Bookanista Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through April. The weather here in North Carolina is already hinting at a hot summer, but even so I've been enjoying the sunny days and low humidity of spring. And what better way to do that than sitting outside with a good book? :-)

This week's selection is THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson. First, a little info from Goodreads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

My Thoughts

Go buy this book. Now.

Honestly, that really sums up my love for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, but I guess, since this is supposed to be a review, I should give you a few more details. 

Elisa's story begins where most fantasies end...with a princess marrying a handsome king. For me, this meant that as I was reading, I had NO idea where the story would go or what to expect. And that was a wonderful, delicious feeling. The world Rae created for Elisa is so detailed, with politics, religion, even topography all combining to create a living, breathing backdrop for the events of the story. I loved how the culture of the world so informed both the characters and the movement of the plot - everything fit together so seamlessly I never felt information was being dumped on me or saw the big flashing sign saying THIS IS IMPORTANT, REMEMBER THIS LATER. Each element of this story - character development, world building, plot - all flowed so well together I was truly carried away into Elisa's world.

The main character, Elisa, is another huge reason to love this book. Her emotional journey is a thing of beauty - from a fat girl who doesn't believe she has anything to offer the world to a strong, vibrant leader and friend. She pulls you into her world from the very first page, and I found myself so emotionally invested in her story that I cried, groaned, even laughed out loud right along with her. I felt Elisa's emotions and struggled myself with the challenges she faced. To me, this story was so visceral and engaging, I literally couldn't put it down.

I cannot WAIT for CROWN OF EMBERS, the next in the series, and I really can't say enough good things about this book. Read it! :-)

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Here's what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!

Corrine Jackson falls for THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT 

Stasia Ward Kehoe is over the moon for MEDUSA THE MEAN

Nikki Katz flips for FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK & FROI OF THE EXILES

Bookanista Review: Clarity/Perception

Happy Thursday, everyone! I'm having a good week. Finally gained some steam on a project that was stalled, and have continued my streak of reading great books! A lot of them have been sequels lately, which is pretty exciting. There's nothing like falling in love with a book, impatiently waiting for its follow-up, and then finally getting to read what happens next! So, so satisfying, especially when those sequels are as fantastic as the ones I've been reading lately!

This week I want to talk about CLARITY and PERCEPTION by Kim Harrington.

FROM GOODREADS (CLARITY):

Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It’s a gift. 

And a curse. 

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case—but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother—who has supernatural gifts of his own—becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

My Thoughts

CLARITY the book has a great concept and it's executed really well. Clarity the character is brave and strong and confused and a wonderful steward for her story. I immediately related to her, despite my lack of psychic abilities. :-) The cast of characters in these books is fabulous - from Clarity's telephathic, sometimes overbearing Mom (how mortifying to have one's mother be able to read your thoughts?!), to her player brother, to the sexy newcomer Gabriel. Harrington does a really fantastic job establishing the personalities in Clarity's seaside town, the dynamics at her high school, and the relationships between Clarity and the other members of her family. The characters felt genuine to me, and because I liked Clarity so much, I felt totally invested in watching those relationships develop over the course of both books.

The mysteries in both books are well plotted and suspenseful. Particularly in the first, Clarity helping the police find a murderer was both creepy and fascinating, and I didn't see the murderer's identity coming. In the second book, the culprit was a little more obvious (to me, at least) but all of the characters were interacting in such interesting ways that I had plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages to see if I was right. And the way it all shook out was unexpected and super intense.

I really loved that the second book, unlike in some mystery series, actually dealt with the repercussions of the events in the first book. We see how the murder and resulting investigation affects Clarity and those around her, in what feels authentic and gives the second book a heftier emotional weight than the first. I also loved that the second book didn't fall into the formula/pattern I was expecting after the first. These are murder mysteries but even more than that they are stories about Clarity and her family, and I loved them all the more for having the focus squarely on the characters and their emotional journeys, rather than it being ALL about the mystery plot. 

These are quick, fun reads, romantic but not ALL about the romance, creepy but not too creepy to read before bed, filled with wonderful characters, a beautiful setting, and a heroine you'll enjoy rooting for. I don't know if there's a third book in the works, but I for one am hoping for more Clarity and her friends!

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Check out what the rest of the Bookanistas are up to!

Christine Fonseca  gives a shout out for REGRET

Carrie Harris swoons for STRUCK

Corrine Jackson cries heaps over STORY OF A GIRL

Stasia Ward Kehoe loves up THE LIBERATION OF MAX MCTRUE

Katy Upperman delights in GRACELING

Jessica Love delights in THE SCORPIO RACES

Hilary Wagner hosts a Guest Post by Author Aaron Kato on YA Voice

Bookanista Thursday!

This week I don't have a review to share, as I've been under the weather and reading "comfort" books...which, for me, are romance novels (and therefore not reviewable). ;-) 

BUT, lots of other Bookanistas have you covered!

Christine Fonseca  interviews author Heather McCorkle

Megan Miranda and  Debra Driza give stars to STARTERS

Stasia Ward Kehoe is giddy about GEEKTASTIC – with giveaway!

Nikki Katz praises PANDEMONIUM

Hilary Wagner swoons for PINK SMOG – with giveaway

Also, GO WILDCATS!!