Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Greenwillow Books (2012), Hardcover, 400 pages
Description
"Hero. Foreigner. Queen. Elisa, at the age of seventeen, is all three. And all three draw enemies. Faced with assassins, court politics, and the threat of civil war, Elisa despairs of being the ruler her people need. Her only hope is the Godstone. She must master its power once and for all. She finds clues hidden in a long forgotten--and forbidden--scripture. Accompanied by a one-eyed warrior, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa takes a leap of faith and crosses an ocean in search of the ultimate source of the Godstone's power. But her faith has always had a price, and doing the right thing might mean giving up the power she desperately needs. And it might mean giving up the man she desperately loves. Rae Carson continues the epic story begun in The Girl of Fire and Thorns with a novel that is remarkable, adventurous, and even more romantic than the first"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cablesclasses
Seventeen year old Queen Elisa relies not only upon her Godstone but her developing intuitiveness and advice from her ladies in waiting to help her guide her small country away from threatening turmoil and sorcery from a neighboring country. In this sequel, Elisa finds romance and adventure
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following her every step, especially in her own castle. Royal Guard Hector proves valiant and true, and becomes an ally much needed in a world full of espionage and sorcery. Elisa’s greatest quest appears to the one where she must decide who to follow—herself or counsel from others? Carson allows Elisa to mature and step a little aside from the religious rituals defined in the first book. A little slow in the first half of the book; it appears Elisa will never leave the castle, but when force comes to shove, she moves a quick pace. Show Less
LibraryThing member eljabo
Wow! This was an amazing story. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
Freaky Godstone aside, I love how much Elisa has grown from the first book and my mad crush on Hector continues. I had to keep reminding myself that Elisa was only 17 because she seems so grown up. (Although I don't
I can't wait to read book #3. And I just found out the author lives in Columbus so I'm sorely tempted to track her down and beg for a sneak preview. Although that probably wouldn't be a good idea.
Freaky Godstone aside, I love how much Elisa has grown from the first book and my mad crush on Hector continues. I had to keep reminding myself that Elisa was only 17 because she seems so grown up. (Although I don't
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really like thinking about that because I suspect Hector is much older than 17 and that would make the power couple in my mind very creepy.)I can't wait to read book #3. And I just found out the author lives in Columbus so I'm sorely tempted to track her down and beg for a sneak preview. Although that probably wouldn't be a good idea.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson is the sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and picks up soon after where that book left off. Therefore, this review will probably contain some spoilers for The Girl of Fire and Thorns -- you've been warned.
Elisa is now a queen and a hero, and somebody out there
This second book has all of the character development and complexity that made the first book so wonderful, along with a heightened sense of adventure and a bit more romance. It's hard for me to love the second book in a series quite as much as I loved the first book, especially when the first book completely knocked my socks off, but Crown of Embers is a worthy successor to The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
Elisa is now a queen and a hero, and somebody out there
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wants her dead. While she is beloved by most of her people, she's still young, foreign, female, and inexperienced, and she's still feeling her way as she tries to balance power with kindness. Also, there's a hired assassin attempting to take her out. When Elisa learns of a strong source of magic -- one that she, as bearer of the Godstone, is uniquely able to access, she sets out on a quest. She's accompanied by a small party, not all of whom can be trusted. Elisa is falling in love with one of her companions, but she is once again faced with the need to make a politically advantageous marriage. Will Elisa ever be able to follow her heart? Will she even live long enough to do so?This second book has all of the character development and complexity that made the first book so wonderful, along with a heightened sense of adventure and a bit more romance. It's hard for me to love the second book in a series quite as much as I loved the first book, especially when the first book completely knocked my socks off, but Crown of Embers is a worthy successor to The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Elisa struggles with being a strong leader for a kingdom that’s falling apart. Meanwhile she starts to fall in love with her most loyal and trustworthy friend.
Opening Sentence: My entourage of guards struggles to keep pace as I fly down the
The Review:
Elisa has come home a war hero, but the glory is short lived. After an animagus displays an unimaginable warning to the queen, death has been stalking Elisa night and day. As the sole ruler of a crumbling country, Elisa’s authority is questioned everyday. She needs to be a stronger monarch, but her council suggests she marry, only to hide behind a king. Nobody trusts her to make the right decisions except the Commander of the Royal Guard and her best friend Hector. But as they grow closer and the pressure to make a strategic marriage increases, Elisa must make one of the hardest decisions of her life. Can love conquer all? Will Elisa embrace her role as queen and bearer of the Godstone? Carson weaves yet another intense, sweet and suspenseful story with quests, magic and love.
I LOVE this book. I wasn’t a major fan of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but Crown of Embers blew me away. Although there is a decrease in action compared to Fire and Thorns, there are plenty of heart-stopping moments and fast-paced events. In this book, adventure is replaced with palace intrigue and a cute, but short romance is replaced with a deep, intense star-crossed lovers. There are multiple twists that caught me by surprise but most of the book was predictable. Of course predictable can still have suspense and intrigue, just more in the how department than the what department.
Okay, I liked Humberto, but I’ve been rooting for Hector since we first met him in Fire and Thorns. Carson dropped insignificant hints in Fire and Thorns that something more than a friendship would develop between him and Elisa, but I was never for sure. In Crown of Embers their relationship starts like lava then ends in a volcano (yes, that’s backwards, I know.) Hector sort of reminds me of a big huge cuddly teddy bear that can snap your arms if you endanger someone he loves. He tries to be stoic and polite, but as Elisa grows more attached and desperate to keep him, his wall crumbles. Yet they both know it won’t last.
