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beautifullybookishbethany 's review for:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
by Rae Carson
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.