Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Publication Date:  September 20th 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow
Pages: 423
Series: Fire and Thorns #1

Source: Purchased

Rating:
 ★★★★

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

I just wanted to say this first, there's a really heavy religious aspect in this book. So it may be a problem for some people but for me it's not really bothering me. So what, Elisa prays every time there is a problem, that's her belief she can do whatever she wants right. Besides this is a fantasy book which means you will be introduced to a different world with different culture and customs. It doesn't mean it suppose to be a "perfect/problem free" world so really just chill, don't read too much into it. And how can you define "perfect" world anyway, I guess everyone has their own opinions about it.

Anyway if you can put all those religious things aside, this is a really good book though. The story is really well plotted. I cannot say the same for the pace because I find it somewhat slow. I hate Alexandro, the way he treated Elisa is just so unbelievable.  I know hate is a strong world but seriously he's weak and pathetic. And the fact that he has a mistress is a done deal for me. Besides handsome I don't think there is anything else there. He's not one bit noble even though he's the king. I don't want to give much away but really he's a coward. His son is way better than him, even though he's six year old and met Elisa a few times but at least he remembers her.

I like Cosme a lot, even more than Elisa. For some reasons I even got really annoyed with Elisa but I hope it will change later on. The love interest is there but nothing much though.  And I cannot wait to see who will be the one for Elisa. Anyway if you can overlook the religious then I think you might like this book.