Friday, October 1, 2010

Fantasy Friday: Firelight


Firelight, by Sophie Jordan

Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 323
Reading Level: 14 and Up
Enjoyment Level: Dragons!


I LOVE dragons! If you’re one of the blog’s long-time subscribers, you probably know that by now. How exciting is it for me to see another dragon book? It’s like it’s here just for me!

From GoodReads:

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

Even though I didn’t get the ARC myself, I read the one my sister had. I couldn’t wait! I raced through the book pretty quickly, shelving several things I needed to do that day. That should tell you pretty solidly that the story sucked me in. Bliss!

I love Jacinda. What a great character. She feels so real, and her emotions come across so well. The dynamic she has with her family and the other people around her is natural, and not once did I feel snapped out of the world by anything awkward. Though there were times I wished Jacinda would see something I did, or do something I wanted her to do, it was never out of frustration with the author. I felt so in tune with Jacinda that I wanted the best for her.

The other characters are all fleshed out well. The various depictions of family create an interesting backdrop for the story, and cause plenty of tension throughout the book. Jacinda’s love interest, Will, is amazing, and I totally want to meet him in real life.

Only one thing kept me from giving this a five-star rating on GoodReads, and that was the ending – and only because I’m so tired of cliffhanger endings. It’s not even that Firelight has a cliffhanger, but it really feels like one to me, where there are several plot points that weren’t resolved at the end. It’s mostly frustrating just because I have to wait, wait, wait for the sequel.

Now it's your turn to read it! We're giving away an autographed copy of Firelight (massive cheering can now ensue). Just follow the rules below. Deadline to enter is October 13, 2010.

  • Follow the blog or our twitter.
  • Tweet, facebook, or blog about this contest.
  • Leave a comment on this post with your name, age, link to tweet/fb/blog, and the reason you'd like to win.
That's it. And be sure to check out my interview with Sophie Jordan on the podcast. Good Luck!

Until next time, go read something!

~ Vilate

(photo by whitestarphotography.blogspot.com)


22 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway :D

    April Xu, 15, I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/ramen_addict/status/26145251006

    I've been wanting to read this SO BADLY!!!!! I read the 50 pg excerpt and I've been insane ever since! My parents will not let me buy books until AFTER I take the PSAT which is in like 2 weeks :P Actually it just happens to be the deadline of this contest lol.

    ReplyDelete
  2. :O oh a giveaway! I wanted to comment on the picture.. SO PRETTY! But.. is this international?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ooooh giveaway! Thanks so much :)

    Name: Alison
    Age: 15

    I'd like to win this book because I've always had my eye on it since I first heard about it (end of spring). I loved the cover and the summary sounded awesome! Usually those two together make a great story!

    Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/LostinBelievin/status/26210639550

    Thanks again !

    ~Alison
    lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yea a giveaway!

    Ashley
    24

    I'd like to win this book because it seems from what I've read that it's different from all the others books I have on my self. Usually for me if the little caption of what it's about (or cover of the book) looks and reads good. I like it. so it's something of a different nature for me to read other then the vampire and wolves things.

    http://www.twitter.com/bookserieslover

    http://readnwritethisway.blogspot.com/
    bookserieslover@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the giveaway! Please enter me if it's international.

    Judit
    22

    I would love to win this book simply because right now, there is nothnig I want to read more than Firelight. I heard so much about how amazing it is and read so many great reviews...please let this giveaway be international so I have chance to win...:)

    I'm GFC follower and I tweeted here:
    http://twitter.com/#!/judittten/status/26283002464

    judittten at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG!! I've been waiting for a Firelight giveaway forever! :D I wanna read Firelight because I've never read a story about a girl/draki before, and when I read the synopsis I just fell in love with it. :) I love Sophie's books, and I can't even imagine how awesome will be to read a YA story written by Sophie. :)

    My name is Melissa and I'm 17.

    I tweeted about the contest here:

    http://twitter.com/Minamostaza/statuses/26283097575

    Thanks for this giveaway, and thank you for writing the review.

