Firelight [Hardcover]

Sophie Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 7, 2010

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up–Jacinda is extraordinary–even for a draki (descendants of dragons who can shift into human form): she is a fire-breather. Unique and invaluable to her “pride,” the 16-year-old is kept on a short leash, and it has already been ordained that she will mate with the alpha male, Cassian. Jacinda's determination to do things her own way finds her nearly captured by dragon hunters, but a surprisingly kind young hunter named Will allows her to escape. Rather than suffer the pride's punishment for her daughter's risky behavior, Jacinda's mother decides the family should flee to live among regular humans. Masquerading as a typical high school student would bury Jacinda's draki nature until it died out. When Will turns out to be a classmate, Jacinda finds that her inexplicable attraction to him keeps her feel of fire and flight alive. Being near a hunter is the most dangerous choice Jacinda can make, yet her desire for him–and need to preserve her inner dragon–cannot be ignored. This distinctive twist on the popular supernatural romance theme will appeal to fans of the genre, even if a lack of resolution at this story's culmination may frustrate some readers. “Twilight” fans ready to move beyond vampires will jump right in.–Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Descended from dragons, the draki's ability to appear human protects them from hunters. Jacinda lives with her pride in the Cascades, but she chafes under her special status as the only fire-breather in hundreds of years. Recklessly breaking the “no-fly” rule, she attracts hunters; mercifully, one hunter, a beautiful boy who looks upon her with wonder, lets her escape. After this, the pride intends to hobble her rebelliousness, and Jacinda is forced to flee. But while twin sister Tamra, who never manifested and was shunned, is happy with the move, Jacinda feels only anguish within Nevada's desert climate. Then she meets Will and, despite recognizing him as the same draki hunter, feels herself come alive. Jordan's compelling addition to the supernatural star-crossed lovers theme is equal parts taut suspense and sensuous romance, with visceral writing and believable relationships among characters, particularly among Jacinda's family. A foreshadowed twist and a thrilling confrontation in the end pages leave Jacinda heartbroken and in trouble, and readers will howl for more. Grades 8-12. --Krista Hutley

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061935085
• ISBN-13: 978-0061935084
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.1 x 5.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (289 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she's not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes and Diet cherry Coke preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-TV shows. Sophie also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler.

website: sophiejordan.net

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars GreenBeanTeenQueen Reviews September 15, 2010

By GreenBeanTeenQueen VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I loved the premise of this book and thought it sounded incredibly unique, but unfortunately the story fell short. It started out with a lot of action, which I loved, and I really liked reading about Jacinda and her pride. But after a few chapters, this unique story about draki's turned into a "new girl in town meets hot distant boy at school" story and it lost all uniqueness it had going for it. The new girl storyline has been done so many times! I was more interested in the draki pride and I wanted this book to be more about that then a school story about a teen with a supernatural talent.

The bits we got about the pride, I loved, and I really wish that had been the main focus of the book. But we barely even get to see them or find out much about them which I found disappointing. Jacinda is the narrator and her story mainly revolves around Will, how she's attracted to him but shouldn't be, and how she doesn't want to lose her draki. She's a pretty whiny character throughout and she waffles back and forth in her decision making which is frustrating for the reader.

I didn't find any of the characters well rounded and I felt we never got to know anyone-even Jacinda. Her twin sister Tamra and her mom felt like she was just there for Jacinda to whine about. There were several characters that were mentioned, talked about a bit or even talked to in one scene but never did much. It felt like they were just there as an idea in the first draft but then forgotten about and never full developed. I would have liked to see more from Xander, Will's cousin-we're told to be afraid of him, but never really are shown why. And I thought there was potential to develop a great relationship between Jacinda and her elderly neighbor, but that's only hinted at and not delved into any further.

But my biggest problem is that Firelight is a lust story, not a love story. There is no relationship developed between Will and Jacinda. Why do they like each other? They're both hot. They never talk, and when they do it's very brief, yet we're supposed to believe Will is in love with Jacinda and that Jacinda loves him so deeply she'd do anything for him. They spend more time making out than getting to know each other. Jacinda mentions that Will knows everything about her but I never got that at all. I like my relationships more developed and believable. I want to see why the characters fall for each other and I love to see how they fall for each other. Will and Jacinda are just two teens in lust with one another.

Even with it's flaws, the draki idea was original and I really liked what there was about the draki mythology. That was what kept me reading. It's obviously setting up a sequel and not much is resolved or answered. But Firelight is a quick engaging read, and I'm sure fans of star-crossed romance will devour it.

32 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Firelight is a winner! September 9, 2010

By Cari VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I was worried that after reading Mockingjay I wouldn't find something I loved as much but Sophie Jordan has made that happen with Firelight! So much intensity and romance make Firelight a perfect read!

