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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
The world-building wasn't as vivid in this second installment, but the author replaced those details with riveting action and romance. I thought she was pretty brave in the last book to kill off both love interests, but she seems to have just been setting the stage for an even better option (and priming the pump by maturing our heroine). Even though slightly trite, I loved the climax, and my only complaint is that this one ended on a cliff-hanger. Luckily, the next book is due out in three weeks --- I might have to buy it for our library. :-)
Oh man, so I wasn't a huge fan of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I was so convinced it was the kind of book I should love that I even read it twice. The reread resulted in a pretty similar result, though I did like the audiobook a bit better than the print version. Despite that, I still resolved to venture through the next book. Y'all, I am so glad that I am so stubborn that I didn't give up because I was so into this book the whole way through.
At 11 hours, this audiobook is pretty dang long, but I got through it so swiftly. Believe it or not, I only started listening to this audiobook on Saturday, and I spent most of Sunday and today (I'm writing this review on Monday evening) out of the house and not with this book. Basically, I spent all of the time I could listening to this. I meant to finish three books yesterday, but instead finished a measly one because I could not stop listening to this. I'd tell myself I should go read, but would find myself deciding to stay and listen to just one more chapter or, you know, ten.
Elisa still isn't my favorite heroine of all time, but she did not get on my nerves the way she did before. She even makes reference to some of her previous annoying habits and how she has outgrown them. During the course of the book, she continues to grow. In fact, the physical journey she takes really serves to help her on her psychological journey.
Why did I love this book? Why was I so unable to walk away from it and read my other review books? Hector. I just freaking love that guy. He is totally the kind of hero that I cannot resist: all broody and inimitable on the outside with a soft, sweet center for the right woman. *melts* Through most of the book, they're right on the cusp of realizing their feelings for one another, and I got caught up in the spiral of will-they-get-together-I-must-know-right-now; I couldn't stop listening for the same reason I can't stop watching kdramas. Pretty much at all times I was yelling at Elisa to "get it, gurrrrrl."
Additionally, the plot focused much more strongly on politics than on religion this time. Though religion remains an important theme, I didn't find it to be quite so much up in my face. The political intricacies of trying to rule a kingdom she's only lived in for a short time are much more interesting to me. There were still some annoying religious things, but they took a backseat, so I'm not going to outline it.
If you like adventure, there's bunches of that too. The book freaking opens with an assassination attempt. Can you smell the drama? Just like with the first book, there's betrayal and quests and romance. Also, at the end of the journey, there is this scene that creeped me right out. Just saying.
So, if you're like me and weren't wowed by The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but really feel like it sounds like you should love it, you might want to try The Crown of Embers, because it might turn out to be worth your time.
Jennifer Ikeda again did a marvelous job with her narration. She does a great job with all of the voices, conveys emotion well in the intense scenes, and has a really pleasant voice. I am quite certain that I would not have enjoyed this book so much had I read it. For me, audio is the way to go with this series, I have no doubt.
Read more of my reviews at A Reader of Fictions.
At 11 hours, this audiobook is pretty dang long, but I got through it so swiftly. Believe it or not, I only started listening to this audiobook on Saturday, and I spent most of Sunday and today (I'm writing this review on Monday evening) out of the house and not with this book. Basically, I spent all of the time I could listening to this. I meant to finish three books yesterday, but instead finished a measly one because I could not stop listening to this. I'd tell myself I should go read, but would find myself deciding to stay and listen to just one more chapter or, you know, ten.
Elisa still isn't my favorite heroine of all time, but she did not get on my nerves the way she did before. She even makes reference to some of her previous annoying habits and how she has outgrown them. During the course of the book, she continues to grow. In fact, the physical journey she takes really serves to help her on her psychological journey.
Why did I love this book? Why was I so unable to walk away from it and read my other review books? Hector. I just freaking love that guy. He is totally the kind of hero that I cannot resist: all broody and inimitable on the outside with a soft, sweet center for the right woman. *melts* Through most of the book, they're right on the cusp of realizing their feelings for one another, and I got caught up in the spiral of will-they-get-together-I-must-know-right-now; I couldn't stop listening for the same reason I can't stop watching kdramas. Pretty much at all times I was yelling at Elisa to "get it, gurrrrrl."
Additionally, the plot focused much more strongly on politics than on religion this time. Though religion remains an important theme, I didn't find it to be quite so much up in my face. The political intricacies of trying to rule a kingdom she's only lived in for a short time are much more interesting to me. There were still some annoying religious things, but they took a backseat, so I'm not going to outline it.
If you like adventure, there's bunches of that too. The book freaking opens with an assassination attempt. Can you smell the drama? Just like with the first book, there's betrayal and quests and romance. Also, at the end of the journey, there is this scene that creeped me right out. Just saying.
So, if you're like me and weren't wowed by The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but really feel like it sounds like you should love it, you might want to try The Crown of Embers, because it might turn out to be worth your time.
Jennifer Ikeda again did a marvelous job with her narration. She does a great job with all of the voices, conveys emotion well in the intense scenes, and has a really pleasant voice. I am quite certain that I would not have enjoyed this book so much had I read it. For me, audio is the way to go with this series, I have no doubt.
Read more of my reviews at A Reader of Fictions.
Only read this if you've got book 3 also in hand because its a much better experience that way.
A really enjoyable followup to last year's [b:The Girl of Fire and Thorns|10429092|The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1)|Rae Carson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1323448113s/10429092.jpg|13282366] (and this year's prequel, [b:The Shadow Cats|14739821|The Shadow Cats (Fire and Thorns, #0.5)|Rae Carson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1338315209s/14739821.jpg|20385782]) -- Elisa continues to grow as a character in interesting and real ways, and her voice is clear.
