Fire

She is the last of her kind...
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.
Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

from bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...

I loved Graceling and was really excited to read Fire. When I picked up the book I was thrown for a loop at first. It wasn't what I was expecting because it didn't seem to relate to Graceling at all, and it really didn't. This feels more like a stand alone novel then a part of a series. It almost reminds me of the relationship between Terrier by Tamora Pierce and her other Tortall novels. Reading the other books adds richness to both stories, but you don't have to have read one to enjoy the other. Once I got over my preconceived notions, the book was fantastic. I think that I might love this one more than Graceling. The concept of monsters was so interesting, and treated in a unique way. The plot was just great. I wasn't expecting the direction that it went, and I appreciated that. It moved without lagging and integrated so much into a seamless whole. There wasn't just one layer of anything; Cashore wove multiple story lines together beautifully. There was always something going on with one of the characters, but it never got to the point of feeling confusing or contrived. My attention was held rapt for the entire course of the book without wandering.

The characters were lovely as well. Fire developed so well over the course of the book; I for one was impressed. She matured in what felt like a very natural way, and the situations that forced her to grow up were believable. She became someone that I felt connected to and that I could admire. Then we have the boys. Oh goodness, they were so much fun. Brigan and Archer served perfectly for comparison in their relationships with Fire. Those relationships were so different, yet similar enough. They also both underwent radical changes throughout the course of the novel. I also thought that Arch and the other royals were great characters. They served their purposes perfectly, but they didn't overshadow the main characters unlike in so many other books that I've read.

Overall this book was a fantastic read. I think that after this and Graceling, Cashore has set herself up as a talent in YA fantasy to be both watched and reckoned with. Whether or not you've read Graceling you have to grab Fire right now. You won't be disappointed.

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