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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
The Crown of Embers was such an awesome sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The Elisa I couldn’t stand in book 1 was completely gone. And while she still second guessed some of her decisions as queen, she did so in a way that seemed less attributed to lack of self esteem and more legitimately not knowing if her decisions were good for the country. She was so much more mature and willing to do what was necessary.
Elisa managed to find some allies and people she trusted. Despite her losses in book one, she was still willing to open herself up and trust. She was eager to lead, eager to do what was necessary as one of the bearers of the Godstone. What defeated the army in the first book was no longer a solution as the other Godstones were tapped out. But as wave after wave of attack or secret plot threatened her, she knew she had to embark on a new path.
The Crown of Embers did not suffer from the dreaded second-book-syndrome. Elisa was so much stronger, yet still vulnerable. I loved watching her lead, rule, and make difficult decisions. She was unconventional and a tad reckless, but she wasn’t naive about it like she was in the first book. I loved watching her feelings for Hector unfold as impossible choices had to be made. She had so much farther to go as a developed queen and I love seeing it happen. I cannot wait for the next book!
I recommend The Crown of Embers and I think the series will be a good one and I can’t wait to see how it ends. Now that I am where I am, I think I can even appreciate Elisa’s beginnings in book one.
Elisa managed to find some allies and people she trusted. Despite her losses in book one, she was still willing to open herself up and trust. She was eager to lead, eager to do what was necessary as one of the bearers of the Godstone. What defeated the army in the first book was no longer a solution as the other Godstones were tapped out. But as wave after wave of attack or secret plot threatened her, she knew she had to embark on a new path.
The Crown of Embers did not suffer from the dreaded second-book-syndrome. Elisa was so much stronger, yet still vulnerable. I loved watching her lead, rule, and make difficult decisions. She was unconventional and a tad reckless, but she wasn’t naive about it like she was in the first book. I loved watching her feelings for Hector unfold as impossible choices had to be made. She had so much farther to go as a developed queen and I love seeing it happen. I cannot wait for the next book!
I recommend The Crown of Embers and I think the series will be a good one and I can’t wait to see how it ends. Now that I am where I am, I think I can even appreciate Elisa’s beginnings in book one.
I want to marry this book! That's what the book blurber said and I thought she was nuts, especially when the first few chapters were a little slow. But then the book picked up steam and omigosh! so wonderful!
As with the first book in the series, this one features a smart, unique heroine who is not traditionally pretty. But oh, can she think! She's strategic, yet compassionate. She's confident in her brain, yet critical of her failings.
That alone wouldn't be enough to earn a 5 star rating. However, the book also features a page-turning plot that kept me breathless and awake at night because I couldn't stop reading.
The crowning touch comes with the sensibility that's not just knee-jerk "girl power" but deeply feminist. Instead, Carson shows a nuanced understanding of power: how it is empowering and critical for leadership, yet how it messes up relationships. Her handling of romance is deeply feminist, in the most respectful and smart way I know to be feminist, and it does right by both its male and female characters. They're whole, flawed, and fighting to stay strong in circumstances that ask them to diminish themselves for political or romantic purposes. It's fascinating, surprising, and all together wonderful.
So, can I marry this book? Now, please?
As with the first book in the series, this one features a smart, unique heroine who is not traditionally pretty. But oh, can she think! She's strategic, yet compassionate. She's confident in her brain, yet critical of her failings.
That alone wouldn't be enough to earn a 5 star rating. However, the book also features a page-turning plot that kept me breathless and awake at night because I couldn't stop reading.
The crowning touch comes with the sensibility that's not just knee-jerk "girl power" but deeply feminist. Instead, Carson shows a nuanced understanding of power: how it is empowering and critical for leadership, yet how it messes up relationships. Her handling of romance is deeply feminist, in the most respectful and smart way I know to be feminist, and it does right by both its male and female characters. They're whole, flawed, and fighting to stay strong in circumstances that ask them to diminish themselves for political or romantic purposes. It's fascinating, surprising, and all together wonderful.
So, can I marry this book? Now, please?
