The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns, #1) in What's the Name of That Book???

Aug 29, 2012 Kate rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, age-ya, 2012, teen-book-club

Elisa is a fat princess who has just been married off to a foreign prince. She feels unworthy of such a handsome husband, even though she bears the Godstone - a jewel attached to her naval that God only gives someone every hundred years. When Prince Alejandro doesn't seem interested in her and wants to wait to tell his kingdom the news of their marriage, Elisa feels rejected. She tries to figure out the politics of her new home and her purpose as a Godstone bearer... then she is kidnapped. Her k Elisa is a fat princess who has just been married off to a foreign prince. She feels unworthy of such a handsome husband, even though she bears the Godstone - a jewel attached to her naval that God only gives someone every hundred years. When Prince Alejandro doesn't seem interested in her and wants to wait to tell his kingdom the news of their marriage, Elisa feels rejected. She tries to figure out the politics of her new home and her purpose as a Godstone bearer... then she is kidnapped. Her kidnappers take her across the desert, and slowly Elisa begins to see a purpose for herself, and a self-worth.

If I were to pinpoint where in our world this novel takes place, I'd have to say someplace like Spain, Morocco, or Northern Africa. The names are very Spanish in nature and there are many jungles and deserts and sea. That in itself made this an interesting fantasy world. Then you have a heroine who is fat - morbidly obese kind of fat - when I expected the usual Katniss-Katsa sort of warrior princess. I have to say this was pretty unique for a fantasy novel, although I don't read much fantasy. The stuff with warring armies and sorcery was more usual, but these two things definitely set it apart from anything I've read. That, and the focus on religion - the Godstones are gifts from God, and there are sacred texts and many trappings that felt very Catholic in nature, and the focus on both armies doing something for God that reminded me of the Crusades.

As I expected, Elisa does lose some weight over the course of the novel. She is more thrilled to be able to walk for days without getting tired (in the beginning, she can barely huff and puff up a flight of stairs), and the weight loss is less about her turning into some musclebound warrior than simply strong enough to do what she needs to do.

I thought Elisa's relationships were pretty interesting as well. I wished things could have been different with Humberto, but I did like that Elisa stood up for herself with her wishywashy husband at the end.

This book concludes well enough that I'm not entirely sure what a sequel would involve. ...more

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Jul 14, 2017 Wealhtheow rated it liked it

Elisa is the younger princess of a feudal fantasy kingdom. Her older sister is beautiful, poised, charismatic, and thin, while she always feels stupid, unprepared, and ungainly. She's quickly married to the king of a neighboring kingdom, in part simply to get her out of her own kingdom, where assassins already target her. For Elisa is not just a young fat princess who loves to read and worship God; she's also the bearer of a Godstone, and as such, fated to play some heroic part. When she arrives ...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-and-sci-fi, gods-known-and-unknown

from the NPR poll of best young adult fiction.

I enjoyed this far more than I anticipated!

It's a good thing my boss wasn't around on Friday, because I didn't do anything all day except read this damned book. It is Just So Freaking Compelling. Like so many stories, we have a plucky young heroine who is the key to saving the kingdom. But Elisa is no ordinary heroine. She's fat, she's clumsy, she's plodding, she's friendless, she can't walk with grace or stealth, she doesn't know how to do basic th ...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Emma rated it liked it

Sixteen-year-old Elisa barely feels like a princess, much less the latest bearer of a Godstone--a sacred and powerful stone in her navel that marks Elisa as one chosen for a specific and probably dangerous act of Service. Her graceful, clever sister would make a much better bearer, she is certainly the better princess.

Why is it, then, that Elisa is the one being whisked off in a secret wedding to a neighboring king?

Caught up in the intricacies of noble life, secretly married to a man she barely Sixteen-year-old Elisa barely feels like a princess, much less the latest bearer of a Godstone--a sacred and powerful stone in her navel that marks Elisa as one chosen for a specific and probably dangerous act of Service. Her graceful, clever sister would make a much better bearer, she is certainly the better princess.

Why is it, then, that Elisa is the one being whisked off in a secret wedding to a neighboring king?

Caught up in the intricacies of noble life, secretly married to a man she barely knows, Elisa soon finds herself at the center of a revolution that will change her world forever in The Girl of Fire and Thorns (2011) by Rae Carson.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is Carson's first novel. It is also the first in a trilogy.

Carson has created a rich, vibrant world with a complex history and an even better realized faith system. With its desert climate and Spanish influences, The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an original fantasy with a climate, culture and background not often seen in traditional fantasies.

Elisa is a fiery and astute heroine who, throughout the course of the book, learns that it takes more than outward appearances to create a strong leader as Elisa moves from a privileged princess to fierce fighter.*

While the story starts in the vein of palace intrigue and court politics, the focus soon changes almost abruptly to a more action-packed journey through a harsh desert landscape as Elisa helps turn a rag tag group of refugees into revolutionaries. Then, again somewhat abruptly, the last third of the book shifts again to court politics. Aside from the sharp changes in focus, Carson rains down twists and turns galore.**

While Elisa is not always the cleverest with clues, especially later in the novel, she is a fun heroine who is grounded and very authentic throughout her journey. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is an original fantasy that will appeal to anyone looking for a pure fantasy in a unique, well-realized world.

Possible Pairings: Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones, The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley, A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

*I didn't love the correlation between Elisa losing wait and gaining confidence. Her journey was great and realistic but it bugged me that she only really came into herself when she slimmed down though I might be reading too much into the whole thing. Either way, that issue does little to detract from Elisa's numerous positive qualities as a heroine.

**This includes the treatment of some secondary characters. While some got a very cursory treatment--to the point that I wondered about their presence in the story--others were very well-developed to the point that one can only hope they will play a more prominent role in later books. ...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Sara ♥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, fantasy, action-adventure, books-i-own, young-adult, 2012

November 25-28, 2012

This book is REALLY good!! (And, not-really-a-spoiler alert: the entire series is really good... it doesn't go downhill like so many trilogies do these days!) I own the whole series and it's great!!

December 29, 2011 - January 1, 2012

Oh man. I REALLY wish I'd reviewed this book before now. I'm pretty pissed at myself for not doing so! I read it 6 whole months ago! This will not be pretty!

I remember loving it. And I rated it 5 stars back in January. I love how FINALLY a book ha ...more

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Sep 07, 2013 Sara ♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, fantasy, romance, audiobook, young-adult, 2013

That was super great! The narrator didn't sound like she was the right age at all, but she pronounced all the Spanish and Latiny-type-language everything well, so I forgave her for not being 16. Her male voices were quite good, too.

The story itself starts off pretty... yawwwwwwwn.... slowly. But once you get to Part 2, it's awesome. :)

Now, on to Book 2, The Crown of Embers!! :) I wish I could find the audiobook..... :P ...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Liz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star, fantasy, young-adult, favorites

Once I started The Girl of Fire and Thorns, I was immediately ashamed of myself for taking so long to read it. I’m eternally indebted to Ally who told me she loved it and encouraged me to get a move on. Carson’s debut had everything I could want in a fantasy, had lovely prose, and was expertly plotted, giving it a new spot on my favorites shelf.

Read my full review here:
http://www.consumedbybooks.com/2014/0... ...more

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