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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
*Recommended
I went on a ride with this book. I have plans to maybe reread this and continue the series in the future.
For now, have a review I wrote way back in 2015:
I HATE THIS BOOK FOR DESTROYING ME.
So this book and me didn't start out really nicely. I was bored for the first hundred or so pages and I felt pretty disappointed since everyone was raving about it. BUT BUT BUT MY GOLLEY.
When a certain event happens to Elisa and we are introduced to a lot more characters, things just turned crazy and exciting and THIS BOOK BREAKS HEARTS.
Elisa's character growth is great - as in seriously. I love how her confidence builds and that wasn't connected with her body. As in Rae Carson was worried that it could seem that way but it didn't and that was just done perfectly. She just reminded me of Kelsea from Queen of the Tearling who I absolutely adore and love with all my heart. Elisa is kick-ass and brave and POOR BABY I JUST.
THE ROMANCE KILLED ME. I shall not say anything more than that - just.
The story was just so exciting when we finally see Elisa become more independent and self-aware. AND YES SECRETS AREN'T KEPT FROM THE MC UNTIL THE END OF THE BOOK AND ARE ACTUALLY REVEALED EARLY ON SO THAT WE CAN GET SOMEWHERE.
I love the religious aspect mostly because I grew up in a religious country. I'm currently an agnostic but I really appreciate that Elisa didn't lose faith in her God despite all the tragedies she encountered. It felt like reading a book that could possibly have been set in the Philippines that way (if that makes any sense). The world was really rich and I'm super interested to find out how the magic system really works.
The extras about Rae Carson are A+. I hope Misogyny Inc burns.
If I could have had updated goodreads while reading, it would go something like this:
p.40: eh
p.70: meh
p.100: hmm
~p.150: I like this boy a lot
~p.250: woahhh
~p.330: SHUT UP AND TELL ME THIS IS A LIE
*insert 30 min break here filled with tears*
p.400: THIS BOOOOOOOK
Basically, if I didn't find the start so boring, I would have said this were perfect. Go read it guys and don't give up if you weren't interested by the start - it's soooooo worth it.
I went on a ride with this book. I have plans to maybe reread this and continue the series in the future.
For now, have a review I wrote way back in 2015:
I HATE THIS BOOK FOR DESTROYING ME.
So this book and me didn't start out really nicely. I was bored for the first hundred or so pages and I felt pretty disappointed since everyone was raving about it. BUT BUT BUT MY GOLLEY.
When a certain event happens to Elisa and we are introduced to a lot more characters, things just turned crazy and exciting and THIS BOOK BREAKS HEARTS.
Elisa's character growth is great - as in seriously. I love how her confidence builds and that wasn't connected with her body. As in Rae Carson was worried that it could seem that way but it didn't and that was just done perfectly. She just reminded me of Kelsea from Queen of the Tearling who I absolutely adore and love with all my heart. Elisa is kick-ass and brave and POOR BABY I JUST.
THE ROMANCE KILLED ME. I shall not say anything more than that - just.
The story was just so exciting when we finally see Elisa become more independent and self-aware. AND YES SECRETS AREN'T KEPT FROM THE MC UNTIL THE END OF THE BOOK AND ARE ACTUALLY REVEALED EARLY ON SO THAT WE CAN GET SOMEWHERE.
I love the religious aspect mostly because I grew up in a religious country. I'm currently an agnostic but I really appreciate that Elisa didn't lose faith in her God despite all the tragedies she encountered. It felt like reading a book that could possibly have been set in the Philippines that way (if that makes any sense). The world was really rich and I'm super interested to find out how the magic system really works.
The extras about Rae Carson are A+. I hope Misogyny Inc burns.
If I could have had updated goodreads while reading, it would go something like this:
p.40: eh
p.70: meh
p.100: hmm
~p.150: I like this boy a lot
~p.250: woahhh
~p.330: SHUT UP AND TELL ME THIS IS A LIE
*insert 30 min break here filled with tears*
p.400: THIS BOOOOOOOK
Basically, if I didn't find the start so boring, I would have said this were perfect. Go read it guys and don't give up if you weren't interested by the start - it's soooooo worth it.
This book had been on to TBR for a while now. So I was really excited to read it! It took a while for me to really get into it. It was really slow for me until the kidnapping.
I don’t think I liked it nearly as much as I could. Really the only thing for me that kept it together was Elisa and how brave and capable she is. She is really the strongest character and I was rooting for her until the very end! She is going to make a great queen!
There were a lot of great twists and turns, and though I had a little trouble getting into the heart of the plot, I felt it was executed wonderfully!
However, honestly the only reason I will be picking up book two is because of Hector, and how he will have a bigger role and a possible romance with Elise. I am totally Team Hector :D I also want to see more of the dynamic between Rosario and Elise. So over all I loved the characters, felt meh about the plot.
I don’t think I liked it nearly as much as I could. Really the only thing for me that kept it together was Elisa and how brave and capable she is. She is really the strongest character and I was rooting for her until the very end! She is going to make a great queen!
There were a lot of great twists and turns, and though I had a little trouble getting into the heart of the plot, I felt it was executed wonderfully!
However, honestly the only reason I will be picking up book two is because of Hector, and how he will have a bigger role and a possible romance with Elise. I am totally Team Hector :D I also want to see more of the dynamic between Rosario and Elise. So over all I loved the characters, felt meh about the plot.
This book was ok. It has all the elements of a good story, yet lacked excitement or urgency. The elements of magic felt contrived.
I enjoyed the made-up religion and beliefs.
I enjoyed the made-up religion and beliefs.
