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Girl of Fire and Thorns #4
The Empire of Dreams
New York Times-bestselling author Rae Carson makes a triumphant return to the world of her award-winning
Girl of Fire and Thorns
trilogy in this extraordinary stand-alone novel. With action, adventure, and a heroine set on destroying the patriarchal limits meant to keep her in her place,
The Empire of Dreams
once again proves that Rae Carson is a master of epic fantasy.
Even though Red Sparkle Stone is a foundling orphan with an odd name and a veiled past, she's about to be adopted into the royal family—by Empress Elisa herself. Sixteen-year-old Red can hardly believe her luck. Then, in a stunning political masterstroke, the empress's greatest rival blocks the adoption, and Red is left with no family and no future.
Grieving and lost, but determined to find her place, Red hatches a daring plan: she will prove herself as a recruit for the world's most elite fighting force, the legendary Royal Guard—something no woman has done before. But it's no coincidence that someone wanted her to fail as a princess, someone whose shadowy agenda puts everything she loves at risk. As danger closes in, it will be up to Red and her new friends—and maybe some new enemies—to save the empire. If they can survive recruitment year.
Even though Red Sparkle Stone is a foundling orphan with an odd name and a veiled past, she's about to be adopted into the royal family—by Empress Elisa herself. Sixteen-year-old Red can hardly believe her luck. Then, in a stunning political masterstroke, the empress's greatest rival blocks the adoption, and Red is left with no family and no future.
Grieving and lost, but determined to find her place, Red hatches a daring plan: she will prove herself as a recruit for the world's most elite fighting force, the legendary Royal Guard—something no woman has done before. But it's no coincidence that someone wanted her to fail as a princess, someone whose shadowy agenda puts everything she loves at risk. As danger closes in, it will be up to Red and her new friends—and maybe some new enemies—to save the empire. If they can survive recruitment year.
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First published April 7, 2020
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About the author
Rae Carson
37 books5,897 followersRae Carson was born in 1973 in California and now lives in Arizona. She developed an enthusiasm for storytelling in her earliest childhood. She studied social sciences and worked in various industries after graduating from university before she realized her dream and became a writer. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is her debut novel.
In her own words, she "write[s] books about teens who must do brave things. [Her] books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. [She] especially love[s] to write about questions [she doesn't] know the answers to."
Has also published as Rae Carson Finlay.
In her own words, she "write[s] books about teens who must do brave things. [Her] books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. [She] especially love[s] to write about questions [she doesn't] know the answers to."
Has also published as Rae Carson Finlay.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
May 20, 2020
It's official, after all this time, I still love Rae Carson's writing.
Red was wonderful. I can't believe that she's the same little slave girl that we met in The Bitter Kingdom. She has really come into her own and developed into such a strong character.
Rosario has also grown into his own. And newcomer Ivan was a great addition.
I also really enjoyed the entire cast. All the boys were great. They each had such unique personalities and worked so well together.
Also, Valentino is too good for this world. Too pure. I wanted more of him because he is easily the best, most honorable human. He kind of reminds me of Hector.
I don't know what I necessarily expected from this story but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got. The plot is filled with action and intrigue and really great characters.
And the plot twists????
I mean, I was able to figure them out about halfway through, but I still enjoyed them.
Admittedly, I did sometimes feel odd about the plot. Like the dangers didn't feel as imminent and personal as they did with Elisa's story. Still, near the end, I was completely invested in all the action and deceptions that were happening. And yet, I still do wish that the climax of the story had been extended. It felt as though it was all resolved fairly quickly and easily.
My other complaint is the lack of Elisa and Hector. And it's more than just me missing them as characters. It's the fact that sending them away is the only reason that much of the book takes place. They are removed from the story as a plot convenience and every time there was an obstacle, Red herself would point out that this wouldn't happen with Elisa and Hector around.
But, I understand why they weren't in the story. It would be very difficult for Red to have her spotlight with the previous heroes constantly lingering in the background and saving the day.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book. It's advertised as a stand-alone/ companion novel, but I don't know how I feel about that. While it can definitely be read by itself, there would be a lot of storytelling and worldbuilding missing without reading the other books in the series. That said, if you enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, I totally recommend this one!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
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Red was wonderful. I can't believe that she's the same little slave girl that we met in The Bitter Kingdom. She has really come into her own and developed into such a strong character.
Rosario has also grown into his own. And newcomer Ivan was a great addition.
I also really enjoyed the entire cast. All the boys were great. They each had such unique personalities and worked so well together.
Also, Valentino is too good for this world. Too pure. I wanted more of him because he is easily the best, most honorable human. He kind of reminds me of Hector.
I don't know what I necessarily expected from this story but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got. The plot is filled with action and intrigue and really great characters.
And the plot twists????
I mean, I was able to figure them out about halfway through, but I still enjoyed them.
Admittedly, I did sometimes feel odd about the plot. Like the dangers didn't feel as imminent and personal as they did with Elisa's story. Still, near the end, I was completely invested in all the action and deceptions that were happening. And yet, I still do wish that the climax of the story had been extended. It felt as though it was all resolved fairly quickly and easily.
My other complaint is the lack of Elisa and Hector. And it's more than just me missing them as characters. It's the fact that sending them away is the only reason that much of the book takes place. They are removed from the story as a plot convenience and every time there was an obstacle, Red herself would point out that this wouldn't happen with Elisa and Hector around.
But, I understand why they weren't in the story. It would be very difficult for Red to have her spotlight with the previous heroes constantly lingering in the background and saving the day.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book. It's advertised as a stand-alone/ companion novel, but I don't know how I feel about that. While it can definitely be read by itself, there would be a lot of storytelling and worldbuilding missing without reading the other books in the series. That said, if you enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, I totally recommend this one!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
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April 22, 2020
This is an absolute jewel of a book, a twisty, treacherous story that will keep you turning pages until the end. Tamora Pierce fans--come runnin! You won't be disappointed.
April 7, 2020
Set in The Girl of Fire and Thorns series, this book takes place eight (ish?) years after THE BITTER KINGDOM and focuses not only on Red, a mixed race girl the protagonist from the main series had adopted, but also on the tensions in a world post-major conflict between two warring peoples.
I loved being back in this world, getting small glimpses of the much beloved dynamic between one of my favourite couples, and I did enjoy Red.. mostly. This book flashes between past and present perspectives, we see what Red endured before meeting Elisa, and all the trauma she experienced and now knowingly carries and also unknowingly carries, and how she's coping. She's not quite welcome as the Empress' heir, both because of prejudice and conspiracy, and so she finds a different way to prove herself and also discover her true self — all while also challenging so much of the tradition and stereotyping built into this society.
I'll admit I wasn't really interested in the flashback POV chapters. Maybe because it felt a little rehashed (we know some of Red's life pre-on page meeting but obviously not to quite this extent) but also it kept pulling me away from the more exciting training montages and dialogue in the present day where Red was, like, fighting the patriarchy.
"I've never trained a girl before."
"You'll find it uncannily similar to training any other person."
That said, I wasn't always super into the present day stuff, either. There are some big high stakes moments near the end, a lot of which is built up along the way to that point, but things do come to a head pretty quick, and then its all over. I got the happy feels and excitement and joy at the end, don't get me wrong, but this story somehow felt both a little dragged out and also over too fast. A standalone in an existing universe where we previously had a trilogy.. I mean, that's tough. But there is an eclectic mix of new faces amongst the familiar, some good banter, and the one thing you can always depend on from this author is a fabulous ensemble cast.
