Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Bibliophile's Bestiary Blog at bibliophile-bestiary.blogspot.com
The worst thing about this book is that I have to wait almost a year for the second one! The horror! This book was incredible. When you first start reading about it, you don't know if it is present day or in the past, or in the future. I won't give any secrets away about that because it was one of my favorite things starting to read this book. This world of human dragons so pulled me in. It was a beautiful description. The heartache and love throughout the book was incredible. I couldn't put it down. A few things I would have changed about Jacinda's decisions, but I am ok with the things that happened. It was a wonderful, wonderful book! 5 out of 5 stars!
The worst thing about this book is that I have to wait almost a year for the second one! The horror! This book was incredible. When you first start reading about it, you don't know if it is present day or in the past, or in the future. I won't give any secrets away about that because it was one of my favorite things starting to read this book. This world of human dragons so pulled me in. It was a beautiful description. The heartache and love throughout the book was incredible. I couldn't put it down. A few things I would have changed about Jacinda's decisions, but I am ok with the things that happened. It was a wonderful, wonderful book! 5 out of 5 stars!
Helpful Score: 1
LOVED this book. A girl dragon who sounds beautiful! I cant wait til the rest of the series comes out. Probably in Top 5 of 2010. I really loved this book. Action and suspense were off the charts. Im obsessed with this book. Please write them faster Sophie!!!!
Helpful Score: 1
I was excited to read this book and have heard a lot of great things about it. I finally borrowed it from the library. It was a quick read and the writing style was very readable. It is another one of those star-crossed teen stories. It was cool that the main heroine can shift into a dragon but not so cool that the story was very similar to other YA star-crossed love stories out there.
Jacinda is a draki and extraordinary among her race because she is a rare Firebreather. Her mother and her sister aren't draki though; and her mother especially wants Jacinda to let her draki part die. Her mother forces Jacinda and her twin sister Tamra to flee the clan and take up residence in a smallish desert town. There Jacinda bumps into a boy named Will, a dragon hunter, whom she is drawn to like no other.
This book is set in modern times and a lot of it takes place in a high school setting where Jacinda is dealing with trying to blend into a new high school, pretty standard teen stuff. Jacinda also has to deal with the fact that whenever she is near Will he brings out her draki nature (makes her glow and get all hot...literally). Jacinda starts the story as a spirited character and then kind of turns all plain and boring; she doesn't stand up to her mother or really do anything other than just drag her feet through the book.
I found it disturbing that Jacinda's mom wanted her daughter to kill part of herself off throughout the book. This gave the book a very yucky feeling to me and seemed completely counter-intuitive to how a mom would treat her daughter. Definitely not a healthy mother/daughter relationship there.
The whole Will and Jacinda relationship is the type of relationship that I hate seeing in YA books. They basically fall in love at first sight; for no apparent reason. Then Jacinda is all "Will stay away from me!" and then a few pages later "Oh, Will I want you." then a little bit later she wants him to stay away again. It is maddening and obnoxious. Will is your run of the mill stalker, and follows Jacinda everywhere...even breaking into her house. How is this romantic? Then of course their relationship is starcrossed because Jacinda gets so hot when she is with Will that she almost burns him alive...how will they ever be able to be together?! I didn't like any aspect of their relationship.
The book is pretty much predictable from beginning to end. As for the world-building, there isn't much of it. There is some mention of clans outside of Jacinda's, but not much and there isn't much history given on the draki. The book really just focuses on the social teen aspects of high school and Jacinda and Will's starcrossed relationship.
The book ends with a number of things unresolved and really doesn't give any closure on anything. So if you read this, and enjoy it, be prepared to immediately pick-up Vanish (the 2nd book in the series) when it comes out in September to see what happens. Jordan's writing style is easy to read, if a bit too simple at times (no complex sentences or large words).
Overall this book was not one of my favorites. I was so excited to read a book about dragons and what I got was yet another mediocre story about high school teen angst and star-crossed love. This is one of those books where the most positive thing about it for me was that it was a quick read. If you are a fan of teen stories that focus on high school life with a couple that inexplicably falls in starcrossed love for no reason and has shapeshifting dragons in it this may be the book for you. Personally I will stick with other more interesting stories. For a great YA read check out Divergent by Veronica Roth, Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, or Paranomalcy by Kiersten White.
