The Crown of Embers (Girl of Fire and Thorns) [Hardcover]

Rae Carson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 18, 2012 | Series: Girl of Fire and Thorns (Book 2)

She does not know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.

Elisa is a hero. She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.

Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from both foreign realms and within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.

To conquer the power she bears once and for all, Elisa must follow the trail of long-forgotten--and forbidden--clues from the deep, undiscovered catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her goes a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man who--despite everything--she is falling in love with.

If she's lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-In this sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns (HarperCollins, 2011), several months have passed since Elisa, through the power of her Godstone, destroyed the invading animagi sorcerers. Although the forces of Invierne were successfully driven back, the outer perimeter of the city still burns. Elisa is now queen of Joya d'Arena, and the crown is proving to be a heavy burden in more ways than one. The Inviernos still seek to capture her to manipulate the power of the Godstone she bears. There is massive civil unrest, and there are those at court who seek to undermine her rule. Although her husband has only been dead a few months, she is being pressured to remarry to secure an alliance with one of the noble houses in the kingdom. After several attempts are made on her life, she sets off on a perilous quest that is part of the fulfillment of her destiny as the bearer. As in the first book, Elisa's narration conveys a sense of immediacy. Carson has created vivid, palpable settings and complex multifaceted characters, and delivers a fast-paced novel that is emotionally charged, suspenseful, and filled with plot twists. The cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment of this series, which will especially appeal to fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce.-Francesca Burgess, Brooklyn Public Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"A superb fantasy built around an exceptional heroine." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Carson has created vivid, palpable settings and complex multifaceted characters, and delivers a fast-paced novel that is emotionally charged, suspenseful, and filled with plot twists." -School Library Journal

"This sequel is even better than its predecessor." -The Horn Book

“There are books you like, and books you love, and then there are the ones that make you go past ‘love’ and straight into, ‘I think I may need to marry this book.’ The Crown of Embers was that type of book for me. I adored it.” (Rachel Hawkins, author of the New York Times bestselling Hex Hall series)

“Rae Carson has proved she’s a master and has shaken up the YA genre. . . . Nothing is held back.” (USA Today)

Praise for The Girl of Fire and Thorns:William C. Morris Award FinalistAndre Norton Award Finalist“Romantic, lush, and thought provoking.” (Booklist)

Praise for The Girl of Fire and Thorns:“Fans of Tamora Pierce’s “Beka Cooper” series will find a kindred spirit in Elisa as she experiences great adversity and heart-wrenching loss.” (School Library Journal (starred review))

Praise for The Girl of Fire and Thorns:“Carson’s mature writing style, thoughtful storytelling, appealing characters, and surprising twists add up to a page-turner with broad appeal.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1 edition (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062026518
• ISBN-13: 978-0062026514
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (146 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rae Carson was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for Fall 2011. Her first novel, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, was a finalist for the Morris, Cybils, and Andre Norton Awards, and was named to ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list. The sequel, The Crown of Embers, will be released in September 2012.

Rae lives in Ohio with her husband, novelist C.C. Finlay, two stepsons, and two very naughty kitties.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#100 in Books > Teens

#100 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous sequel in a wonderfully unique series September 18, 2012

By K. Sowa

Format:Hardcover

I really fell in love with Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I was anxious to see what was in store for Elisa and her kingdom in Crown of Embers. I was once again pulled into the unique world that Rae Carson created and found dastardly plans, political intrigue and some very emotional moments. Just because Elisa has returned and assumed the throne after her husband's death does not mean there will be a peaceful time for anyone. I was so devastated by what happened to Humberto in book one that I wasn't sure if I could move on from that story line, but trust me when I say that this book found new ways to suck me in. The romance was bittersweet and wonderful, the action was non-stop and the plot twists seemed to keep coming. I can't put into words what makes me love a fantasy novel, but The Crown of Embers seems to take all of the elements that are universal to great works (romance, adventure, betrayal, intrigue) and constructs them into a book that demonstrates Rae Carson's superb storytelling abilities.

