Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

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, and 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 her to be 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’ssavior, 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.

Rae Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a beautifully written story of a young girl chosen to save her people.  Filled with action, romance, and an interesting plot, I lost myself in the magic of the story.  The words on the pages transformed themselves into vivid images in my mind, making for a fun and easy read.  The story was fast-paced and each twist and turn of the plot kept me glued to the page.  Rae Carson did an incredible job providing a rich history, that gave life to the characters and the settings.  I really loved reading this book, and I especially loved Elisa, the main character.

Elisa is the very definition of a heroine.  Faced with life-threatening situations, the pampered princess quickly learns to fend for herself and to make difficult decisions.  She has a big heart and I enjoyed reading along as Elisa, in a matter of months, grew to be strong and confident, proving herself to be a capable leader and worthy adversary, gaining respect and admiration from even the most reluctant of characters.  I bore her heartaches as she longed for her new husband’s affection, as she struggled to find her place as his queen, as she stumbled upon a love she could not have, and as she wrestled with doubts about her destiny.  Faith is a recurring theme in the book- Elisa’s faith in God, in herself, in others.  Throughout the book, Elisa learns that there is a reason for everything.  I was very happy with the conclusion of the book and look forward to reading the next installments of this series.  Love, love, love!


5 out of 5 Stars


Review by: @marymunar

Title: The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Author: Rae Carson
Relased: September 20, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 437
Trilogy


The Crown of Embers is slated for release in Fall 2012


Purchase the book!