Jacinda is a draki and extraordinary among her race because she is a rare Firebreather. Her mother and her sister aren't draki though; and her mother especially wants Jacinda to let her draki part die. Her mother forces Jacinda and her twin sister Tamra to flee the clan and take up residence in a smallish desert town. There Jacinda bumps into a boy named Will, a dragon hunter, whom she is drawn to like no other.
This book is set in modern times and a lot of it takes place in a high school setting where Jacinda is dealing with trying to blend into a new high school, pretty standard teen stuff. Jacinda also has to deal with the fact that whenever she is near Will he brings out her draki nature (makes her glow and get all hot...literally). Jacinda starts the story as a spirited character and then kind of turns all plain and boring; she doesn't stand up to her mother or really do anything other than just drag her feet through the book.
I found it disturbing that Jacinda's mom wanted her daughter to kill part of herself off throughout the book. This gave the book a very yucky feeling to me and seemed completely counter-intuitive to how a mom would treat her daughter. Definitely not a healthy mother/daughter relationship there.
The whole Will and Jacinda relationship is the type of relationship that I hate seeing in YA books. They basically fall in love at first sight; for no apparent reason. Then Jacinda is all "Will stay away from me!" and then a few pages later "Oh, Will I want you." then a little bit later she wants him to stay away again. It is maddening and obnoxious. Will is your run of the mill stalker, and follows Jacinda everywhere...even breaking into her house. How is this romantic? Then of course their relationship is starcrossed because Jacinda gets so hot when she is with Will that she almost burns him alive...how will they ever be able to be together?! I didn't like any aspect of their relationship.
The book is pretty much predictable from beginning to end. As for the world-building, there isn't much of it. There is some mention of clans outside of Jacinda's, but not much and there isn't much history given on the draki. The book really just focuses on the social teen aspects of high school and Jacinda and Will's starcrossed relationship.
The book ends with a number of things unresolved and really doesn't give any closure on anything. So if you read this, and enjoy it, be prepared to immediately pick-up Vanish (the 2nd book in the series) when it comes out in September to see what happens. Jordan's writing style is easy to read, if a bit too simple at times (no complex sentences or large words).
Overall this book was not one of my favorites. I was so excited to read a book about dragons and what I got was yet another mediocre story about high school teen angst and star-crossed love. This is one of those books where the most positive thing about it for me was that it was a quick read. If you are a fan of teen stories that focus on high school life with a couple that inexplicably falls in starcrossed love for no reason and has shapeshifting dragons in it this may be the book for you. Personally I will stick with other more interesting stories. For a great YA read check out Divergent by Veronica Roth, Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, or Paranomalcy by Kiersten White.
I enjoyed this Young Adult book by Sophie Jordan.
The main character, Jacinda, is a fire breather. A draki. But her pride only values her for the rare fire breathing talent she has. Her Mother and sister are not able to manifest which makes them "less desirable" to the draki pride.
This book tells of Jacinda's adventure in the human world her mother tries to make her safe in.
Has some romance and plenty of adventure. 13+
The main character, Jacinda, is a fire breather. A draki. But her pride only values her for the rare fire breathing talent she has. Her Mother and sister are not able to manifest which makes them "less desirable" to the draki pride.
This book tells of Jacinda's adventure in the human world her mother tries to make her safe in.
Has some romance and plenty of adventure. 13+
This book is the first in a trilogy. All books are to be published in the fall. So, I will start out with my main complaint with this book... I have to wait until next year and the year after that to read more! I really enjoyed this book and it was an easy and fun YA PNR shifter read (heh, that was a mouthfull!). I really liked the main character, Jacinda, and the fact that she really does have more fire than what she breathes. Unfortunately, because she is such an unusual draki, it means that others that surround her want to control her for various reasons. The pack wants to create more like her, her betrothed wants to possess her, her mother wants to kill the draki inside of her so she won't be controlled by the pack she hates. Jacinda is torn between all of this trying to find a way to satisfy others while not being controlled by them. Thus, this is the first book in the trilogy. Of course there is much more to the story and some of it will have you worried about her choices as well as where the story head. That part, I will not spoil for you as it really keeps the story going.
