This was a really good book that I am glad I finally picked up. I think the only reason that I haven't picked it up before (despite the great ratings) was because the synopsis is weak---really weak.

Most of the faith-based fantasy that I've read has been a thinly disguised way to deliver a 'god-is-good-and-wants-you-to-do-the-right-thing' message. This was more a story about self-discovery and growth. And Thank You Rae Carson for a unique heroine--at the end of the book, I still wasn't sure if she is plain, beautiful or striking--because that had NOTHING to do with the story--nice touch.

I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series. ( )

here is a good rule: don't expect a book with "girl" in the title to be an empowering feminist epic. this was a makeover book with magic and fighting, and some kidnapping to fill out the fantasy trope. my fat positive politics were unimpressed with the weight loss of the sad fat girl leading to self esteem, love, and saving the day. ewww. ( )

Going into the book (which I read an e-ARC version from NetGalley) I had completely forgotten what it was about. It was on my list of 'Must Read Immediately Upon Getting' books and I had made a notation about 'fantasy' next to it, but otherwise I had forgotten. Something pushed at me to pick it though and thus did I spend an entire Friday night (after my show) reading this glorious, wonderful and otherwise fantastic novel.

It would honestly be hard for me to categorize this as a 'young adult'. If this had been written in the 90's then it may very well have been shelved with the mainstream fantasy books despite the narrator, Elisa's, age of 16. Carson questions the nature of love (familial, first love and enduring love), religion (faith, doubt, belief) and duty (to one's self, to one's country) without holding anything back. Elisa learns some very hard lessons in a relatively short amount of time and realizes some hard truths.

Elisa, in short, is my hero. Not because she saves the day. Not because she's clever and quick-witted and brave. Not just because of those things at least. Elisa is my hero, and would have been my role model for life as a teen, because she doesn't judge herself. She doubts why she was Chosen. She looks back at the way she was in her home kingdom with horror, but she doesn't ever say 'I'm a useless person'. Whenever she uses the words 'useless' and 'fat' she is repeating what others have said behind her back (or in at least one case, to her face).

She is self-conscious, she envies other women for their slim forms or graceful bearing, but she doesn't deride herself for not being that way. She is strong, just as many of the characters say she is, but she shows that strength in subtle ways. Standing up and remaining firm with the young Prince, keeping her calm when faced with a duplicitous lady of the court, keeping her wits when confronted with a terrifying enemy. Elisa's development is spurned onwards at first by her need to be useful to her husband, but it doesn't take her long to realize that she should change to be better for herself.

I admit I didn't like her husband, I didn't trust him or his motivations. I didn't think he was a bad man, but the way he was using Elisa just made me frown. I felt bad for Elisa though, wanted more for her, but at the same time I wanted to scream that not everything has to be about him.



Carson gives us quite a cast of characters to be entertained by. I was quite fond of some of them, though I suppose I didn't quite trust any of them? Even her old Nurse, who obviously wants to protect Elisa from everything and everyone, made me wary. Elisa was the pawn in a very powerful game, several powerful games in fact, and until she realizes her own power it was disheartening how easily she was manipulated or misled. How eager she was to believe certain fallacies because she was so desperately lonely and unfulfilled.

There are several times when Carson tempers the cleverness that Elisa shows with hard truths. Consequences for her decisions and actions, especially as we grew closer to the end, proved themselves to Elisa and I applauded her for being able to...move past them and regroup quickly. Even before she came into herself Elisa didn't just wallow, not when there was something else she could be doing. She had her moments, but then she was is still young, thrust into a terrible War that no one cared to explain to her.

While the ending lends itself well to being self-contained, there are two more books and the acknowledgement that more adventures await Elisa in the closing. An important plot focal point remains unanswered and to be truthful I want to see what the new Elisa can do with her strength and new found purpose. ( )

This felt like bog-standard fantasy with the exception of the protagonist's magic umbilicus. Yes, see, her navel is a gem that turns hot and cold (and more, but...spoilers, I guess.) Did her umbilical artery run through it? Did it grow once her cord fell off? Is the belly button just decorative in this world? Inquiring minds got too distracted by umbilical anatomy to pay too much attention to the plot, which is good, because again, cliche fantasy Stockholm syndrome.

OK, to add one more comment: I liked having a heroine who was larger, and the body positivity that went with it. Of course, she lost a ton of weight while being kidnapped and was thrilled with her smaller body...Rae Carson is not exactly svelte herself and this all felt like a very unhealthy weight fantasy situation. ( )

The author is nice story teller. she created strong characters and vivid sceneries. I can only wish that the author continues in her style until she finishes the story. ( )