I am absolutely in love with Girl Of Fire And Thorns by Rae Carson. I’ve been gnawing at fantasies like a fiend lately and finally found this one which is a) unique, and b) feministic, and c) incredibly adorable and charming and heart warming. WELL. Apart from the moments when my heart was breaking. This author does NOT spare […]
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By: [email protected],
on 5/30/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book review, young adult fiction, fantasy, Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Cait Drews, Add a tag
By: Kimberly Pauley,
on 11/4/2011
Blog: Young Adult (& Kid's) Books Central (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Interviews, the girl of fire and thorns, Add a tag
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 9/19/2011
Blog: The Bookish Type (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Review, Adventure, Young Adult, Romance, debut author, High Fantasy, Greenwillow Books, 2011 Debut Author Challenge, Four Stars, early review, Rae Carson, Add a tag
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Series: Fire and Thorns #1
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Buy: Amazon
| Barnes & Noble
Elisa is barely sixteen, but already she is the secret wife of a king whose country is on the brink of war and the latest in a long line of God's chosen ones -- it's a lot for a teenage princess to handle. The Godstone she bears brings her comfort and warning in times of danger, but it also places a heavy burden on her young shoulders -- a burden she's not sure she's fit to bear. As Elisa is drawn into a secret revolution, where traitors lurk at every turn and no one can be trusted, she must learn to embrace her destiny and face her fate -- even if that means an early death.
In The Girl of Fire and Thorns, the starkly different realms come to life through Rae Carson's vivid descriptions. Both the language and the landscape are influenced by Spanish culture, with the sandstone walls of Brisadulce seeming to grow organically from the vast desert of Joya d'Arena. The Spanish phrases enrich the text without confusing readers, and the lilt and rhythm of the prose is mesmerizing. This world features a rich history, mythology and religion, with only the barest echoes of our own. The mythology of the Godstones is fascinating, a history reaching back for generations and usually boding ill for the bearer. Elisa has been kept in the dark for much of her life, and readers will delight in discovering the enigmatic powers of the Godstone, and the ominous fate of God's chosen, alongside the young heroine.
Though God and the Godstone are at the heart of this story, it is not a sermon. Carson takes a thoughtful and honest look at the religion of her world, drawing insightful parallels to our own. Every faction of the war believes they are doing "God's will," and what that means depends entirely on which side of the line they stand on. Elisa is honest about her own doubts and utter lack of understanding of this inscrutable God, despite being the bearer, which prevents her from seeming self-righteous and makes it easy to cheer for her success. Though she's a princess and a chosen one, she's utterly relatable -- just the sweet and sensitive girl-next-door.
This is truly Elisa's story, and her growth is the highlight of this epic tale. The secondary cast is large, and the characters are vibrant and unique, not mere plot devices but a network of confidantes and enemies, friends and family for Elisa to depend on, who carry her to the brink of destiny. It's clear from the start that Elisa has the potential for greatness, saving the life of a king even before her journey of self-discovery -- she need only recognize it. When the novel opens, she is very young, both in age (16) and in experience. She is timid and self-conscious, always treated like
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By: [email protected],
on 5/30/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book review, young adult fiction, fantasy, Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Cait Drews, Add a tag
By: Stacy Nockowitz,
on 12/13/2011
Blog: Some Novel Ideas (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book Reviews, YA literature, Legend, Meditations, Glow, Lev Grossman, Kenneth Oppel, Lauren Oliver, Divergent, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Best Books of 2011, Erin Morgenstern, Supernaturally, This Dark Endeavor, Marie Lu, The Night Circus, Rae Carson, Variant, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, iBoy, Delerium, Ransom Rigg, The Magician King, Add a tag
Blog: Some Novel Ideas (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book Reviews, YA literature, Legend, Meditations, Glow, Lev Grossman, Kenneth Oppel, Lauren Oliver, Divergent, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Best Books of 2011, Erin Morgenstern, Supernaturally, This Dark Endeavor, Marie Lu, The Night Circus, Rae Carson, Variant, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, iBoy, Delerium, Ransom Rigg, The Magician King, Add a tag
I have never done a Best Books list, mainly because although I absolutely love to read these types of lists, I generally have a hard time choosing ten favorites from a given year. I read so much, but for me to put a book on a BEST list, it had better be damn good. And some years, as much as I read, I don't read ten great books. Let's see if I make it to ten for 2011. My favorites, in no particular order:
Marie Lu's smart, fast-paced addition to the dystopia coterie begs for a sequel. Violent and bloody, Legend is an in-your-face commentary on how the chasm between the haves and the have-nots in our society continues to expand.