My biggest frustration in this story was Jacinda's mother. The reasons of control were obvious to me in regards to the draki pack (not that I agreed with it) but her mother wanting to kill her draki was inexcusable to me. She believed she did it out of protection, but I suspect there were more selfish reasons involved. Plus, it was a rejection of who her daughter truly was inside. To do that to someone you care about is heartbreaking especially when she knew what it was doing to her. Jacinda had made it clear that to kill her draki was akin to killing her. So, to me, even under the guise of protecting her, making her something she wasn't WAS a rejection of Jacinda, herself.
I give this story 4 stars. I really could have been 5, but if you've read my blog you know how I hate cliffhangers. While this cliffhanger was tolerable, it still was one. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good YA PNR. Seriously, I think it was a great read.
My biggest frustration in this story was Jacinda's mother. The reasons of control were obvious to me in regards to the draki pack (not that I agreed with it) but her mother wanting to kill her draki was inexcusable to me. She believed she did it out of protection, but I suspect there were more selfish reasons involved. Plus, it was a rejection of who her daughter truly was inside. To do that to someone you care about is heartbreaking especially when she knew what it was doing to her. Jacinda had made it clear that to kill her draki was akin to killing her. So, to me, even under the guise of protecting her, making her something she wasn't WAS a rejection of Jacinda, herself.
I give this story 4 stars. I really could have been 5, but if you've read my blog you know how I hate cliffhangers. While this cliffhanger was tolerable, it still was one. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good YA PNR. Seriously, I think it was a great read.
Reviewed by Lesley for TeensReadToo.com
Jacinda has never wanted the life laid out for her. Forced to be with a boy she does not love, to have children for the sake of the pack, she wants nothing to do with any of it.
Out of rebelliousness, she goes out one day in her draki (dragon) form, and she is almost killed by draki hunters. Her mother refuses to stand by and watch, and forces Jacinda and her twin sister, Tamra, away from the pack and into the human world.
This book has everything that I love about YA fantasy, and quite possibly even more.
You've got the girl who is rebellious and, while facing real issues, is still just a teenage girl. You've got the romance between Jace and the draki hunter, Will, who has such depth and personality he could have his own book. You've got the sibling rivalry where even in the end they still love one another. You have the high school woes of trying to make friends and keep enemies away. And finally, you have the amazing fantasy element of the draki that make it over-the-top awesome.
FIRELIGHT pulls you in and keeps you on your toes from the first page to the last.
It was sweet, suspenseful, scary, cute, funny, sad, everything all in one. This is my favorite book I've read this year, by far, and I would recommend it to everyone and anyone who loves to read young adult fantasy.
Jacinda has never wanted the life laid out for her. Forced to be with a boy she does not love, to have children for the sake of the pack, she wants nothing to do with any of it.
Out of rebelliousness, she goes out one day in her draki (dragon) form, and she is almost killed by draki hunters. Her mother refuses to stand by and watch, and forces Jacinda and her twin sister, Tamra, away from the pack and into the human world.
This book has everything that I love about YA fantasy, and quite possibly even more.
You've got the girl who is rebellious and, while facing real issues, is still just a teenage girl. You've got the romance between Jace and the draki hunter, Will, who has such depth and personality he could have his own book. You've got the sibling rivalry where even in the end they still love one another. You have the high school woes of trying to make friends and keep enemies away. And finally, you have the amazing fantasy element of the draki that make it over-the-top awesome.
FIRELIGHT pulls you in and keeps you on your toes from the first page to the last.
It was sweet, suspenseful, scary, cute, funny, sad, everything all in one. This is my favorite book I've read this year, by far, and I would recommend it to everyone and anyone who loves to read young adult fantasy.
I really like this book. Writing was very good, and moved along quickly. I like the detail Ms. Jordan put in about shifting to a dragon, description of skin, eyes and feeling of lungs. The mother aggreviated me in this story adn I wanted to yell at her most of the time. Main characters are very good. I like the neighbor too. She can do a lot of different things with this series. Can't wait to read the sequal next year.
