Review by Lauren - Fire

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells. 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.

Wondering what makes it a companion book/prequel? Fire takes place 30-some years before Graceling and has one cross-over character with Graceling, a small boy with strange two-colored eyes who comes from no-one-knows-where, and who has a peculiar ability that Graceling readers will find familiar and disturbing...

First Impression: Not crazy of the whole prequel thing. I wanted Katsa & Po and all that cute stuff.

I'm pretty sure I enjoyed Fire like 10 times more than Graceling. And I loved Graceling. The main reason I think were the characters. Kristin's writing has developed even more in this novel and as much as I loved her first set of characters, I adored the ones in Fire. Fire & Brigen were adorable and their relationship so powerful. It was very similar to Katsa and Po and I love the strong female character that is present in both novels. I enjoyed Fire's strength more than Katsa's though and her beauty as well as her powers :) I also enjoyed Hanna as a child more than Bitterblue. I don't remember perticularily liking her but I'm definitely going to have to reread Graceling now.

The idea that Fire is a prequel to Graceling is pretty general. It's even in a completely different world. There are no Gracelings, no mention of previous characters (except one) so it stands completely on it's own, in it's own world. There are really no connections whatsoever to Graceling besides the one character. I also enjoyed this world more than the first with its magical creatures and whatnot.

Either way, Fire is coming out October 6th, so look for it!

Final Impression: As I mentioned, better than Graceling although there was a brief slow period but I easily overlooked it. If you liked Graceling, you will LOVE Fire. Strong characters, gorgeous world, adorable romance etc. I'm still basking in this story.

Add to the Shelf?: Psh, do you even have to ask? This book is gold.

6/6 for sure

♥ Lauren