Fire

I'm starting to wonder if there might be such a thing as a ‘Kristin Cashore curse' for me. This book did the same thing to me that Graceling did. I like both the books and - up until the last hundred pages of each - they were both looking like solidly four star books. Graceling turned into an ‘endless journey' in the last hundred pages (which never works for me) and this book...is much more difficult to explain.

I guess I'll say, I didn't like the direction Fire's character took. I was already having enough problems relating to her, and this made me quit sympathizing with her. I just don't like the emotional drama that started up. And the way it was written seemed destined to distance me from Fire, anyway. shrugs I'm still looking forward to reading Bitterblue, but I guess I know what to expect.

I would like to add, I adore most of the characters in this book. I think that's something that Ms. Cashore is great at doing is creating characters that are likable and fun to read about. I also am quite interested in the world that's she's created. (Really, It was just those last hundred pages... And the first sixty or so. If I never have to read another anything like that prolouge, I'll be a very happy girl.)

Final note, if you're a soft heart when it comes to animals, I will warn you about this book. Animal abuse is way to prevalent with the morally bankrupt. We have creeps doing creepy things. I don't approve and I certainly don't like reading about it. Thankfully, after those painful first fifty-sixty pages, it crops up once more. (By no coincidence, right at the end of the part of the story that I liked.) Thankfully enough, Fire herself is quite soft hearted when it comes to animals.