nice to read about characters that arent perfect, but are beautiful non the less. I will have to check this book out. Thanks for your honest review girl.
ReplyDeleteI have this one from NetGalley and am excited to dive into it. I'm glad I read your review first though, so I know some elements to watch out for. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAww, I was REALLY, REALLY looking forward to this one since I love high fantasy so much. But after reading your review, perhaps I should tone down my expectations a little... or a lot. Thanks for the honest review though! :)
ReplyDeleteCharacters are the most important IMO. It sucks you had no connection and feel distanced from them. Not sure if I am going to read this. Great review Tina :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't click with the characters more, maybe the next book of the series will delve further into them!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the world building though - really well done.
I got this book via netgalley and was really looking forward to reading it, especially when it was compared to "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore which I absolutely loved. Thanks for the heads up on the distance issue. I'm still interested in the book and will pick it up.
ReplyDelete