So, I had almost rounded up because bias and nostalgia (infact, after finishing, I had rated this a four with a "but it's really a three" caveat but as I drifted off to sleep that night.. I knew I shouldn't have, so, here I am fixing the situation slightly) but ultimately I think where I've put it is true to the story itself. But. I loved being back with these characters, seeing some grown up, grown into their own, and others thrive despite the history and tragedies, not to mention traitor'ing (it's a word), that predate them. But is it perfect? No. But I don't think most fans will care and, best of all, I hope it inspires those who haven't yet read The Girl of Fire and Thorns series to pick it up. Because it's excellent.
3.5 stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I loved being back in this world, getting small glimpses of the much beloved dynamic between one of my favourite couples, and I did enjoy Red.. mostly. This book flashes between past and present perspectives, we see what Red endured before meeting Elisa, and all the trauma she experienced and now knowingly carries and also unknowingly carries, and how she's coping. She's not quite welcome as the Empress' heir, both because of prejudice and conspiracy, and so she finds a different way to prove herself and also discover her true self — all while also challenging so much of the tradition and stereotyping built into this society.
I'll admit I wasn't really interested in the flashback POV chapters. Maybe because it felt a little rehashed (we know some of Red's life pre-on page meeting but obviously not to quite this extent) but also it kept pulling me away from the more exciting training montages and dialogue in the present day where Red was, like, fighting the patriarchy.
"I've never trained a girl before."
"You'll find it uncannily similar to training any other person."
That said, I wasn't always super into the present day stuff, either. There are some big high stakes moments near the end, a lot of which is built up along the way to that point, but things do come to a head pretty quick, and then its all over. I got the happy feels and excitement and joy at the end, don't get me wrong, but this story somehow felt both a little dragged out and also over too fast. A standalone in an existing universe where we previously had a trilogy.. I mean, that's tough. But there is an eclectic mix of new faces amongst the familiar, some good banter, and the one thing you can always depend on from this author is a fabulous ensemble cast.
So, I had almost rounded up because bias and nostalgia (infact, after finishing, I had rated this a four with a "but it's really a three" caveat but as I drifted off to sleep that night.. I knew I shouldn't have, so, here I am fixing the situation slightly) but ultimately I think where I've put it is true to the story itself. But. I loved being back with these characters, seeing some grown up, grown into their own, and others thrive despite the history and tragedies, not to mention traitor'ing (it's a word), that predate them. But is it perfect? No. But I don't think most fans will care and, best of all, I hope it inspires those who haven't yet read The Girl of Fire and Thorns series to pick it up. Because it's excellent.
3.5 stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
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April 10, 2020
Trigger Warning: Assault, Child Abuse, PTSD, racism
Red Sparkle Stone is an orphan, a prior slave and a foundling, and is about to be adopted into the royal family. When her adoption is canceled at the very last minute, Red is thrown into a mix of feelings—of rejection, of turmoil, of the idea that her found family doesn't love or want her, and is determined to regain the trust of her country so she can return to her family. So she decides to join the Royal Guard—the only woman to make the attempt.
But something isn't right in the Royal Guard. Something is wrong, and Red suspects a traitor in those dedicated to protect the Empress.
And she must find them.
ADD THIS TO YOUR TBRS IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BECAUSE OMFG IT'S GOOD
I was a little wary of a new, standalone addition to the Fire and Thorns trilogy, mainly because despite a rocky start (I originally DNF'd The Girl of Fire and Thorns before returning a couple years later and loving it) I really, really love this trilogy.
And this book is so. fucking. good.
In an entirely different way, but one that complements the original trilogy. It's about 10 years after the end of the trilogy, and so it was weird to see Elisa as a grown woman and well into her own powers of being an empress—and as a mother, stepmother and foster mother. And seeing Horatio as foster parent was wonderful too. He was such a great dad.
Red's arrival at the Royal Guard, and her training with the male recruits, felt so...I don't know how to say it. There were a lot of memories that this brought up for me, as someone who went through military training surrounded by men (there were other women in my platoon as well, but I was the only woman in my squad).
The idea that you are only accepted when you bring something to the table, that you add value—but only when you add value as something better than the men—was particularly painful, and made me wonder what would have happened if Red was as capable as say, Iván, who had a lot of enthusiasm but not much coordination.
However, Red survives and thrives and makes alliances, not just because she's talented, but because that talent and skill is due to years of training, and because of her own grit and resilience.
I did love that she recognizes why she had an innate body awareness, and why the boys lacked that awareness, and how she has the advantage in some areas precisely because of how she had been disadvantaged—when it came to dealing with hardships, lack of sleep, lack of food, and learning swordplay. Many of her fellow recruits were well-born younger noblemen who had not dealt with hardship or had to be hyper-aware of their own bodies, or be cognizant of the space they take up, because there has always been space for them.
Anywho, in addition to capturing many of the feels of Tamora Pierce and Alex Liddell, whose books tend to feature women in roles traditionally assigned to men, this was a book about finding and fighting for your family. And about trauma—not the overcoming of trauma, but the acceptance that you were affected by something horrible and learning to live with it.
The trauma I'm talking about specifically is childhood trauma, particularly that of kidnapping and abuse. Despite her comfortable royal trappings, Red suffered horribly after her mother was murdered, and the scars of slavery stay with her and affect how she perceives the people around her.
The only thing that I wanted more of in this book were more female friendships. Red is surrounded by male characters throughout the entire book, as Elisa leaves in the beginning to have a baby in a more medically-advanced part of the country, and there were only a couple other women in the book. However, there is definitely a potential for female friendship there, and I loved that the book showed that there are other kinds of strength and weapons women carry that men overlook.
And this book also deals with generational trauma—from the prejudice Red faces because of her mixed heritage (so many microaggressions) to the overarching generational trauma of warfare and systems of oppression to a more pinpointed familial trauma. Of how the children of former traitors also suffer for their parents' crimes, no matter how they prove themselves. Of how children of the "enemy" can still be perceived of the enemy instead of a fellow citizen.
So why did I rate this book so highly if all I talked about was trauma, trauma, trauma and nothing really about plot?
Because this book was truly like falling into a warm hug.
At times it squeezed too tight, but other times it was like stepping back into a comfortable embrace from a loved-one I hadn't seen in a long time.
And because Red is incredible, and because the plot was fantastic and twisty and delicious.
And I will mention very little of the plot because aside from the many training montages, anything extra that I add is going to be a spoiler.
I received this ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review
Red Sparkle Stone is an orphan, a prior slave and a foundling, and is about to be adopted into the royal family. When her adoption is canceled at the very last minute, Red is thrown into a mix of feelings—of rejection, of turmoil, of the idea that her found family doesn't love or want her, and is determined to regain the trust of her country so she can return to her family. So she decides to join the Royal Guard—the only woman to make the attempt.
But something isn't right in the Royal Guard. Something is wrong, and Red suspects a traitor in those dedicated to protect the Empress.
And she must find them.
