The Crown of Embers

( 60 )

Overview

The second book in Rae Carson's award-winning The Girl of Fire and Thorns fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Game of Thrones and Kristin Cashore. Tamora Pierce called the first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, "A unique and engrossing read!" A seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

In The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Elisa won the war. She saved her kingdom. But no one prepared her for ...

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More About This Book

Overview

The second book in Rae Carson's award-winning The Girl of Fire and Thorns fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Game of Thrones and Kristin Cashore. Tamora Pierce called the first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, "A unique and engrossing read!" A seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

In The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Elisa won the war. She saved her kingdom. But no one prepared her for how hard it is to recover from a battle, or to rule a people who still don't trust her. She's still fighting—against assassination attempts and more—and her enemies lie both outside her court and within it. So Elisa will cross the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. With her go a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume to Rae Carson's ambitious trilogy. Cinda Williams Chima proclaimed about the first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, "I LOVED this book!" and Veronica Roth agreed, saying, "Definitely recommended."

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Carson’s sequel to her debut, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, is a superb fantasy built around an exceptional heroine. Just months after leading her adopted country to victory against the sorcerers of Invierne, 17-year-old Queen Elisa has to deal with spies, a possible traitor in the palace, and pressure from her own council to marry or cede power to a regent. Additionally, the Inviernos are back, and they want her to sacrifice herself willingly to them, or they will rain destruction and death on her people. Dodging attempted assassination and kidnapping, Elisa is pulled by the mysterious Godstone embedded in her navel to find the zafira, the soul of the world and the source of its magic, embarking on a gripping journey that ramps up the tension and sets up the finale. Carson avoids the dips that often haunt bridge books: expert pacing and well-drawn characters are masterfully integrated with Elisa’s continued growth as she deals with the shifting political situation, resulting in a dramatic and gratifyingly romantic novel that smoothly follows its predecessor. Ages 13–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Sept.)
VOYA - Susan Allen
Elisa is now the reigning queen after defeating the animagus who seek to regain the power they have lost. In this sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Greenwillow, 2011/VOYA December 2011), Elise's saga continues. At seventeen, she is attempting to gain the respect of the county's highest ranking officials, rebuild a country that has used its resources to fight the just-ending war, and find a way to keep her people from losing faith in her and her ability to rule. On top of all this, there have been many attempts to kill her. Her Royal Guard and their leader, Hector, have foiled the attempts. Elise is still trying to understand and control the fire that her Godstone appears able to provide. From one of the Enemy she learns of the zafira, the power that rests just below the earth's surface and is the power that the Godstone uses. A quest to find this almost mythical place ensues, with danger, intrigue, and romance as her companions. The fantasy world in which Elisa lives continues to draw in the reader. The zafira is plausible, and the struggles of a seventeen-year-old girl to fit into an adult world of politics, greed, and intrigue are totally believable. Like the first of the trilogy, this volume will be read and the final installment of Elisa's story will be eagerly awaited. Reviewer: Susan Allen
Kirkus Reviews
Intelligent and thoughtful Elisa must negotiate diplomacy, religion and personal desire. Her Majesty Queen Lucero-Elisa became sole ruler of Joya d'Arena through luck (both good and bad), wise strategic decisions and the holy magic of the Godstone embedded in her navel (The Girl of Fire and Thorns, 2011). Keeping her kingdom, on the other hand, will require diplomacy, political acumen, mercy--and deception. Elisa must fight everything from assassination attempts to rioting mobs, all while defending her country against the terrifying foreign sorcerers with "pale peach" skin and "hair the syrupy gold of honey," who only recently brought fiery destruction on her nation's capital. Elisa, deeply pragmatic and deeply religious, is required repeatedly to make intelligent, unselfish choices for the good of her nation. The lush details of this magical world are thoroughly intertwined with the profound religious faith of both heroes and villains, where each revelation leads to a crack in Elisa's worldview. Those who find no YA fantasy complete without a steamy romance will be thrilled by Elisa's growing passion for her best friend and closest adviser--who is, of course, completely off-limits. Though this series entry moves somewhat slowly, newly discovered mysteries about this fantasyland's history--not to mention the torments of unresolved sexual tension--will have readers clamoring for volume three. (Fantasy. 13-16)
Booklist
Praise for The Girl of Fire and Thorns:William C. Morris Award FinalistAndre Norton Award Finalist“Romantic, lush, and thought provoking.”
Rachel Hawkins
“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.”
USA Today
“Rae Carson has proved she's a master and has shaken up the YA genre. . . . Nothing is held back.”
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, NY
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780062026514
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 9/18/2012
  • Pages: 416
  • Sales rank: 35,932
  • Age range: 13 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Rae Carson is the author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, The Crown of Embers, and The Bitter Kingdom. Locus, the premier magazine for science fiction and fantasy, proclaimed, "Carson joins the ranks of writers like Kristin Cashore, Megan Whalen Turner, and Tamora Pierce as one of YA's best writers of high fantasy." The Girl of Fire and Thorns was a finalist for the Morris YA Debut Award and one of ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults. Rae Carson dabbled in many things, from teaching to corporate sales to customer service, before becoming a full-time writer. She lives with her family in Columbus, Ohio. You can follow her on Twitter.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 60 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(47)

