Review Detail

Fire is a destructive force unto herself, and she knows it, too- she is the monster daughter of a monster man. Though Fire loved her father, Cansrel, after a fashion, she understands that he is wicked and fears that, if she comes to rely too heavily on the monster powers that are her birthright, she will become just like him. Fire's country is falling apart at its seams, however, and Prince Brigan believes that her ability to tap into other people's minds might be the only thing that could pull it back together again.

I read Graceling only a few months ago, but I got a copy of Fire as soon as it came out, and I almost wish I hadn't- it would have been fun to spend a bit more time anticipating a return to the world that Kristen Cashore has created. Anyway, the long and short of it is that I loved Fire as much as I loved Graceling- at first I did not think it would be as good, but it was. Everything that Graceling has going for it, Fire has in greater quantities- this time, our heroine may not be a Graced killer, but she is still someone that the reader can cheer for.

The main way in which Fire defers from Graceling is that it is far more cynical in tone, making it even less of a wholesome YA book than Graceling was; I would recommend this book for older teens.