ADD THIS TO YOUR TBRS IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BECAUSE OMFG IT'S GOOD
I was a little wary of a new, standalone addition to the Fire and Thorns trilogy, mainly because despite a rocky start (I originally DNF'd The Girl of Fire and Thorns before returning a couple years later and loving it) I really, really love this trilogy.
And this book is so. fucking. good.
In an entirely different way, but one that complements the original trilogy. It's about 10 years after the end of the trilogy, and so it was weird to see Elisa as a grown woman and well into her own powers of being an empress—and as a mother, stepmother and foster mother. And seeing Horatio as foster parent was wonderful too. He was such a great dad.
"And you." I turn my fury on Aldo. "Stop acting like you've taken a sword to the chest every time someone calls you a girl. It's not an insult. Girls are not cockroaches or rats or horse dung. We are people, and it's perfectly find to be one of us, so stop."
Red's arrival at the Royal Guard, and her training with the male recruits, felt so...I don't know how to say it. There were a lot of memories that this brought up for me, as someone who went through military training surrounded by men (there were other women in my platoon as well, but I was the only woman in my squad).
The idea that you are only accepted when you bring something to the table, that you add value—but only when you add value as something better than the men—was particularly painful, and made me wonder what would have happened if Red was as capable as say, Iván, who had a lot of enthusiasm but not much coordination.
However, Red survives and thrives and makes alliances, not just because she's talented, but because that talent and skill is due to years of training, and because of her own grit and resilience.
I did love that she recognizes why she had an innate body awareness, and why the boys lacked that awareness, and how she has the advantage in some areas precisely because of how she had been disadvantaged—when it came to dealing with hardships, lack of sleep, lack of food, and learning swordplay. Many of her fellow recruits were well-born younger noblemen who had not dealt with hardship or had to be hyper-aware of their own bodies, or be cognizant of the space they take up, because there has always been space for them.
Some of them can't do the forms well, not because they're inherently clumsy, but because they've never had to control themselves or consider their blundering bodies in relation to someone else's space. The world has always made space for them. Maybe this is a thing that only happens to boys.
Anywho, in addition to capturing many of the feels of Tamora Pierce and Alex Liddell, whose books tend to feature women in roles traditionally assigned to men, this was a book about finding and fighting for your family. And about trauma—not the overcoming of trauma, but the acceptance that you were affected by something horrible and learning to live with it.
The trauma I'm talking about specifically is childhood trauma, particularly that of kidnapping and abuse. Despite her comfortable royal trappings, Red suffered horribly after her mother was murdered, and the scars of slavery stay with her and affect how she perceives the people around her.
The only thing that I wanted more of in this book were more female friendships. Red is surrounded by male characters throughout the entire book, as Elisa leaves in the beginning to have a baby in a more medically-advanced part of the country, and there were only a couple other women in the book. However, there is definitely a potential for female friendship there, and I loved that the book showed that there are other kinds of strength and weapons women carry that men overlook.
"Rosario always says the sins of the father shall be visited upon the children, from generation to generation."
And this book also deals with generational trauma—from the prejudice Red faces because of her mixed heritage (so many microaggressions) to the overarching generational trauma of warfare and systems of oppression to a more pinpointed familial trauma. Of how the children of former traitors also suffer for their parents' crimes, no matter how they prove themselves. Of how children of the "enemy" can still be perceived of the enemy instead of a fellow citizen.
So why did I rate this book so highly if all I talked about was trauma, trauma, trauma and nothing really about plot?
Because this book was truly like falling into a warm hug.
At times it squeezed too tight, but other times it was like stepping back into a comfortable embrace from a loved-one I hadn't seen in a long time.
And because Red is incredible, and because the plot was fantastic and twisty and delicious.
And I will mention very little of the plot because aside from the many training montages, anything extra that I add is going to be a spoiler.
I received this ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review
January 3, 2021
[2.5/5 stars] The first book in the Fire and Thorns series happens to be my favorite YA book of all time. The first two Goldseer books also rank high up on the list. I love Carson’s writing, characters, and knack for storytelling. That said, I enjoyed Empire of Dreams (which felt more like a spin-off than a continuation – it follows a side character), but not quite as much as I thought I would.
The basic premise is a girl joining the royal military in the hopes of proving her worth. It offers a bunch of flashbacks to her rough childhood, which gave her a lot more depth than we got in the trilogy – I particularly enjoyed those passages. It balanced that with a plethora of interesting training sessions. I complain a lot about YA books that include training but don’t take time to let the reader experience any of it. This novel had sparing and practicing in abundance, which was the highlight of the novel for me.
Now, I realize the book is a YA and not meant to really be compared to robust adult fantasy novels, but even taking that in consideration, I thought the military training and Red’s relationships with the other initiates was rather juvenile. There was some good “us vs. them” dynamics at first, but then all the other characters got SUPER emotionally supportive and communicative about their feelings. It made the recruits come across much younger than they were. I think the story could’ve benefitted from a bit more grit. However (a big however), that sort of cooperation and teamwork wasn’t unpleasant to read about. It’s a feel-good story for sure, and I’m fighting some guilt at criticizing it for something I should probably be appreciating it for. So I’m splitting the difference by celebrating the expanded training sequences with the disclaimer that they’re not robust, they’re just fun.
I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I have a lot of patience for narrators in general and can usually work past ones I’m not particularly enjoying (heck, I even tolerate text to speech on my Kindle app). I’m sorry to say that the narrator for this book was one of my least favorite I’ve ever listened too. Literally every line and piece of dialogue was delivered with this sharp conviction that pierced my ears. There were no dynamics or variety in the performance, so the entire book was an endless experience of being snapped at. It was really unpleasant. I half wonder if my rating would’ve been higher had I physically read the whole thing rather than just part of it.
Recommendations: this is a YA fantasy for fans of the Fire and Thorns series. I don’t think it added anything to the experience as a whole, but I do think it was a lot of fun. Skip the audiobook for this one.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
The basic premise is a girl joining the royal military in the hopes of proving her worth. It offers a bunch of flashbacks to her rough childhood, which gave her a lot more depth than we got in the trilogy – I particularly enjoyed those passages. It balanced that with a plethora of interesting training sessions. I complain a lot about YA books that include training but don’t take time to let the reader experience any of it. This novel had sparing and practicing in abundance, which was the highlight of the novel for me.
Now, I realize the book is a YA and not meant to really be compared to robust adult fantasy novels, but even taking that in consideration, I thought the military training and Red’s relationships with the other initiates was rather juvenile. There was some good “us vs. them” dynamics at first, but then all the other characters got SUPER emotionally supportive and communicative about their feelings. It made the recruits come across much younger than they were. I think the story could’ve benefitted from a bit more grit. However (a big however), that sort of cooperation and teamwork wasn’t unpleasant to read about. It’s a feel-good story for sure, and I’m fighting some guilt at criticizing it for something I should probably be appreciating it for. So I’m splitting the difference by celebrating the expanded training sequences with the disclaimer that they’re not robust, they’re just fun.
I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I have a lot of patience for narrators in general and can usually work past ones I’m not particularly enjoying (heck, I even tolerate text to speech on my Kindle app). I’m sorry to say that the narrator for this book was one of my least favorite I’ve ever listened too. Literally every line and piece of dialogue was delivered with this sharp conviction that pierced my ears. There were no dynamics or variety in the performance, so the entire book was an endless experience of being snapped at. It was really unpleasant. I half wonder if my rating would’ve been higher had I physically read the whole thing rather than just part of it.
