Paul's October Pick: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Title: The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Author: Rae Carson
Year Published: 2011


Synopsis: Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

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.

Why?: Paul saw this at B&N and bought it, so now I get to read it too.



Expectations: Paul really enjoyed this book, so I think I will too. It seems like a pretty epic novel with a not-so-strong heroine who probably steps up into the role of heroine. And faces death often. Since most of the chosen die. I've never read anything by this author, but I hope she writes well.


Judging a book by its cover: I think the gem is very important, and is central to the plot. Also, the girl. Since she probably has the gem.




These are significantly harder to do once I've read the book... I need to stop doing this.


--Ashley