My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genres: Young Adult; Fantasy
Pages: 423
Goodreads Description
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.
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.
This book really surprised me. On my second read. I first read The Girl of Fire and Thorns a couple of years ago and only mildly enjoyed it. It just didn't make that much of an impression on me. Though reading it again, I honestly cannot see why.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an engaging Young Adult novel centering around themes of war, love, and overcoming self-doubt. What I loved most about it was the journey. Elisa's journey to fulfilling her destiny. The journey across miles of harsh desert. The journey we are taken on as readers. This book is all about journey, adventure, and self-discovery.
Elisa is one of the most relatable protagonists you'll find in YA literature. She's not perfect. She has doubts. She doesn't always know how to act. She's not thin, and she has problems with her self-image. She doesn't always feel courageous. But she always rises up to the occasion. She is by far my favorite character--though I love the supporting characters and how Rae Carson has portrayed them!
This book is so utterly unique. In it, the author presents a world of her own making, characters that defy the norm, and plot devices that many authors would be scared to use! Though this book categorized as secular, she didn't balk at including prayer and God in her novel. And sometimes things took a turn for the unexpected.
So, yes, this book surprised me. I don't know what possessed me to only give it three stars after my first read. As of today, I declare this a five star read, and officially a favorite of mine.
Content: There's kissing. That's it! Clean!
I've heard nothing but good things about this book and your review makes me even more excited to read it. It's awesome when a book can still impress you on a second read. Elisa sounds like a great protagonist, I definitely want to read this one soon!
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome, and kind of strange that my tastes have changed so much that I enjoyed it so much more! I hope you read it soon and love it!
DeleteIsn't that funny when you read a book a second time and it makes a totally different impression on you? This is another book that I have on my shelf, but haven't gotten to yet. I need to fix that.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It's odd, isn't it? But I'm glad it happened in this case. I hope you enjoy it, if you get to it!
DeleteOoh, I've read the synopsis to this book somewhere before! It sounds AMAZING. This is going on my TBR pile. :D How cool that it was so different to you on the second read! Did you remember much of what was going to happen when rereading? This sounds awesome. :)
ReplyDeleteI remembered very little, oddly enough! But I'm glad--it was very fresh in my mind! I hope you decide to read it soon!
DeleteYay I loved this one SO MUCH!!! I only just recently read it and Elise was so so fantastic...and refreshing and unique. I loved that she had self-image insecurities and didn't feel worthwhile, but her character development?! A+ WRITING, I SAY. *hugs Elise* I really want to read the rest of this series ASAP.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
I need them too!!! I think I went back to the library the day I finished this one, but they didn't have the second book. I'm waiting very impatiently.
DeleteGotta love it when a book surprises you the second time round! This is on my TBR and I have no idea why I haven't read it yet. Everything I've heard about it makes me sure I'll love it.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I hope you do love it!
DeleteI'm glad to see that you really enjoyed this one! I haven't picked up a fantasy book in a long time, but this one definitely seems worth the read.
ReplyDeleteKrystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Oh, it definitely is! I read a lot of fantasy, too, so this is high praise!
DeleteSomeone I know just started to read this book. She's really into it.
ReplyDeleteProbably because it's amaaaazingggg! (Psst! You'd like it!)
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