Recommendations: this is a YA fantasy for fans of the Fire and Thorns series. I don’t think it added anything to the experience as a whole, but I do think it was a lot of fun. Skip the audiobook for this one.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
August 4, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
The Girl of Fire and Thorns series was originally a trilogy but the fans really wanted to know what became of Red Sparklestone and check in on Elisa and Hector to see how they are doing. I know I also really wanted to know as well, since Hector is one of my favorite male love interests in YA and I think the entire series is underrated, meaning I was totally onboard for another story set in this world.
Red, a former slave and half Invierne, has been an unofficial part of Hector and Elisa’s family for years now. It was all about to become completely official when they adopted her. However, someone or someones doesn’t want the adoption to happen and blocked it at the last minute. There is still a lot of anger over the war with the Inviernos and many do not like the treaties and trade Elisa is trying to build with them. After the adoption is blocked, Red must find a new path, maybe one that fits her even better. She becomes the first female recruit in the Royal Guard.
When Elisa and Hector leave the city to visit Alodia and Storm, it becomes clear that the 'someones' who blocked the adoption might have other plans as well and it is up to Red, Rosario and a few recruits to find out who is behind it and thwart their plans. Since I’d read the initial series, I had a good idea of who was behind it but it was still great to read how things played out.
I enjoyed making my way back through this world again. Rosario has grown into a great and solid young man and seeing the life and family Elisa and Hector have made was so sweet. Red is a fun character to follow and I really liked how she became part of the team and eventually figured out how to win over the rest of the recruits.
Since Hector and Elisa had to leave to make this story possible, I missed seeing more of them but Red, Iván and Rosario did a great job carrying the story.
I do wonder if The Empire of Dreams will be the final final book in the series or if we will get more time with Red and her new guard in the future. I like all the new friends and frenemy that Red has made and would enjoy future stories involving them. While this is the beginning of a new set of characters' story line, I think you need to have read all the prior books to really enjoy it properly.
Narration:
Kyla Garcia is a new narrator to this series. Her voice fits the younger Red and Rosario well and I like how she presented the story. I listened to this at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us...
The Girl of Fire and Thorns series was originally a trilogy but the fans really wanted to know what became of Red Sparklestone and check in on Elisa and Hector to see how they are doing. I know I also really wanted to know as well, since Hector is one of my favorite male love interests in YA and I think the entire series is underrated, meaning I was totally onboard for another story set in this world.
Red, a former slave and half Invierne, has been an unofficial part of Hector and Elisa’s family for years now. It was all about to become completely official when they adopted her. However, someone or someones doesn’t want the adoption to happen and blocked it at the last minute. There is still a lot of anger over the war with the Inviernos and many do not like the treaties and trade Elisa is trying to build with them. After the adoption is blocked, Red must find a new path, maybe one that fits her even better. She becomes the first female recruit in the Royal Guard.
When Elisa and Hector leave the city to visit Alodia and Storm, it becomes clear that the 'someones' who blocked the adoption might have other plans as well and it is up to Red, Rosario and a few recruits to find out who is behind it and thwart their plans. Since I’d read the initial series, I had a good idea of who was behind it but it was still great to read how things played out.
I enjoyed making my way back through this world again. Rosario has grown into a great and solid young man and seeing the life and family Elisa and Hector have made was so sweet. Red is a fun character to follow and I really liked how she became part of the team and eventually figured out how to win over the rest of the recruits.
Since Hector and Elisa had to leave to make this story possible, I missed seeing more of them but Red, Iván and Rosario did a great job carrying the story.
“The list of things that were a better father to you than King Alejandro is very long. Like the plague, which at least shows up once in a while.”
I round on Iván, ready to lay into him, but I hear Rosario chuckle.
“And the list of things less traitorous than your father is equally long,” Rosario says. “Like a mosquito, which will stab you in the back only once.”
I do wonder if The Empire of Dreams will be the final final book in the series or if we will get more time with Red and her new guard in the future. I like all the new friends and frenemy that Red has made and would enjoy future stories involving them. While this is the beginning of a new set of characters' story line, I think you need to have read all the prior books to really enjoy it properly.
Narration:
Kyla Garcia is a new narrator to this series. Her voice fits the younger Red and Rosario well and I like how she presented the story. I listened to this at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us...
March 17, 2020
So enjoyable! It was fun to make a return to this world and these characters, but to see it in a whole new light. And the best part? This plot called to mind stories a la Tamora Pierce, which I personally love and enjoy. Definitely a fun addition to this author’s work (and has me wanting to revisit the original trilogy)!
June 30, 2020
COME WATCH OUR LIVESHOW FOR MY THOUGHTS!!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0H-Z...
September 3, 2020
Definitely more of a 3.5.
I was so so excited when this book was announced because Girl of Fire and Thorns is one of my favorite YA trilogies from the earliest days of my blogging and I have a lot of nostalgia associated with it. But I did lose track of it among my numerous ARCs, other new releases and a reading slump, but I’m glad that I finally got around to it.
I can’t tell you how happy I was to be back in this world. The author does mention in an interview that this can be read as a standalone but I truly can’t comment on that, because my experience is completely tied up in the knowledge I come with while starting the book. It’s been almost three years, but I immediately felt familiar and could recollect all the important things that had happened in the trilogy as well as the important characters, so that I dove head first into this new story. I thought the author did a great job showing us how much and how little the world/court has changed over the years, giving us a sense of what happens after a rebellion ends and the rulers take major decisions.
Maybe because this is a standalone, I felt like it had lesser stakes (though it does get serious eventually) and that’s why it didn’t give me enough tension filled moments which I naturally expected. Most of the plot is the training of the Royal Guard which has some great scenes, but it felt very much like a slice of life story rather than a fantasy for a huge part of it. We also get two different timelines, with the past timeline recounting the history of the main character before we met her in The Bitter Kingdom, and while it was very helpful in giving us a better understanding of the character, I felt that it really created a disconnect and took attention away from the much more interesting present timeline.
I only remember Red as the little girl Elisa saved in the finale, and it was exciting to see more of her story. She has a lot of trauma from her childhood and I appreciated knowing that the ptsd representation in the book is modeled after the author’s own personal experiences. Red’s startle reflex and her trust issues are a major part of her as a person and they are due to her past, but she is also protective of those she loves and is such a genuine human being who wants to do good. Even when she is competing with the other recruits for her position in the Guard, she treats everyone well despite getting pushback and even helps them all in their training because she believes in them. I really liked her as a character and I thought the author depicted the nuances of her having a certain amount of privilege while also being surrounded by people who are prejudiced against her, in a very interesting manner.
I think the best part of the book are the various relationships Red has or forms with the various side characters. Though we get most amount of page time with Ivan, I also really loved the characters of Aldo, Pedrón, the Arturos, Itzal, Valentino and many of the other recruits. The trust they all develop between each other is beautiful to watch and its only because of them that the very easy and rushed climax even works, though not entirely convincingly. And it was such a joy to meet my favorite couple Elisa and Hector again along with the glimpses we get of Mara and Rosario.
