Fire is on fire!!

My first on site book review!!

So, I have a new favorite author- Kristin Cashore. I loved reading her first book "Graceling." It was imaginative, creative, and one of those books I jealously wish I had written myself.

However, her second book (which sadly isn't out yet, but will be in October) is called "Fire." Fire is a loose prequel set about 30-40 years before Graceling, and encompasses the land to the east of the setting of Graceling. (Which is cool, because when I looked at the map in Graceling, I always wondered what was over in this area.)

This land contains not just people but monsters. These monsters are of all types and sizes, from raptors to mice. The unique things about them are their colors. They can be blue and silver, or purple and yellow, or any variety of colors. They are beautiful and sometimes lure animals and people through their beauty. They also can control people's minds if they choose and are typically smarter than other animals. There have been human monsters- in the shape of a human but also multi-colored and with the ability to sense and control people's minds. Fire is the last of the human monsters. (Which, when reading I often found weird when Fire is described that way because she isn't really monstrous- but that was just what they call them.)

Fire's hair is gorgeously multi-colored in all the colors of a sunset. She is beautiful as well and people can't help but admire her beauty. Of course, with that beauty comes all the jealous women, men that seem to have certain unattractive thoughts about her, and those that just want to touch and admire her. And, of course, those suspicious that she will control their minds. Oh, and did I mention that the other monsters want to attack her and gobble her right up when they see/smell her? Really. Her life is so easy. (Read: Not!)

Anyway, so Fire describes her journey from country recluse to having a unique and important place in the kingdom through a series of events that draws you into Fire's world and pulls Fire into your heart. At least that was my reaction. She meets people along the way that both strengthen and discourage her, causing her to come to terms with what it means to love, and what her abilities can be used for. Chief among these people are those in the royal family, particularly Prince Brigan who isn't slow to express his hatred when he meets her. Also, he's suspiciously resistant to her mind sensing ability. What's that all about? The tenuous friendship they develop as they work through these issues is wonderful to witness throughout the book.

A key relationship that is revealed throughout the story is Fire's relationship with her dead father, the repercussions her father has had on the kingdom and the people she encounters, and how to reconcile past actions so as to strengthen, rather than destroy oneself.

If you've read Graceling, a character we discover the origins of is Leck, who also plays a role in Fire's story. Can I tell you, this kid is rather creepy? He gives new meaning to the term "born evil".

You may not be all into the fantasy genre. Even so, Fire is a book about the characters, life, and learning how to accept oneself and be able to love freely, even through fear.

I found myself enjoying Fire even more than Graceling, though Graceling is awesome in it's own self and I highly recommend it! (i.e. Go read it now so you can read Fire in October!)

Fire - * * * * *