The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

3.5 of 5

The Girl of Fire and Thorns started wonderfully, and the overall world-building is really well done. While the idea of a Godstone in her belly button was sometimes a little awkward and almost silly, I did really like that spiritual elements were incorporated nicely. There were no pat answers about God or religion. No agenda pushing really. It was just part of the world, part of the character. A nice exploration of faith and doubt.

There was a little too much focus on how much Elisa was eating, exactly how fat she was, and how much others looked at how much she was eating and exactly how fat she was.

I liked the political intrigue and how suddenly the story shifts when Elisa is kidnapped. However, toward the ends, things are suddenly wrapped up. The pace was nice for about two thirds, and then the last third feels like just being told what happened rather than really living though it with Elisa.

I'm surprised to learn that this is the first in a trilogy (or series?) It seemed almost overly final. There was a lot more there that could have been explored with two of the characters in particular. Elisa's relationships could have changed with them in really interesting ways.

I don't really see where the story can go. For trilogies/series, I like when a main plot line is wrapped up but you're still left with a sense of something continuing. Overall though, promising and ultimately only slightly disappointing.