I didn't dislike this book, mind you, but I didn't like it either.
And it turns out the journey is just a way to show that she only needs herself to be a good queen and that all that power won't make her a good queen anyway. NO. NONONONO.
And the ending. Wow, Ximena, wow wow wow. What happened to the Ximena from the first book?!
Surprisingly, I'm okay with the romance, like it wasn't overdone. It's worse towards the end when like Hector was all hot and cold, and I'm like, whoa, you mean it isn't obvious how she feels about you? and like, whoa, can you just say it already, Elisa?! And before she decides to clean up her country a bit, she decides to go off in search of Hector?! Wtf, I'm no expert on queen-ing, but isn't that rather irresponsible ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR COUNTRY IS DESCENDING INTO CIVIL WAR?!
Okay, a little rant above on my main issues with the book, but really, this book is very readable and Elisa remains a strong protagonist. I just wish Carson didn't use the whole journey thing as a vehicle for Elisa learning a lesson, 'cos the reasons for going on it just isn't strong enough in the context of everything else happening in Joya.
Spoiler
She didn't really investigate the assassins???? Like the ones who attacked her in the castle. Okay, firstly, HOW did they even get in?? And secondly, HOW can the bloody Celebration Gala be more important than investigating WHO TRIED TO KILL HER? Instead, she decides to gallivant off on a journey to a place ONLY HEARD OF IN LEGENDS?!?! Duuude.And it turns out the journey is just a way to show that she only needs herself to be a good queen and that all that power won't make her a good queen anyway. NO. NONONONO.
And the ending. Wow, Ximena, wow wow wow. What happened to the Ximena from the first book?!
Surprisingly, I'm okay with the romance, like it wasn't overdone. It's worse towards the end when like Hector was all hot and cold, and I'm like, whoa, you mean it isn't obvious how she feels about you? and like, whoa, can you just say it already, Elisa?! And before she decides to clean up her country a bit, she decides to go off in search of Hector?! Wtf, I'm no expert on queen-ing, but isn't that rather irresponsible ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR COUNTRY IS DESCENDING INTO CIVIL WAR?!
Okay, a little rant above on my main issues with the book, but really, this book is very readable and Elisa remains a strong protagonist. I just wish Carson didn't use the whole journey thing as a vehicle for Elisa learning a lesson, 'cos the reasons for going on it just isn't strong enough in the context of everything else happening in Joya.
Okay, so I ALMOST did not pick up this book, because I wasn't too keen on the first book in the series. I found the first book moderately interesting but I didn't really like the pace or the story or the romance plotline.
This book redeems EVERYTHING I didn't like about the first book and is AMAZING. I flew through this book and loved everything about it. The heroine, Elisa, really comes into her own in this story and there's so much more excitement and adventure. She's less insecure and whiny, and she is strong and really finds her voice. The romance is swoon-worthy and really fantastically drawn out and will leave you begging for more.
The only bad part? It ends in an epic cliff hanger and I have to wait until August for book 3. Ahhhh.
But really, read this book. It's so worth it.
This book redeems EVERYTHING I didn't like about the first book and is AMAZING. I flew through this book and loved everything about it. The heroine, Elisa, really comes into her own in this story and there's so much more excitement and adventure. She's less insecure and whiny, and she is strong and really finds her voice. The romance is swoon-worthy and really fantastically drawn out and will leave you begging for more.
The only bad part? It ends in an epic cliff hanger and I have to wait until August for book 3. Ahhhh.
But really, read this book. It's so worth it.
This book was incredible! Every bit as good as the first if not better. Definitly my new favorite series, I cannot wait for the next one!
I started this book about 5 or 6 years ago, and never finished it. I recently started listening to audiobooks again, so I decided to reread this one since I never finished. I'm glad that I did. I actually remembered so much more than what I thought I would. I enjoyed the main characters and the adventures they went on. I think this story is wonderfully told, and I'm excited to finish this series.
This is a fantastic book... I will write more later because I have a lot to say about this wonderful sequel.
I liked this book better than the 1st! On to book 3!