THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS BY RAE CARSON
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
“Honor from death,” I snap, “is a myth. Invented by the war torn to make sense of the horrific. If we die, it will be so that others may live. Truly honorable death, the only honorable death, is one that enables life.”
― Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Series: Fire and Thorns 
Synopsis:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.

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I am not even sure where to start with this review. This book was exactly what I needed. It is filled with courtly and political intrigue. It has a strong female lead who proves that sometimes the chosen one is the one who seems most unworthy.

As I read this book I did what I do for most of the books I read, and kept a notebook filled with notes. Yet as I stare at the page full of notes and comments I am struggling at finding the words to say in order to convey how I felt about this book. It had its moments and although it was not perfection I seem to be a little bias because this book was exactly what I needed at this moment in time.

Elisa is everything you want in a heroine! She is clever and absolutely brilliant although she has self doubt and insecurities. That is what I like most about her. Her characterization is so true to a real female and she proves that she is worthy, strong and pretty badass. There were so many other characters in this book and I loved them all. Each one was very unique and had their own quirks that made me love the book even more. There were the characters you love and the ones you love to hate! 

One of my favorite aspects of this book besides the intriguing political and war strategy was that although there was romance it was more of light love interest and not a story that revolved around the romance. For me that is something big that quickly annoys me when I find it in a book. I was so happy that there were multiple interests and each helped Elisa learn something about herself. I was also quite taken by the religion that was weaved into the story. It sometimes makes me feel uneasy and like it is preachy when found in books, but it was used in a different way in this story.

“God’s will. How many times have I heard someone declare their understanding of this thing I find so indefinable?”
― Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns

Overall I found this to be a refreshing YA fantasy that had elements unique to itself and threaded many different elements throughout the story making a fully and more engrossing story. This book incorporates a ton of diversity and was absolutely fantastic! I recommend this book to anyone who loves engaging fantasy and strong kickass female heroines!