Firelight: chica de fuego

Couldn't even finish it.

3.5-4.0

Upon finishing the book I was at a 4 star rating but as I slept on it I think it's more of a 3.5 star rating but I keep going back and forth on it. Such is life.

The fact that this YA was about dragons or descendants of dragons gave me enough of a reason to want to read it. The fact that I have the final book in the trilogy motivated me to bump it up on the dreaded TBR list.

I liked:

1. Sophie Jordan's writing style. She knows how to put together words that will place you in the middle of a very mystical place with very real dangers lurking about. From page 1 she set the tone for the rest of the book. I often found myself thinking this would make a great movie because it played in my head just like one.

2. The concept of the Draki, a mystical people who are descendants of dragons. The lore is intriguing and you can't help to want to learn more about it. LOVED IT.

3. Jacinda- She's a 16 year old who might be having problems adjusting in the human world but knows who she is as a Draki. She's comfortable in her own skin and isn't afraid to stand up for who/what she is. I really liked her and could relate to her struggles.

4. Will- 18 year old Draki Hunter who falls for Jacinda in both forms. He's a very likable character. He's not like his family and has his own issues with them. He's forced to go hunting but doesn't really agree with it. He went from trying to understand Jacinda with an open mind to being accepting of Jacinda... Yeah, I likes him.

5. The forbidden love aspect of this story.

6. The ending. A very very very good ending. Yes, it's a cliffhanger. Yes, I hate cliffhangers. Yes, I already started the next book.

I did not like:

1. Jacinda is in constant turmoil over Will. Understandable. He's a hunter after all. She was warring against the connection they felt and the obvious, that he could end up killing her. Although I was understanding of all this I found the repetitive warring a bit much. I just don't like books that constantly repeat things word for word every 10 pages or so. We get it... we don't forget... honestly, we don't.

2. Jacinda never told her mother or Tamra that Will was a hunter. Ok, I get it. You don't want to tell them that you're falling for a hunter. Ok. Jacinda didn't mention that they were living near hunters at all. There were a crap load of them all over the place. (Not saying anything is not realistic even in a non-realistic place.)

3. My biggest issue with this book is that you don't really get much of the Draki lore. I would have loved to get more information on them. The author also mentions another species called the Enkros but we don't get much on them either.

4. Come to think of it... there are a lot of loose ends. A LOT. Don't like this at all. (They are all spoilers so I can't mention them. Sorry.)

Overall, I liked the book. I did. It has a lot of elements that can make it a spectacular series and I'm hoping the next two installments make it happen.

From the moment I saw Firelight on a Waiting on Wednesday post, I knew I had to read it. The cover caught my eye, the synopsis intrigued me, and Sophie Jordan is truly one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet on Twitter! All of this contributed me jumping onto an ARC tour as fast as I possibly could. Wait until September to read this? Pshaw. As if I really could.

As I opened the book and dove into Jacinda's world, the world of the Draki, I found myself becoming increasingly enamored with both her and the abilities she possessed. Jacinda had a fiery attitude to match her special talent, and I loved her spunk! Her disgust with the situation being forced upon her, her utter rebelliousness, I just drank it in page after page. What struck me most was her absolute love for her mother and her sister. Jacinda was willing to give up so much to make her family content. If only we could all aspire to be as loving as she was.

To be honest though, my one gripe with Jacinda was her inability to do what she wanted to do. I understood how much she loved her family, and why she chose not to put them at risk. However as the book progressed I began to get angry at how much she would complain and yet not follow through with her plans. It didn't seem to match the fiery attitude that boiled within her. It bothered me for a long time, but then I was saved. I'll be honest without spoilers, the ending did change my mind! Thus why this was a fleeting issue and Jacinda and I are once again on the same page. Rock on girlfriend!

The chemistry that was present between Jacinda and Will reminded me a lot of Grace and Sam in Shiver and that really struck a cord with me. It was the type of attraction that although it is very sudden, is strong enough that it doesn't really need to be explained. The characters mesh together so well once they find one another that you never have to question why they are destined for love. Although the reader doesn't really get a deep look into Will's past, it is enough that he is there for Jacinda when she needs him. There without judging. I can only hope that more of Will's mysterious nature will be revealed in the next book!

Firelight was such a quick paced and expertly written book that I powered through it in a matter of hours. It was the type of book that when I came to the end I was saddened. No more story? I had to remind myself that there will be another one soon and I can once again jump on board with Jacinda and her unlikely match. I'm already so excited for the next book! Thank you, Sophie Jordan, for making me fall in love with dragons all over again.