Elisa is, as always, brave and vigilant against those who think her weak. And in truth, she was a weak ruler. Although she thinks that she has fulfilled her prophesy as bearer of the Godstone (a blue jewel that acknowledges her prayers and warns her of danger), she finds out that she has yet to enter the gate of her enemy. As she struggles to find and hold power in her city that’s breaking into riots, Elisa goes on a quest to find more power through her Godstone in hopes of bringing her city back together. But it comes with a price.
Carson writes yet another beautiful and intricate story that ends in such a cliffhanger that I threw it on the floor (don’t worry, there were no books harmed in the making of this review — I was already reading on the floor.) If you haven’t read this series yet, I suggest you get to it! It’s worth every tear and laugh.
Notable Scene:
“You are in grave peril, Your Majesty. I have seen the signs, and I know Invierne will make another play. Soon. But this time, there will be no army to defend against. this time, they will come at you like spirits in the night, and you won’t recognize the danger until it’s too late.”
The animagus uttered similar words. I swallow the panic that rises in my throat. “Why? Why warn me?”
“I like my life. My secret village turns a nice profit on river scavenge. The people I lead are stupid and filthy, but they treat me with respect, even worship. All my needs are tended to. I would like things to stay exactly the way they are, and I know the city of Brisadulce has its best chance of remaining stable if you are in power and well aware of the Invierne threat.”
Hector leans forward, nostrils flared, face hard. I have never seen him so angry. “The Inviernos will find that Elisa is very difficult to kill,” he says, making the dagger dance in the air by some gymnastic wrist and fingers.
Storm laughs, and the sound is as brittle as breaking glass. “Did I say kill? I don’t believe I did. Invierne wants her very much alive. Though I assure you that if one of Invierne’s innumerable spies gets ahold of her, she will wish herself dead.”
FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of The Crown of Embers. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Elisa struggles with being a strong leader for a kingdom that’s falling apart. Meanwhile she starts to fall in love with her most loyal and trustworthy friend.
Opening Sentence: My entourage of guards struggles to keep pace as I fly down the
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corridors of my palace.The Review:
Elisa has come home a war hero, but the glory is short lived. After an animagus displays an unimaginable warning to the queen, death has been stalking Elisa night and day. As the sole ruler of a crumbling country, Elisa’s authority is questioned everyday. She needs to be a stronger monarch, but her council suggests she marry, only to hide behind a king. Nobody trusts her to make the right decisions except the Commander of the Royal Guard and her best friend Hector. But as they grow closer and the pressure to make a strategic marriage increases, Elisa must make one of the hardest decisions of her life. Can love conquer all? Will Elisa embrace her role as queen and bearer of the Godstone? Carson weaves yet another intense, sweet and suspenseful story with quests, magic and love.
I LOVE this book. I wasn’t a major fan of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but Crown of Embers blew me away. Although there is a decrease in action compared to Fire and Thorns, there are plenty of heart-stopping moments and fast-paced events. In this book, adventure is replaced with palace intrigue and a cute, but short romance is replaced with a deep, intense star-crossed lovers. There are multiple twists that caught me by surprise but most of the book was predictable. Of course predictable can still have suspense and intrigue, just more in the how department than the what department.
Okay, I liked Humberto, but I’ve been rooting for Hector since we first met him in Fire and Thorns. Carson dropped insignificant hints in Fire and Thorns that something more than a friendship would develop between him and Elisa, but I was never for sure. In Crown of Embers their relationship starts like lava then ends in a volcano (yes, that’s backwards, I know.) Hector sort of reminds me of a big huge cuddly teddy bear that can snap your arms if you endanger someone he loves. He tries to be stoic and polite, but as Elisa grows more attached and desperate to keep him, his wall crumbles. Yet they both know it won’t last.
Elisa is, as always, brave and vigilant against those who think her weak. And in truth, she was a weak ruler. Although she thinks that she has fulfilled her prophesy as bearer of the Godstone (a blue jewel that acknowledges her prayers and warns her of danger), she finds out that she has yet to enter the gate of her enemy. As she struggles to find and hold power in her city that’s breaking into riots, Elisa goes on a quest to find more power through her Godstone in hopes of bringing her city back together. But it comes with a price.
Carson writes yet another beautiful and intricate story that ends in such a cliffhanger that I threw it on the floor (don’t worry, there were no books harmed in the making of this review — I was already reading on the floor.) If you haven’t read this series yet, I suggest you get to it! It’s worth every tear and laugh.
Notable Scene:
“You are in grave peril, Your Majesty. I have seen the signs, and I know Invierne will make another play. Soon. But this time, there will be no army to defend against. this time, they will come at you like spirits in the night, and you won’t recognize the danger until it’s too late.”
The animagus uttered similar words. I swallow the panic that rises in my throat. “Why? Why warn me?”
“I like my life. My secret village turns a nice profit on river scavenge. The people I lead are stupid and filthy, but they treat me with respect, even worship. All my needs are tended to. I would like things to stay exactly the way they are, and I know the city of Brisadulce has its best chance of remaining stable if you are in power and well aware of the Invierne threat.”
Hector leans forward, nostrils flared, face hard. I have never seen him so angry. “The Inviernos will find that Elisa is very difficult to kill,” he says, making the dagger dance in the air by some gymnastic wrist and fingers.
Storm laughs, and the sound is as brittle as breaking glass. “Did I say kill? I don’t believe I did. Invierne wants her very much alive. Though I assure you that if one of Invierne’s innumerable spies gets ahold of her, she will wish herself dead.”
FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of The Crown of Embers. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member pacey1927
Elisa is back in power as the Queen of Joy de Arena. Her position is still wobbly. There is a traitor in her court. Trusting only her two handmaidens and Hector, the head of her royal guard, Elisa struggles to out the traitor while dealing with the day to day problems of her weak kingdom. When her
I am the kind of reader that will pick action over romance anytime, but I have to say my favorite thing about "Crown of Embers" is watching this romance bloom between Hector and Elisa. While I loved Hector in the first novel, I really loved Humberto and was miserable when I finished that book. But Hector is right for Elisa and the romance between them left my tummy fluttering and I maybe even shed a tear or two along the way. I definitely shed more than one tear in a tender scene between Elisa and Rosario, her young step-son.
The action and intrigue in this novel was as good as the in the first book. I loved watching Elisa change in the first novel, physically and emotionally. Her weight struggles may be over, but Elisa is still growing and maturing. I loved the plot especially when it led Elisa and her band of companions out of the castle and off on another journey. This time Elisa wants to retrieve a powerful artifact that will lead her to greater power. But she has to face many dangers to get her reward. While all this is intriguing and fun to read, the interactions between all the characters is what makes Rae Carson's beautiful series stand out among the other similar YA novels on the market.
These two books are among a very limited amount of current fiction that I think have what it takes to be timeless classics. The books are that good. If you have any interest in fantasy or YA novels pick this one up and give it a try. If you love both these genres, than there is no doubt in my mind that these will become one of your favorite series.
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enemies call for her to willingly forfeit her power and come with them as a sacrifice, of course Elisa is scared and frightened for her life. But she still plunges ahead trying to do whats best for her kingdom and her step-son.I am the kind of reader that will pick action over romance anytime, but I have to say my favorite thing about "Crown of Embers" is watching this romance bloom between Hector and Elisa. While I loved Hector in the first novel, I really loved Humberto and was miserable when I finished that book. But Hector is right for Elisa and the romance between them left my tummy fluttering and I maybe even shed a tear or two along the way. I definitely shed more than one tear in a tender scene between Elisa and Rosario, her young step-son.
The action and intrigue in this novel was as good as the in the first book. I loved watching Elisa change in the first novel, physically and emotionally. Her weight struggles may be over, but Elisa is still growing and maturing. I loved the plot especially when it led Elisa and her band of companions out of the castle and off on another journey. This time Elisa wants to retrieve a powerful artifact that will lead her to greater power. But she has to face many dangers to get her reward. While all this is intriguing and fun to read, the interactions between all the characters is what makes Rae Carson's beautiful series stand out among the other similar YA novels on the market.
These two books are among a very limited amount of current fiction that I think have what it takes to be timeless classics. The books are that good. If you have any interest in fantasy or YA novels pick this one up and give it a try. If you love both these genres, than there is no doubt in my mind that these will become one of your favorite series.
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LibraryThing member bell7
***Second in a series - spoiler warning for The Girl of Fire and Thorns.***
As the new queen, Elisa knows she has to be a strong ruler in the midst of turmoil at court. She's shown her mettle in battle, but still doesn't know why she is the Godstone bearer of this century, and what great service
I really enjoy this series because Elisa is such a fresh and interesting character. She isn't your average kick-butt heroine. She does what she has to do, but she's sometimes unsure of herself and struggles with her conscience over her actions as ruler and as a person. Though it had been awhile since I read the first book, I didn't feel at all lost picking this one up as important plot points were reintroduced subtly and as-needed throughout the story. And then there's the pacing, which is pitch-perfect, pageturning without getting frantic. I started reading it before bed a couple of nights ago, and before I knew it, I had read for a couple of hours and was over 100 pages into it. It's just that hard to find a stopping point, because I want to know what happens next to the characters I've come to love.
As the new queen, Elisa knows she has to be a strong ruler in the midst of turmoil at court. She's shown her mettle in battle, but still doesn't know why she is the Godstone bearer of this century, and what great service
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that means she must perform.I really enjoy this series because Elisa is such a fresh and interesting character. She isn't your average kick-butt heroine. She does what she has to do, but she's sometimes unsure of herself and struggles with her conscience over her actions as ruler and as a person. Though it had been awhile since I read the first book, I didn't feel at all lost picking this one up as important plot points were reintroduced subtly and as-needed throughout the story. And then there's the pacing, which is pitch-perfect, pageturning without getting frantic. I started reading it before bed a couple of nights ago, and before I knew it, I had read for a couple of hours and was over 100 pages into it. It's just that hard to find a stopping point, because I want to know what happens next to the characters I've come to love.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This was the second book in the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. The last book will be titled The Bitter Kingdom and is scheduled for a Fall 2013 release. This was an absolutely wonderful fantasy book and an excellent continuation of this series.
Elisa is struggling with her position as Queen of a
Elisa learns a lot about herself and what it means to be Queen and grows a lot throughout the story. You see hints of the laziness that Elisa showed in the beginning of the first book in this series. Elisa is kind of enjoying her status as hero of the realm but not really stepping up in her role as Queen. It takes a quest for power initiated by her Godstone to teach Elisa to be the ruler she is meant to be. Elisa is so human and tries so hard. She is smart, but lazy at times. It was wonderful to watch her grow in this book.
Elisa’s main love interest in this book is Hector. Hector is an intriguing character and we learn a lot more back story about him in this book. He is brave and steadfast. The romance that develops between him and Elisa is somewhat star-crossed, yet oh so very sweet. Their relationship is based on so much friendship and trust that it was a joy to read about.