After an incredibly daring, dangerous and forbidden jaunt into the night, dragon shifter Jacinda is, for her own protection, secreted away from the pride. Her mother and totally human sister, Tamra flee into the night taking Jacinda against her will to a new town and a new life. Jacinda's mother has repressed her draki and feels Jacinda must as well in order to survive. Even in the desert which quickly kills off her draki self, Jacinda fights this edict. She sneaks out at night to shift and she pursues a boy, Will (someone who saved her from hunters in her previous life). The desert air suppresses her draki senses but Will brings them out. It is dangerous to be with Will because she cannot control her dragon when she is excited and/or aroused. So he is a constant threat to her, her family and her pride. Of course, this doesn't stop her. It all comes to a head when Cassian, the prince of her pride and her forced mate, comes to town to bring her back to the pride.
This is an exciting book from beginning to end and kept me turning pages to see when and where Will was going to find out Jacinda's secrets. Not a unique concept but well put together. I liked the fact that Jacinda is a dragon who can transform into a human and not the other way around. I'm very interested in seeing where this story leads. I don't particularly like Cassian but then again his only hang time was as the bad guy so maybe he has some redeeming characteristics. I really liked Will and hope he features in the next book. But her sister, Tamra is a selfish witch and her mother, while trying to do the best thing for Jacinda, is slowly killing her.
This is an exciting book from beginning to end and kept me turning pages to see when and where Will was going to find out Jacinda's secrets. Not a unique concept but well put together. I liked the fact that Jacinda is a dragon who can transform into a human and not the other way around. I'm very interested in seeing where this story leads. I don't particularly like Cassian but then again his only hang time was as the bad guy so maybe he has some redeeming characteristics. I really liked Will and hope he features in the next book. But her sister, Tamra is a selfish witch and her mother, while trying to do the best thing for Jacinda, is slowly killing her.
I found the premise of this story interesting. I have never read a book about dragon's that can shape shift into humans or "Draki". Honestly it was an okay start then the whole (spoiler alert)moving to a new town, going to a new school, trying to fit in and knowing it won't work because you are not "normal", insta love with someone forbidden, two guys fighting over the main girl...I could go on and on. Same shit different people. Usually these books are right up my alley. Call me a sucker for predictable love stories with a super natural element. So I guess I'll probably give the second book a chance, since the first book was the set up for action in this series. If it's anything like The Fallen Series 2nd book Torment I'll be done and over it.
This was a really good story. It was a refreshing change of pace. I liked how the author described the transformations of the characters, and how they struggled with their different worlds.
I did become rather irritated with Jacinda's mother and sister throughout most of the book- what selfish people!
Jacinda also goes back and forth between common sense and selfish foolishness on almost too many occasions.
Overall, I liked the story. Be advised that you'll want to read book 2 (Vanish) as soon as you're finished with this one!
I did become rather irritated with Jacinda's mother and sister throughout most of the book- what selfish people!
Jacinda also goes back and forth between common sense and selfish foolishness on almost too many occasions.
Overall, I liked the story. Be advised that you'll want to read book 2 (Vanish) as soon as you're finished with this one!
Firelight is the type of book I would have LOVED to read in High School. It would have gone straight onto my Keeper Shelf. An easy read I finished in less than a day. I had some trouble with the authors "voice" It is written in first person, but feels like third person objective. Other than that personal issue Firelight is everything I think YA should be. Full of teen-aged drama and the requisite struggle to become ones own person in a world where one doesn't actually fit. There is a bit more intimacy than I like for the genre but kids see worse every day on TV. I'd let my middle schooler read it
Jacinda is Draki a dragon-like being that is able to hide itself under human form. Among a special breed Jacinda is rare. Because she is so rare, so prized the elders of her pride will do anything to control her.
To spare Jacinda that life her mothers sneaks Jacinda and her sister away from the suffocating embrace of the Pride - and straight into a bigger problem. He is handsomer than most, and has almost as many secrets as Jacinda does.
I have rated it 3.5 because as an adult I want less drama and more action from my fiction. But for teens? 5 stars all the way!
Jacinda is Draki a dragon-like being that is able to hide itself under human form. Among a special breed Jacinda is rare. Because she is so rare, so prized the elders of her pride will do anything to control her.
To spare Jacinda that life her mothers sneaks Jacinda and her sister away from the suffocating embrace of the Pride - and straight into a bigger problem. He is handsomer than most, and has almost as many secrets as Jacinda does.
I have rated it 3.5 because as an adult I want less drama and more action from my fiction. But for teens? 5 stars all the way!
