Jeweled Fire

Princess Corene defies her father and secretly accepts an invitation from the empress of Malinqua to visit. The empress is looking for prospective brides for her nephews, and Corene is looking for a place where she can belong. To her surprise, Corene discovers friendships and uncovers murder -- and realises that if she or one of her new friends ever need to leave suddenly, it is going to planning, subterfuge and teamwork.

Corene was not my favourite character in Royal Airs -- I can’t remember why, probably because fiery and moody seventeen year olds can be annoying. But as a protagonist, I found her very likeable -- I now understand why she can be impulsive and difficult, and I enjoyed watching her grow.

I really enjoyed this. There’s show more mystery and danger and a gentle romance -- Shinn is good at relationships between people who like to talk to each other. And I was pleased to discover that the secondary POV character, a spy, stars in the sequel.

Most people didn’t care if she was angry or sad. […] But Foley was right. Corene couldn’t remember the last time she hadn’t felt both emotions, coiled inside her rib cage like malevolent snakes, hissing through her blood. Oh, she had plenty of days where she could be delighted or amused or astonished; she did not walk the world in some perpetually morose and snarling state. But they were always there, those unattractive serpents, undulating through her thoughts and dreams.
She was not who she wanted to be. And not only did she not know how to make herself over into someone else, she wasn’t even sure who she wanted to become. show less

I love the first two books in this series, Troubled Waters and Royal Airs. Corene really deserved to have her own book, and I loved that it was set outside of Welce. Like Zoe and Josetta, Corene is not perfect while being very likable at the same time. Corene is strong, opinionated and not going to sit back and let others decide where her life is going to go. Jewelled Fire includes a touch of mystery, humor, political maneuvering, action, and romance.

Also, Shinn is a fantasy author who writes respectfully about people, and does not regulate her female characters to being bystanders, or as characters who exist merely for things to happen to, or as inconsistently insipid decorative flowers.

Lots of great Girl Power in this novel as four young women work together (mostly) to survive (literally in some cases) court politics, an imperious empress, and potential suitors who are both more and less than meets the eye. Corene starts the book as a stowaway who defensively claims she is unlikable before others can bestow the description on her. By the end she has grown into her strong personality and learned how to use her outspokenness in a way that helps others instead of keeping them at a distance. After many years of feeling lost - a princess who knows she will never inherit the throne - she finds a purpose.

The book's romance plot is understated almost to the point of non-existent. I didn't mind, though - it was much more fun show more watching Corene make friends and save the day - but readers who are looking for a great love story similar to the ones featured in Shinn's Twelve Houses books will be disappointed.

All in all, Jeweled Fire read more like a YA novel than adult fiction, featuring none of the complexity and ambiguity of Shinn's Samaria series. But the world-building is strong as ever, and her system of five elemental blessings that are tied to five personality types is a unique philosophy/theology.

It seems like I am damning this book with fair praise by finding it lacking compared to Shinn's earlier work. But she is still an interesting and entertaining author (her Shapeshifter books notwithstanding), and I hope there are more books to come in this series. show less

This may be the best thus far in Shinn's "Elemental Blessings" series! The pacing, the characters, the plots, the world- all worked together to make a seamless, compelling whole.

Corene- an annoying character from the previous books- sets off for parts unknown (with her family's disapproval), and in so doing, learns a lot about herself and the world, and how she can interact with the world as it is.

But that sounds all too educational! There is flirting! There are mysteries, including murder mysteries! There are even action-adventure sequences! There are satisfactory marriages arranged, based on the idiosyncratic needs and desires of various characters, and their countries!

Also- great political intrigue, sometimes with unexpected show more results.

Corene really came alive here, and the other characters as well. A lot of the plot(s) were character-driven, so that really intensified things.

I love Shinn's writing. I love the characters here! and the world, and all the plotting makes sense.

Very recommended, and I thik one would not have to read the previous 2 books to enjoy this one. show less

I've been frustrated in some of my reading lately, picking up books that do not quite suit -- thank goodness for rediscovering Sharon Shinn! The elemental blessings series is a wonderful realm, with intriguing magic and solid romance. There were things about this particular romance that trouble me (power imbalance that was never truly dealt with), but in some ways I find that comforting, in a wouldn't work for me but works for them, go love! kind of way. Also I think we might see it addressed as a footnote further in the series, as their romance solidifies. Also regardless of romance, great political intrigue, murder mystery and worldbuilding, so hey!

I've been frustrated in some of my reading lately, picking up books that do not quite show more suit -- thank goodness for rediscovering Sharon Shinn! The elemental blessings series is a wonderful realm, with intriguing magic and solid romance. There were things about this particular romance that trouble me (power imbalance that was never truly dealt with), but in some ways I find that comforting, in a wouldn't work for me but works for them, go love! kind of way. Also I think we might see it addressed as a footnote further in the series, as their romance solidifies. Also regardless of romance, great political intrigue, murder mystery and worldbuilding, so hey!

Enjoyed the re-read! show less

I enjoyed this quite a bit though surprisingly it wasn't due to Corene as I would have originally believed.

This is Corene's story. And we meet Leah Frothen in this book as well. Leah is initailly a more interesting person and the story initially revolves mostly around her. It is satisfying to see Corene become less a bratty 2-dimensional character and find her way to a better goal in life besides being royal. Her character is more revealingly developed and it becomes easier to understand the girl we read about in Troubled Waters.