The Girl of Fire and Thorns

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson is the first book in her Fire and Thorns trilogy, and it has totally hooked me into wanting to continue with this fantasy story. The author has created an intriguing fantasy story with an excellent main character. Even though she has the mysterious Godstone implanted in her navel, 16 year old Princess Elisa has been a disappointment to her family. Plain, overweight and rather unmotivated, she is married to a handsome neighboring king to bind the two countries into an alliance. Both countries are under the threat of an invasion by the superior forces of the Invierne.

It is only after she goes through many adventures that she matures and learns how to fulfill her destiny. Although the trope of a show more fat girl becoming a curvy beauty is a familiar one, I was pleased that in this case Elisa needed to develop her intelligence and inner strength in order to claim victory. And while this first book had a good ending, there is still a lot more to explore in the trilogy.

The author gives her story depth with her layered characters and intricate world-building but it is the quick pace and interesting story that keeps the pages turning. show less

This felt like bog-standard fantasy with the exception of the protagonist's magic umbilicus. Yes, see, her navel is a gem that turns hot and cold (and more, but...spoilers, I guess.) Did her umbilical artery run through it? Did it grow once her cord fell off? Is the belly button just decorative in this world? Inquiring minds got too distracted by umbilical anatomy to pay too much attention to the plot, which is good, because again, cliche fantasy + Stockholm syndrome.

OK, to add one more comment: I liked having a heroine who was larger, and the body positivity that went with it. Of course, she lost a ton of weight while being kidnapped and was thrilled with her smaller body...Rae Carson is not exactly svelte herself and this all felt show more like a very unhealthy weight fantasy situation. show less

I have been mulling over this review. I am still a little unsure of what to write. I loved this book so much, but any books where the protagonist is overweight automatically puts me on edge. Being a plus sized lady, I did NOT want to read another "This girl got skinny and beautiful and THEN everything good happened to her." I even went to my good friend Google and read through the author's interviews about her perception of the book. I doubt I have had to work this had for a review in awhile.I really did enjoy this book. It had a good fantasy story (although I did giggle to myself once or twice that Elisa reminded me of a Treasure Troll with the jewel in her belly). I liked that she was an unlikely hero. Elisa is not a likable show more character- she is lazy and deals with her emotions by eating. She is very selfish and doesn't think far beyond herself. I really loved the evolution of Elisa's character during the course of the book. Does she lose weight? Yes. Did that bug me? Yes. But I had to get off of my own problems with weight discrimination and see that the changes that happened to Elisa had nothing to do with her weight- or loss of weight. She grew up and took responsibility for herself and others. She stopped running and hiding and stopped trying to be coddled by others. Elisa's weight was not the point of the book. Elisa is a selfish spoiled girl who turns into someone who is prepared to run an entire kingdom. She grows up.I am glad this story is the first of a trilogy. I really want to see what is going to happen to Elisa. Although the story was tied up to some degree at the end- there are still many unanswered questions for the reader- namely in Elisa's love life.I would absolutely recommend reading this book- but even more, I hope that you will take the time to think through the character and what happens to her. show less

I basically read The Girl of Fire and Thorns in a single day, because once I began, it was so engrossing that I couldn't bear to wait until the next day to finish reading. It is one of my favorite genres, which helps a bit - princess adventures with a touch of magic. (There's a little bit the "Farm boy" story and romance as well!)

It really is an adventure story, with a lot going on. I can't really say that it is about any one thing, as there are a lot of things that it could be about - I don't think you could even limit it to being about the main character and our narrator, Elisa, since some of the topics are more general and are simply explored through her.

Of course, if you read other reviews and synopses, some of the major topics show more become clear: religion, faith, destiny, self-confidence, body size/image, war, friendship, and trust.

I think that Carson did a splendid job at handling the very many plot hooks and themes, and didn't really feel let down at any one point. I was surprised by some of her narrative choices, whether because she went an unexpected route, or because she did what I expected - but only after leaving very obvious red herrings. Since much of the foreshadowing came to play out very regularly, those red herrings were all the more surprising in the end.

Speaking of the end, I think that while it was a bit rushed and a little beyond my ability to suspend belief regarding the stated passage of time, I thoroughly enjoyed that it is very bittersweet. Without spoiling too much, I hope, I found that the ending was hopeful and as positive for Elisa as it could be, considering the hardships she suffered to get to that point. I'm given to understand that there may be a sequel in the works, but I don't think a sequel is necessary at all. I am very happy to think of Elisa growing into a mature woman and capable queen (oops, spoiler?) with the pieces that were set out in the last chapters, and I don't need more. (I'll probably read a sequel anyway, though!)