I felt that the themes the author dealt with in this book were very thoughtful. The main one is obviously about a woman trying to make it in an all male profession, and it comes with the usual comments about a beautiful woman being a distraction or not being strong enough to be a guard and complete the training. But through Red, we see how competence will be rewarded eventually but the author also ensures that Red stands her ground most of the times, and doesn’t let anyone get away with making misogynistic and sexist comments. The other main theme is trust - how much trust and respect plays a main role when a group of people have to work together, despite their class differences or other prejudices.
But the one that really left an impression on me was about countries and treaties and people - how the leaders of enemy countries might come to a compromise for the sake of the betterment of their people, but it’s not easy to change the minds of the people whose minds are full of prejudice against each other. And that sometimes, the leaders just have to model inclusive behavior and keep at it, with the hope that people will realize the futility of being at odds in the long term.
To conclude, I think this is a fun addition to the original trilogy but I definitely enjoyed it more because of my love for the world. It has good characters and great friendships and I’m actually happy that none turned into a romance. You should definitely check it out if you love Girl of Fire and Thorns like me, and if you haven’t read the trilogy, please pick it up immediately because it’s absolutely wonderful.
I was so so excited when this book was announced because Girl of Fire and Thorns is one of my favorite YA trilogies from the earliest days of my blogging and I have a lot of nostalgia associated with it. But I did lose track of it among my numerous ARCs, other new releases and a reading slump, but I’m glad that I finally got around to it.
I can’t tell you how happy I was to be back in this world. The author does mention in an interview that this can be read as a standalone but I truly can’t comment on that, because my experience is completely tied up in the knowledge I come with while starting the book. It’s been almost three years, but I immediately felt familiar and could recollect all the important things that had happened in the trilogy as well as the important characters, so that I dove head first into this new story. I thought the author did a great job showing us how much and how little the world/court has changed over the years, giving us a sense of what happens after a rebellion ends and the rulers take major decisions.
Maybe because this is a standalone, I felt like it had lesser stakes (though it does get serious eventually) and that’s why it didn’t give me enough tension filled moments which I naturally expected. Most of the plot is the training of the Royal Guard which has some great scenes, but it felt very much like a slice of life story rather than a fantasy for a huge part of it. We also get two different timelines, with the past timeline recounting the history of the main character before we met her in The Bitter Kingdom, and while it was very helpful in giving us a better understanding of the character, I felt that it really created a disconnect and took attention away from the much more interesting present timeline.
I only remember Red as the little girl Elisa saved in the finale, and it was exciting to see more of her story. She has a lot of trauma from her childhood and I appreciated knowing that the ptsd representation in the book is modeled after the author’s own personal experiences. Red’s startle reflex and her trust issues are a major part of her as a person and they are due to her past, but she is also protective of those she loves and is such a genuine human being who wants to do good. Even when she is competing with the other recruits for her position in the Guard, she treats everyone well despite getting pushback and even helps them all in their training because she believes in them. I really liked her as a character and I thought the author depicted the nuances of her having a certain amount of privilege while also being surrounded by people who are prejudiced against her, in a very interesting manner.
I think the best part of the book are the various relationships Red has or forms with the various side characters. Though we get most amount of page time with Ivan, I also really loved the characters of Aldo, Pedrón, the Arturos, Itzal, Valentino and many of the other recruits. The trust they all develop between each other is beautiful to watch and its only because of them that the very easy and rushed climax even works, though not entirely convincingly. And it was such a joy to meet my favorite couple Elisa and Hector again along with the glimpses we get of Mara and Rosario.
I felt that the themes the author dealt with in this book were very thoughtful. The main one is obviously about a woman trying to make it in an all male profession, and it comes with the usual comments about a beautiful woman being a distraction or not being strong enough to be a guard and complete the training. But through Red, we see how competence will be rewarded eventually but the author also ensures that Red stands her ground most of the times, and doesn’t let anyone get away with making misogynistic and sexist comments. The other main theme is trust - how much trust and respect plays a main role when a group of people have to work together, despite their class differences or other prejudices.
But the one that really left an impression on me was about countries and treaties and people - how the leaders of enemy countries might come to a compromise for the sake of the betterment of their people, but it’s not easy to change the minds of the people whose minds are full of prejudice against each other. And that sometimes, the leaders just have to model inclusive behavior and keep at it, with the hope that people will realize the futility of being at odds in the long term.
To conclude, I think this is a fun addition to the original trilogy but I definitely enjoyed it more because of my love for the world. It has good characters and great friendships and I’m actually happy that none turned into a romance. You should definitely check it out if you love Girl of Fire and Thorns like me, and if you haven’t read the trilogy, please pick it up immediately because it’s absolutely wonderful.
dnf
December 3, 2019DNF
I adored initial Fire and Thorns trilogy (read my spoiler free series review here) but unfortunately this spin-off didn't have the same drive and appeal for me. Simply said, storyline wasn't very engaging. It all comes down to the fact that I couldn't connect with Red (MC) and therefore found her story boring.
All that aside, Mrs. Carson really can write and this is nicely written YA fantasy novel that will definitely find its audience. It just wasnt't for me.
*ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review*
I adored initial Fire and Thorns trilogy (read my spoiler free series review here) but unfortunately this spin-off didn't have the same drive and appeal for me. Simply said, storyline wasn't very engaging. It all comes down to the fact that I couldn't connect with Red (MC) and therefore found her story boring.
All that aside, Mrs. Carson really can write and this is nicely written YA fantasy novel that will definitely find its audience. It just wasnt't for me.
*ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review*
May 6, 2020
You can find this review on my blog Shades of Paper.
Okay, I admit I was so excited about this book. Despite having only read the first installment in her original series, I wanted to pick it up because I believed this book was a spin-off of said series and you didn’t need to read the OG Fire and Thorns trilogy, but after falling completely in love with this one I for sure will be continuing with that series.
Something that I loved about this book was the world building. I think having read the first book of the original Fire and Thorns trilogy gave me a little bit of knowledge of what this world was about, but I still think she did an amazing job at describing this world for new readers. There were some things that I didn’t remember after many years of being apart from this world, and some new things that I discovered in this installment that made me fall in love with it. However, I think that if you aren’t familiar with the books, it might be a bit confusing when it came to the magic system, because it wasn’t really explained in this book (maybe it will be in the sequel), though it was an important focus of the story.
But what really made this book shine were the characters. I think though it had an interesting plot and that it was pretty well done, what really stood out to me where the cast of characters. I feel this was more a character driven type of story, and the sequel will be more focused on the plot, but honestly I don’t really care because I for sure will be picking it up.
Our protagonist was absolutely fantastic. She was so well written and had such an interesting and complex arc. The story was told from her POV but in two different timelines, so while you were reading about her present time in the academy, you also knew little snippets about her former life, and wow, it wasn’t it heartbreaking and sad! I admit I cried multiple times while reading this book, mostly because of everything done to her while being a child, but also I admired the person she became and her evolution.
Another thing I really enjoyed was that it had actual functional family relationship. Though it wasn’t super explored, you could clearly see not only how much Red cared for her adoptive family, but also how much Elisa and Hector loved her, and that was something that made my heart warm and fuzzy.
Not only that but I also really enjoyed the little friendships formed throughout the story. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was no romance in this book (though I’m pretty sure there will be in the next installments), but I was pretty happy to see really complex and well written m/f friendships, which I don’t usually come across.
However, I had a teeny tiny issue with Empire of Dreams, and that was the ending. It was a bit rushed and there were certain things that happened quite conveniently, and there were some revelations that were a bit predictable, and I would have loved to see them done differently.
