Fire (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, #2) by Kristin Cashore

Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Published: October 2009
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780575085114
Source: Library

Description: Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells. 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. Wondering what makes it a companion book/prequel? Fire takes place 30-some years before Graceling and has one cross-over character with Graceling, a small boy with strange two-colored eyes who comes from no-one-knows-where, and who has a peculiar ability that Graceling readers will find familiar and disturbing...

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I've waited patiently to read this book. I got the first from the library and was waiting for them to get this one as well. It was well worth the wait. Like Graceling, it builds slowly. But, the characters slowly start to grow on you. Fire was very similar to Katsa in my opinion. Both young women did not like who they were and how their powers could be used and abused. Fire was just as strong in this one. Although, I think she was more afraid of her own abilities. It was like she had to come to terms with the fact that using them did not make her a bad person. It would be how she chose to use them. Brigan was just the sort of male character you can't help but love by the end, and maybe drool over as well. The author built him up so fantastically. Brigan and Fire's relationship was built up well. It wasn't the typical see each other and fall in love sort of moment. It has much more substance too it. There isn't as much action in this one. It seems to be more about relationships. But, I still thought it was wonderful. My only issue was the author seems to have a agenda with female empowerment. I got a little tired of the talk about birth control, abortion, etc. I'm all for women's rights, but it seemed a little bit much in this one.