Review (the Girl of) Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Published: 22nd September 2011
Publisher: Gollancz (UK)
Rating: 3/5


Goodreads description:


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. 


My thoughts:


First of all, I have to comment on the covers. I have to. I try not too, but on this occasion...well. What were you thinking guys?? Seriously, when you all had cover meetings for these books, HOW were these approved? The UK cover (above) makes it look like some bad movie about a desert trek and the US one makes me feel like I'm on an acid trip or something. Seriously...how did you all sign off on these? WHAT was the design brief??? /rant.


So, I was really torn over this book. I didn't really like Elisa, and whilst I did like the fact she was overweight, I'm not entirely sure that aspect was handled in a very good way. Especially her 'transformation' I dunno, I kinda felt it gave the wrong message? Having never been overweight I can't really judge, so I genuinely don't know what to think of this whole part of the book. 

The plot of this book was actually my favourite bit. I'm always a bit wary of books with religious elements but this one was completely unoffensive. I loved the journey in it, the mysteries and confusion, the battles, the different tribes, it was all really interesting to read. I liked that nothing came easily, everything was a fight, there were no 'easy' solutions and I really did not expect that ending! I also thought the world building was clever, there were definitely Moroccan and Spanish influences to this fantasy world which I really liked, it made it feel both more realistic and very exotic. 

What did let the book down for me was the characters. I didn't really like or care about any of them, so when something bad happened I was just like "meh". I thought some of what happened to the characters were really brave moves by the author, but at the same time I didn't much care about that, either.  It wasn't necessarily that they were two-dimensional, I think it was more because the story is told from Elisa's POV, who I didn't like, and therefore struggled to like anyone talked about by her...


I'm feeling very middle of the road about this book, so it's getting a middle of the road rating from me. I think if you're a lover of fantasy it's definitely something to add to the TBR, and I am glad I read it, it wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't a mind-blowing read either.