Overall, I adored Empire of Dreams, and totally fell in love with the story and the characters. Not only it had an interesting plot, but the cast of characters were so well written and complex, and I loved the relationships developed throughout the novel.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t change my opinion whatsoever. All thoughts are my own.
Actual rating: 4.75 ★
Thank you HarperCollins and Greenwillow Books for the ARC.
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The girl wanted to be a bird. She would spread her wings and fly far away. It would be effortless, so different from this icy trudging.”
Okay, I admit I was so excited about this book. Despite having only read the first installment in her original series, I wanted to pick it up because I believed this book was a spin-off of said series and you didn’t need to read the OG Fire and Thorns trilogy, but after falling completely in love with this one I for sure will be continuing with that series.
Something that I loved about this book was the world building. I think having read the first book of the original Fire and Thorns trilogy gave me a little bit of knowledge of what this world was about, but I still think she did an amazing job at describing this world for new readers. There were some things that I didn’t remember after many years of being apart from this world, and some new things that I discovered in this installment that made me fall in love with it. However, I think that if you aren’t familiar with the books, it might be a bit confusing when it came to the magic system, because it wasn’t really explained in this book (maybe it will be in the sequel), though it was an important focus of the story.
But what really made this book shine were the characters. I think though it had an interesting plot and that it was pretty well done, what really stood out to me where the cast of characters. I feel this was more a character driven type of story, and the sequel will be more focused on the plot, but honestly I don’t really care because I for sure will be picking it up.
Our protagonist was absolutely fantastic. She was so well written and had such an interesting and complex arc. The story was told from her POV but in two different timelines, so while you were reading about her present time in the academy, you also knew little snippets about her former life, and wow, it wasn’t it heartbreaking and sad! I admit I cried multiple times while reading this book, mostly because of everything done to her while being a child, but also I admired the person she became and her evolution.
I guess I want my legacy to be more than a pile of ashen bones.”
Another thing I really enjoyed was that it had actual functional family relationship. Though it wasn’t super explored, you could clearly see not only how much Red cared for her adoptive family, but also how much Elisa and Hector loved her, and that was something that made my heart warm and fuzzy.
Not only that but I also really enjoyed the little friendships formed throughout the story. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was no romance in this book (though I’m pretty sure there will be in the next installments), but I was pretty happy to see really complex and well written m/f friendships, which I don’t usually come across.
However, I had a teeny tiny issue with Empire of Dreams, and that was the ending. It was a bit rushed and there were certain things that happened quite conveniently, and there were some revelations that were a bit predictable, and I would have loved to see them done differently.
Overall, I adored Empire of Dreams, and totally fell in love with the story and the characters. Not only it had an interesting plot, but the cast of characters were so well written and complex, and I loved the relationships developed throughout the novel.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t change my opinion whatsoever. All thoughts are my own.
Actual rating: 4.75 ★
Thank you HarperCollins and Greenwillow Books for the ARC.
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Want to read
June 18, 2019okay but also: girl of fire and thorns was one of my favorite series, ever, soooooooooooooo let's see
December 15, 2019
Full review coming soon, but I LOVED it.
(I got an e-galley from EpicReads Insiders)
(I got an e-galley from EpicReads Insiders)
May 9, 2020
The Empire of Dreams – внезапная четвертая книга в серии, которая, казалось бы, закончилась аж 7 лет назад. Рэй Карсон по какой-то причине решила вернуться в этот мир, чтобы рассказать еще одну историю. Судя по Author’s Note в конце, она страдала от ПТСР, и видимо эта книга стала некой формой терапии для неё.
Главное, что можно сказать про The Empire of Dreams – несмотря на то, что главная героиня в ней другая, не та, что в трилогии, читать её как стэндэлоун не стоит, потому что мироустройства Рэй Карсон в ней не поясняет. А устройство в этом мире как минимум необычное: некоторые люди там рождаются с драгоценными камнями в пупке, его называют Божественный камень, а обладатели его, натурально, считаются Богоизбранными.
Взаимоотношения с Богом – одна из центральных тем трилогии, её героиня Элиза много молится, размышляет о природе Божественного, разговаривает о нем со священниками, осмысляет себя как Богоизбранную (у нее, конечно же, есть камень в пупке), и в сочетании с тем фактом, что Рэй Карсон выбрала для своего мира не анлосаксонский фреймворк, а испанский – у героев испанские имена, а у стран испанские названия – всё это вместе производит отчетливое впечатление средневековой католической Испании.
Вся история с Божественными камнями, а также Инвьернами, соседями и врагами Испании-ваннаби, в деталях рассказывается в трилогии, а в третьей книге мы встречаем героиню книги четвертой, девочку-сироту, которую Элиза выкупает из рабства. Между событиями третьей и четвертой книги проходит около 7 лет, как и для читателя. Девочке со странным именем Red Sparkle Stone около 17 лет, она готовится официально стать частью королевской семьи, но тут что-то идет не так. Слово за слово, церемония отменяется, и чтобы компенсировать для себя этот эмоциональный провал, Ред записывается в Королевскую Гвардию. Самые – как водится – элитные вооруженные силы в стране, где она – как водится – первая девочка-рекрут.
Бытность Ред на обучении в гвардии и есть, собственно, история этой книги – вместе с расследованием подозрительной истории с развалом церемонии удочерения, в которой сразу видится начало дворцового переворота. Мне сразу вспомнился фильм «Солдат Джейн», здесь у нас тот же самый вайб – девочка в казарме с пацанами, сначала её все недооценивают, а потом она такая уууух. Параллельно с историей в настоящем нам рассказывают историю прошлого Ред – как она осиротела, как попала в рабство, как ей трудно там жилось вплоть до встречи с Элизой. Видимо, Рэй Карсон нашла самого пострадавшего персонажа во всей трилогии и решила сделать его инструментом переосмысления своего опыта травмы. Получилось, в целом, нормально. Не супер, но пойдет.
Почему не супер? Потому что отчаянно не хватило ворлдбилдинга и магии, которых так много было в трилогии, не хватило тайн, хотя пространство для них было – скажем, кто отец Ред, мы так и не узнаем, а он явно могучий маг. И не хватило романтики – у Рэй Карсон с этим в принципе не очень, она и в трилогии с этой темой не справилась, и в другой своей серии, The Gold Seer Trilogy. В обеих сериях романтические отношения совершенно без огня и неубедительны, так что, наверное, хорошо, что для Ред никого не нашлось (а ведь какие возможности были в казарме! иной автор – I’m looking at you, Sarah J. Maas – сменил бы ей несколько любовных интересов и со всеми устроил бы жаркую страсть за конюшней).
Итого: читать стоит, если вам понравилась трилогия, а если вы с трилогией не знакомы, то рекомендую попробовать, она очень приключенческая, и меня в свое время чрезвычайно увлекла. Кстати, там я впервые увидела героиню эпического фэнтези, которая не skinny & pretty, а вполне себе пухленькая девочка, очень любящая сладкое и страдающая из-за своей неконвенциональности. I feel for you, girl!
