Book Review: Firelight

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.. [Source]

Amazing. What else can I say??

I didn't jump in this bandwagon until a couple weeks ago, mainly because I was trying to wait for the paperback version to be released. But then I was offered the chance to review the sequel, AS LONG AS I read and reviewed Firelight first. So I bought it and I read it. And I loved it.

Commence jumping on bandwagon.

Now I am a fan.

I *might* be living under a rock, but I haven't really read very many YA novels about dragons lately, let alone YA novels about draki. That usually makes me want to read something, that little bit of uniqueness. Before reading, I had to turn to my geeky, loves-all-things-sci-fi-and-paranormal fiance to explain what draki are.

I was hooked from page 1! The rising action that occurs right away drew me in and left me breathless. I personally don't like when novels take 3 or 4 chapters to build up and get interesting, so this novel earned points quickly.

Also, I love how the author introduces characters seamlessly and naturally. I didn't feel as though names of characters were being thrown around just for the sake of having them there. Each character, even the secondary ones, served a distinct and unique purpose.

As if I wasn't on the edge of my seat while reading, the author then threw this crazy little twist in, smack dab in the middle of a major conflict. Just when I was expecting some sort of resolution, I was given more questions.

Some of the foreshadowing was a bit obvious, which I don't usually like. However, at times, in this novel, it served to peak my interest even more, therefore keeping me reading.

I love Will and Jacinda as a couple. So wrong for each other, but so connected. I can't really explain how much I love them together.

Holy open ending, Batman! If I had read this novel when it was first published, I honestly would have been seriously angry with the ending. However, now that I have the sequel firmly in my grasp, I'm okay with it... But ONLY because I have that sequel, literally waiting on my coffee table.

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