Fire (Graceling Realm #2) Ebook Review

4.5/5 Stars

Fire
(Book #2 Graceling Realm)
By Kristan Cashore
October 5th, 2009, Dial books
Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:

Through the mountains there is another world – the Dells. A place of beauty and tragedy. There are no Gracelings in the realm, instead there are Monsters. Creatures that are far more stunning than their natural counterparts: rabbits of sky blue, raptors of magenta, and kittens of jade. These monsters have the ability to captivate those around them making the monsters fierce predators, but most of all they yearn for monster blood.

One such monster is Fire, a human monster. Possibly the last human monster, and the most powerful monster creature of all, for she can make humans do whatever she wants. But Fire will not abuse her power, and she hates to manipulate those around her. She lives under the scrutiny of others because she brings out the worst in those meets. Some want to kill her for her beauty alone or the fact that she is a monster, others want to touch her and be near her. Many hate her because of her father despicable actions, so Fire keeps to herself and stays near her home where she will not be persecuted.

That is until strange people with foggy empty heads whose thoughts she cannot read start turning up around her only to be murdered shortly after by a swift archer. These strange people are only a piece in a larger puzzle.

There is too much turmoil in the Dellian kingdom as powerful people plot to over throw the King Nash – the heir to the disgraced King Nax’s throne. A man has turned up that may hold key information about plots against the king, and a monster could make him talk. Fire agrees to be that such monster and heads to King City where her life will change forever.

What I thought:

This book is quite separate from the series, if there weren’t mention of Leck I wouldn’t even consider this part of the Graceling series. But it is marked as a 'companion' book. So be prepared for a story that has little to do with first Graceling book.

I guess this book is a prequel to the first, as only young Leck is mentioned. There is no Katsa or Po – I don’t even think they would have been born yet. This was a bit disappointing to me because I thought they’d make a cameo L. But I suppose how the first novel went there wouldn’t be much excitement on the Po end of things. 

I liked this book better than the first, but it feels like Leck was only thrown in to keep it in the series and for plot twists.

The monster concept was an interesting idea, especially being told from the perspective of a monster. I don’t agree that they should have been called ‘monsters’ though because a rabbit or a mouse can be a ‘monster’. I think something along the lines of harlequins or mesmerizers or entrancers would have been a better name than just ‘monster’.

Overall I really enjoyed this! Even more so than the first book.

***SPOILER**** One other problem I had with this book was the ending, it played out quite well for everyone except for Fire losing her fingers. Is it possible to have too happy of any ending? Archer gets a few girls knocked up so in a way he lives on, but he dies making it easier for Fire to run into Brigan’s arms without hurting Archer. One of the women he knocks up is a princess, so she’s ok for supporting herself. The other one of Fire’s guards (who is 15), who inexplicably catches the King’s fancy even though she’s a mother of another man’s baby, below his status and half his age. But hey, at least he won’t be pining after Fire either – and he also miraculously lived from a fatal wound. ****Spoiler over***