Sunday, December 12, 2010

Graceling vs Fire



For anyone who read my teaser on Tuesday and asked/commented about which of Kristin Cashore's novels was better, well here's my opinion now that I've finished reading...

I liked the first half of GRACELING better than the second half, and I liked the second half of FIRE more than the first half. So... I think I have to say that I enjoyed them both equally!

Heroines
I loved Katsa (GRACELING) as a strong female MC, but I found it easier to identify with Fire, mainly because Katsa was a killing machine who was totally uninterested in the getting-married-and-having-a-family thing and that's... well... not me at all! And Fire had a passion for making music -- she knew how to lose herself in her instrument -- and that I can understand.

Love Interests
I think I liked Brigan (FIRE) more than Po (GRACELING), though I won't go into the reasons (other than that I'm really not keen on the name Po!) because they could be spoilers for anyone who hasn't read either or both of the books.

Story
Both books had a bit of a twist where I kind of wasn't expecting it, and I always enjoy a twist :-)

So. Bottom line. I'm recommending them both!


5 comments:

Abby Minard said...

I'm right smack in the middle of Graceling right now and loving it. I love her writing- especially her dialogue. I like to compare mine to hers because that genre is very similar to mine- kind of "classic" fantasy. Thanks for the reviews!

erica and christy said...

Ha! I just came here to say Abby just recommended Graceling to me. So I guess this means I have to read it. Thanks - I'm a sucker for a series!
erica

Jennifer Hoffine said...

I read them both and enjoyed them both. The thing that struck me was that Graceling seemed to have more of a YA feel to me. I thought Fire could pass as adult...not for inappropriate content or anything, but for where the protag seemed to be in her life journey.

Denise Covey said...

Haven't read either but I must by the sound of it!

Unknown said...

I keep almost picking these up. I think it will be the next one I pick up.

www.jenniferalbin.com