Fire

In this companion to GRACELING (2008), the Dells is a fantasy world filled with monster animals. Strikingly beautiful 17-year-old Fire, the last human monster, uses her ability to control minds to save the kingdom from warring factions. Narrator Xanthe Elbrick gives Fire a strong voice, which is softened as Fire gives voice to her conflict over how to control her unique gift and becomes whispery as she uses it to enter the minds of humans. Elbrick consistently individualizes the voice of each member of a large cast of characters and deftly adjusts her pacing as this action-packed, romantic fantasy unfolds. Kristin Cashore builds worlds with words, and Elbrick draws listeners into it. C.R.A. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Starred review from July 20, 2009
This prequel to Graceling
, Cashore's smashing debut, may initially frustrate readers wanting more about Katsa and Po. Fire
takes place long before Katsa's birth in an adjacent kingdom called the Dells and shares only one character. But its themes—embracing your talents and moving out of your parents' shadow—are similar, as is the absorbing quality of Cashore's prose. The Dells do not have gracelings; they have beautiful creatures called monsters that are like normal animals except for their exquisite coloration. Seventeen-year-old Fire, who can read and control minds, is the last human monster. Her father, a corrupt adviser to a debased king, recognizes the dangers of her powers and exiles her to the hills, where she is raised by an out-of-favor military commander and befriended by his son, Archer. Many twists propel the action, and although astute readers will suspect who the eventual lovers will be from their first hateful meeting, the buildup to their romance provides tension that keeps the pages turning. Cashore's conclusion satisfies, but readers will clamor for a sequel to the prequel—a book bridging the gap between this one and Graceling
. Ages 14–up.