Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Title: The Girls of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1)
Author: Rae Carson
Pages:  432
Publisher: Harper Collins Greenwillow Books
Genre: Fantasy
Release: September 20th, 2011
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book at: Book Depository / Amazon

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

An EPIC new Fantasy Series!

Oh God! I loved this book but...I'm in some kind of a shock. I just can define if I feel happy or sad...hell... I'm shocked!

The Girl of Fire and Thorn's cover drew me since I first saw it (love at first sight and very superficial) But now that I get to know it, I am really happy to say that it didn't deceive me at all. In fact, The Girl of Fire and Thorns reached all of my expectations! (not a superficial love anymore). Since the first page, I was unable to think of anything else that wasn't this book. However, there were so many things that I never imagined an author would dare to write in the first book of a series, and I now I feel absolutely shocked to have read them. Seriously, some of the things that happen in this book that are the kind of things we usually see in the final book of a series, not in the first! OMG! Carson is certainly a brave writer! *applauses*

Now, after turning the last page, I think I am in denial because I just cannot accept what I just read. The thing is, I got to love some characters in this book in a very strong way, specially King Alejandro and Humberto (AH! if you read this book then you know why I feel so shocked!) and I seriously have no idea how I am supposed to heal from this book. I know, I am being totally vague but I hate giving spoilers! You want to know what I'm talking about? Then read The Girl of Fire and Thorn because is absolutely engrossing (specially if you are a fantasy junkie like me).

Carson's world is extremely rich and fascinating. I love all of the different cultures we get to know in this world. Carson's writing make readers feel as an insider in this extraordinary adventure and we get to meet  the world and its culture as if we were the protagonist herself! Elisa, the heroin, travels all around and we get to meet, from a close point, every single place and people mentioned in the book. From Elisa's birth place to the Animagus, and from Alejandro's Kingdom to the Dessert people. 432 pages felt so short compared to all the things I went through during this book. All the time we spent with Elisa and company feels precious and I believe that Carson not only built a rich world, but also highly valuable characters. There are so many of those characters that I love. King Alejandro, you were physically flawless but a human nonetheless, thus you feel fear and insecurities but your kindness it's what I will never forget. Humberto, so sweet that even when I wished to hate you, I just couldn`t. Ximena, you are My Sky!. Rosario, you little brat! I wish I could see you grow up... maybe I will. In the other hand, there were some characters I really disliked (these are mean character, we are supposed to dislike them). Sorry Cosmé, but I cannot like you. I hate what you did! and Ariña, I have more than enough reasons to hate you.

There is another thing that I really love from this book and it's the fact that war, in The Girl of Fire and Thorns, is mostly in the name of God. Sounds familiar? Elisa first brings this up when she thinks that "...Now , even [her] enemy presumes to know the mind of God" (p.252) And concerning to this, I like the way Elisa simply states "God's will. How many times have I heard someone declare their understanding of this thing I find so indefinable?" (p.300) Yes,  God's will and religion (none that we know in particular) are strong themes in The Girl of Fire and Thorns and I really like Elisa' position towards this aspect and how Rae Carson executed it in the book.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an outstanding debut! This is the kind of story that I have trouble letting go. Now I have to wait in agony for The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2). Yes, I'm absolutely Dazzled! I loved this book but... If waiting was just a little bit more bearable!... but is not, at least not for the sequel of this book. So, I guess I need to wish myself good luck!

Watch Rae Carson introducing her book!

Visit Rae Carson's website at http://www.raecarson.com/