The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds.

Book Review:
I enjoyed Carson's debut book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns. It really was an impressive debut, however, I found parts of the story to be lacking. I was a bit on the fence if I would pick up the sequel or not. However, reviews were pouring in with stellar ratings and comments. I thought I should at least give the sequel a chance. Boy am I glad I did. Carson took her misgivings with her first book and came back strong with the second. What an amazing accomplishment for a writer. Writers like Carson make me wish I had the drive and passion that they do for writing. You can tell that a lot of hard work and time went into this book. I savored every moment of it. Elisa finds her footing as queen, but her country is slowly falling apart. Elisa finds herself questioning who she should trust. The relationship between Hector and Elisa kept me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep. I enjoyed the journey that Elisa embarks on in her quest for the Godstone's power. Overall, a very strong story with immense promise for book three! I can't wait!!!!

Favorite Quote:
“I won't lie to you. There is always a cost. All I can gurantee is that it will be the right thing."

"It's insane," he says, but without vehemence.

"It's faith," I say.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I wont lie. I was not a fan of these covers to begin with. However, they are growing on me, particularly this one. The colors are bolder and the image more sharp. The previous cover was a bit more bland and muddled.

Rating:

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1) by Rae Carson

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): 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.

Book Review:
This book came highly recommended by my fellow bloggers, and I can see why. Carson wove a fabulous tale full of romance, adventure, religion, and friendship. I enjoyed Elisa's character arc. At the beginning I was quite frustrated with her. However, over time she matured and grew into a strong, confident character. I also enjoyed the supporting characters as well. I also quite enjoyed the role that religion played in this book. While I'm not one for overly religious tones, Carson does a good job of incorporating it into the story on it's own accord. I'm curious to see where this series will go. There were a few things that knocked down the rating...Elisa's obsession with her weight was tedious and downright annoying. Also, several times I felt that she kept telling the reader how close she felt connected with another character, but I didn't actually feel their connection. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Once I started reading, it was difficult to set it down!

Favorite Quote:

“Honor from death,” I snap, “is a myth. Invented by the war torn to make sense of the horrific. If we die, it will be so that others may live. Truly honorable death, the only honorable death, is one that enables life.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I am not a fan of this cover. The blue jewel has a lot of meaning to the story, but I find the background colors to be on the bland side.

Rating: