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sarahnlawson 's review for:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
by Rae Carson
This book is on my absolute fave shelf for a reason! It is so unlike other fantasies I've read before that it deserves the distinction. It's Latin@-infused fantasy with immaculate worldbuilding and religious themes that are refreshing but not heavy-handed. I LOVE Elisa and I related to her a lot. She's a fat character and this is not at all glanced over, because it greatly affects her self-image and is tied to her own initial feelings of unworthiness. However, while her body changes throughout the book due to the physical adventures she has, she never becomes thin, and instead she learns to be proud of her body and her own worth and accomplishments. It is such a tremendous growth in character. She's also wickedly intelligent and an expert in war of all things, which allows her to become a brilliant tactician. She's not a warrior, but her other strengths shine so brightly it's incredible to watch. It makes her different from so many other fantasy heroines that I just adore it.
The supporting cast is excellent, too, and I love this world so much. Again, it's so different from most fantasy settings that it's hard not to adore it. This is the first book in the series and it only gets better from here--though I have to say, there's a twist about 3/4 into the book that had me gasping and clapping my hand to my mouth on a public bus EVEN WHEN I KNEW IT WAS COMING. I think that really shows how well Carson can get you invested in her characters. I'm looking forward to rereading the rest of the series and it is among my insta-recommendations.
The supporting cast is excellent, too, and I love this world so much. Again, it's so different from most fantasy settings that it's hard not to adore it. This is the first book in the series and it only gets better from here--though I have to say, there's a twist about 3/4 into the book that had me gasping and clapping my hand to my mouth on a public bus EVEN WHEN I KNEW IT WAS COMING. I think that really shows how well Carson can get you invested in her characters. I'm looking forward to rereading the rest of the series and it is among my insta-recommendations.