whisperedaria's review against another edition
5.0
Such a relief to read something that's not a bitter disappointment. More of a review later.
tashas's review against another edition
3.0
I really love this series. Both are good books but it was hard getting through this one. Don’t get me wrong! it’s still good! Less action but more love!
linaria's review against another edition
3.0
I was curious to see what this book would do considering that they in the first book.
Elisa is now the one that must make decisions for the fate of the country that she's begun to call home. Elisa teams up with some of the characters from the first book and Storm. I was totally on board the Hector + Elisa train at the beginning of the novel, but I'm kind of considering the Elisa + Storm train. I don't know. The romance in this series has me conflicted.
As always I feel like if they mention God one more time, I may pull my hair out. The religion just feels so underdeveloped and it bugs me a lot. Relationships in this book get messy. REALLY messy. Characters you thought that you knew grow and change -.
I think that this book is a case of me - not the book. I just have trouble with the religion aspect and the characters seem to rub me the wrong way. I am, however, excited to see more about Storm in the future though.
Spoiler
killed the two possible love interests for ElisaElisa is now the one that must make decisions for the fate of the country that she's begun to call home. Elisa teams up with some of the characters from the first book and
Spoiler
PRINCEAs always I feel like if they mention God one more time, I may pull my hair out. The religion just feels so underdeveloped and it bugs me a lot. Relationships in this book get messy. REALLY messy. Characters you thought that you knew grow and change -
Spoiler
Belen especiallyI think that this book is a case of me - not the book. I just have trouble with the religion aspect and the characters seem to rub me the wrong way. I am, however, excited to see more about Storm in the future though.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
4.0
If I didn't already know how this series ends, I would be freaking out right now!
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
On the back flap of the book is a Locus Magazine quote comparing Rae Carson to Kristin Cashore and Megan Whalen Turner...and I agree.
Carson has the magic touch of an author who makes you care irrevocably and completely for the main characters in the same way as those other two authors.
This second book in Elisa's story of a journey from mostly-discounted and anxious Princess of Orovalle to becoming a true queen for Joya D'Arena continues making you fall in love with Elisa and her ladies and protectors (and even the irritatingly snide enemy, Storm!)
Carson does a fabulous job of showing characters undergoing changes, and nowhere else is this more evident than in the character of Elisa, who wants so badly to be the strong queen her country needs, but keeps barely reacting in time to assassination attempts and political intrigues undermining her power.
And then there's the issue of who she will marry, and enemy Invierne animagi who keep setting themselves on fire in inconveniently public places.
As usual, the pseudo-Spanish/Morocco culture is great (why did I never think of honey-coconut scones?) and Carson throws us a few surprises about Brisadulce itself and the true history of the enmity between Invierne and the people of Brisadulce.
And that brings us to my one quibble with the book. A major part of the book is spent looking for this magical Zafira; and we find clues from both Brisadulce and Invierne sources. This zafira is built up (granted in Elisa's mind)as the answer to most of her issues. She rallies her whole team in order to find it, travels a long distance, is tested, and then when she's on the cusp...she chooses to do something that (without getting too spoilery here) seems to go against everything she's thought thus far.
Ordinarily I am a big fan of characters who when faced with a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kind of choice make their own, clever, third choice. But in this case, it just made Elisa seem unbelievably heroic as well as made me frustrated with the big build up.
Other than the ending, however, this book gets top marks in making me care about Elisa's people, rehabilitating enemies, developing a believable, sweet romance, throwing plot surprises, and developing an over-arching mythology.
This Book's Snack Rating: Parmesan-Garlic Kettle Chips for the addictive flavor of a girl becoming a queen on top of the solid crunch of a well-developed mythos
Carson has the magic touch of an author who makes you care irrevocably and completely for the main characters in the same way as those other two authors.
This second book in Elisa's story of a journey from mostly-discounted and anxious Princess of Orovalle to becoming a true queen for Joya D'Arena continues making you fall in love with Elisa and her ladies and protectors (and even the irritatingly snide enemy, Storm!)
Carson does a fabulous job of showing characters undergoing changes, and nowhere else is this more evident than in the character of Elisa, who wants so badly to be the strong queen her country needs, but keeps barely reacting in time to assassination attempts and political intrigues undermining her power.
And then there's the issue of who she will marry, and enemy Invierne animagi who keep setting themselves on fire in inconveniently public places.
As usual, the pseudo-Spanish/Morocco culture is great (why did I never think of honey-coconut scones?) and Carson throws us a few surprises about Brisadulce itself and the true history of the enmity between Invierne and the people of Brisadulce.
And that brings us to my one quibble with the book. A major part of the book is spent looking for this magical Zafira; and we find clues from both Brisadulce and Invierne sources. This zafira is built up (granted in Elisa's mind)as the answer to most of her issues. She rallies her whole team in order to find it, travels a long distance, is tested, and then when she's on the cusp...she chooses to do something that (without getting too spoilery here) seems to go against everything she's thought thus far.
Ordinarily I am a big fan of characters who when faced with a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kind of choice make their own, clever, third choice. But in this case, it just made Elisa seem unbelievably heroic as well as made me frustrated with the big build up.
Other than the ending, however, this book gets top marks in making me care about Elisa's people, rehabilitating enemies, developing a believable, sweet romance, throwing plot surprises, and developing an over-arching mythology.
This Book's Snack Rating: Parmesan-Garlic Kettle Chips for the addictive flavor of a girl becoming a queen on top of the solid crunch of a well-developed mythos
trankin's review against another edition
3.0
A little bit of a slow start, but the plot picked up towards the middle. A clean read. Not my favorite book, but I will read the next one to see what happens.
meganmreads's review against another edition
4.0
The Crown of Embers was such an awesome sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The Elisa I couldn’t stand in book 1 was completely gone. And while she still second guessed some of her decisions as queen, she did so in a way that seemed less attributed to lack of self esteem and more legitimately not knowing if her decisions were good for the country. She was so much more mature and willing to do what was necessary.
Elisa managed to find some allies and people she trusted. Despite her losses in book one, she was still willing to open herself up and trust. She was eager to lead, eager to do what was necessary as one of the bearers of the Godstone. What defeated the army in the first book was no longer a solution as the other Godstones were tapped out. But as wave after wave of attack or secret plot threatened her, she knew she had to embark on a new path.
The Crown of Embers did not suffer from the dreaded second-book-syndrome. Elisa was so much stronger, yet still vulnerable. I loved watching her lead, rule, and make difficult decisions. She was unconventional and a tad reckless, but she wasn’t naive about it like she was in the first book. I loved watching her feelings for Hector unfold as impossible choices had to be made. She had so much farther to go as a developed queen and I love seeing it happen. I cannot wait for the next book!
I recommend The Crown of Embers and I think the series will be a good one and I can’t wait to see how it ends. Now that I am where I am, I think I can even appreciate Elisa’s beginnings in book one.
Elisa managed to find some allies and people she trusted. Despite her losses in book one, she was still willing to open herself up and trust. She was eager to lead, eager to do what was necessary as one of the bearers of the Godstone. What defeated the army in the first book was no longer a solution as the other Godstones were tapped out. But as wave after wave of attack or secret plot threatened her, she knew she had to embark on a new path.
The Crown of Embers did not suffer from the dreaded second-book-syndrome. Elisa was so much stronger, yet still vulnerable. I loved watching her lead, rule, and make difficult decisions. She was unconventional and a tad reckless, but she wasn’t naive about it like she was in the first book. I loved watching her feelings for Hector unfold as impossible choices had to be made. She had so much farther to go as a developed queen and I love seeing it happen. I cannot wait for the next book!
I recommend The Crown of Embers and I think the series will be a good one and I can’t wait to see how it ends. Now that I am where I am, I think I can even appreciate Elisa’s beginnings in book one.