Not a YA novel, but I'm pretty sure The Magician King, the sequel to Grossman's The Magicians will show up on a lot of high school reading lists. It's Harry Potter for grown-ups, wizardry with humor and intellect. Completely unpredictable and totally original. I loved it.
Of the spate of dystopian novels from this post- Hunger Games YA literary landscape, Delirium stands out. Sure, it's set up for a sequel, but that won't interfere with your enjoyment of this story. Is a life without love a life at all? Delirium is a perfect read for those who grew up reading The Giver and now want a YA experience.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a creepy, weird, atmospheric book. I love the harsh and hearty Welsh island setting. The odd, quirky characters remind me of a kids' version of Twin Peaks. I think the use of the old photographs is a little gimicky, and sometimes, author Ransom Rigg seems more enamored of the photos than how they actually f
By: Kimberly Pauley,
on 11/4/2011
Blog: Young Adult (& Kid's) Books Central (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Interviews, the girl of fire and thorns, Add a tag
Here is an interview with the author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Rae Carson. Enjoy!
The main character of your first novel, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, deals with her weight throughout the book. This is an issue that many teens deal with and like many teens, she's painfully conscious of it. How should teens deal with the constant onslaught of the importance of being thin?
This is a toughie, and there is no easy answer. I’m a big fan of focusing on health instead of weight, but that’s a lot easier said than done when we’re bombarded with media images that promote extreme thinness. I encourage teens to eat right and exercise regularly because it’s amazing what feeling good will do for your self esteem. And I also share my own personal experience: I used to compete in beauty pageants. I won swimsuit competitions all the time. But now, I rock plus-sized womanhood, and I can say with conviction that being thin did not improve my self satisfaction. I’m a much happier person now.
A good portion of your novel is set in the desert. Have you ever visited a desert yourself?
Oh, yes. I love deserts. I’ve spent lots of time in Southern California, including the Mojave and Death Valley. And driving Route 66 though Arizona and New Mexico is an experience not to be missed! The scenery is epic and amazing.
What kind of research did you do to realistically convey the warfare that takes place?
I was a history major in college, with a particular interest in the colonial era and American Revolution. Lots of the warfare in the book is based on the guerilla tactics used by American colonists.
Where will The Crown of Embers take Elisa on her journey?
Elisa is going to discover that leading a desert rebellion is nothing at all like being queen of a huge country, and she’ll be in more danger than ever. Leading her people—not to mention staying alive—will require that she embark on another journey, but this time there will be water. Lots and lots of water!
Elisa's religion is very important to her. Is the religion in the book supposed to be based on one that exists in our world?
I combined elements from all our world’s monotheistic traditions to create Elisa’s religion. But yes, there is one in particular that it most closely resembles, and there is an important reason for this, which won’t become apparent until book 3, The Bitter Kingdom. Saying anything more would be a spoiler… :-)
How long was the time period from the time you got the inspiration for The Girl of Fire and Thorns to the day it hit shelves?
Years! I have to let ideas stew in the crockpot of my weird brain for a long time before they’re ready to go on the page. Then it took me about a year of revising and researching to find an agent, and a year and a half between signing with my publisher and the book’s release. I keep telling myself that all the waiting builds character.
Is there a name for the trilogy overall?
The Fire and Thorns Trilogy.
What book would you have every person read, if you could?
Mine, of course--I have starving cats to feed! Seriously, though, I’m a big fan of Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker. It’s not only beautifully written with stellar characters, it contains themes that are frighteningly relevant to our current world. I hope everyone reads it.
How did you celebrate the launch of your first
The main character of your first novel, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, deals with her weight throughout the book. This is an issue that many teens deal with and like many teens, she's painfully conscious of it. How should teens deal with the constant onslaught of the importance of being thin?
This is a toughie, and there is no easy answer. I’m a big fan of focusing on health instead of weight, but that’s a lot easier said than done when we’re bombarded with media images that promote extreme thinness. I encourage teens to eat right and exercise regularly because it’s amazing what feeling good will do for your self esteem. And I also share my own personal experience: I used to compete in beauty pageants. I won swimsuit competitions all the time. But now, I rock plus-sized womanhood, and I can say with conviction that being thin did not improve my self satisfaction. I’m a much happier person now.
A good portion of your novel is set in the desert. Have you ever visited a desert yourself?
Oh, yes. I love deserts. I’ve spent lots of time in Southern California, including the Mojave and Death Valley. And driving Route 66 though Arizona and New Mexico is an experience not to be missed! The scenery is epic and amazing.
