Post by Katty on Jan 10, 2010 21:41:55 GMT 10
Book Review - 'Fire' by Kristin Cashore
by Katty
Summary:
Fire’s exceptional beauty gives her influence and power. People who are susceptible to it will do anything for her attention, and for her affection. If she wished, they would abuse their power, crush nations and even destroy their own kingdoms to please her.
But beauty is only skin deep, and beneath it Fire has a human appreciation of right and wrong. Aware of her ability to influence others, and afraid of it, she lives in a corner of the world away from people – not only to protect them but also to protect herself from their attention, their distrust, and even their hatred.
Yet Fire is not the only danger to the Dells. If she wants to protect her home, if she wants a chance to undo the wrongs of the past, she must face her fears, her abilities, and a royal court full of powerful people with reason to distrust her.
Beauty is a weapon – and Fire is going to use it.
Review:
‘Fire’ is the second book of newcomer Kristin Cashore, author of the critically acclaimed ‘Graceling’ (reviewed in Giantkiller Issue 09Vol1). It is set 30 years prior to ‘Graceling’, in a different but not unconnected world. Reading Graceling is not essential; the book has a very minor link to Graceling but otherwise stands alone.
My first thoughts are that the above summary, from the back of the book, hardly do the story justice; Fire lives in the Dells, a vibrant kingdom on the brink of collapse. Her world is inhabited by colourful monster-creatures with the power to influence human minds. Seventeen year old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster, and has the gift-curse of beauty and mind-power. She can inspire people with both intense love and unadulterated hate, as well as influence their minds.
She lives under the shadow of her father, the late Cansrel, a corrupt and perverse human-monster who wreaked havoc on the kingdom. Sent away from the royal court as a baby for protection, Fire has been raised on the skirts of the Dells by her neighbour and foster father, Brocker, along with his son Archer. At seventeen, Fire is uncomfortable in her power and hides herself away. However, several forces working to overrun and dominate the kingdom intervene and Fire finds herself thrust into the very heart of the kingdom and its goings-on.
I give this book marks for featuring a likeable heroine forced to overcome her own issues for the greater good. ‘Fire’ has a vibrant cast and set; a fast-moving, emotionally-ambitious (and politically-charged) plot, and even some romance on the side. Cashore drew me in from the very start; I couldn’t put ‘Fire’ down! Tammy fans, you’ll definitely appreciate its exploration of some very interesting gender issues set against a backdrop of coming-of-age drama and sins-of-the-past angst.
I want to note that, unlike a lot of reviewers, I can’t bring myself to give ‘Fire’ full marks. I think Cashore spent a lot of agonising over certain issues in the first half of the book without giving them a proper resolution. I could feel this in the end of the book; the story came SO close to reaching its full potential, and dropped /just/ short of the mark (even with its soap-opera twist at the end). That said, ‘Fire’ was an EXCELLENT read – one that I wanted to start again as soon as I’d finished!
I’m giving it 4.75 out of 5 – definitely a book every Tammy fan should read.