Fire (Graceling Realm, #2) in Mock Newbery 2026

Jun 02, 2012 Kristine rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-scifi, young-adult

I liked this world better than the one in Graceling.

I still had the same problems as with Graceling, though. Apparently there is not one happy, heterosexual, monogamous relationship/marriage in this world. Are we surprised? No.

This was my airport read from Charlotte to Salt Lake. It made the day go fast. :-) Darn compelling stories.

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Feb 08, 2009 Monica Edinger rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Really enjoyed this one. Great world-building, appealing characters, compelling plot. Now I was one of the rare ones who did not fall madly in love with Graceling so I started this one warily, but quickly became engaged. I found Fire an incredibly appealing character and loved the whole concept of beautiful, colorful monsters --- seemingly "different" creatures (including people). Like Graceling this one is full of political intrigue, complex moral issues, sexuality, family, and more.

While one ...more

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Jan 25, 2009 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: signed, books-i-own, mundie-moms-review, 2012-reading-challenge

4.5 stars

I absolutely love Kristin Cashore's writing, her incredible world building and her entire fantasy element she has created. Everything about it lures me in and always leaves me wanting more. I loved Graceling, and much like how Graceling started off for me, Fire started off a little slow, but once I got into the book there was no putting it down. I'll admit, I bought Fire when it first came out. In-fact I had called the book store that Kristin went and signed Fire at when it came out and 4.5 stars

I absolutely love Kristin Cashore's writing, her incredible world building and her entire fantasy element she has created. Everything about it lures me in and always leaves me wanting more. I loved Graceling, and much like how Graceling started off for me, Fire started off a little slow, but once I got into the book there was no putting it down. I'll admit, I bought Fire when it first came out. In-fact I had called the book store that Kristin went and signed Fire at when it came out and ordered and a signed copy of Fire, and I started to read the day I got it. For some reason when I started reading it, it was a book that I didn't connect with so I put it back on my shelf where it sat until this past week. It's funny how sometimes you can struggle with a book, but when you let it be and go back to it awhile later you find you can't put it down. This is what happened to me with Fire.

This prequel is a wonderful edition to Graceling. While I missed Katsa and Po, I liked the new characters Kristin introduced me to, especially Fire and Brigan. Fire for me is a well written flawed, heroine who in remarkable strong through out everything she has to deal with. I didn't like I would like her as much as I loved Katsa, but I was hugely mistaken. She's a fighter, she's fierce, loyal, independent and she's someone I cheered on the entire time. There's something about her that makes her an enduring character.

To match Fire's personality are two guys that I really came to adore, Archer and Brigan. Archer is the strength Fire needed up to the a certain point in the story, and I really like the way their relationship was developed and the realistic direction it went in. Talk about a drawn out, sexy relationship between to unlikely characters, Brigan and Fire had the type of character chemistry I love when reading fantasy. I loved how their relationship developed over the entire book, it was fabulous! It hooked me and it made me eager to find out what was going to happen between the two of them. I have to say, at first I didn't see that one coming, and I liked being caught off guard like that.

The world building is just as intriguing as it was in Graceling. I enjoyed meeting a whole new cast of characters and loved the royal family. There's a lot of twist and turns in Fire's plot, plenty of action and a incredibly fascinating world. There is a lot more casual sex than I had excepted in this story, and as I say that it's also fitting for the time period in which the story takes place. Kristin does a fabulous job at keeping these scene clean cut and to the point, meaning there's nothing graphic. She also incorporates the method they use for birth control and the consequences that come from these relationships in the story. Now that I've read Fire, I'm very curious to read about what elements and characters of this story will be seen in Bitterblue. If you're a fan of Graceling, I highly recommend picking this book up!
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Jul 17, 2011 Katharine rated it liked it

Shelves: teen

not as good as graceling!

once again i was disappointed by the author's moral universe. although the sexuality is not explicit, the main character is a sexually active teen (since age 15) and there is NO character who is in a faithful relationship. it bothers me when this is presented as normal and acceptable in a book geared toward teens. and once again, the main female character has sworn against marriage and childbearing. ...more

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Jun 16, 2009 Jess rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

This reminded me of Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword - partially for the type of fantasy setting that's heavy on social issues and horses, and where magic is used rarely but with great impact, and partially for the element of tense romance that's not resolved until late in the story. Young teen me would have loved to read these post-McKinley. There are more mentions of sex in Cashore's books, but it's more frank than graphic. Fire is long but fast-paced, and will please ...more

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Nov 07, 2009 Ramona rated it liked it

Shelves: teenfiction

I'm not sure how much my opinion of this book was influenced by the fact that I lost my copy when I was about 2/3 of the way through and had to wait a couple of months to finish it, but here goes...I didn't like it nearly as much as Graceling, which is one of my favorite teen books ever. Fire still has great characters and setting but the plot was weaker. It drags in the middle and there are some "reveals" involving parentage that got repetitive and soap opera-ish. The story is much more complex ...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Tamsyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: fms, wonderful-fantasy, youngadult, adventure

I enjoyed this book as much as Graceling, though there was no connection of characters between this prequel and the 1st. Equally sympathetic and interesting people, with new and provocative fantasy elements (instead of graces, "monsters" who are always incredibly beautiful.) Fire is the last human monster. ...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Shannon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

So here's the weird thing, I feel like I knew pretty much everything that was going to happen in this book, but I liked it a lot better than Graceling. I'm interested to see what Bitterblue is like! ...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Kate Hastings rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this prequel to Graceling but felt like I did a LOT of waiting during parts of the book for something to happen. Readers who liked Graceling will probably stick in there. Fun fantasy world completely different from the 7 kingdoms. High School (a lot of musical beds, but not graphic).

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Nov 30, 2009 Parry Rigney rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-lit, fantasy, romance

I enjoyed Fire, but not more than Graceling! Except, maybe I liked the romance in this one better because Brigan was so wonderful, and more my type than Po. I'd note that this book feels to me like it holds the most appeal for a little older of a crowd than Graceling. I'm *really* looking forward to Bitterblue, as she was a favorite character of mine from Graceling. ...more

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Oct 25, 2009 CLM rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

It finally came! I have gotten no work done today; finally gave up and brought it to the gym with me.

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Mar 11, 2010 V C rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya

Author seems to have some odd stance on marriage - good story

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Apr 27, 2009 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-ya, tearjerker, fantasy

Yay! Thank you Comic-Con for this advanced copy!

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Feb 27, 2010 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, teen, thumbs-up, fantasy-scifi

Thought this was an excellent listen. I've read Graceling and thought Fire was even better! Adventure, romance, and fantasy elements make this one of my favorites teen books in a LONG time! ...more

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Jul 23, 2009 June rated it it was amazing

I think I enjoyed this even more than Graceling. I think Fire is a more fully developed character. Her travails of dealing with her power and her fight to overcome her fear that she will become a monster like her father are riveting.

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