Winter of Fire (Point) [Paperback]

Sherryl Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Point | Publication Date: January 1995

Elsha, a young girl who is one of the branded people destined to mine coal for the ruling class, experiences strange visions that cause her to be condemned to death until she is chosen to be Handmaiden to a powerful Firelord. Reprint. PW. VY. SLJ.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a grim future world where the sun has vanished from the sky, people glean what warmth and light they can from the firestones mined by an untouchable caste known as the Quelled. Countless taboos are shattered when Elsha, an idealistic and rebellious Quelled girl, is chosen to be handmaid to the Firelord--the man revered by those calling themselves the Chosen. Traveling in the privileged class, Elsha encounters ugly, unthinking prejudice; she also meets a few relatively enlightened Chosen men, who cannot help falling in love with the feisty maid. Spurred on by a hatred of injustice, Elsha battles against sexism, improves life for the Quelled, and even (it seems) hastens the return of the sun to her world. Because there is never any real doubt that Elsha will inherit the Firelord's mantle, there are moments--especially as the harsh spectacle of life in the mines recedes--when her various victories grow a bit predictable. But this is a minor quibble; taken as a whole, the stalwart heroine's visionary struggles are nothing short of inspiring. With a spare and effective style, Jordan brings Elsha's chilly world into sharp focus with a minimum of description. Elsha's exploits will appeal to fans of Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

From Jordan (A Time of Darkness, 1990), another tale set in an ecologically devastated future. Living in treeless mountains under cold perpetual clouds, human society has split into two classes: the autocratic Chosen and the despised Quelled, who mine the coal that's the only available source of heat. To general consternation, the ruling Firelord has picked Elsha, an angry Quelled teenager, as his new and only Handmaid; she vows to better the lot of her people, though it means battling centuries of prejudice. Though the scenario here is promising, Jordan focuses on Elsha's thoughts and smoldering spirit to the exclusion of believable plot development, background detail, and even character (Chosen and Quelled alike seem sketchy and unrealized). Meanwhile, Elsha sounds like a walking essay (``Your treatment of us is wrong, evil and unendurable,'' etc.); when she becomes Firelord after a perfunctory, awkwardly inserted battle, her decrees meet no determined resistance from Chosen who've previously responded to her with violent hatred. The emotion is affecting here, but relationships are confused rather than complex; loose ends dangle from the long, predictable story, and Elsha is unchanged by her experiences. (Fiction. YA) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Point; Reissue edition (January 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590452894
• ISBN-13: 978-0590452892
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that you will remember for all time, May 14, 2003

By 

Liz (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter of Fire (Hardcover)

I read this book as a 8th grader in middle school. I only read it because it was the thickest book in the library, which ment it worth a lot of points. From the moment I opened this book I was in the story, and I could feel everything that was going on, I was really there. I can still see myself there and feel the story, I remember the entire storie and it was 6 years ago that I first picked it up. I would have to encourge that this storie be read by all children and adults, as it takes you to this place of adventure and sadness. I believe that all parents should read this storie to their children. It will bring you and your child closer together.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars loved beyond words, January 21, 2000

By 

Nicolet Harris (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter of Fire (Library Binding)

Even though this book is loved beyond words i will try to describe it for you. It's about a teenage girl and her struggle against prejudice. It left me a changed person, inspired to live my life differently. I was also inspired to write this review by the worst review of this book I have read. That review was from Kirkus reviews. They stated that the main character sounded like a "walking essay", and that the relationshipes throughout the book were "confused rather than complex." This review is a far cry from the actual book and the reviewer has failed to find the message in the book. The book taught me about the struggles people will endure when fighting for something they believe in. Being a young black woman (now years after my first reading of the book) I applied this to my life and strugglers I have had to endure. This is a great book for young women to enjoy. I strongly recommend reading this book, and hope it will become one of your favorits too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for those who have a hard time staying interested, July 5, 2003

By 

"jadestarsunday" (Eau Claire WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter of Fire (Point) (Paperback)

I am not a reader of many books. I cannot seem to find a book that can keep my interest for very long and i almost never finish a book. There are 3 books that have caught my attention and heart. Winter of Fire is one of them.
I have read this book over a dozen times and find myself wanting to start reading it all over again when i am finished. It is hard to express how i feel about this book in alot of words. All i can say that it is outstanding! The determination of the character and the beauty,love and chaos of the book so well written i can literally see it unfolding in my minds eye.
That is when a book is truely a great when you feel you are there living it with the character. It is certainly a must read. I had this book for a long time and since lost it. I have found it here in this amazon web site and will surely own it again with the great price here!