Fire

Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Year: 2009
Series?: Graceling Realm #2
Format: Hardcover (Library checkout)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure

What's it about?: Out in a barren and rocky landscape lives a monster named Fire. She has an enticing appearance and the ability to read and possess people's minds, but Fire has no desire to use her abilities against other people. The current king of her land requests Fire's help in exposing a plot made against him, and Fire must struggle with the decision of using her abilities, but she doesn't want to become the true monster her father was before her.

My opinion:  

"Book hangover", definition being when you've finished a book and you suddenly return to the real world, but the real world feels incomplete or surreal because you're still living in the world of the book.

^^^ This is exactly how I feel about Fire. I know that I raved about Graceling, rightfully so, but holy monkey balls Fire was even better. I assume that Graceling was Cashore's first attempt at writing, and while I loved it, it's obvious that Cashore really came into herself as a writer with this second novel. From the first moment, Fire sucked you in and grasped your attention until the very end; there was no point in the entire book where I had to walk away or make myself keep reading and I couldn't put the damn thing down! One can actually read Fire without having read Graceling, as it is a companion novel and not a sequel. There is one similar character from the first book, but in a way this book was more of a prequel, it just took place in a different land and before the events of Graceling. I do like that it explained the origins of a certain character who crosses over between the two books, but it would never be confusing for a reader new to the Graceling Realm.

I liked that Fire was a strong female character to admire, she constantly proved herself as a good person over and over again to fight against those who believed her to be evil based on the previous actions of her very evil father. While there are similarities between Fire and Katsa (from the first book), they are very much their own characters with some similar traits. One of my favorite scenes from the book was Fire's attempt to let the military ride safely past the sky-monsters, I was absolutely riveted and entirely lost in the book, at one point I think I stopped breathing. The interactions between Fire and the other characters in the book are what really moved the pace, no matter who she was talking to Fire showed intelligence and considered her options before action. Fire's daily struggle with being a "monster" and the moral implications of her gift made her one of the most compelling characters I've ever read. The development of Fire's character was impressive for while she did change her morals and intentions never strayed into a dark side, she remained constant in her belief that she not turn into her father. The theme of parental origins was strong in the book, more than one character proved that a person born by their parents don't necessarily become their father or mother simply through blood, but how they are raised and how they are taught to treat others. (A concept that most parents today should follow more often).

There was a love triangle in the book, although it was not a triangle in the traditional sense. Basically there were two love interests who I both admired. One a childhood love and the other a slow building relationship. I am a huge fan of the slow build, so I was uber pleased with how things turned out in the end; we often forget that most people do not instantly fall in love and first impressions are not always correct. People also change and the things they once wanted can become irrelevant with time, as was the case with Fire and her life choices. Another reviewer pointed out this book is an incredibly accurate portrayal of rape culture and I wholeheartedly agree. The result of Fire's ability (or being a "monster") caused men throughout the book to throw themselves at her, and Cashore made the great point that no matter how pretty someone is, this is not okay! Fire is not whining about her beauty, she literally has to struggle with it everyday, sometimes even keeping people physically off of and away from her to protect herself. Eventually, she finds a way to accept her circumstances and deal with it, but it's obviously not the easiest thing to come to terms with.

We really need more books like this one in the literary world. I plan on starting the third book Bitterblue next and I will pray that Cashore writes many, MANY more books as fascinating as Fire in the future. I would rate this book 6 out of 5 stars! (giggles).