The other characters surrounding Elisa are all intriguing, interesting, and have stories of their own woven into the story. They are all very well done.
This is an intricate and well thought out world. I love the hints we get throughout the book of what the world used to be before Elisa’s people arrived. There is a story behind that that I am eager to see unraveled.
This book was less about action and adventure and more about intrigue. That is not to say there aren’t a number of heart-pounding action scenes...but there are also a lot of scenes where Elisa is trying to navigate politics in order to provide the best situation for her people.
The story is more religious than most fantasies I read. I am not a big fan of religion in fantasy; but for this book it works. Religion is such a basic foundation of Elisa’s culture that it is woven seamlessly into the story. I will warn that the story ends at a horrible cliffhanger, which has me dying to know what happens next.
Overall this is a wonderful addition to this trilogy. The book is beautifully written with touches of humor and a super sweet love story entwined with an excellent world and intrigue filled plot. I couldn't put this book down. It is a bit more religious than most fantasies I read, but religion is such a part of the culture that it flows well with the story. This was just a wonderful book; I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in The Bitter Kingdom. This series is strongly recommended to fans of YA epic fantasy who don’t mind religion driven cultures.
Elisa is struggling with her position as Queen of a
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country that has been torn by war and is struggling to recover. She follows the power of her Godstone to go in search of more power to help her kingdom; all the while fleeing assassins. Accompanying her is the steadfast Hector along with others. Elisa learns a lot about herself and what it means to be Queen and grows a lot throughout the story. You see hints of the laziness that Elisa showed in the beginning of the first book in this series. Elisa is kind of enjoying her status as hero of the realm but not really stepping up in her role as Queen. It takes a quest for power initiated by her Godstone to teach Elisa to be the ruler she is meant to be. Elisa is so human and tries so hard. She is smart, but lazy at times. It was wonderful to watch her grow in this book.
Elisa’s main love interest in this book is Hector. Hector is an intriguing character and we learn a lot more back story about him in this book. He is brave and steadfast. The romance that develops between him and Elisa is somewhat star-crossed, yet oh so very sweet. Their relationship is based on so much friendship and trust that it was a joy to read about.
The other characters surrounding Elisa are all intriguing, interesting, and have stories of their own woven into the story. They are all very well done.
This is an intricate and well thought out world. I love the hints we get throughout the book of what the world used to be before Elisa’s people arrived. There is a story behind that that I am eager to see unraveled.
This book was less about action and adventure and more about intrigue. That is not to say there aren’t a number of heart-pounding action scenes...but there are also a lot of scenes where Elisa is trying to navigate politics in order to provide the best situation for her people.
The story is more religious than most fantasies I read. I am not a big fan of religion in fantasy; but for this book it works. Religion is such a basic foundation of Elisa’s culture that it is woven seamlessly into the story. I will warn that the story ends at a horrible cliffhanger, which has me dying to know what happens next.
Overall this is a wonderful addition to this trilogy. The book is beautifully written with touches of humor and a super sweet love story entwined with an excellent world and intrigue filled plot. I couldn't put this book down. It is a bit more religious than most fantasies I read, but religion is such a part of the culture that it flows well with the story. This was just a wonderful book; I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in The Bitter Kingdom. This series is strongly recommended to fans of YA epic fantasy who don’t mind religion driven cultures.
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LibraryThing member poetrytoprose
As you might remember, Rae Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns was a perfect fantasy read for me. I screamed, I squeed, I cried, I fangirled…I was pretty much the physical embodiment of exclamation points over it. Yes, it WAS that good and The Crown of Embers immediately became one of my most
First off, Rae Carson’s pacing was so energetic and intense. A LOT happens in The Crown of Embers, and it was easy to see that the stakes were much higher from the first chapter. From there on out, it was a complete adventure with Elisa, Hector, and everyone else and, HOLY CRAP, things got crazy! There were twists and turns, political drama, and so much danger. I was glued to the pages and only stepped away from the book when absolutely forced to. Needless to say, The Crown of Embers had my heart racing with every page turn.
Next is Elisa. MY QUEEN. I am so, so proud of her growth. She has so much weight on her shoulders, and it would be so easy for her to crumble under it, but instead she grows and matures. She demonstrated so much determination and courage, both in standing up for herself and her kingdom, and I continue to look forward to cheering her on. Trust me, Elisa is a character to admire.
And then, of course, there’s the romance. I won’t say a lot about it, but excuse this outburst here and now: OHMYGODOHMYGOD, SUCH PERFECTION. No, really, Rae Carson knows how to build a relationship based on mutual respect and admiration and I was completely crazy over it. I held my breath during their scenes because their chemistry was so palpable and, gah, more of this in my reads, por favor.
Basically, The Crown of Embers is such a quality read and I wish I could put this series into the hands of everyone I know. If you haven’t read it yet, please do so that I can have more people to gush with. Filled with great writing, adventure, romance, and a fierce heroine, this is one fantasy series that I cannot recommend enough.
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anticipated titles of 2012. Friends and I tried to track it down at BEA, I missed it at ALA by a day, and then, when I actually got the book in my hands on release day, work and real life got in the way so I didn’t get the chance to read it until recently, TWO WEEKS later. Agony, let me tell you! Anyway, enough personal anecdotes, The Crown of Embers was astonishing and, hello, yes, much gushing ahead!First off, Rae Carson’s pacing was so energetic and intense. A LOT happens in The Crown of Embers, and it was easy to see that the stakes were much higher from the first chapter. From there on out, it was a complete adventure with Elisa, Hector, and everyone else and, HOLY CRAP, things got crazy! There were twists and turns, political drama, and so much danger. I was glued to the pages and only stepped away from the book when absolutely forced to. Needless to say, The Crown of Embers had my heart racing with every page turn.