Главное, что можно сказать про The Empire of Dreams – несмотря на то, что главная героиня в ней другая, не та, что в трилогии, читать её как стэндэлоун не стоит, потому что мироустройства Рэй Карсон в ней не поясняет. А устройство в этом мире как минимум необычное: некоторые люди там рождаются с драгоценными камнями в пупке, его называют Божественный камень, а обладатели его, натурально, считаются Богоизбранными.
Взаимоотношения с Богом – одна из центральных тем трилогии, её героиня Элиза много молится, размышляет о природе Божественного, разговаривает о нем со священниками, осмысляет себя как Богоизбранную (у нее, конечно же, есть камень в пупке), и в сочетании с тем фактом, что Рэй Карсон выбрала для своего мира не анлосаксонский фреймворк, а испанский – у героев испанские имена, а у стран испанские названия – всё это вместе производит отчетливое впечатление средневековой католической Испании.
Вся история с Божественными камнями, а также Инвьернами, соседями и врагами Испании-ваннаби, в деталях рассказывается в трилогии, а в третьей книге мы встречаем героиню книги четвертой, девочку-сироту, которую Элиза выкупает из рабства. Между событиями третьей и четвертой книги проходит около 7 лет, как и для читателя. Девочке со странным именем Red Sparkle Stone около 17 лет, она готовится официально стать частью королевской семьи, но тут что-то идет не так. Слово за слово, церемония отменяется, и чтобы компенсировать для себя этот эмоциональный провал, Ред записывается в Королевскую Гвардию. Самые – как водится – элитные вооруженные силы в стране, где она – как водится – первая девочка-рекрут.
Бытность Ред на обучении в гвардии и есть, собственно, история этой книги – вместе с расследованием подозрительной истории с развалом церемонии удочерения, в которой сразу видится начало дворцового переворота. Мне сразу вспомнился фильм «Солдат Джейн», здесь у нас тот же самый вайб – девочка в казарме с пацанами, сначала её все недооценивают, а потом она такая уууух. Параллельно с историей в настоящем нам рассказывают историю прошлого Ред – как она осиротела, как попала в рабство, как ей трудно там жилось вплоть до встречи с Элизой. Видимо, Рэй Карсон нашла самого пострадавшего персонажа во всей трилогии и решила сделать его инструментом переосмысления своего опыта травмы. Получилось, в целом, нормально. Не супер, но пойдет.
Почему не супер? Потому что отчаянно не хватило ворлдбилдинга и магии, которых так много было в трилогии, не хватило тайн, хотя пространство для них было – скажем, кто отец Ред, мы так и не узнаем, а он явно могучий маг. И не хватило романтики – у Рэй Карсон с этим в принципе не очень, она и в трилогии с этой темой не справилась, и в другой своей серии, The Gold Seer Trilogy. В обеих сериях романтические отношения совершенно без огня и неубедительны, так что, наверное, хорошо, что для Ред никого не нашлось (а ведь какие возможности были в казарме! иной автор – I’m looking at you, Sarah J. Maas – сменил бы ей несколько любовных интересов и со всеми устроил бы жаркую страсть за конюшней).
Итого: читать стоит, если вам понравилась трилогия, а если вы с трилогией не знакомы, то рекомендую попробовать, она очень приключенческая, и меня в свое время чрезвычайно увлекла. Кстати, там я впервые увидела героиню эпического фэнтези, которая не skinny & pretty, а вполне себе пухленькая девочка, очень любящая сладкое и страдающая из-за своей неконвенциональности. I feel for you, girl!
February 4, 2020
It's was so wonderful to be back in this world! As much as I loved the romance between Elisa and Hector in the original series, it was refreshing to discover that Red, now 17-years old, wouldn't have any romantic entanglements in this standalone companion. Instead she had really solid, nuanced friendships with the men in the story, including Hector and Rosario, who long-time Carson fans will remember from the original series, and her fellow Royal Guard recruits. I can't wait to go back and reread the original trilogy!
October 21, 2019
Elisa's story holds a special place in my heart. That trilogy (and short stories) are among my favorite fantasies as they combined everything I love about fantasy into one series.
So yes of course I was excited for this book. A revisit to characters of my heart? A broadening of a world I adore? Sign me up!
What I didn't expect was a novel that while its a wonderful sequel to Elisa's adventures is almost perfect on its own.
I won't deny that having some knowledge of the world didn't help me, nor that knowing some of the characters already didn't give me an idea of what to expect at times. Here's the thing - this is not Elisa's story. Nor Mara's or Hector's. This is squarely Red's with back up from Rosario.
This is also not a "new generation same story" situation. Red's troubles, trials and tribulations are uniquely her own. Unlike Elisa who made and found friends fairly easily, Red is despised just by being in the same room. She's not sweet tempered or patient; she's rocky and brash, having to learn how to accept help from others.
There's a mystery brewing throughout that is well sewn. Carson has always excelled at weaving necessary plot information in a genuine way. The "Then" chapters, detailing Red's life up to that fateful meeting with Elisa give us a good guide as to why she's acting as she does. Carson offers a short explanation about PTSD in her author's note as well.
They did detract from the onward motion of the plot at times. Red relays some of her history in the story itself (as context) so occassionally it felt repetitive to have read it twice.
All in all I'd love to see more of Red as she continued her journey, but I'm just happy to have this one.
So yes of course I was excited for this book. A revisit to characters of my heart? A broadening of a world I adore? Sign me up!
What I didn't expect was a novel that while its a wonderful sequel to Elisa's adventures is almost perfect on its own.
I won't deny that having some knowledge of the world didn't help me, nor that knowing some of the characters already didn't give me an idea of what to expect at times. Here's the thing - this is not Elisa's story. Nor Mara's or Hector's. This is squarely Red's with back up from Rosario.
This is also not a "new generation same story" situation. Red's troubles, trials and tribulations are uniquely her own. Unlike Elisa who made and found friends fairly easily, Red is despised just by being in the same room. She's not sweet tempered or patient; she's rocky and brash, having to learn how to accept help from others.
There's a mystery brewing throughout that is well sewn. Carson has always excelled at weaving necessary plot information in a genuine way. The "Then" chapters, detailing Red's life up to that fateful meeting with Elisa give us a good guide as to why she's acting as she does. Carson offers a short explanation about PTSD in her author's note as well.
They did detract from the onward motion of the plot at times. Red relays some of her history in the story itself (as context) so occassionally it felt repetitive to have read it twice.
All in all I'd love to see more of Red as she continued her journey, but I'm just happy to have this one.
June 8, 2020
3.5 - Did I love returning to this world and seeing characters I loved again? Absolutely. Was I still a smidge disappointed? Unfortunately. It just didn’t quite live up to the excellence of the original trilogy. It felt younger, which isn’t necessarily bad, but just wasn’t what I was expecting from a return to this world.
I liked the “now” chapters quite a bit more than the “then” chapters, though I understand the importance of including flashbacks to Red’s childhood trauma and how that still influences her in the now. The “then” chapters really slowed down the pacing, and it took until about 30-40% of the way through the book (when we finally got multiple “now” chapters in a row) for me to feel invested in the court politics and the new (large, and at times unwieldy) cast of characters. This is definitely a book that would have benefited from a glossary or list of characters with their roles, places of origin, and relationships, especially because this is said to be readable as a standalone (it’s not). I read the original trilogy about 6 months ago and I couldn’t remember who most of the people were! I would say you’d probably have a better time reading this if you were fresh off the trilogy.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I read the first 27% as an ARC, and finished the book reading a final copy I purchased with my own money. All opinions are, as always, my own.
