Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

Cover of "Fire" by Kristin Cashore

Buy It Now: At Amazon | At Powell’s

Description: She is the last of her kind…

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.

This review is based on a free, review copy received from the publisher at a trade show.

Emily’s Review: B

The publisher’s summary doesn’t give a lot away. “Fire” is the prequel to Kristin Cashore’s debut novel, “Graceling” but saying they are set in the same world would be too strong. It’s more like they are set in the same universe and one character is able to move between the planets. Unfortunately for the characters of both novels, that character is the antagonist in both. In this world–the Dells–there are mutant versions of every animal. They are called “monsters” and are brightly colored (think day-glo) with strange abilities. After the death of her father, Fire, the titular heroine, is the last known human monster.

It would be easy to say that Fire is a Mary Sue. Those of us who read too much fanfiction can spot them a mile away. She has a uniquely beautiful appearance (red, red hair), all the menfolk are in love with her (she has to literally bar the door to keep the King at bay), and she has powers that no one else possesses (she can read and control minds). Yes, Fire does fit all of the characteristics of a Mary Sue, but the conflict in this novel is that sticking out that way is terrible. People want to use her. Other monsters attack her. People fear her. Part of Fire wants to run and hide from the world, and another part of her wants to use her powers for good. It’s just that she doesn’t always know what that means, and she’s terrified of becoming like her crazy father. Instead of thinking she is too perfect, I find myself really glad that I am not her. I pity Fire and am glad she finds a small bit of happiness at the end of the novel.

I like Kristin Cashore’s writing. I don’t love it, but there is something homey about her style. It reminds me of fantasy books I read as a kid. I think of Robin McKinley and Tamora Pierce. Yet even though parts of “Fire” seem like they have been done before, every now and again, Cashore manages to surprise me. I would recommend “Fire” and “Graceling” to any YA fantasy fan and I will definitely pick up a copy of the third book in the series, “Bitterblue”, when it comes out.