Fire (Graceling) (original: 2009; edição: 2009)

I love the idea of the world Cashire has created, but every time I read her books I feel like she is using them to forward her very liberal sexual agenda. Nowhere is there a strong, equal, monogamous relationship. While sex is handled discreetly, characters are going off with whoever strikes their fancy and getting pregnant with partners who aren't interested in long term relationships. The "strong" female characters are immature, impulsive, and often reckless. The overall message feels like "Watch out for number one at all times and enjoy the passing fancy of whoever captures your attention at this particular moment." ( )

Rating: 97% (4.85 stars)
( )

I read the first book of the series five years ago, even though I had bought the whole trilogy at the same time. I enjoyed Kristin Cashore's writing, and I knew that I would continue with the series. The Graceling Realm is a companion series, I picked "Fire" as an audiobook while cleaning the house and while doing some errands.
Like Graceling, there was a right mix of action fun stuff and some slower-paced story building stuff. They are intertwined nicely, so I never felt overwhelmed with the action or bored with the story building.
The world-building was fantastic! The Dells is in a different world then Graceling, though. The way it's explained in the book is that if you were in the Graceling kingdoms, and fell off a cliff, then you would land yourself in the Dells kingdom. The two realms don't even know the other exists. So that's why it was confusing when I said it was in the same world, yet it's wasn't. But the dells have no Graceling with two different eyes and special powers. But they do have colorful monsters, including the last remaining human-monster Fire. The monsters range from humans monsters to huge hungry monsters, to little monster bugs. They have mind powers too. I thought that was a different and exciting concept. Plus, you add in civil war and tons of political intrigue, with a slow-burning romance that's sweet and gentle, with an underlying plot that could tips that tides of war.
Surprisingly enough, I enjoyed the romance aspect of the story. Much like Graceling, the romance(s) was a slow build, so I grew to love the people like Fire did. I loved the lack of insta-love ( )

viva la sexual revolution of ladies ( )

This is the companion to Graceling and they can be read in any order. I loved the world in this book and am very ready for the third book to come out. Ms. Cashore's writing draws you into her world and keeps you there. Although, I do wonder at her female main characters not wanting to have children ever. ( )