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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Solid 4.5! My love for this series and it's characters grew immensely with this book💜
Elisa is back in power as the Queen of Joy de Arena. Her position is still wobbly. There is a traitor in her court. Trusting only her two handmaidens and Hector, the head of her royal guard, Elisa struggles to out the traitor while dealing with the day to day problems of her weak kingdom. When her enemies call for her to willingly forfeit her power and come with them as a sacrifice, of course Elisa is scared and frightened for her life. But she still plunges ahead trying to do whats best for her kingdom and her step-son.
I am the kind of reader that will pick action over romance anytime, but I have to say my favorite thing about "Crown of Embers" is watching this romance bloom between Hector and Elisa. While I loved Hector in the first novel, I really loved Humberto and was miserable when I finished that book. But Hector is right for Elisa and the romance between them left my tummy fluttering and I maybe even shed a tear or two along the way. I definitely shed more than one tear in a tender scene between Elisa and Rosario, her young step-son.
The action and intrigue in this novel was as good as the in the first book. I loved watching Elisa change in the first novel, physically and emotionally. Her weight struggles may be over, but Elisa is still growing and maturing. I loved the plot especially when it led Elisa and her band of companions out of the castle and off on another journey. This time Elisa wants to retrieve a powerful artifact that will lead her to greater power. But she has to face many dangers to get her reward. While all this is intriguing and fun to read, the interactions between all the characters is what makes Rae Carson's beautiful series stand out among the other similar YA novels on the market.
These two books are among a very limited amount of current fiction that I think have what it takes to be timeless classics. The books are that good. If you have any interest in fantasy or YA novels pick this one up and give it a try. If you love both these genres, than there is no doubt in my mind that these will become one of your favorite series.
I am the kind of reader that will pick action over romance anytime, but I have to say my favorite thing about "Crown of Embers" is watching this romance bloom between Hector and Elisa. While I loved Hector in the first novel, I really loved Humberto and was miserable when I finished that book. But Hector is right for Elisa and the romance between them left my tummy fluttering and I maybe even shed a tear or two along the way. I definitely shed more than one tear in a tender scene between Elisa and Rosario, her young step-son.
The action and intrigue in this novel was as good as the in the first book. I loved watching Elisa change in the first novel, physically and emotionally. Her weight struggles may be over, but Elisa is still growing and maturing. I loved the plot especially when it led Elisa and her band of companions out of the castle and off on another journey. This time Elisa wants to retrieve a powerful artifact that will lead her to greater power. But she has to face many dangers to get her reward. While all this is intriguing and fun to read, the interactions between all the characters is what makes Rae Carson's beautiful series stand out among the other similar YA novels on the market.
These two books are among a very limited amount of current fiction that I think have what it takes to be timeless classics. The books are that good. If you have any interest in fantasy or YA novels pick this one up and give it a try. If you love both these genres, than there is no doubt in my mind that these will become one of your favorite series.
Better than the first. Review to come.
3-31-14
I started out having low expectations for this book. The Girl of Fire and Thorns didn't live up to the hype it received, but I still enjoyed it.
Wow, I liked this book and am so glad to have gave it a chance. Elisa and Hector, let me just say I approve. I was concerned that there would be more death since the first one was all about killing off Humberto and Alejandro, which I now see as a good idea. However, Belen was back and that wasn't as easy to except. It was a lesson in forgiving others from the author I suppose.
The confusion of book one was gone with this installment. Much improvement and a more creative style was created for the story. My favorite part was seeing Elisa do more magic with her Godstone(especially the seen involving a certain protector of Elisa) I can't wait to read the final installment.
Save Hector.
3-31-14
I started out having low expectations for this book. The Girl of Fire and Thorns didn't live up to the hype it received, but I still enjoyed it.
Wow, I liked this book and am so glad to have gave it a chance. Elisa and Hector, let me just say I approve. I was concerned that there would be more death since the first one was all about killing off Humberto and Alejandro, which I now see as a good idea. However, Belen was back and that wasn't as easy to except. It was a lesson in forgiving others from the author I suppose.
The confusion of book one was gone with this installment. Much improvement and a more creative style was created for the story. My favorite part was seeing Elisa do more magic with her Godstone(especially the seen involving a certain protector of Elisa) I can't wait to read the final installment.
Save Hector.
Here you have a 3.5 star book that I round down for a couple of things I found insufferably annoying, namely the characters who stopped acting like themselves when they entered a love scene (it was like something out of John Scalzi's Redshirts, I swear), and the fact that Elisa is "OMG so fat bc my thighs touch." This was a really fun read--not deep, but enjoyable--that had just a couple too many moments that made me want to smack it.
I loved "The Girl of Fire and Thorns" so much that I immediately picked up its sequel "The Crown of Embers". I wasn't expecting much, as typical with the second book curse, but this book defied expectations and I couldn't put it down.
The ending of "The Girl of Fire and Thorns" was a bit bittersweet; lives were lost and Elisa is now queen at the tender age of seventeen. She already accomplished the unthinkable in the first book and I didn't know what else she had to face, but this book blew my mind. Not only does Elisa have to make difficult decisions as queen, but she had to go through another series of adventures with a new group of friends. Like the first book, each and every obstacles they had to face were edge-of-your-seat exciting.
Another aspect I absolutely loved in this book was the romance. One word...Hector., but Hector is more than an worthy love interest for our queen. The sexual tension between Elisa and Hector is so palpable, and I love how strong and protective Hector is towards Elisa. Most of all, I love how Hector treats Elisa with the utmost respect - not just because she is queen, but because she is a strong human being worthy of going toe-to-toe with the enemy.
If you loved "The Girl of Fire and Thorns", then hurry up and pick up this sequel!
The ending of "The Girl of Fire and Thorns" was a bit bittersweet; lives were lost and Elisa is now queen at the tender age of seventeen. She already accomplished the unthinkable in the first book and I didn't know what else she had to face, but this book blew my mind. Not only does Elisa have to make difficult decisions as queen, but she had to go through another series of adventures with a new group of friends. Like the first book, each and every obstacles they had to face were edge-of-your-seat exciting.
Another aspect I absolutely loved in this book was the romance. One word...Hector.
Spoiler
I was saddened by what happened to Humberto and Alejandro in the first bookIf you loved "The Girl of Fire and Thorns", then hurry up and pick up this sequel!
I was happy to find that this book was almost better than the first! maybe it was better; I'm not 100% sure. I am sure that it was at least as good. can't wait to read the last book in the series!
If Elisa is my favorite YA heroine next to Katniss, then Hector is my favorite YA hero next to Peeta. I ship it. I ship it hard. Thank you, Rae Carson. This fangirl totally needed another OTP.
DNF @ 65%
Audiobook
I’m finding that I’m forcing myself to finish this audiobook, whereas I was excited to continue to listen to [b: A Girl of Fire and Thorns|10429092|The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1)|Rae Carson|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1323448113s/10429092.jpg|13282366].
I’m not sure if I’m not in the mood or if I’m just bored to tears. I refuse to torture myself like I did when I made myself finish the [b: Crown of Midnight|17167166|Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391580481s/17167166.jpg|21581860] audiobook...
Audiobook
I’m finding that I’m forcing myself to finish this audiobook, whereas I was excited to continue to listen to [b: A Girl of Fire and Thorns|10429092|The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1)|Rae Carson|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1323448113s/10429092.jpg|13282366].
I’m not sure if I’m not in the mood or if I’m just bored to tears. I refuse to torture myself like I did when I made myself finish the [b: Crown of Midnight|17167166|Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391580481s/17167166.jpg|21581860] audiobook...