Fire (review)

In this novel set in the same world (though on the other side of the mountains) as Graceling (BCCB 1/09), a striking and memorable girl, Fire, comes of age and grows into her own remarkable ability to control the minds of others. Her land contains extraordinarily beautiful monsters, mutated versions of ordinary animals and humans that have hypnotic powers and often fierce strength, and Fire is one such being. Kingdom-wide power struggles play out around her and various people seek to use her abilities to gain key information that will help them prevail; meanwhile, Fire herself is consumed by internal struggles about her relationship with her villainous father, and about her own existence in a world where she knows she can never simply pass unnoticed. This companion to Graceling (only one key character appears in both) has a much larger cast, and it relies on the reader's committing to an elaborate study into the often complex and murky motivations that drive Fire's actions. Fans expecting a sequel may therefore be initially surprised, but the sophisticated writing and heady mix of romance, intrigue, murder, and monsters will easily win them over. A map will aid readers in following Fire's journeys.