It was actually kind of nice. Different, without a doubt, and nice. I also liked that Faith had a big part in the story, that's not something you usually see.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
I mostly enjoyed this, but I'll say up front there are major trigger warnings for fatphobia, internalized fatphobia, weight related slurs, and disordered eating. The main character in this fantasy novel is a fat young woman who is underestimated and looked down on due to her body, and views herself in a negative light as well, despite being the "chosen one." The intent is to demonstrate the ways women are judged by their bodies and center a character who must overcome something physical. However, I have mixed feelings on the way this was handled. Some of the dialogue and internal dialogue is really difficult to read, fatness is linked to eating unhealthy foods and being physically sendentary. This is sometimes, but not always how things actually work and I think this depiction could be harmful. There is also explicit linking of beauty and thinness, not adequately combated in other ways. Also, weight loss is associated with her personal growth. I realize this book was published nearly a decade ago and there is a lot to like here (see below) but I wanted to discuss this at the start of my review. If these things are triggering for you, use caution because there is a lot of it.
That said, I found the plot and world to be interesting and I admire the grit of Elisa, the main character. The book opens with her being married off at 16 years old to the king of a neighboring country, a man I would imagine to be in his late twenties at least with a child of his own. (This is an arranged political marriage and they are not intimate in case that is a concern.) Elisa was raised to serve as she is a chosen vessel of God with a fate she knows little about. She is underestimated because of her body but must find a way to be a great queen.
The world is loosely based on medieval Spain as far as I can tell, but with magic. The plot is interesting and Elisa is an inspiring character. The exploration of faith and religion here is interesting and there is a robust amount of political intrigue and military tactics as well considering it's a YA novel. Despite the issues noted above I generally enjoyed my time with this and am glad I decided to try the series.
I mostly enjoyed this, but I'll say up front there are major trigger warnings for fatphobia, internalized fatphobia, weight related slurs, and disordered eating. The main character in this fantasy novel is a fat young woman who is underestimated and looked down on due to her body, and views herself in a negative light as well, despite being the "chosen one." The intent is to demonstrate the ways women are judged by their bodies and center a character who must overcome something physical. However, I have mixed feelings on the way this was handled. Some of the dialogue and internal dialogue is really difficult to read, fatness is linked to eating unhealthy foods and being physically sendentary. This is sometimes, but not always how things actually work and I think this depiction could be harmful. There is also explicit linking of beauty and thinness, not adequately combated in other ways. Also, weight loss is associated with her personal growth. I realize this book was published nearly a decade ago and there is a lot to like here (see below) but I wanted to discuss this at the start of my review. If these things are triggering for you, use caution because there is a lot of it.
That said, I found the plot and world to be interesting and I admire the grit of Elisa, the main character. The book opens with her being married off at 16 years old to the king of a neighboring country, a man I would imagine to be in his late twenties at least with a child of his own. (This is an arranged political marriage and they are not intimate in case that is a concern.) Elisa was raised to serve as she is a chosen vessel of God with a fate she knows little about. She is underestimated because of her body but must find a way to be a great queen.
The world is loosely based on medieval Spain as far as I can tell, but with magic. The plot is interesting and Elisa is an inspiring character. The exploration of faith and religion here is interesting and there is a robust amount of political intrigue and military tactics as well considering it's a YA novel. Despite the issues noted above I generally enjoyed my time with this and am glad I decided to try the series.
I do not hate this, but I do not love it either.
There were specific parts in the book wherein a fire in me is lit and I thought I would actually love it, but then something else happens or the good stuff is cut short and the fire dwindles down into a dying ember.
This was a so-so read. Not sure if I'll be recommending it to friends, maybe when there is nothing else for them to read or the titles they have on their shelves are just plain horrible. Yep, that's all for now.
There were specific parts in the book wherein a fire in me is lit and I thought I would actually love it, but then something else happens or the good stuff is cut short and the fire dwindles down into a dying ember.
This was a so-so read. Not sure if I'll be recommending it to friends, maybe when there is nothing else for them to read or the titles they have on their shelves are just plain horrible. Yep, that's all for now.
A book that felt good to read, mostly, but that upon reflection I'm not sure why this was YA. I think an older heroine would have been more believable in some ways - even early 20s. The body image stuff all fell a little flat with me (yay - I'm skinny and can rule the world now!) but I think those are the character's issues and not the author's. And while I appreciate an author not becoming tied to their character's lives, some of the deaths seemed not to further the story at all. The bulk of the magic relied on prayer, and I would have loved even more insight into the system of magic. I also wonder why a character who spent so much time seeing actual effects from her prayer also spent so much time criticizing people who seemed too devoted. Maybe its a criticism of the strength of their actual faith and not the faith itself? But, Elisa is an interesting protagonist and I enjoyed watching her growth arc. It's an enjoyable read overall, but won't be at the top of my recommendations list.
EDIT: The second book answered a lot of my questions and was stronger in many ways than the first. It made this series a must read for me.
EDIT: The second book answered a lot of my questions and was stronger in many ways than the first. It made this series a must read for me.
If you would like to enjoy a complete, full and spoiler free review of this book, head on over to this blog post on my YA blog!
http://whatanerdgirlsays.com/2013/01/19/book-of-the-week-the-girl-of-fire-and-thorns/
http://whatanerdgirlsays.com/2013/01/19/book-of-the-week-the-girl-of-fire-and-thorns/
Fun YA novel. But really all I could think was "she's a troll doll!"
On my second reading, this book gets even better. It has strong characters who change and grow and a plot that moves at a great pace.