Two themes in the book had me wary before reading, worrying that it might be totally horrible and not my thing and I'd hate it. Luckily, this wasn't the case!

The first item is the religious aspect. Elisa is very devout to her faith, and is, in fact, living proof of a supernatural God. There is a crystal or gemstone lodged in her abdomen that spontaneously and miraculously appeared at her nameday, and which burns hot or cold with no clear physical reason. While titled "religion" and all, I felt that this wasn't very indistinguishable from much magic in other books. The God and religion in The Girl of Fire and Thorns is very tangible and with an unmistakable presence.

I did like the way Carson addressed religious schisms and fundamentalism, as well as different translations/interpretations of the religious texts. In the context of the story, the ultimate message to "continue to have faith and trust that things will work out as God intends, but there's nothing wrong with stepping up and trying to help things along" makes a lot of sense, though I'd think it's kind of stupid in a story based in our reality with no proof of the supernatural.

The second item is Elisa's appearance, though again, a lot of it is helped by the context of the story. I hate the idea that in order to have self-confidence and happiness, one must be thin and conventionally attractive, and a lot of stories force their overweight heroines to slim down for no particular reason than to get that "happy" ending. But for Elisa, things are a bit different. While she is terribly overweight and unhappy about it in the beginning of the book, with doubt that anyone looks beyond her appearance even while having no motivation to change it (something so many of us can relate to!), and she does become much slimmer by the end, it isn't just for the "happy". Her weight loss is due to some pretty serious events and accompanies weeks or months of grueling physical exertion and not-quite-enough food. It is not a positive thing for her, though it does result in positive effects - being more physically fit and able to walk long distances or being able to fit into ready-made disguises more easily. In fact, much later, Elisa jokes that her new size is only temporary, but it seemed to me that she was only half-joking, that she accepts that she might gain much of the weight back - she often mentions how food is a comfort to her, and that and the lack of physical exertion needed as a member of royalty is part of why she became overweight in the first place. She also points out that she may have lost a lot of weight and looks better in clothes, but she's by no means conventionally attractive, with loose skin due to the sudden near-starvation, and I suspect that she's still a bit overweight, if not nearly as much so as at the beginning.

On the whole, I found Elisa to be a very believable and sympathetic character. She is a princess and was raised as a princess, so is pampered and spoiled and a little self-centered, but she grows in the story, recognizes this, and attempts to improve these faults. But she's also quiet (a bit shy, really), observant, studious, and cares deeply about others. She does her best with what she has at hand, but isn't always successful, and sometimes makes the wrong choice.

I could go on about many other things I found interesting in the book, from the other characters to the various relationships, but they can mostly be described as the more important they are to the basic workings of the plot, the more nuanced they are, without being wholly Black or White, which was very nice.

I very much enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns and can see why it's received so many positive comments, and why it took a month for my library hold to come in! show less

Princess Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza of Orovalle is not one of the sword-wielding, butt-kicking heroines that one encounters in some fantasy novels. She's not known for her bravery or her skill with a blade. She's known for her scholarship, her fondness for pastries, and her skill at embroidery. She's overweight and (mostly) content to be so. The only other unique thing about Elisa is that she bears the Godstone in her bellybutton -- one person in a century is given this mysterious gift, marked as someone who will do a great act of service.

Elisa has always know that, as the younger princess, she will make a politically advantageous marriage. When she is betrothed to Alejandro de Vega, king of Joya d'Arena, she prays that her husband will be show more old and ugly, that he will not mind that he is marrying her and not her lovely older sister. Instead, she finds Alejandro to be handsome, charming . . . and weak. All is not well in Joya d'Arena -- criminals and revolutionaries lurk in the jungle, an invading army menaces the territories to the east, and the royal court is riddled with intrigue and political backstabbing. Then, something happens that Elisa never expected, and she is thrown into a situation that changes her inside and out. When faced with the biggest challenges life has ever thrown at her, Elisa finds hidden reserves of strength and courage.