I liked the “now” chapters quite a bit more than the “then” chapters, though I understand the importance of including flashbacks to Red’s childhood trauma and how that still influences her in the now. The “then” chapters really slowed down the pacing, and it took until about 30-40% of the way through the book (when we finally got multiple “now” chapters in a row) for me to feel invested in the court politics and the new (large, and at times unwieldy) cast of characters. This is definitely a book that would have benefited from a glossary or list of characters with their roles, places of origin, and relationships, especially because this is said to be readable as a standalone (it’s not). I read the original trilogy about 6 months ago and I couldn’t remember who most of the people were! I would say you’d probably have a better time reading this if you were fresh off the trilogy.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I read the first 27% as an ARC, and finished the book reading a final copy I purchased with my own money. All opinions are, as always, my own.
April 16, 2020
I really, really liked, among other things, that the main character was an atheist. We don’t see that enough in YA. Surprisingly this doesn’t have any romance, but it’s a quick and entertaining read, reminding me somewhat of a (less clever) Megan Whalen Turner book. Plus: HECTOR.
June 29, 2020
I was so excited to jump back into the world of Rae Carson’s, “Girl of Fire and Thorns” world. This new standalone follows Red, no longer young orphan she used to be when we last left her. She has grown into her own and is done being told what her future will be. She decides to enlist in the Royal Guard where she believes she can make something of herself.
Being a tomboy myself I really loved all the training and physical obstacles that Red had to tackle being the only woman in the first year guard. What she lacked in strength and size, she made up for in Intellect and skill. The camaraderie she built with the other male soldiers and their individual personalities made this book really special. There isn’t any romance in the book but honestly it was still entertaining and made me want to keep going and coming back!
I would highly recommend reading the whole Fire and Thorns trilogy even if you can read this one alone. There are so many character mentions and a large political backdrop that you will miss if you don’t. I hope we get more story because this standalone leaves a lot open to be explored.
An excellent book choice that I might have missed out on if not for my @litjoycrate book only subscription.
Being a tomboy myself I really loved all the training and physical obstacles that Red had to tackle being the only woman in the first year guard. What she lacked in strength and size, she made up for in Intellect and skill. The camaraderie she built with the other male soldiers and their individual personalities made this book really special. There isn’t any romance in the book but honestly it was still entertaining and made me want to keep going and coming back!
I would highly recommend reading the whole Fire and Thorns trilogy even if you can read this one alone. There are so many character mentions and a large political backdrop that you will miss if you don’t. I hope we get more story because this standalone leaves a lot open to be explored.
An excellent book choice that I might have missed out on if not for my @litjoycrate book only subscription.
May 9, 2020
Come watch our liveshow for this book!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0H-Z...
I thought this was a cute ending to the Fire and Thorns series as a whole. I know it's a standalone, but it was good to know where all the characters end up. I loved Rosario and Ivan, but all the other boys from the royal guard trainees seemed pretty interchangeable. Also a character that was supposed to have died in the first Fire and Thorns books shows up?? So I was confused about that.
I can't say I was a big fan of the plot, but I did like getting to know Red more. I wish that this book had been more character-driven than it was. Overall, I enjoyed it well enough.
I thought this was a cute ending to the Fire and Thorns series as a whole. I know it's a standalone, but it was good to know where all the characters end up. I loved Rosario and Ivan, but all the other boys from the royal guard trainees seemed pretty interchangeable. Also a character that was supposed to have died in the first Fire and Thorns books shows up?? So I was confused about that.
I can't say I was a big fan of the plot, but I did like getting to know Red more. I wish that this book had been more character-driven than it was. Overall, I enjoyed it well enough.
February 14, 2021
i loved books 1-3 and definitely enjoyed Red's story. for anyone who loves strong young women to find their way against rough odds and fantasy. good stuff.
July 12, 2020
3.75 Stars
June 20, 2020
6/8/20 on sale for $2.99
May 16, 2022
As a lover of the first trilogy, it was a matter of time before I jumped into this fourth book. Rae Carson writes such down-to-earth characters that it's impossible not to love them. And Red is no exception.
So we follow Red, years after she joined the imperial family, and she must navigate through court and murder intrigues (which I'm a huuuge fan of) all the while proving herself as a Queen's Guard recruit. She is resourceful, smart and doesn't let people step on her feet without retribution. I liked to see her bonding with the other recruits, which is no easy task considering they're all male... And not very nice to her at first. However, Red has teeth and she uses them!
What I love with Rae Carson, among other things, is that she doesn't shy away from realistic issues such as periods. Because, as the only girl to join the Guard, periods and undressing are going to be a problem at some point. It is even better when she receives help from one of her comrades in that regard.
We have two timelines: one in the past before Red met Elisa and one in the present. I must say that if the flashbacks gave me an insight as to Red's tragic past and trauma, it was also a bother at times because I was enjoying the present plot so much that being interrupted was frustrating. I loved the hint at a romance between Red and Ivan, it was sweet. Maybe we'll see more of them in the future?
I guessed a few things regarding the plot twists but the details were surprising. It made me happy to see Elisa and Hector as well. Don't expect to see them too much though (only at the beginning and at the end). I'm fine with that. They already got their story.
I had a good time!
So we follow Red, years after she joined the imperial family, and she must navigate through court and murder intrigues (which I'm a huuuge fan of) all the while proving herself as a Queen's Guard recruit. She is resourceful, smart and doesn't let people step on her feet without retribution. I liked to see her bonding with the other recruits, which is no easy task considering they're all male... And not very nice to her at first. However, Red has teeth and she uses them!
What I love with Rae Carson, among other things, is that she doesn't shy away from realistic issues such as periods. Because, as the only girl to join the Guard, periods and undressing are going to be a problem at some point. It is even better when she receives help from one of her comrades in that regard.
We have two timelines: one in the past before Red met Elisa and one in the present. I must say that if the flashbacks gave me an insight as to Red's tragic past and trauma, it was also a bother at times because I was enjoying the present plot so much that being interrupted was frustrating. I loved the hint at a romance between Red and Ivan, it was sweet. Maybe we'll see more of them in the future?
I guessed a few things regarding the plot twists but the details were surprising. It made me happy to see Elisa and Hector as well. Don't expect to see them too much though (only at the beginning and at the end). I'm fine with that. They already got their story.
I had a good time!
October 29, 2021
this was so so so so good. in other words, I loved it. Red's character was interesting and I loved to see how she grew from book 3. I also really liked how her past chapters were titled as 'then' and then her present chapters were written as 'now'. I don't know which I liked more, her past or her present. I liked both but each part was different so..I have no clue which I liked best. as usual, seeing Elisa and Hector in this book was amazing. I also really liked Rosario in this book. high-key don't wanna leave this amazing series/world, but I enjoyed my time reading this series ❤️🦋
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August 4, 2020It was good I just didn't want a book like this. Not sure if there is any romance.......book killer sadly
January 11, 2021
The only thing I don't like about this book is that now I want more and there IS NO MORE.
September 22, 2021
This book is nothing that hasn't been done before in YA fantasy but I haven't had a good time reading something in a while and this hooked me in.
March 2, 2023
3,5⭐️
April 19, 2020
review coming soon
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