Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

March 17th, 2010 | 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Guest Review, Romance

by Master Llama, guest reviewer

Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 480 pages
Grade Reading Level: Ages 14+

Summary: It takes place in Dells, which was mentioned in Graceling. (It’s over the big mountains.) The most beautiful of monsters live there and Fire is the only human monster left. She is so beautiful she has to hide so as not to be attacked by other monsters and human men. Her father, Cansrel, used his powers for bad. She’s afraid to become just like him, but there’s a civil war brewing and the royal family asks her for help. She’s afraid to help but is eventually persuaded to do so. Now it’s her against the bad guys in a race to keep control of Dells.

Why I Read This Book:

I really like Graceling and I wanted to read the prequel.

Likes:

I really loved that Fire played so many musical instruments and that it was such an important part of her life. She played flute and fiddle and harp.
There is very little crossover between Graceling and Fire. You don't have to read Graceling first in order to get Fire.
Brigan is an interesting hero. I don't think he foils Fire as well as Po did Katsa, but I still liked him.

Dislikes:

It’s too long and too complicated to read in spurts. You have to sit down and read it cover to cover to fully understand it.
I disliked Archer because he was arrogant and really short tempered. He’s also a playboy and I didn’t like that about him either. It made me very happy to see him get his just desserts.
I hated that something weird or perverted happen to everybody or seemed to it made the story overly ridiculous.

Buy: Fire (Graceling)

Rating: 3 Treasure Chests