Though the love story was significantly more present than the earlier book, where it was a mere whispper, there seemed little risk in it, and the will-they-won't-they was by far the weakest part of the book. Luckily the rest of the book was more than strong enough to carry this.
The use of religion and magic is a very interesting one, though it is more a background issue -- there are gods (or god), they are real, there are priests and religious texts and doctrinal fights, but we only find out some of the specifics as Elisa finds them out (as she is devout, she knows a great deal already, and we have to build things up ourselves often). It's well developed, though I have some questions (which may be answered in the final book in the trilogy).
A few minor quibbles: we spent one book with an overweight Elisa who lost weight over the course of her kidnapping, but her shape was often discussed. It's not clear what size she is anymore, because for some reason Elisa never mentions it. This is a huge change that doesn't follow particularly well, especially when paired with things like her hoping a baby girl will grow up "slender and beautiful" or her understaning the ancient feminine power that women have against men. These are discordant notes in an otherwise lovely book.
Though the love story was significantly more present than the earlier book, where it was a mere whispper, there seemed little risk in it, and the will-they-won't-they was by far the weakest part of the book. Luckily the rest of the book was more than strong enough to carry this.
The use of religion and magic is a very interesting one, though it is more a background issue -- there are gods (or god), they are real, there are priests and religious texts and doctrinal fights, but we only find out some of the specifics as Elisa finds them out (as she is devout, she knows a great deal already, and we have to build things up ourselves often). It's well developed, though I have some questions (which may be answered in the final book in the trilogy).
A few minor quibbles: we spent one book with an overweight Elisa who lost weight over the course of her kidnapping, but her shape was often discussed. It's not clear what size she is anymore, because for some reason Elisa never mentions it. This is a huge change that doesn't follow particularly well, especially when paired with things like her hoping a baby girl will grow up "slender and beautiful" or her understaning the ancient feminine power that women have against men. These are discordant notes in an otherwise lovely book.
Evil evil evil evil evil evil evil evil!!
After starting this book, I read somewhere that this was a cliffhanger. And it is, of a sort. The main plot of the book resolves, but then an additional element gets introduced at the end, and THAT is where the cliffhanger comes in.
More acceptable, but still EVIL.
I'm very happy to say, though, that I loved this book just as much as (possibly even more than) the first one. I didn't want it to end, and I'm still sad that I'm done with it. The third book will come far too slowly for my liking, that's for sure.
The world and the story are well done, but it's really all about the characters for me. Elisa may be a princess-turned-rebel-turned-queen, but she feels so REAL. Her worries and fears and joys and triumphs are in a different world and on a different scale--she has a whole country to worry about, after all--but she's so freakin' relatable that it's hard to believe it's just a novel. I've read modern day books about people much like me who weren't nearly so easy to grasp.
Elisa would be enough on her own, but the secondary characters really round things out perfectly. Hector, Mara, Tristan, and even Ximena(though I nearly cheered when Elisa chose Hector for the party instead of her, and at the end when Elisa sent her away) pretty much kick butt.
Why isn't book three out NOW?!?
After starting this book, I read somewhere that this was a cliffhanger. And it is, of a sort. The main plot of the book resolves, but then an additional element gets introduced at the end, and THAT is where the cliffhanger comes in.
More acceptable, but still EVIL.
I'm very happy to say, though, that I loved this book just as much as (possibly even more than) the first one. I didn't want it to end, and I'm still sad that I'm done with it. The third book will come far too slowly for my liking, that's for sure.
The world and the story are well done, but it's really all about the characters for me. Elisa may be a princess-turned-rebel-turned-queen, but she feels so REAL. Her worries and fears and joys and triumphs are in a different world and on a different scale--she has a whole country to worry about, after all--but she's so freakin' relatable that it's hard to believe it's just a novel. I've read modern day books about people much like me who weren't nearly so easy to grasp.
Elisa would be enough on her own, but the secondary characters really round things out perfectly. Hector, Mara, Tristan, and even Ximena
Why isn't book three out NOW?!?
This book was much better than "The Girl of Fire and Thorns." Finally, finally, the action and intrigue (with a hefty dash of romance!) that I've been waiting for. Ooooooh! Why can't the next book be out already??
Let's just say that I absolutely adore Hector. And I love the ending of this book to pieces because it gives you what you want while simultaneously withholding enough, leaving you begging for more. I want moooooore!!
Gah. Too many feels to express enough of an elegant review of what I just read.
Let's just say that I absolutely adore Hector. And I love the ending of this book to pieces because it gives you what you want while simultaneously withholding enough, leaving you begging for more. I want moooooore!!
Gah. Too many feels to express enough of an elegant review of what I just read.
I can't believe it took me so long to finish this (the start date is misleading). Such a fun series! And I love the strong female protagonist.
Just wow. I tore through this book. Non stop action and plotting, never a dull moment. Elisa grew as a main character and made me love her even more. She is definitely not the whiney child she started out as. Cannot wait to read the third book, good thing I have it. Just so good.
Characterization, especially of the heroine but of others as well, is a strong suit of this novel, as well as a pretty realistic attempt to tackle what a lot of fantasy never does: So you're the magic princess and you have the kingdom and... what now?
Elisa grows and learns and develops into a character you really want to root for, even when she does some dumb stuff.
She's not a cardboard cutout, and she's imperfect in real ways, not in fake "My biggest flaw is my incredible perfectionism!" ways.
Elisa grows and learns and develops into a character you really want to root for, even when she does some dumb stuff.
She's not a cardboard cutout, and she's imperfect in real ways, not in fake "My biggest flaw is my incredible perfectionism!" ways.
Omg, this was great. The worst bit is the cliff hanger ending, I must know what happens next.