Monday, August 1, 2011

Review of Fire by Kristin Cashore

Synopsis From Goodreads: "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."


My Review: Fire ranks easily in my top ten favorite books of all time. It is an emotional yet exciting fantasy tale. Kristin Cashore does a great job of building a unique and amazing new world for us. Her characters are realistic with true emotions, grudges, pain and joy. I loved how characters that weren't even alive anymore when the book takes place still have such a huge role in the book. By the end you feel like you really know each of them personally and are a part of their family (honestly if Brigan was real and I wasn't married I would hunt that man down and marry him). The story line had so many twists and turns that it kept you on your toes, never knowing what to expect next. I also really enjoyed the dark tones of the book, Fire (and pretty much all the other characters too) had so much internal turmoil that it wrenches at your heart. I was laughing at some comments in the books, and crying with them in pain and joy. I could see how someone with her power could abuse it as Cansrel did and it takes more effort not to give into those urges. I really enjoyed the whole depth of this book!

I will make a comment on the fact that some other reviews I have read of Fire were really upset with the feminist agenda that Kristin Cashore supposedly was pushing. I didn't see it as others have, and tend more into the fact that she just followed where her characters led her. I think anyone who writes puts a little of themselves into their characters, and maybe Cashore did add a little of her own values and ideas into Fire but it is her book so she can do that (and I thank her for it)! I will have to address this in more detail in a full blog post about our own personalities in our characters ;)

My Rating: I love this book so much I almost wish my critters had Five paws hahaha, so I guess I have to settle with Four Paws and a Stump Wag!



3 comments:

  1. I was one of the people bothered by the feminist thing but I still own and love both of Cashore's books. And you're right, she can do whatever she wants, they're her books. ;)

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  2. It is a great series, I am so glad a friend suggested them to me last year!

    Jenny, that is completely fine if you were bothered by it, I just didn't see it. Maybe its that I don't look for meanings behind the words or maybe that I understand why Fire did the things she did. Either way it still made a fantastic story :D

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