The FIRE AND THORNS series from Rae Carson is one of the best conceived and written YA series I have read in some time. It's beautifully done and like Megan Whalen Turner's series, The Queen's Thief, it is suitable for adults.
It's a tale about a religious, scholarly girl who is called upon by Fate to save her people and the world. It's sounds cliche but the brilliant world-building by Carson makes this series stand out. Powerful and well done.
It's a tale about a religious, scholarly girl who is called upon by Fate to save her people and the world. It's sounds cliche but the brilliant world-building by Carson makes this series stand out. Powerful and well done.
**all ratings from GoodReads
The Shadow Cats (Fire and Thorns, #0.5)
3.77 avg rating — 1,068 ratings
The Shattered Mountain (Fire and Thorns, #0.6)
4.09 avg rating — 450 ratings
The King's Guard (Fire and Thorns, #0.7)
4.23 avg rating — 423 ratings
(Fire and Thorns, #1)
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2012)
Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Scifi/Fantasy (2011)
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
3.86 avg rating — 21,266 ratings
Alodia
is the crowned princess of the realm. The sister who knows how to rule
and who is confident and most prepared for court life and court
politics. So when her younger sister, Elisa, is chosen to be the wife
of a distant King, everyone is astonished. And no one more than
scholarly Elisa.
But Elisa has been chosen once before; to receive the stone: a sacred, devine jewel which she bears in her navel. And despite her being the second, spare, princess, and despite her protests and doubts, Elisa heads off, sure that she will only disappoint this King.
The King and most other people do indeed undervalue her. Which is perhaps what leads to her abduction by a radical desert revolutionary wants to either control her or kill her.
But Elisa has been chosen once before; to receive the stone: a sacred, devine jewel which she bears in her navel. And despite her being the second, spare, princess, and despite her protests and doubts, Elisa heads off, sure that she will only disappoint this King.
The King and most other people do indeed undervalue her. Which is perhaps what leads to her abduction by a radical desert revolutionary wants to either control her or kill her.
Suitable for Adults too.
Reading Information:
Word Count: 102,803
Page Count: 448
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 147890
--sample pages and reviews available
(Fire and Thorns, #2)
**Starred Review** Kirkus
4.33 avg rating — 8,472 ratings
In Book #1 Elisa fought the desert folk and won. Now she must battle her own people in a kingdom in which many distrust her, or merely want her out of the way so that they can rule.
But that struggle must wait because Elisa is fated to cross the ocean to search for the source of the Godstone's power. It is a journey that tests relationships, and raises new questions.
Word Count: 101,422
Page Count: 432
Accelerated Reader: 5.0 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 156258
THE BITTER KINGDOM
(Fire and Thorns, #3)
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
4.36 avg rating — 2,696 ratings
Elisa's
power grows stronger as she and her friends follow a path directly to
the door of their enemies. She seeks Hector, of course. But it is also
clear to her that that she must confront the powerful native
inhabitants in their home.
Word Count: 103,365
Page Count: 448
Accelerated Reader: 5.3 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 162497
Lexile: HL760L
compiled by Pam
updated June 2014