Next is Elisa. MY QUEEN. I am so, so proud of her growth. She has so much weight on her shoulders, and it would be so easy for her to crumble under it, but instead she grows and matures. She demonstrated so much determination and courage, both in standing up for herself and her kingdom, and I continue to look forward to cheering her on. Trust me, Elisa is a character to admire.
And then, of course, there’s the romance. I won’t say a lot about it, but excuse this outburst here and now: OHMYGODOHMYGOD, SUCH PERFECTION. No, really, Rae Carson knows how to build a relationship based on mutual respect and admiration and I was completely crazy over it. I held my breath during their scenes because their chemistry was so palpable and, gah, more of this in my reads, por favor.
Basically, The Crown of Embers is such a quality read and I wish I could put this series into the hands of everyone I know. If you haven’t read it yet, please do so that I can have more people to gush with. Filled with great writing, adventure, romance, and a fierce heroine, this is one fantasy series that I cannot recommend enough.
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
I love everything about Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns series. From the strong female character to the romance to all the drama and angst. The Crown of Embers jacks everything up to a higher level -- both the drama and the romance and it is truly fantastic. I adore Elisa as Queen. She's strong, but
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also confused and overwhelmed. She reminds me of Bitterblue, which is a good thing. I cannot, seriously cannot, wait for the next book in this series. At this rate, I'm going to have to buy them all just so I can read them again (and I never do that). Show Less
LibraryThing member KateBond
This was fine. I might have enjoyed it more had I not stubbornly refused to look back at the previous book when I could remember precisely zero things about its plot, but refuse I did, so I remained confused until around page 100.
It also read a bit too much like the second book in a trilogy to me,
It also read a bit too much like the second book in a trilogy to me,
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and the cover is way too cheesy for a story containing zero unicorns. Show Less
LibraryThing member StefanieGeeks
The first book in the series grabbed me and was initially difficult to fully appreciate laced with deep religious connotations. The story was interesting and surprising enough for me to want to continue the journey. This second book in the series was unexpectantly awesome! Although the main
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protagonist is on a spiritual quest, it doesn't seem to bog down the adventure of the story. The character development is strong and the descriptions of the fantastical land they live in makes this book very special. I can't wait to read the final chapter this Fall. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kewpie83
It's another home run for Rae Carson. I devoured this book. It had a steady plot laced throughout the 400 pages and held me captive from beginning to end.
LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
Oh man, so I wasn't a huge fan of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I was so convinced it was the kind of book I should love that I even read it twice. The reread resulted in a pretty similar result, though I did like the audiobook a bit better than the print version. Despite that, I still resolved to
At 11 hours, this audiobook is pretty dang long, but I got through it so swiftly. Believe it or not, I only started listening to this audiobook on Saturday, and I spent most of Sunday and today (I'm writing this review on Monday evening) out of the house and not with this book. Basically, I spent all of the time I could listening to this. I meant to finish three books yesterday, but instead finished a measly one because I could not stop listening to this. I'd tell myself I should go read, but would find myself deciding to stay and listen to just one more chapter or, you know, ten.
Elisa still isn't my favorite heroine of all time, but she did not get on my nerves the way she did before. She even makes reference to some of her previous annoying habits and how she has outgrown them. During the course of the book, she continues to grow. In fact, the physical journey she takes really serves to help her on her psychological journey.
Why did I love this book? Why was I so unable to walk away from it and read my other review books? Hector. I just freaking love that guy. He is totally the kind of hero that I cannot resist: all broody and inimitable on the outside with a soft, sweet center for the right woman. *melts* Through most of the book, they're right on the cusp of realizing their feelings for one another, and I got caught up in the spiral of will-they-get-together-I-must-know-right-now; I couldn't stop listening for the same reason I can't stop watching kdramas. Pretty much at all times I was yelling at Elisa to "get it, gurrrrrl."
Additionally, the plot focused much more strongly on politics than on religion this time. Though religion remains an important theme, I didn't find it to be quite so much up in my face. The political intricacies of trying to rule a kingdom she's only lived in for a short time are much more interesting to me. There were still some annoying religious things, but they took a backseat, so I'm not going to outline it.
If you like adventure, there's bunches of that too. The book freaking opens with an assassination attempt. Can you smell the drama? Just like with the first book, there's betrayal and quests and romance. Also, at the end of the journey, there is this scene that creeped me right out. Just saying.
So, if you're like me and weren't wowed by The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but really feel like it sounds like you should love it, you might want to try The Crown of Embers, because it might turn out to be worth your time.
Jennifer Ikeda again did a marvelous job with her narration. She does a great job with all of the voices, conveys emotion well in the intense scenes, and has a really pleasant voice. I am quite certain that I would not have enjoyed this book so much had I read it. For me, audio is the way to go with this series, I have no doubt.
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venture through the next book. Y'all, I am so glad that I am so stubborn that I didn't give up because I was so into this book the whole way through.At 11 hours, this audiobook is pretty dang long, but I got through it so swiftly. Believe it or not, I only started listening to this audiobook on Saturday, and I spent most of Sunday and today (I'm writing this review on Monday evening) out of the house and not with this book. Basically, I spent all of the time I could listening to this. I meant to finish three books yesterday, but instead finished a measly one because I could not stop listening to this. I'd tell myself I should go read, but would find myself deciding to stay and listen to just one more chapter or, you know, ten.
