Scan barcode
s_smiadak's review against another edition
4.0
This story was much better written than the first 3 in the series but it's not without its own annoyances. In hindsight, I could have skipped them and only read Empire of Dreams and been content.
jennfs10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
emskidua's review against another edition
5.0
Stop this was so cute! The perfect ending! Those kids were some of my faves in the trilogy so it’s so fun to have a story for them! My favorite of them all!!
oruairc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
King Alejandro continues to fuck things up beyond the grave. Men really ain't shit. Elisa is a better person than me because that baby would definitely not be named after my idiot dead husband king.
3.5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐/2
3.5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐/2
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Gun violence, Racism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Slavery
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: War and Suicide
singsthewren's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this follow-up to Fire and Thorns. I had to do some googling to remind myself of the plots of the first three, but it also did a good job of reminding you about anything important that you might have forgotten.
The current-day narrative is interspersed with flashback's to Red's childhood, which honestly I could have done without. Most of them are just a misery parade, and I didn't feel like they really broadened my understanding of her as a character.
But the current day stuff was fantastic, and kept me very engaged with the story. The twists and turns were well earned and satisfying, and I loved (minor spoiler alert) that there wasn't a love story crow-barred into it. Great characters and a fun setting. I'd happily read more of Red's journey if there's a sequel.
The current-day narrative is interspersed with flashback's to Red's childhood, which honestly I could have done without. Most of them are just a misery parade, and I didn't feel like they really broadened my understanding of her as a character.
But the current day stuff was fantastic, and kept me very engaged with the story. The twists and turns were well earned and satisfying, and I loved (minor spoiler alert) that there wasn't a love story crow-barred into it. Great characters and a fun setting. I'd happily read more of Red's journey if there's a sequel.
ipomoea's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Seven years after the third book in her Fire and Thorns trilogy, Rae Carson has returned to the world of Joya D'Arena, and the series has been updated with new covers to match that of The Empire of Dreams, which will be released on April 7, 2020. It’s the story of Red Sparkle Stone, the girl rescued by Elisa in the original trilogy, a girl with a mysterious past and an uncertain future.
Red is Elisa’s ward and is about to be officially adopted into the royal family of Joya D’Arena, but a sudden political stunt blocks it, leaving the family and Red reeling. Refusing to be defeated and driven away by political rivals, Red instead enrolls in Royal Guard training, giving up any official status she has as a royal ward, and dedicates herself to proving that she can protect those she loves with a skill equal to any young man in her class of guard applicants. But while guards are apolitical on paper, family politics and rivalries enter the guard barracks, leaving Red to scramble to both stay in training as well as find people she can trust. As she moves through training, Red’s murky past is slowly revealed in flashbacks, stolen from her home and sold into blood slavery. Red’s past accompanies her even in safety, her PTSD is referred to as “soldier sickness” and is discussed as something soldiers often develop after battle. It’s viewed with sympathy but no accommodation, something that she has to deal with on her own and without anyone making it easier for her. In the author’s note, Carson notes that her father stole her from her mother at a young age and went on the run with her for over a month, and that she developed PTSD from the experience. I appreciated Carson’s honesty about her experience, giving context to the choice to give Red PTSD.
Returning to Joya D’Arena needed more context for me-- I hadn’t read the books since probably 2014, so I was rusty on much of the political machination that led to the events of this book, and I didn’t remember how Red came to join Elisa’s family (this is one of the flashbacks, thank goodness). A brief introduction to the background, even just something from the view of the royal archivist or historian would have been nice. While this is listed as a stand-alone, I don’t think the story would have as much impact if the reader didn’t read the original trilogy that preceded it.
Who I’ll recommend the book to: previous fans of Carson’s high fantasy.
Who I’ll recommend the series to: fans of female protagonists who are canny and imperfect but determined, fans of YA with political scheming. Elisa isn’t a fighter but she and her advisors are good at politicking.
Seven years after the third book in her Fire and Thorns trilogy, Rae Carson has returned to the world of Joya D'Arena, and the series has been updated with new covers to match that of The Empire of Dreams, which will be released on April 7, 2020. It’s the story of Red Sparkle Stone, the girl rescued by Elisa in the original trilogy, a girl with a mysterious past and an uncertain future.
Red is Elisa’s ward and is about to be officially adopted into the royal family of Joya D’Arena, but a sudden political stunt blocks it, leaving the family and Red reeling. Refusing to be defeated and driven away by political rivals, Red instead enrolls in Royal Guard training, giving up any official status she has as a royal ward, and dedicates herself to proving that she can protect those she loves with a skill equal to any young man in her class of guard applicants. But while guards are apolitical on paper, family politics and rivalries enter the guard barracks, leaving Red to scramble to both stay in training as well as find people she can trust. As she moves through training, Red’s murky past is slowly revealed in flashbacks, stolen from her home and sold into blood slavery. Red’s past accompanies her even in safety, her PTSD is referred to as “soldier sickness” and is discussed as something soldiers often develop after battle. It’s viewed with sympathy but no accommodation, something that she has to deal with on her own and without anyone making it easier for her. In the author’s note, Carson notes that her father stole her from her mother at a young age and went on the run with her for over a month, and that she developed PTSD from the experience. I appreciated Carson’s honesty about her experience, giving context to the choice to give Red PTSD.
Returning to Joya D’Arena needed more context for me-- I hadn’t read the books since probably 2014, so I was rusty on much of the political machination that led to the events of this book, and I didn’t remember how Red came to join Elisa’s family (this is one of the flashbacks, thank goodness). A brief introduction to the background, even just something from the view of the royal archivist or historian would have been nice. While this is listed as a stand-alone, I don’t think the story would have as much impact if the reader didn’t read the original trilogy that preceded it.
Who I’ll recommend the book to: previous fans of Carson’s high fantasy.
Who I’ll recommend the series to: fans of female protagonists who are canny and imperfect but determined, fans of YA with political scheming. Elisa isn’t a fighter but she and her advisors are good at politicking.
seemadyal50's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stressedspidergirl's review against another edition
3.0
I had read the entire series of the girl of fire and thorns a long time ago, and enjoyed that it was based on a different world than I was used to seeing. I didn't remember a lot about it, and this novel had .. both more and less grown up elements than I really remember from the initial series. I thought it was good, I enjoyed it just fine. It didn't much stand out to me beyond the politics still being frustrating in that it was like the characters couldn't win even though they had -which is kind of how the real world works so that's fine.
I think I'll need to reread the series including the novellas and then see how it feels to me instead of quite how it was trying to catch up and remember years later what was going on.
I think I'll need to reread the series including the novellas and then see how it feels to me instead of quite how it was trying to catch up and remember years later what was going on.