Check the Shelf Book Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Summary (From 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.

Shannan’s Summary

Elisa knows she is the unwanted princess.  She knows her marriage is a political one.  She also knows she is God’s chosen one, but is certain he made a mistake.  She follows her duty, hoping that it will one day make since, and yet, how could she be able to when she is only good at eating honey pastries. But she wasn’t meant to remain in the palace finery and her life is quickly jerked in a direction that no one could have predicted.

First Off…

This was a “because it was cheep buy.” I really didn’t know anything about it other than a lot of people were in love with the series.  So when my Secret Santa raved about it, I moved it up the TBR list.

Thoughts:

I’m surprised I loved this book as much as I did.  Mostly because it takes a while to get to the action and adventure part of the book.  But the writing was done so well, and the storyline was intriguing enough that I wanted to know where it was going.  And action definitely happens.

I think what I liked the most about the story is that Elisa is a very relatable character.  Someone that everyone sees great potential in, but can’t see it herself.  I think most of us have been there at one time or another where people say they can see something in you that you can’t fathom.  From this connection we get to go with her through numerous journeys where the adage of “greatness is thrust upon you” is played out.  But it’s not just Elisa that changes and grows through this story, you see many of the other major and minor characters change and grow or reveal who they really are, through everything that happens.

And let me take a minute to say, OH MY WORD!!!!! This book, I totally didn’t see any of it coming.  Even when things happened, I still didn’t believe it.  And what’s worse, is that it was an e-book, so I couldn’t easily flip ahead to convince myself what did or didn’t happen, I just had to suck it up and keep reading.

This book also didn’t end at all the way I would have guessed, even if I had three guesses.  But it ended in a way that makes me want to read all the book.

In the End

This is a great series that I’m not sure how I never heard about till recently, but I’m so glad I’m part of the “in” club now.  If you haven’t read it, add it to the list, you won’t’ want to miss out.

10 Second Summary:

1. A very relatable main character:  I loved Elisa and watching her grow through the book.
2. Unpredictable story line:  I didn’t guess any of it.  Not a single one.
3. You get closer for the ending but still want to read the next one:  I always appreciate when I get enough closure that I don’t hate my life when it comes to a book in a series.  But I want there to be enough questions that compel me to read the next one.  I like balance and this one has it.

This is a hardback love.  Sadly, my bank account will make me wait to actually get the Hardback of this series.