Fire (Seven Kingdoms #2)

Fire by Kristin Cashore is a brilliant follow up to her novel Graceling and the second book in the Seven Kingdoms series. This second book takes place well before the original with no overlapping characters but treats readers to more fascinating characters in the seven kingdoms.

Fire is made up of two stories that eventually converge. One is of a graceling (one with a special talent) who can alter people's minds. The other is the story of a human monster - in the land of the Dells there are ordinary creatures and then monster creatures of each species. Monsters are bright and beautiful and have power to influence the minds of humans for their own needs.

Lady Fire is a monster who refuses to use her powers to harm others and, in fact, only uses them to protect herself. But when she is called upon by the king to help protect the Dells, she must decide if her power can be used for the protection of others as well.

Fire is a book that is both beautiful and brutal while it addresses the nature of humans - using a monster who is humane and a man who is a monster. Cashore explores issues that are often glossed over in fiction and leaves the reader not only enjoying an addictive story, but thinking about their own role in the world.

Cashore, Kristin. (2009). Fire. New York: Dial Books.