If I admired Elisa in book one, I grew to love her in this installment. Elisa is strong, but she doesn't always seem to know it and her strength isn't necessarily physical. There is no sequence in which she all of a sudden becomes a superhero. Instead, her strength is in her determination to persevere for her kingdom and for the people around her. Her strength is also in her intelligence, which is one of my favorite things about Elisa. She is afraid, but she acts anyway. In my mind, this is the type of heroine that is much more interesting to read about because being frightened and doing it anyway is the very definition of bravery. I cannot stop recommending this series to everyone because it is so engrossing and different. The world building was, once again, excellent and the way that Rae Carson so artfully captures all of Elisa's personal relationships makes it a book (and series) that will be on my all-time favorites list, for sure. As for the ending, I'm sure my fingers will grow very sore after hanging off of this cliff until I can get my hands on book three!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Written with Strong, Believable Characters October 19, 2012

By Lisa

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's a dangerous thing to call books perfect, but as far as sequels go, The Crown of Embers hit the mark. First of all, it doesn't even come off as a sequel.

There's references to The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but not as much as I expected. Carson keeps it very "present" - which means that Elisa is in as much trouble as ever.

She's taken the reigns over her former husband's kingdom and prepares to rule. The only problem is, the Inviernes, a people with dark magic, are trying to take down her kingdom. Oh and someone tries to kill Elisa. And, also she realizes she has to marry for political gain.

Yeah...not TOO much going on for the new queen.

Like I said, Carson manages to make The Crown of Embers feel like a first book. There's new characters again and new cross-country adventures, yet she builds on tough situations and struggles that Elisa and her people were facing before. I don't know how Carson does it, but I'm so glad she did!

One of the other wonders that Carson delivers in The Crown of Embers is religion. Elisa's godstone - the powerful sign she is chosen to bring about God's will that is located in her belly button. Through this connection, Elisa can pray and feel God's presence and will and feel if she's in danger.

Although it doesn't really come off this way, The Crown of Embers is very spiritual. Elisa often prays and reads the holy scriptures. She trusts and takes leaps of faith based on what she feels God is telling her.

This type of faith portrayed in this type of way is not only a rarity in young adult fiction, but in young adult fantasy. I have to be honest - I really loved it! I have a strong personal faith and I thought this aspect of the book was so refreshing and new to see.

I also don't think that if you're not spiritual or religious that this element of the book would get in the way of the overall awesomeness of it. Elisa's religion always plays a part in the movement and progression of the story and isn't function-less in the slightest.

OVERALL:

I won't be shy about it - I LOVED this book. Carson develops such interesting characters with so many wonderfully real flaws and strengths. I cannot wait for the final book in this series, The Bitter Kingdom. I have zero doubts Carson will deliver once again. The Crown of Embers has absolutely made it on my Best Books of 2012 list.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surpasses Expectations September 18, 2012

By Cherilyn Redwine

Format:Hardcover

I devoured this book in a single day because I couldn't make myself slow down. I had high hopes going into it because I really loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I'm happy to say that Crown of Embers surpassed my expectations. This is a fully realized fantasy rife with intrigue, emotion, courage, suspense, and betrayal.

Everyone should read this series.

I love that every character is three-dimensional and nuanced. I love that I can see the story happening against a beautifully described backdrop. And I really love that the character arc for Elisa is once again full of subtle shifts, flaws, and moments of brilliance. Reading this book is like revisiting an old friend and finding her full of fascinating new stories.

The plot is layered and complex enough to keep the reader completely engaged. The relationships are complicated and compelling. And the struggle between faith and discovering your own strength is portrayed with balance.

I could just rave on and on about this book. It's incredible. It deserves a spot on my favorites shelf and will be a book that I will re-read many times. If you haven't tried this series, please do. It's a gem.