The Girl of Fire and Thorns

by Rae Carson (Author)

The Girl of Fire and Thorns
A fearful 16-year-old princess discovers her heroic destiny after being married off to the king of a neighboring country in turmoil and pursued by enemies seething with dark magic.
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School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 7 Up--This compelling first book in a medieval fantasy trilogy features Elisa, a 16-year-old princess, as she grows from an inexperienced girl who is forced to marry a weak king for political reasons into a confident and capable young woman, destined to be a respected leader in her own right. Shortly after her birth, Elisa received a magical Godstone in her navel, a sign bestowed every 100 years on a chosen one. Despite this, she feels inadequate when compared to her older, more beautiful sister so she eats to compensate for it. She's also very clever, particularly in the strategies of war, but all that most people see is her ample size. The only person who respects her is young Lord Hector, her husband's personal guard. Shortly after her wedding, she's kidnapped and forced to endure an arduous journey through the desert that toughens her. One of her kidnappers is a young man who falls for her and she for him. His people hope that she, as the Godstone bearer, can save them from their constant war against a neighboring enemy. This fast-moving and exciting novel is rife with political conspiracies and machinations. Elisa's maturation and physical transformation echo Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Princess Ben (Houghton Harcourt, 2008). Fans of Tamora Pierce's "Beka Cooper" series (Random) will find a kindred spirit in Elisa as she experiences great adversity and heart-wrenching loss.--Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Carson debuts with a smart, complex fantasy with stellar characters, first in a planned trilogy. Even though she bears the mysterious and rare Godstone, 16-year-old Princess Elisa has been a disappointment to her family and country. Plain, overweight, and unmotivated, she is content to wed a handsome neighboring king to cement an alliance. After an arduous journey to her new home, Elisa arrives to find that her husband wants to keep their status hidden. But there are more pressing concerns--the enemy is preparing to invade, and Elisa is kidnapped. As she is thrust into a fight for survival on the borders of her new kingdom, Elisa is hunted by dark magicians and must piece together clues to fulfill her divine decree. Elisa is a sensational heroine, striving to fulfill her potential under perilous circumstances, while realistically growing in resourcefulness, inner strength, and intelligence. The odd nature of the Godstone (which is embedded in Elisa's stomach) may occasionally pull some readers out of the story, but Carson's mature writing style, thoughtful storytelling, appealing characters, and surprising twists add up to a page-turner with broad appeal. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Set in intrigue-filled courts, battlefields, and windswept deserts, this riveting fantasy tests its heroine's limits as she struggles to fulfill a destiny wrapped in an ancient mystery. A breathtaking adventure in a fascinating, richly-drawn world."—Leah Cypess, author of Mistwood
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780062026484
Lexile Measure
730
Guided Reading Level
Z
Publisher
Greenwillow Books
Publication date
September 20, 2011
Series
Girl of Fire and Thorns (Hardcover)
BISAC categories
YAF022000 - Young Adult Fiction | Girls & Women
YAF019000 - Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General
YAF053000 - Young Adult Fiction | Royalty
Library of Congress categories
Magic
Kings, queens, rulers, etc
Kings and rulers
Prophecies
William C. Morris YA Debut Award
Finalist 2012 - 2012
Cybils
Finalist 2011 - 2011
Sequoyah Book Awards
Nominee 2014 - 2014
Tayshas Reading
Commended 2013 - 2013
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award
Nominee 2013 - 2014
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers
Nominee 2013 - 2014
Evergreen Young Adult Book Award
Nominee 2014 - 2014
Truman Readers Award
Nominee 2013 - 2014
Colorado Blue Spruce Award
Nominee 2015 - 2015

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