Elisa still isn't my favorite heroine of all time, but she did not get on my nerves the way she did before. She even makes reference to some of her previous annoying habits and how she has outgrown them. During the course of the book, she continues to grow. In fact, the physical journey she takes really serves to help her on her psychological journey.
Why did I love this book? Why was I so unable to walk away from it and read my other review books? Hector. I just freaking love that guy. He is totally the kind of hero that I cannot resist: all broody and inimitable on the outside with a soft, sweet center for the right woman. *melts* Through most of the book, they're right on the cusp of realizing their feelings for one another, and I got caught up in the spiral of will-they-get-together-I-must-know-right-now; I couldn't stop listening for the same reason I can't stop watching kdramas. Pretty much at all times I was yelling at Elisa to "get it, gurrrrrl."
Additionally, the plot focused much more strongly on politics than on religion this time. Though religion remains an important theme, I didn't find it to be quite so much up in my face. The political intricacies of trying to rule a kingdom she's only lived in for a short time are much more interesting to me. There were still some annoying religious things, but they took a backseat, so I'm not going to outline it.
If you like adventure, there's bunches of that too. The book freaking opens with an assassination attempt. Can you smell the drama? Just like with the first book, there's betrayal and quests and romance. Also, at the end of the journey, there is this scene that creeped me right out. Just saying.
So, if you're like me and weren't wowed by The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but really feel like it sounds like you should love it, you might want to try The Crown of Embers, because it might turn out to be worth your time.
Jennifer Ikeda again did a marvelous job with her narration. She does a great job with all of the voices, conveys emotion well in the intense scenes, and has a really pleasant voice. I am quite certain that I would not have enjoyed this book so much had I read it. For me, audio is the way to go with this series, I have no doubt.
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LibraryThing member JenJ.
I adore this series; can't wait for the third one! Elisa is believably unsure due to inexperience, but continues to grow into herself. Carson has created such an unusual high fantasy world and I'm so enjoying watching it continue to expand and build.
LibraryThing member Readsalot81
3.5 Stars.. The cliff hanger ending didn't do much for me. Romance is much more developed in this one as opposed to the first one.
LibraryThing member SamMusher
I'd recommend this trilogy for fans of books like Incarceron or Matched, who just love to lose themselves in a breathlessly romantic, rich fantasy world.
It was satisfying to watch Elisa's relationships (romantic and otherwise) mature in this second installment. I continue to appreciate theand without the full support of their advisors. One of my biggest complaints about Girl of Fire and Thorns was that the Invierne were an unsubtle enemy. I'm glad to see them start to get some depth and sympathy as the tale progresses.
It was satisfying to watch Elisa's relationships (romantic and otherwise) mature in this second installment. I continue to appreciate the
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religious and spiritual aspects to this world, since those are so lacking in most modern fantasies. Much about this story reminded me of Bitterblue, as both young queens must figure out how to rule effectively while being true to themselves, Show Less
LibraryThing member keristars
Elisa is 17 years old and ruler of a nation that has been ravaged by war. She not only has the insecurities of most 17 year olds, but she is queen because her husband named her his heir on his deathbed - though she grew up as a princess, Elisa wasn't trained to be a ruler, she hasn't had very long
Oh, yeah, and she bears the mark of the Chosen One, a person selected by God only once a century. Her Godstone and the power it imbues in her inspires awe and fear, on top of the whole queen thing. It is with this power that Elisa was able to save her country, and specifically the royal city of Brisadulce, from the invading Invierne, who used the magic of corrupted Godstones to cause fiery destruction.
In this time after the war, the country of Joya d'Arena wants to celebrate and relax, but things aren't so easy. Elisa must find a way to bring peace, prosperity, and stability back to her people, but there are many enemies (and politics) out to sabotage her efforts. Besides which, she just doesn't have the experience yet to know what is right.
And so, this is how Crown of Embers begins. As the story goes along, Elisa discovers another aspect of what it means to be the Chosen One and embarks on a quest to both fulfill her destiny and amass the power she needs to convince her people that she is not a weak ruler as her predecessors were, and that she is a legitimate and powerful queen. Elisa also must learn to balance her relationships with others, to learn to navigate friendship and romance around the fact that she does, in fact, hold great power.
It was frustrating to me to see Elisa's lack of confidence in herself, even as she is obviously capable and knowledgeable about her role. She is stricken with doubt and fear, which then causes her to make poor choices and not act decisively and take what she wants (which then results in her being miserable because of her self-sacrifice). When she finally embarks on her quest, I couldn't figure out what, exactly, she expected to get from it. Her stated reasons just didn't make sense, they were so vague, even though she is usually quite clear about her goals. I won't spoil the end of the quest, but it made me throw my hands up in exasperation with Elisa, even as I thrilled at the way it exposed so much more world-building and creativity.
I enjoyed Crown of Embers quite a lot, though Elisa exasperates me in parts. There is a cliffhanger ending, probably introducing a final arc before Elisa is ready to fully take charge of the throne and her country. The cliffhanger was frustrating, but I can imagine very well what the major brushstrokes of the next book's plot will be - and I'm eager to read it as soon as it's released.
