Fire by Kristin Cashore

Title: Fire
Author: Kristen Cashore
Type: Young Adult Novel
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Yes
Copyright: 2009
Publisher: Dial
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary: from Good Reads

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

Feelings: 
So I admit that the cover with the girl standing on the rock back lit could not be Fire because she would not put herself in a place like that because of the danger. However, I really liked this cover and I don't think I would have bought this book if it wasn't for the cover. I like it, but have included the other cover here for those that like something a little more realistic.

Archer knelt beside her and took hold of her shoulders. His face was wooden but his voice shook with emotion. "Forgive me, Fire." To the healer: "We're mad to be doing this outside. They smell the blood." And then sudden pain, blinding and brilliant. Fire wrenched her head and fought against the healer, against Archer's heavy strength. Her scarf slipped off and released the prism of her hair: sunrise, poppy, copper, fuchsia, flame. Red, brighter than the blood soaking the pathway. (p.24).

This was the first of Kristin Cashore's books that I read. At the time I didn't even realize it wasn't a stand alone book nor did I realize it was considered to be the second book. I personally would consider this to be the first in the series but it really is a companion and rather than a sequel or prequel.

I liked the story and that Fire was a strong character. The story drew me in and held my interest. The idea of monster being something very beautiful and with the power to control as well as being a different color than would be normal was an interesting change from it being something horrible. Yes, the monster's in the story can be horrible but they do not have to be horrible, they can be just different than the rest of their kind. Fire is the only human monster left after her father's death, and as such she is something of an oddity that others want to see. There is only one character, Leek, who has a grace, two different colored eyes a a power which lets him excel beyond what would be possible otherwise, as the Dell's do not have gracelings as to the seven kingdoms in which Graceling and Bitterblue are set.

Prince Brigan who is sent to travels with Fire to King City is the only one not taken by her beauty or sustainable to her mind control. So it seems rather obvious that they will have some kind of connection with each other. Most men have a strong reaction to seeing Fire so when Prince Brigan doesn't act how Fire would expect she has to get to know him without her powers.

She had a dagger scar on one forearm, another on her belly. An arrow gouge from years ago on her back. It was a thing that happened now and then. For every peaceful man, there was a man who wanted to hurt her, even kill her, because she was a gorgeous thing he could not have, or because he'd despised her father. And for every attack that had left a scar there were five or six other attacks she'd managed to stop. (p. 31)

There are many things which Fire has to come to terms with to become the person the kingdom needs, and the person she needs herself to be. Fear of what her father was makes her wary but she learns to depend on others and to have self reliance which lead her to grow.

This is a good second book by Cashore and it is an enjoyable read.