Book Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight

By Sophie Jordan

Won H.C. from Juliana Stone’s blog

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 of her kind, she nearly pays with her life, only to be spared by a beautiful stranger sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose ability to shift into human form is her best defense.

Forced to flee into the mortal world, Jacinda struggles to adapt. The one bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irrestibly 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 a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide ...

About the book, in my words:

Jacinda is a draki, decedents of dragons, which can take on human form. She is the only known fire-breather in her pride or around and because of this she is treated as a possession instead of the teenage draki girl she is. Her pride has big plans for her but all she wants is her freedom and to fly. When she sneaks out one morning with her best friend they are nearly caught by hunters and while hiding in a cave she is found by a young, good looking hunter but miraculously he let’s her go.

Jacinda is forced to flee the pride with her mother and twin sister afterwards and enter the human world where Jacinda is told she must let her draki side die and become like a mortal for her own safety. But unlike her mother and sister, being a draki is who she is and to let that part of her die is to let herself die completely. But she decides to stick it out for her family and try. That is until she feels a presence in her new school and looks up into the amber eyes of the hunter that spared her life. Unbelievably he stirs the draki inside of her to life and Jacinda is faced with the tough decision of entering a relationship with a hunter of her people who makes her inner draki flourish or denying her draki and their intense attraction all together. But when her chosen, by the pride, mate shows up another option is opened to her and she must make a decision.

My thoughts:

Firelight is fresh and creative with a new twist on forbidden love. I just love the idea of a dragon shifter or 'draki'. And this is not your typical YA love triangle so don’t go running the other way after reading “forbidden love.” LoL

This story is a real page-turner with a well-detailed and fabulously built world. Sophie Jordan has a unique writing style that flows smoothly and she has developed strong, likeable characters that are completely engaging and emotionally compelling. And other side characters that you will simply love to hate. The plot is fast paced & enticing with great action, suspense & mystery and a good amount of teen angst and romance.

You really feel for Jacinda and understand how she wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, not what she is.

I loved the steamy encounters between her &  Will, because they were literally steamy. LoL And they are sure to make your heart flutter.

Will is a very loveable romantic interest with many redeeming qualities but I think there's more to Cassian than what has been portrayed so far and I am looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book.

Firelight is a quick read, I finished in one sitting.  The only downside I could find to it was Jacinda’s back and forth about vowing to not go near Will; it got a bit redundant.

Warning: There is a cliffhanger that will have you yelling “NO, WHAT HAPPEN’S NEXT!?!” and scrambling to see when the next book will be out. But, the overall story is worth it. =)

The second Firelight novel titled Vanish is scheduled for release some time next year and this is what Sophie Jordan had to say about it;

"This title is actually inspired from a line I wrote in the second Firelight novel. My editors kindly pointed it out to me and suggested it. "Vanish" is just one of those words I found myself typing more than once as I wrote the book. Those of you who've read FIRELIGHT and recall the ending might also have an idea what motivated the title choice. The title speaks to Jacinda's state, both physically and emotionally, through many points of the second Firelight novel ... and it also hints at a major twist you'll learn upon reading the very beginning VANISH. 
Be prepared for more romance, suspense and adventure as Jacinda's story continues in VANISH!" 

And she is currently working on #3.

BTW, isn’t the cover simply gorgeous?  

Rating: 4 Wine Glasses

PG13 - Some steaminess going on