What kind of research did you do to realistically convey the warfare that takes place?
I was a history major in college, with a particular interest in the colonial era and American Revolution. Lots of the warfare in the book is based on the guerilla tactics used by American colonists.
Where will The Crown of Embers take Elisa on her journey?
Elisa is going to discover that leading a desert rebellion is nothing at all like being queen of a huge country, and she’ll be in more danger than ever. Leading her people—not to mention staying alive—will require that she embark on another journey, but this time there will be water. Lots and lots of water!
Elisa's religion is very important to her. Is the religion in the book supposed to be based on one that exists in our world?
I combined elements from all our world’s monotheistic traditions to create Elisa’s religion. But yes, there is one in particular that it most closely resembles, and there is an important reason for this, which won’t become apparent until book 3, The Bitter Kingdom. Saying anything more would be a spoiler… :-)
How long was the time period from the time you got the inspiration for The Girl of Fire and Thorns to the day it hit shelves?
Years! I have to let ideas stew in the crockpot of my weird brain for a long time before they’re ready to go on the page. Then it took me about a year of revising and researching to find an agent, and a year and a half between signing with my publisher and the book’s release. I keep telling myself that all the waiting builds character.
Is there a name for the trilogy overall?
The Fire and Thorns Trilogy.
What book would you have every person read, if you could?
Mine, of course--I have starving cats to feed! Seriously, though, I’m a big fan of Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker. It’s not only beautifully written with stellar characters, it contains themes that are frighteningly relevant to our current world. I hope everyone reads it.
How did you celebrate the launch of your first
3 Comments on Rae Carson Interview, last added: 11/4/2011
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By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 9/19/2011
Blog: The Bookish Type (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Review, Adventure, Young Adult, Romance, debut author, High Fantasy, Greenwillow Books, 2011 Debut Author Challenge, Four Stars, early review, Rae Carson, Add a tag
Series: Fire and Thorns #1
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Buy: Amazon
| Barnes & NobleElisa is barely sixteen, but already she is the secret wife of a king whose country is on the brink of war and the latest in a long line of God's chosen ones -- it's a lot for a teenage princess to handle. The Godstone she bears brings her comfort and warning in times of danger, but it also places a heavy burden on her young shoulders -- a burden she's not sure she's fit to bear. As Elisa is drawn into a secret revolution, where traitors lurk at every turn and no one can be trusted, she must learn to embrace her destiny and face her fate -- even if that means an early death.
In The Girl of Fire and Thorns, the starkly different realms come to life through Rae Carson's vivid descriptions. Both the language and the landscape are influenced by Spanish culture, with the sandstone walls of Brisadulce seeming to grow organically from the vast desert of Joya d'Arena. The Spanish phrases enrich the text without confusing readers, and the lilt and rhythm of the prose is mesmerizing. This world features a rich history, mythology and religion, with only the barest echoes of our own. The mythology of the Godstones is fascinating, a history reaching back for generations and usually boding ill for the bearer. Elisa has been kept in the dark for much of her life, and readers will delight in discovering the enigmatic powers of the Godstone, and the ominous fate of God's chosen, alongside the young heroine.
Though God and the Godstone are at the heart of this story, it is not a sermon. Carson takes a thoughtful and honest look at the religion of her world, drawing insightful parallels to our own. Every faction of the war believes they are doing "God's will," and what that means depends entirely on which side of the line they stand on. Elisa is honest about her own doubts and utter lack of understanding of this inscrutable God, despite being the bearer, which prevents her from seeming self-righteous and makes it easy to cheer for her success. Though she's a princess and a chosen one, she's utterly relatable -- just the sweet and sensitive girl-next-door.
This is truly Elisa's story, and her growth is the highlight of this epic tale. The secondary cast is large, and the characters are vibrant and unique, not mere plot devices but a network of confidantes and enemies, friends and family for Elisa to depend on, who carry her to the brink of destiny. It's clear from the start that Elisa has the potential for greatness, saving the life of a king even before her journey of self-discovery -- she need only recognize it. When the novel opens, she is very young, both in age (16) and in experience. She is timid and self-conscious, always treated like
4 Comments on Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, last added: 9/19/2011
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Rae is so awesome. I really need to read her book.
Fantastic interview! I've heard nothing but spectacular things about this book and can't wait to read! Thanks for being awesome, Rae (and YABC)!
Love this :) And I totally agree about Ship Breaker.
And yes, Matt and Claire--you must read The Girl of Fire and Thorns. It's amazing.