I did read some of the books on my list! Hooray! Here is a little information and what I thought was good about each.
1. Fire by Kristin Cashore. This book was even better than Graceling, and Fire is another strong female character. I identify more with Fire than Katsa simply because Kasta is very strong and hides her emotions well, while Fire physically is not particularly strong but is more emotionally open. I love the descriptions of Fire’s beauty, especially her hair with it’s reds, oranges and pinks. I appreciate Fire’s struggle about whether or not to have children. However, I felt most of the “twists” were rather predictable, such as the relationships and the ending chapters of the book. Bottom line: Fire is heroic, has special powers, and is beautiful. What’s not to love?
I am hoping that Cashore will include some of the characters from the Dells in her next novel, the much anticipated Bitterblue. Bitterblue is a character in Graceling and a rather major plot point for the novel. I am excited to see how she has grown and what kind of woman she will be in this third book of the trilogy. Cashore has a way of bringing strong heroines to life in her stories, and though they have some similarities, there are several differences, showing us different kinds of strengths as well.
2. Rampant by Diana Peterfreund. Unicorns as a menace, a cloister of chaste huntresses, and a seriously good book that promotes virginity? YES! I liked this book quite a bit. Astrid is your typical 16-year-old girl, minus her amazing unicorn hunting abilities. Action, adventure, and romance all combine in this fun story.
One bad thing about Rampant is the hunters are not really 3 dimensional characters. Each huntress has one characteristic that Peterfreund really expounds on and she leaves the other nuances of the girls’ personalities out. The exceptions are the three main girls, Cory, Phil, and, of course, Astrid.
Also, there are a few loose ends that Peterfreund did not tie up in the final chapters. These are not part of the main plot, but are rather unnecessary information if there is not subplot, or if the subplot was abandoned. Perhaps there will be a sequel? I sincerely hope so.
Edit: There will be a sequel to Rampant, entitled Ascendant due out sometime this year.