4 Star

(11)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 60 Customer Reviews

  • Posted September 18, 2012

    Surpasses Expectations

    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.

    6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 26, 2012

    Yes I'm biased BUT THIS BOOK IS AWESOME

    Disclaimer: I’m totally biased about this book and have been ever since I read the first draft, which was before I knew that it was dedicated to me. Also, I’m biased because I loved GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS – a strong young woman, a powerful voice, unexpected surprises, great adventure: what’s not to love?! – and this book is the sequel.

    But CROWN OF EMBERS takes all those things and makes them better. I love the way Elisa goes from discovering herself and her own power to deciding how to use it to accomplish bigger goals. I love the mixture of political intrigue and religion and hard moral choices. I love the way her relationship grows and develops with [SPOILER]. I love the fact that even though Elisa’s not perfect, she acts like an adult and has real adult relationships built on communication and mutual respect. I love the gritty, vivid descriptions that make you feel like you’re right in the action. I love the ACTION. Have I used the word “love” enough times yet, so that you understand that I LOVE this book?

    This is a great fantasy novel. I cannot recommend the series enthusiastically enough.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 21, 2012

    Love, love, LOVE!

    This book has to be one of my favorites. Heck it's probably ranks first. This had me screaming "NOOOOOOO!" at the end because I didn't want it to end. Rae Carson has done an amazing job again. Fall of 2013 can't come fast enough. Highly HIGHLY recommended!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 28, 2012

    I Also Recommend:

    Forever And Beyond (Ancient Legends Book 5)
    Ancient Legends Books 1-3 Discounted Offer

    great book

    Great book.Its been a long time since i gave a 5star to a book but this deserves it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 17, 2013

    more from this reviewer

     I kind of knew this book would be a treat to read. But I did no

     I kind of knew this book would be a treat to read. But I did not anticipate how much. The first in the trilogy, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, was a surprise treat - "caught me off-guard great" I wrote. This second book was all that... again, which is remarkable.




    Elisa is so... un-assuming. Even as queen, the story follows her thought pattern and as she questions herself, I grew more concerned that she might be right. She's trying to be a strong queen, but she doesn't really know how and her attempts feel clumsy, but there's just no right answers. When things start falling apart, it is so real and so... unavoidable. 




    I could hardly put the book down. Elisa grasps for her kingdom, but it slips from her hands. So slowly, so agonizingly sweetly, she falls in love. Everything that happened in Fire and Thorns just make each moment that much more fleeting, more treasured because of her acceptance of fate. I love her calculating thoughts as she faces her destiny... rises up to the challenge of being queen... accepts her heart. Elisa is so real. 




    Always there is that distinct UN-greatness, too. Her Godstone is great, but it's lodged in Elisa's belly-button and embarrasses her as much as increases her. She has to be humble and embrace her weaknesses if she has any hope of succeeding and I just love the juxtaposition of it. 




    Some of the story is told from Hector's point of view, too. His character unfolds slowly revealing his childhood, his hopes for love, his respect for his family, his incredible sense of honor. As he allows himself to love, he is put in a difficult position. He will save Elisa's life at the cost of his own without a moment's hesitation, but his focus on her starts effecting his ability to protect her. He recognizes how love eclipses his senses putting her in more danger.