I love so many things about this book. Elisa's character development is pitch-perfect, and she's believable and relatable all the way through. The secondary characters are well-drawn, the setting is fully described (though I wish the book included a map), and Carson does not shy away from hard decisions about the lives and deaths of really likable characters. I also like the way religion is handled in the book, and how central it is to Elisa's life. I strongly recommend this book to all fantasy fans, and I know it's one I will return to often. show less

4.5-4.75 STARS

“Honor from death,” I snap, “is a myth. Invented by the war torn to make sense of the horrific. If we die, it will be so that others may live. Truly honorable death, the only honorable death, is one that enables life.”

I can't believe I walked by this book so many time and never picked it up...

First of all, may I express how much I enjoyed reading a complicated love interest between all these diverse characters, ( and bear in mind that the one YA trope that I truly despise is a soapy love triangle with a weak indecisive female protagonist ) Rae Carson has done a spectacular job that very few authors accomplish without completely destroying their characters in the reader's eye. RESPECT

I also loved how Elisa is not show more your typical all perfect girl that ooh is going to save us all and bla bla…
She is in fact weak, her feature are described as average, plus she has eating disorder that result in her being overweight, and above all that she knows she is not cut out for the part, however that does not stop her from being a kicka** female character who actually uses her braincells instead of waiting for prince charming for the rescue.

GirlPower and independence indeed.

SO to make this review short, I truly loved this book, it has a lot of political intrigue, hardship, and a light romance. I highly recommend you to read this you'll love it ! show less

Going into the book (which I read an e-ARC version from NetGalley) I had completely forgotten what it was about. It was on my list of 'Must Read Immediately Upon Getting' books and I had made a notation about 'fantasy' next to it, but otherwise I had forgotten. Something pushed at me to pick it though and thus did I spend an entire Friday night (after my show) reading this glorious, wonderful and otherwise fantastic novel.

It would honestly be hard for me to categorize this as a 'young adult'. If this had been written in the 90's then it may very well have been shelved with the mainstream fantasy books despite the narrator, Elisa's, age of 16. Carson questions the nature of love (familial, first love and enduring love), religion (faith, show more doubt, belief) and duty (to one's self, to one's country) without holding anything back. Elisa learns some very hard lessons in a relatively short amount of time and realizes some hard truths.

Elisa, in short, is my hero. Not because she saves the day. Not because she's clever and quick-witted and brave. Not just because of those things at least. Elisa is my hero, and would have been my role model for life as a teen, because she doesn't judge herself. She doubts why she was Chosen. She looks back at the way she was in her home kingdom with horror, but she doesn't ever say 'I'm a useless person'. Whenever she uses the words 'useless' and 'fat' she is repeating what others have said behind her back (or in at least one case, to her face).

She is self-conscious, she envies other women for their slim forms or graceful bearing, but she doesn't deride herself for not being that way. She is strong, just as many of the characters say she is, but she shows that strength in subtle ways. Standing up and remaining firm with the young Prince, keeping her calm when faced with a duplicitous lady of the court, keeping her wits when confronted with a terrifying enemy. Elisa's development is spurned onwards at first by her need to be useful to her husband, but it doesn't take her long to realize that she should change to be better for herself.

I admit I didn't like her husband, I didn't trust him or his motivations. I didn't think he was a bad man, but the way he was using Elisa just made me frown. I felt bad for Elisa though, wanted more for her, but at the same time I wanted to scream that not everything has to be about him.



Carson gives us quite a cast of characters to be entertained by. I was quite fond of some of them, though I suppose I didn't quite trust any of them? Even her old Nurse, who obviously wants to protect Elisa from everything and everyone, made me wary. Elisa was the pawn in a very powerful game, several powerful games in fact, and until she realizes her own power it was disheartening how easily she was manipulated or misled. How eager she was to believe certain fallacies because she was so desperately lonely and unfulfilled.

There are several times when Carson tempers the cleverness that Elisa shows with hard truths. Consequences for her decisions and actions, especially as we grew closer to the end, proved themselves to Elisa and I applauded her for being able to...move past them and regroup quickly. Even before she came into herself Elisa didn't just wallow, not when there was something else she could be doing. She had her moments, but then she was is still young, thrust into a terrible War that no one cared to explain to her.

While the ending lends itself well to being self-contained, there are two more books and the acknowledgement that more adventures await Elisa in the closing. An important plot focal point remains unanswered and to be truthful I want to see what the new Elisa can do with her strength and new found purpose. show less