Fire ***1/2
by Kristin CashoreBook Type: YA, Fantasy
Summary: Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.
Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.
Summary found on goodreads
My Review: This is a "companion" to Graceling. I couldn't figure out if it was supposed to be a prequel or a sequel or just a book that takes place in the same place but isn't actually related... Like Ella Enchanted and Fairest (which are both FABULOUS by the way!). Anyway I looked online and I'm still not sure, I think it's KIND of a prequel but also kind of totally unrelated... Anyway. Both of these books are really fun, super engaging, interesting stories BUT the way they handle sex is irritating. Basically they treat it like it's nothing, that it doesn't matter. Everyone has sex with whoever they want, for example, one guy gets two girls pregnant within a couple days of each other... Anyway, I liked the book but I don't know I would suggest it to anyone just because of the way they treat sex and love! So if that doesn't bother you, you will probably really enjoy this book! :)
Bitterblue ***1/2
by Kristin Cashore
Book Type: Fantasy, YA
Summary: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.
Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart
summary found on goodreads
My Review: The one over riding character that is seen throughout the entire series is the evil king Leck. The world that Cashore has created in these stories is terrifyingly beautiful. King Leck is so incredibly evil it is almost difficult to read about the things that he does to his family and people. This book takes place after king Leck has been killed and his young daughter, Bitterblue, is now Queen. The people in the palace and city she "rules" over have been traumatized by the things that the kind forced into their minds and made them do. No one will communicate with Bitterblue. Bad things are happening throughout her city and she doesn't know who's behind it. She doesn't know who to trust. She wants to understand her people. She wants to help them. But what can she do when no one allows her to do the one thing she's supposed to be doing? Rule? The only people she trusts are the characters developed in the first story Graceling and a group of ruffians just trying to do the right thing; returning things to their proper place. This book keeps you engaged because you feel as lost and confused as Bitterblue as you try to shuffle through the details and sort out who is betraying their queen and who is on her side. The ending of the book was a bit lack luster. It just felt like a bit of a let down after so much build up. But she did pull all 3 books together well. Bringing the characters from the second book into the wrap up at the end. The story in Fire takes place in a different country from Graceling and Bitterblue. This country is separated from them by an impassable mountain range and is so different it feels like another world entirely. I will say this. I hate when an author builds up to this huge romantic interlude, the characters have sex and part ways. LAME. Oh well. Outside of that minor detail I actually quite enjoyed the intrigue and mystery of this book.
by Kristin Cashore
Book Type: Fantasy, YA
Summary: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.
Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart
summary found on goodreads
My Review: The one over riding character that is seen throughout the entire series is the evil king Leck. The world that Cashore has created in these stories is terrifyingly beautiful. King Leck is so incredibly evil it is almost difficult to read about the things that he does to his family and people. This book takes place after king Leck has been killed and his young daughter, Bitterblue, is now Queen. The people in the palace and city she "rules" over have been traumatized by the things that the kind forced into their minds and made them do. No one will communicate with Bitterblue. Bad things are happening throughout her city and she doesn't know who's behind it. She doesn't know who to trust. She wants to understand her people. She wants to help them. But what can she do when no one allows her to do the one thing she's supposed to be doing? Rule? The only people she trusts are the characters developed in the first story Graceling and a group of ruffians just trying to do the right thing; returning things to their proper place. This book keeps you engaged because you feel as lost and confused as Bitterblue as you try to shuffle through the details and sort out who is betraying their queen and who is on her side. The ending of the book was a bit lack luster. It just felt like a bit of a let down after so much build up. But she did pull all 3 books together well. Bringing the characters from the second book into the wrap up at the end. The story in Fire takes place in a different country from Graceling and Bitterblue. This country is separated from them by an impassable mountain range and is so different it feels like another world entirely. I will say this. I hate when an author builds up to this huge romantic interlude, the characters have sex and part ways. LAME. Oh well. Outside of that minor detail I actually quite enjoyed the intrigue and mystery of this book.
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