Firelight (Firelight, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Dec 12, 2010 Logan rated it liked it

Shelves: borrowed-ebook, borrowed-library, shifters, paranormal, young-adult

First impressions: I was so intrigued by dragon shifters! In the first scene, she's being hunted, and I was completely drawn in to this modern world full of dragon descendents.

Lasting impressions: Jacinda makes a really interesting character, and like a werewolf, she's not always in control of her shift to draki form, which amped up the tension. I was sold on the concept alone.

Conflicting impressions: I do wish that the draki lore had been expanded a bit, so we knew more about their culture. Jac First impressions: I was so intrigued by dragon shifters! In the first scene, she's being hunted, and I was completely drawn in to this modern world full of dragon descendents.

Lasting impressions: Jacinda makes a really interesting character, and like a werewolf, she's not always in control of her shift to draki form, which amped up the tension. I was sold on the concept alone.

Conflicting impressions: I do wish that the draki lore had been expanded a bit, so we knew more about their culture. Jacinda and her family exit that life so quickly that I was a bit confused on how much of the world knew of their existence or what the real consequences would be if that information got out. I mean, sure it would be bad, but how bad? How many hunters are there? How many draki? I had way more questions than answers.

Overall impressions: This was a fun, different read that I enjoyed a lot more than I anticipated. Jacinda is an interesting character - a draki shifter who flees her home because her status as a rebel firebreather has put her in danger, and her mother and sister are not able to shift. They desire a normal life, and haul Jacinda out to the Southwest deserts to kill off her dragon side.

Jacinda doesn't handle this too well, despite knowing there wasn't much of a life to look forward to back at the draki camp. She was betrothed to Cassian, a headstrong guy who just doesn't do much for Jacinda, and would be expected to make little firebreathing babies with him. Because of her penchant for sneaking off and breaking rules, she also had some stiff punishment facing her. Knowing all of this doesn't make her agree to run for the hills and try to live normally, though. She just wants to fly.

This selfish nature was a bit trying at times, and when she kept digging herself into holes I found it hard to heartily root for her to get out instead of maybe taking a bit of what was coming to her. Not that it was much easier to root for her to kill off an essential part of herself just to appease her whiny sister and depressed mother. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place on who to side with here.

Enter Will. A boy with secrets of his own, he is drawn to Jacinda as much as she is to him. They have an insta-love connection, and Jacinda has total Edward Cullen Syndrome going on - she can't control her impulse to turn draki around him. This means lots of tentative kisses, followed by the need for restraint when things get too hot and heavy, thus avoiding any kind of physical intimacy the author (or audience) may find uncomfortable.

Give me a break.

Despite my frustrations at times, I did enjoy the setup of the draki world versus the real world, and look forward to reading the next book (Vanish, out now). I want to know more about the draki, and find out whether Will and Jacinda can find a way to be together, or whether Cassian will end up winning us over. It's a pleasant story with a unique twist, and is a nice read for fantasy fans. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Thenia rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, series, paranormal, ya-na, 2011, shifters

A great story about being what you are no matter how hard that might be.

Jacinda's life has been hard, with people dictating her future, the people closest to her unable to accept her for who she is and her struggling to be true to herself.

Her family's attitude annoyed me, but it was sadly realistic. I could see through the "mystery" almost as soon as it was introduced, but that didn't make the story less enjoyable.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next!

(view spoiler) ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it really liked it

I've had Firelight on my TBR List for a wee while and I finally got around this weekend to reading it and I enjoyed it. I didn't really have a full idea what it was about but I did have some thoughts that it may be a supernatural type novel with a hint of a love story.
Firelight is the first in a series for teens written by Sophie Jordan and focuses mainly on Jacinda who is what is called a "draki" , they are dragons which have the power to morph into human form. Jacinda's father was a draki and ...more

Like · see review

Oct 12, 2010 Lara rated it it was amazing

Didn't expect this one would be such a page turner! I absolutely loved it and could not put it down! It sort of reminded me a bit of "Twilight" with the whole romance situation - but although I liked Twilight, I never LOVED it and thought Edward was.....ummmmm....let's just say, "less than". I also didn't like how they just instantly were do or die in love and felt the story lacked giving them that build up connection I enjoy. I felt Jordan did a wonderful job of matching Jacinda and Will and it ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Kalynn rated it really liked it

3.5-4 stars

More detailed review may follow. I really liked this book, though it had a little too much whining and too little action for me. It's a Romeo and Juliet type story. It reminded me most strongly of Andrea Cremer's Witches War books. I'm looking forward to book 2, though I'm very worried it's going to introduce the bane of YA middle books (for me), some sort of love triangle. ...more

Like · see review