FIRE
by Kristin Cashore
Published
September 24th 2009 by Gollancz
Hardcover, 452 pages
Placement in the Pile:
Reaching New Heights
Description:
Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells. Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans. Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story. Wondering what makes it a companion book/prequel? Fire takes place 30-some years before Graceling and has one cross-over character with Graceling, a small boy with strange two-colored eyes who comes from no-one-knows-where, and who has a peculiar ability that Graceling readers will find familiar and disturbing...
Review:
FIRE was an interesting, thought provoking read. Fire is a very strong, complex character who you will root for. It is equal parts triumph and tragedy. Cashore's writing is beautiful, although GRACELING may have been a little bit more lyrical, to me at least. FIRE seemed to have more war, more fighting, more sexual innuendo - and plain old sex. And if you thought Lek as an adult in GRACELING was freaky - just wait until you read about him as a toddler, child and youth. Uuunggghhh... (imagine me shivering in ickiness) He is a creep and a half! Thankfully, there are some truly wonderful characters to balance out the creepy/mean/awful ones. (Brigan! Hanna! Roen!) I guessed Fire's "secret" pretty early on, but won't say anything else to avoid spoiling it for others. It is definitely worth reading. There were a few minor parts of the book that I personally don't agree with, that I wish weren't there. But they were minor like I said, and didn't influence my enjoyment of the book overall.
I find it interesting that Cashore's female characters seem to often struggle with the idea of marriage and/or having children. Although, Fire's reasons were much more understandable and heartbreaking than I thought Katsa's were.
After reading this book, I thought it would be interesting to hear who readers like more: Katsa or Fire. They are both so unique in some ways, but also a little similar in other ways. I love them both!
This would definitely be rated at least PG13 for the reasons mentioned above, as well as some language.
Happy reading!
I borrowed this book from a friend, who bought it at a book store, to review it. I did not receive any compensation.
GREEN
