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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
“I love you the way a drowning man loves air. And it would destroy me to have you just a little.”
This book may have killed me...just a little.
I enjoyed this one much more than the first. I think it was mostly because of character growth. When we met Elisa in The Girl of Fire and Thorns, she's a naive and coddled child playing at princess with no real idea of how the world is. But over the course of that first book, she's tested many times and suffers many losses. All of that has shaped her into this new person who filled the pages of The Crown of Embers. Now a Queen to a foreign kingdom, Elisa must learn how to rule while also discovering the secrets of her godstone.
Aside from Elisa growing, we also got to see more of Hector, who, I won't lie, took me completely by surprise. I did not expect to love him as much as I did and when that ending came, I just knew I was done for. Guys, he legit gave me that butterfly feeling in my stomach at certain times. That hasn't happened in awhile. Aside from his swoonworthyness, we got a lot more of his background (hello brother) and it made him much more rounded. He takes his role as the Queen's Guard very seriously and you can see how much of that came from his love for Alejandro, and it grows now because of his love for Elisa. But then, we also got to see how important his family is. Hopefully, he can reconcile the both in the final book.
The Crown of Embers also brought us a new character in Storm. I don't want to give too much about him away but he is a fabulous addition and I cannot wait to see more from him. I want to trust him and I really hope that Elisa can, for I have a feeling he will be insanely important in the coming battle.
Old characters came back in ways I never expected (looking at you Belen) and ones who I thought were solid definitely wavered here. I liked that Carson trusted herself enough to take her readers through these different and complicated relationships. Life is complicated and relationships are never black or white.
So much happened in this book! And while there was much political drawings in the first, the last half of the book really came together in a tight way and shaped, what I think, will be the rest of this series.
This book may have killed me...just a little.
I enjoyed this one much more than the first. I think it was mostly because of character growth. When we met Elisa in The Girl of Fire and Thorns, she's a naive and coddled child playing at princess with no real idea of how the world is. But over the course of that first book, she's tested many times and suffers many losses. All of that has shaped her into this new person who filled the pages of The Crown of Embers. Now a Queen to a foreign kingdom, Elisa must learn how to rule while also discovering the secrets of her godstone.
Aside from Elisa growing, we also got to see more of Hector, who, I won't lie, took me completely by surprise. I did not expect to love him as much as I did and when that ending came, I just knew I was done for. Guys, he legit gave me that butterfly feeling in my stomach at certain times. That hasn't happened in awhile. Aside from his swoonworthyness, we got a lot more of his background (hello brother) and it made him much more rounded. He takes his role as the Queen's Guard very seriously and you can see how much of that came from his love for Alejandro, and it grows now because of his love for Elisa. But then, we also got to see how important his family is. Hopefully, he can reconcile the both in the final book.
The Crown of Embers also brought us a new character in Storm. I don't want to give too much about him away but he is a fabulous addition and I cannot wait to see more from him. I want to trust him and I really hope that Elisa can, for I have a feeling he will be insanely important in the coming battle.
Old characters came back in ways I never expected (looking at you Belen) and ones who I thought were solid definitely wavered here. I liked that Carson trusted herself enough to take her readers through these different and complicated relationships. Life is complicated and relationships are never black or white.
So much happened in this book! And while there was much political drawings in the first, the last half of the book really came together in a tight way and shaped, what I think, will be the rest of this series.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Is it possible to love this book more than the first one? Do I really have to wait a year for the third book. The one thing is that I'm so scared for the next book two... I really hope that [a:Rae Carson|4074051|Rae Carson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1284052029p2/4074051.jpg] lets Elisa have her happy ending. With the man she loves... Because in the first book love screwed her over... Twice. So in conclusion, if she doesn't get a happy ending, the author might just receive a very angry letter from me...
Apart from that, I enjoyed every minute of this book. Literally! I stopped at every chapter to see where I was in the book, and I was disappointed every time I got closer to the end:( This book on the other hand, did no disappoint! The Crown of Embers was full of magic, palace intrigue, romance, action, mystery, and more! It was everything you could possibly want in a wonderful fantasy book.
There was action in every chapter. This book really did keep me on my toes! It kept me guessing, and anticipating what will happen next! There were so many things that I didn't expect! I won't name any of them, because I want this review to be spoiler free!
Seriously though, if you haven't read The Girl of Fire and Thorns, go read it now. It was so amazing. It made my favourites list!:)
Apart from that, I enjoyed every minute of this book. Literally! I stopped at every chapter to see where I was in the book, and I was disappointed every time I got closer to the end:( This book on the other hand, did no disappoint! The Crown of Embers was full of magic, palace intrigue, romance, action, mystery, and more! It was everything you could possibly want in a wonderful fantasy book.