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to learn or practice the skills needed, and some of her advisers and the country's condes question her legitimacy.Oh, yeah, and she bears the mark of the Chosen One, a person selected by God only once a century. Her Godstone and the power it imbues in her inspires awe and fear, on top of the whole queen thing. It is with this power that Elisa was able to save her country, and specifically the royal city of Brisadulce, from the invading Invierne, who used the magic of corrupted Godstones to cause fiery destruction.
In this time after the war, the country of Joya d'Arena wants to celebrate and relax, but things aren't so easy. Elisa must find a way to bring peace, prosperity, and stability back to her people, but there are many enemies (and politics) out to sabotage her efforts. Besides which, she just doesn't have the experience yet to know what is right.
And so, this is how Crown of Embers begins. As the story goes along, Elisa discovers another aspect of what it means to be the Chosen One and embarks on a quest to both fulfill her destiny and amass the power she needs to convince her people that she is not a weak ruler as her predecessors were, and that she is a legitimate and powerful queen. Elisa also must learn to balance her relationships with others, to learn to navigate friendship and romance around the fact that she does, in fact, hold great power.
It was frustrating to me to see Elisa's lack of confidence in herself, even as she is obviously capable and knowledgeable about her role. She is stricken with doubt and fear, which then causes her to make poor choices and not act decisively and take what she wants (which then results in her being miserable because of her self-sacrifice). When she finally embarks on her quest, I couldn't figure out what, exactly, she expected to get from it. Her stated reasons just didn't make sense, they were so vague, even though she is usually quite clear about her goals. I won't spoil the end of the quest, but it made me throw my hands up in exasperation with Elisa, even as I thrilled at the way it exposed so much more world-building and creativity.
I enjoyed Crown of Embers quite a lot, though Elisa exasperates me in parts. There is a cliffhanger ending, probably introducing a final arc before Elisa is ready to fully take charge of the throne and her country. The cliffhanger was frustrating, but I can imagine very well what the major brushstrokes of the next book's plot will be - and I'm eager to read it as soon as it's released.
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LibraryThing member Tiffalex
One of the BEST EVER fantasy books I have ever read! Rae Carson gets better and better with each book.
Get ready to fall in love with Hector - because I sure did. Elisa shows her strength and smarts in this novel, and is a great heroine. I can NOT WAIT for book three!
Get ready to fall in love with Hector - because I sure did. Elisa shows her strength and smarts in this novel, and is a great heroine. I can NOT WAIT for book three!
LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
Sequel to Girl of Fire and Thorns. When an attempt is made on Elisa's life, she realizes she's still not safe from the Inviernos. She fears treason within her Quorum, and on top of that is expected to marry for the good of the kingdom. But she finds her heart drawn in another direction, to Hector,
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the captain of her guard. When an Invierno is discovered hiding in her kingdom, she uses him to gain information about the zafira, a source of ancient power for her godstone. She embarks on a quest to find this source, hoping it will help her solve the problems in her kingdom. Show Less
LibraryThing member MBLewis
I knew one thing about Rae Carson's The Crown of Embers going into it. Without discussing the details of the story, every reader I stumbled across who'd read it before me mentioned the romance. On more than one occasion, it was even called "steamy." Considering the disastrous romances of The Girl
It would be a mistake to call the novel a romance in the sense that there's a great deal more going on than passionate glances and fervent kisses and the like. Elisa has inherited a kingdom ravaged by war, desperately poor, and politically unstable. She is raising a young prince, entertaining suitors, and uncovering the truth behind obscure prophecies that seem to center directly around her. There are daggers and arrows, assassins and desert caravans, and ships traversing stormy seas. And let's not forget magic. In short, this book is epic.
But it is true that the most powerful story you're left with at the closing of the final page is the heady passion between Elisa and the man she loves, as their friendship matures each step of the journey. Second books often suffer from lack of narrative, serving as a bridge from the opening story in book one to its conclusion in book three. It's the love story that keeps The Crown of Embers together, unifying each disparate plot twist with one steadily growing theme.
Beyond that, Elisa herself is a character you want to stay with through anything and everything. She's a flawed character, but so very strong. Her strength is in her intelligence and her courage, yet she is not afraid to rely on those she trusts. She's a good example of love allowing you to be vulnerable without making you weak. Nothing about this series is moralizing, but I cannot help feel that a reader could learn a great deal from these characters about wisdom, courage, and power - the very things Elisa asks for in the sacrament of pain, the lessons she herself takes from her own experiences.
You must know before you begin that the series does not end here. Much more than with the first book, The Crown of Embers concludes with a serious cliffhanger. You'll be aching for book three. So much happens between Elisa's marriage to Alejandro in the opening pages of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and the final scene of The Crown of Embers, that you'll probably have to reread them both before the next release. So carve out the time now, and gather yourself a book club. The Bitter Kingdom is coming in the fall of 2013.
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of Fire and Thorns, Elisa, seventeen year old queen and bearer of the Godstone, is due a break.It would be a mistake to call the novel a romance in the sense that there's a great deal more going on than passionate glances and fervent kisses and the like. Elisa has inherited a kingdom ravaged by war, desperately poor, and politically unstable. She is raising a young prince, entertaining suitors, and uncovering the truth behind obscure prophecies that seem to center directly around her. There are daggers and arrows, assassins and desert caravans, and ships traversing stormy seas. And let's not forget magic. In short, this book is epic.
But it is true that the most powerful story you're left with at the closing of the final page is the heady passion between Elisa and the man she loves, as their friendship matures each step of the journey. Second books often suffer from lack of narrative, serving as a bridge from the opening story in book one to its conclusion in book three. It's the love story that keeps The Crown of Embers together, unifying each disparate plot twist with one steadily growing theme.
