Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns (Book 1)
Paperback: 423 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow; 1st edition (September 20th 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062026488
ISBN-13: 9780062026484
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.
What I thought: It’s not every day that you have a heroine who is not only NOT a classic beauty but also one with dark skin! Honestly, she is a curvy Latina and since I am one as well, I immediately took to loving Elisa. Elisa’s true strength comes from loving herself for who she is and not what she lacks (or thinks she lacks). I grew up with reading fantasy heroines being white blonde beauties and while I still loved their adventures, I wanted one to align with the other half of my identity (the part that is not white – my Peruvian side). You have no idea how happy having Elisa as a role model made me. This is a book I recommend!
The Quote: The mind of God is a mystery and none can understand it.
Why I chose it: One of the many reasons why I loved the series was their incorporation of God. It was nice to see a heroine who was spiritual but in a healthy way. She showed how religion can be beautiful for those who believe in it.
About the Author:
Rae Carson was born in 1973 in California and now lives in Arizona. She developed an enthusiasm for storytelling in her earliest childhood. She studied social sciences and worked in various industries after graduating from university before she realized her dream and became a writer. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is her debut novel.
In her own words, she “write[s] books about teens who must do brave things. [Her] books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. [She] especially love[s] to write about questions [she doesn’t] know the answers to.”
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