There was action in every chapter. This book really did keep me on my toes! It kept me guessing, and anticipating what will happen next! There were so many things that I didn't expect! I won't name any of them, because I want this review to be spoiler free!
Seriously though, if you haven't read The Girl of Fire and Thorns, go read it now. It was so amazing. It made my favourites list!:)
Absolutely fantastic. Sizzling romance, strong character growth, political maneuvering. This book has it all, as well as a unique fantasy world that I'm not going to comment on until I finish the trilogy.
I like Elisa (and Hector, of course) but there was way too much hemming and hawing. I wanted more court intrigue, more action, more plot. The ending was good, though, and I'm excited to read the last one.
I liked the book, but I read the second and third so quickly and close together that I'm going to do one review of them together and leave it with the third book.
However, I just wanted to say that I am confused about the titles. This naming style is super common in YA right now but I feel like the goal is just to create some kind of --aesthetic-- but it tells you absolutely nothing about the book. Anybody else annoyed by this trend (or do you really like it)? Why is the first called The Girl of Fire and Thorns? What does fire or thorns have to do with Elisa or the magic system or the plot?
4/5 stars, I liked it even though most sequels tend to be disappointing.
However, I just wanted to say that I am confused about the titles. This naming style is super common in YA right now but I feel like the goal is just to create some kind of --aesthetic-- but it tells you absolutely nothing about the book. Anybody else annoyed by this trend (or do you really like it)? Why is the first called The Girl of Fire and Thorns? What does fire or thorns have to do with Elisa or the magic system or the plot?
4/5 stars, I liked it even though most sequels tend to be disappointing.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
<strong>Long live the queen</strong>
I have to say, I was really worried for Victor, there. I mean, our girl is well on her way to being a black widow. If I managed to be correct on that, well, that's one of those things that I'm not going to talk about.
I will say that I love Rosario. I want one like Rosario. I don't want one like me and luckily my mother hasn't cursed me with that yet. But I do want one like Rosario. He just deserves all the hugs and love. All of them. Mara is so sweet. Bélén (there may be an extra accent in there but he's honestly lucky I remember his name because I'm terrible with them, I don't know what the main girl's name is. Lucero is the first name of her names but I don't remember the real one. Whatever. Not important.) is just a good guy. The characters I love, I still love. The characters not so much, I feel validated in my dislike.
I wish we could have had more desert time. I have a real big soft spot for the people in the desert even though I'm not sure which direction they were. It's not south or north. Whatever.
Instead we got court intrigue and FEELINGS. We got feelings last book too but these are FEELINGS. And also some holy crap moments. I was so worried. And travelling through the sewers! Ew. But also, sewers are the most romantic place apparently.
The problem with ruling is that people want to kill you. And guess who is now ruling and still has assassins after her. The word is in fact still. She had assassins on her in the first book too.
This book wasn't as strong as the last one. But it is a middle book so I'm not as stressed about it. But I am pleased with the book and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.
I have to say, I was really worried for Victor, there. I mean, our girl is well on her way to being a black widow. If I managed to be correct on that, well, that's one of those things that I'm not going to talk about.
I will say that I love Rosario. I want one like Rosario. I don't want one like me and luckily my mother hasn't cursed me with that yet. But I do want one like Rosario. He just deserves all the hugs and love. All of them. Mara is so sweet. Bélén (there may be an extra accent in there but he's honestly lucky I remember his name because I'm terrible with them, I don't know what the main girl's name is. Lucero is the first name of her names but I don't remember the real one. Whatever. Not important.) is just a good guy. The characters I love, I still love. The characters not so much, I feel validated in my dislike.
I wish we could have had more desert time. I have a real big soft spot for the people in the desert even though I'm not sure which direction they were. It's not south or north. Whatever.
Instead we got court intrigue and FEELINGS. We got feelings last book too but these are FEELINGS. And also some holy crap moments. I was so worried. And travelling through the sewers! Ew. But also, sewers are the most romantic place apparently.
The problem with ruling is that people want to kill you. And guess who is now ruling and still has assassins after her. The word is in fact still. She had assassins on her in the first book too.
This book wasn't as strong as the last one. But it is a middle book so I'm not as stressed about it. But I am pleased with the book and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.
The 2014 reading year is off to a good start with this book - the second in the series. I find the characters continue to be unique and compelling and the storyline is likewise unique in my opinion. Looking forward to book 3 in the series!