Jacinda is a unique individual because not only is she draki, descendants of dragons, but she is also the first fire breather in 400 years. While her tribe is planning her future her mother comes up with a plan of her own, but the only thing these plans have in common is that neither is what Jacinda wants.

In an attempt at a little freedom Jacinda sneaks out to fly at sunrise. Only flying during the day is prohibited for fear of exposure. While in flight Jacinda is ambushed by a group of hunters who quickly corner her in a cave. A young hunter is sent in to find her and he simply lets her go.

Jacinda risking her life has set the tribe's plans into motion and her mother reacts by fleeing with Jacinda and her twin Tamra to start over in a new city as humans. Tamra, who never manifested as a draki, is thrilled to have a chance at a normal life while Jacinda just goes along with what her mother chooses.

Her mother chooses a desert city knowing that Jacinda's inner draki could not survive and Jacinda will never change into a draki again. Jacinda's mother and sister made the rebellious teen in me yell and scream. Life in the desert isn't all bad when Jacinda finds out that Will, the hunter who let her go, is at the same school. (SWOON) Will is drawn to Jacinda but doesn't know why he feels so connected to her. (Double Swoon) Just as Jacinda is finding a balance Cassian, a guy from her tribe, has found her and wants to bring her back to her rightful home.

Firelight has so many memorable quotes that I had to share a few:

For a draki, he's death...To keep that part of me alive, I have to be close to that which kills it.

Jacinda has a few run-ins with Brooklyn the "It" girl from her school:

After running for my life from hunters, a girl with too much lip gloss doesn't register on my fear radar.

I shrug, certain I've stepped into some bad flick about angry cheerleaders vying for a championship.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Addiction Review September 8, 2010

By flamingo1325 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Exceptional, distinct and invigorating, Firelight is a fantastic mix of romance, angst and the supernatural. The world Jordan has created is phenomenal, filled with detail and such intense thought has clearly gone into everything about it. From the descriptions of Jacinda's drake side to the way she reacts in different environments to the emotions she feels, Jordan includes everything seamlessly.

Jacinda is a character completely unlike any other, based in what she physically is. A dragon at her core, Jacinda and her kind have the ability to morph into humans to blend. As a dragon, she is still coherent and the same girl but there is a stark contrast between Jacinda's mind as part of her pride and Jacinda thrust out into the human world. Jordan handles this switch perfectly, infusing a high amount of angst and discomfort. Jacinda battles between a maturity that lets her understand why she has to be in a human school with her wants, desires and even needs. Her struggles are intense and breathtaking, and the constant tug and pull of her body in response to different people and situations comes across fantastically.

Will is as divergent as Jacinda, tormented and caught by the nature of his family. He holds a certain intensity that is memorable and appealing, struggling against being a hunter and what it means. His first encounter with Jacinda is written beautifully, and the ensuing push and pull of their connection and relationship drives a strong portion of the book. In unexpected and heartfelt ways, the couple are united and understand each other in ways others cannot.

The other supporting characters are convoluted and as well developed as the main characters. Though her actions are frustrating and some of her responses, particularly through Jacinda's biased eyes, seem irrational, Jacinda's mother is a very well done character. Her side can be seen because of the way Jordan writes the book, slipping in enough thoughts on Jacinda's behalf as well as interactions for the reader to understand the mother. Tamra falls in a similar role, coming off as immature and selfish at times but her reasons and motivations are also clear. Characters initially easy to dislike shift to hold a sympathetic element while others remain disliked if not growing to something stronger.

The writing is fantastic, rapt with a vividness not always seen and enveloping the reader from the start. The descriptions stood out from the first page, as did Jacinda's distinctive voice. There is a strong romantic element to this book, showcasing Jordan's strong, inherent writing ability both with action intense scenes as well as emotion and yes, this woman can write some intense, fan yourself kissing scenes. The overall tone shifts constantly, pulling the reader with it.

The plot is brilliant and absolutely unique, focused on both Jacinda's character development and decisions as well as actions and events beyond her control. The ending is shocking and not easily predicted until a certain point and Jordan slips in plenty of other clues, hints and turns to keep the reader stunned and guessing. A few shocking plot twists really drive the plot, smacking the reader in the face and keeping the pages turning. While some elements could be compared to other fantasy books, it doesn't take away from the overall feeling and effect this book leaves the reader with. Even with this, Jordan tweaks them to make them all her own and shifts them to her characters and world.

Firelight is a well paced mix of action and emotion, built on a startling new premise with an astonishingly well built world. The blend between the draki world and the human world comes through strongly, and the level of thought Jordan put into building her world is very clear and highly appreciated throughout. Detail intensive and vivid imagery, strong and distinct characters, fluid writing and an original plot all pull together to make Firelight an incredible hit and a must read.