Fire

By Kristin Cashore

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4 3/4 stars

This book is a companion to the fantastic Graceling, which deals with the same world but different characters. Fire is from the Dells, a kingdom in the midst of turmoil. King Nash clings to the throne but has serious threats to his crown from various parts of the kingdom and the land is on the edge of civil war. Also in the Dells are monsters--creatures in impossible colors that are so gorgeous, they enthrall humans--often to their deaths. They may be as innocent a creature as a kitten, or as dangerous as a raptor, and monsters prey upon other monsters. Fire is a human-monster hybrid, the only one of her kind, impossibly beautiful, with the ability to enter into and read your mind. Her dead monster father, Cansrel, used his own powers of influence for pleasure and evil. She has lived her entire life far away in the north, as safe as she could be with her friends Archer and his father Brocker. Fire has been trying to avoid using her mental powers, and hides her beauty as it has the power to drive others mad with love, hate or envy. But then a summons comes from the king--will she come to the royal city and use her powers to help them avoid this war? The army commander and prince, Brigan, arrives to escort her, and Fire feels his powerful dislike and his ability to shut her out of his mind. Yet she is drawn to him anyway when he proves to also be kind towards the monster she is. When Fire arrives at the palace, her choice is before her--will she use her powers for the greater good? How like her father is she? Can a monster really prevent a war? Readers will love this deeply layered story of secrets and lies and will be eager to see how Fire grows into her powers and how she ultimately uses them. A very big thumbs up!