    What are these lovers to do? The choices they make are costly. Lives are at stake and there's always the weighing of that cost. Other, minor characters, are also essential. They do what is best - or what they think is best - and each decision brings consequences and leads to more difficult decisions. *rubs hands gleefully* It's amazingly complex, fast-paced... a perfect book to follow The Girl of Fire and Thorns. There is not so much a cliffhanger ending as much as... all these choices leading to a surprising climax that requires another book to answer.




    If I have learned anything from Carson's first two books, it's that anything can happen to anyone at any time. Those "cute" coincidences where things "just work out" that I see in stories?  Yeah... not so here. Nope. Here the sand actually rubs raw, the bad guys are skilled assassins that get their targets, blood flows and gets sticky and messy, and it takes time to recover from injuries. (Imagine!)




    My Rating: 4.98 - I love the characters, I love the situations, I even love hating the bad guys. I was frustrated right along with Elisa and Hector when they were frustrated. The world-building cracks me up sometimes like the Godstone - there's always an element of casual reality in the midst of epic drama that is so unique. Carson's writing style continues to catch me off guard. I expect to be able to set it aside and am surprised to find my knuckles gripping my Nook fiercely unwilling to stop reading until I gallop to the end.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 12, 2013

    Moonshimmer

    I always will love you...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 10, 2013

    Darkstar

    Goodbye. He slipped into the cave.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 8, 2013

    Streak

    Back

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 10, 2013

    Leafheart

    I will keep an eye out. Sings as she walks back to camp...i have died every day waaiiiiiting for you darling dont be afriad iiiiiiiiiii have loved you for a thoooooouuuuuuuusand years i love you for a thooooooouuuuuuuuusand mooorrreee...one step cloooosssseeeer...one step cloooooosssssseeeer

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  • Posted May 8, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    I really loved the second half of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. T

    I really loved the second half of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The problem was getting to that second half.

    See, a lot of Elisa's character development has to do with how she views herself and her own weight. In the beginning of the book, she views herself as a useless lump of lard. Literally. In the first eleven chapters, she out-rightly refers to her weight - "I'm a sausage, I'm fat" - 18 times. This isn't including the numerous mentions of eating, of other character's thinness, and of other characters calling her out on her weight. Carson hit us over the head repeatedly with it, and I wish she had lessened that blow a little, because the second half would have been as good without it. Between that and a Godstone located where you would normally find belly button lint, I had a hard time getting through to the second half of the book.

    But the second half was great. Fantastic. Took Elisa's weaknesses and made them strengths; let her develop and learn and become strong in her own right, and I loved that. There were scenes where I basically fist-pumped the air because of how pleased I was by her development.

    But the problem was still getting there.

    If you're willing to wade through the thick and heavy-hitting first third of the book, I highly recommend A Girl of Fire and Thorns - but if you have little patience, it's not the book for you.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 10, 2013

    Snowpaw

    Darkstar can we go to the moon pool tonight or tommprow night i miss silverhawk also i have somthing to ask you when i become a warrior in a few moons can my warrior name be snowhawk after her

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 4, 2013

    APPRENTICE DEN

    Apprentice den

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  • Posted March 16, 2013

    LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

    LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 8, 2013

    Thoroughly enjoyed!

    Hooked on another series...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 24, 2013

    I can't wait for the 3rd book!

    Another page turner! It keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. Love everything about it!! A coming of age, love story and thriller. Who knew you could get it all in a teen book! Beautifully written...

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  • Posted February 2, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    WOW!!

    Not much else to say but what an amazing book!!!

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  • Posted December 28, 2012

    Highly Recommended!

    This is the second book of the series, Girl of Fire and Thorns. This is about a young princess forced to marry a king she had never met. She moved far away to his kingdom to discover the marriage would not be filled with love for her.
    She became a hero of the kingdom but her husband was killed in battle. As Queen, she found nothing but problems and no easy solutions so she traveled across the kingdom to talk with others who might help her in the new war that was coming.
    The next book won't be out until Fall of 2013.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2012

    Enchanting. Had to re-read the first and found that the sequel s

    Enchanting. Had to re-read the first and found that the sequel surpassed it with style. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys fantasy novels. 

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 20, 2012

    Awesome

    The second book was better than the first. I truly hope the third and future books continue this path. Bravo to you Rae Carson. You have a wonderful mind! Very talented.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 1, 2012

    Emberfur

    Waits

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