Beyond that, Elisa herself is a character you want to stay with through anything and everything. She's a flawed character, but so very strong. Her strength is in her intelligence and her courage, yet she is not afraid to rely on those she trusts. She's a good example of love allowing you to be vulnerable without making you weak. Nothing about this series is moralizing, but I cannot help feel that a reader could learn a great deal from these characters about wisdom, courage, and power - the very things Elisa asks for in the sacrament of pain, the lessons she herself takes from her own experiences.
You must know before you begin that the series does not end here. Much more than with the first book, The Crown of Embers concludes with a serious cliffhanger. You'll be aching for book three. So much happens between Elisa's marriage to Alejandro in the opening pages of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and the final scene of The Crown of Embers, that you'll probably have to reread them both before the next release. So carve out the time now, and gather yourself a book club. The Bitter Kingdom is coming in the fall of 2013.
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
Since the first book, I could not wait to read this one. The Girl of Fire and Thorns thrusted me into a world of royalty and war. And this one, left me feeling the exact that same the first book did. One word. More.
I really enjoyed just slipping right back into this world. Ms. Carson does it again,
The characters of the book have grown much. Elisa is not some princess. Though she has lost much she has gained much in knowledge, strength, and trust. Elisa can kick-butt and ask questions later. Her sarcasm never fails to make me laugh. Her seriousness never fails to take me by surprise. I know her. The feel of her emotions and her honor of what she needs to do always comes first.
The love interest did fall into what I expected and more. Elisa has done everything for everybody else. She sacrifice who she loves as always puts herself last. It's about damn time that someone put her first for once! I loved watching Elisa smile and be carefree.
The Crown Of Embers is a great sequel. Filled with more action and love, I fell for this book. Carson is talented writer that can grab any reader. Stellar and dark, The Crown Of Embers is awesome.
I really enjoyed just slipping right back into this world. Ms. Carson does it again,
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but creating a fabulous world full of life, treachery, and greed. I loved how easy it was for me to fall right back into Elisa shoes. It was as if I had never left. The plot once again, is full of blood and war. Elisa is on the run and this time she has an enemy on the inside.The characters of the book have grown much. Elisa is not some princess. Though she has lost much she has gained much in knowledge, strength, and trust. Elisa can kick-butt and ask questions later. Her sarcasm never fails to make me laugh. Her seriousness never fails to take me by surprise. I know her. The feel of her emotions and her honor of what she needs to do always comes first.
The love interest did fall into what I expected and more. Elisa has done everything for everybody else. She sacrifice who she loves as always puts herself last. It's about damn time that someone put her first for once! I loved watching Elisa smile and be carefree.
The Crown Of Embers is a great sequel. Filled with more action and love, I fell for this book. Carson is talented writer that can grab any reader. Stellar and dark, The Crown Of Embers is awesome.
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LibraryThing member 2wonderY
Just the tiniest bit too pat at the end. Still, enjoyable.
LibraryThing member srearley
I preordered this about 2 seconds after I finished the first in the series.
Loved this one even more, and I really enjoyed the first.
The world-building (esp. that it's a Spanish based culture, rather than Anglo-Saxon), the mysteries, the character development, the romance, Elisa, Hector, and so on,
It is the 2nd of a trilogy, so new readers definitely should start with the first, but I also appreciated how skillfully Carson reminded us of what had happened in book one. Some authors beat you over the head, some don't do enough, but this was just exactly perfect.
I had a really terrible day yesterday, and was thrilled that I had this book to come home to. And yes, I read it in an evening (and stayed up waaaaay too late reading it....).
I will definitely read all of the books again in the future, and I don't reread very much.
Loved this one even more, and I really enjoyed the first.
The world-building (esp. that it's a Spanish based culture, rather than Anglo-Saxon), the mysteries, the character development, the romance, Elisa, Hector, and so on,
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and so forth.It is the 2nd of a trilogy, so new readers definitely should start with the first, but I also appreciated how skillfully Carson reminded us of what had happened in book one. Some authors beat you over the head, some don't do enough, but this was just exactly perfect.
I had a really terrible day yesterday, and was thrilled that I had this book to come home to. And yes, I read it in an evening (and stayed up waaaaay too late reading it....).
I will definitely read all of the books again in the future, and I don't reread very much.
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LibraryThing member emmyson
Why can I not give more than 5 measly stars?! This book demands ALL THE STARS!
LibraryThing member asgwilli
I finished this book in the wee hours of the morning, and have to say that I loved it tremendously! I was entranced until the very last word. It was a bit easier to follow, and I wasn't let down by the romantic aspect. There's a bit of a cliffhanger, but I was satisfied with the resolution of the
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plot. I LOVE how Elisa has grown into a confident woman,though she doesn't feel it at times. The evolution of the plot had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn't get enough of the romantic aspect of the book! I am soooo glad I can start on The Bitter Kingdom tonight, so I don't have to wait to know what is happening. Show Less
Awards
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2015)
CCBC Choices (2013)
Language
Original publication date
2012
ISBN
0062026518 / 9780062026514
Local notes
Faced with assassins, court politics, and the threat of civil war, Elisa despairs of being the ruler her people need. Her only hope is the Godstone. She must master its power once and for all. She finds clues hidden in a long forgotten--and forbidden--scripture. Accompanied by a one-eyed warrior, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa takes a leap of faith and crosses an ocean in search of the ultimate source of the Godstone's power.