    Fingers crossed! :D Good luck to everybody.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm a GFC (.Ambur) and twitter follower (@AmburHostyn)
    I tweeted your giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/AmburHostyn/status/26323104853

    I'd like to win this book because it looks amazing! And I would love to have one signed by Sophie especially. I'm planning on getting this book one way or another, so even I don't win I'll end up buying it, but I would still love to win it!
    Thanks so much for having this giveaway and for the chance to win Firelight!!!
    Ambur
    ambiepie_6(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
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  9. Renee McDonald (follower)
    20 years old.
    http://twitter.com/#!/mcdonaldrenee/status/26179323281

    I want to read this, because you said very glowing things and it's been hyped as one of the stronger debut novels of the year.

    PS. I like the new layout on YALR (:

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love dragons too, ever since I watched Jurassic Park and read Eragon by Christopher Paolini!

    Please, please enter me in.

    I'm a follower via GFC.
    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/jenileeantonio/status/26332431689
    Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jenileelomibaoantonio?v=wall&story_fbid=164331320244468&ref=mf
    Sidebar link: http://jenilee.tumblr.com

    I love dragons and I really want to check out Firelight, which is Sophie Jordan's first novel in Young Adult paranormal genre. I hope I'm lucky enough to win this.

    Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have been looking forward to reading this! Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I've read a lot of good reviews about Firelight.

    Ash, 26
    I follow on GFC and Twitter!
    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/ferretvamp14/status/26460167107

    ReplyDelete
  12. Scoot, 27 I am twitter follower (@seescootread)!

    I RT'd your tweet: http://twitter.com/YALitReview/status/26490697269

    I would love to win a copy of this book! I have already read it, but I would love to own my own copy. It is a great book! I can't wait for the next one.

    Thanks!
    Seescootread[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  13. * Tweet, facebook, or blog about this contest.
    * Leave a comment on this post with your name, age, link to tweet/fb/blog, and the reason you'd like to win.

    I saw the trailer for Firelight a few weeks ago. It intrigued me enough to want to read it.

    Reena Jacobs (18+)
    reenajacobs at reenajacobs dot com
    @ReenaJacobs
    Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/ReenaJacobs/statuses/26524404668

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
    I follow via GFC & Twitter (@Tabby_L)
    Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Tabby_L/status/26708177826
    Tabby (age 28)
    tabbylewis at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. - blog follower
    tweeted: http://twitter.com/FionaChan/statuses/26722607746
    Fiona Chan, turned 17 this year

    I would love to win because I really really really want this book! So far I've only read super positive reviews and the blogger urging us to buy this. :( Plus, I love the cover, the redness is awesome. PLUS, IT'S SIGNED! I don't live in the US, and authors never come here for signings, so..

    thank you!
    feeyonachan at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'd love to win this book because I've yet to read an awesome book about dragons and I have a feeling that this could be the one to change it all for me and introduce me to a whole new world:D

    Lesley, 27, blog follower via GFC.

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jamie
    28
    http://twitter.com/#!/Spacecadet570

    I just recently found out about firelight, the idea of a shape shifter dragon is very intriguing to me, and I love seeing a female heroine. I cant wait to read this book :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kristina, 20 (dang, already?).
    Retweet: http://twitter.com/#!/YALitReview/status/27291860037

    Why do I want to win? Well, I've heard such great things about this book! And look at that cover -- it's gorgeous. As someone who is completely enamored with dragons (Dragonriders of Pern lover here!), I felt a pull - a need? - to read this book! The concept of a shape shifting dragon is too awesome to pass up - it just sounds so darn good. I think I might give an arm or a leg for this book. Honest. Are you interested in an arm, leg, or other appendage? I'm willing to negotiate. ;P

    angelmistress[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  19. http://thethirstyreaders.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-many-giveaways-can-i-post-in-1-day.html

    http://twitter.com/MrsTeeMae/status/27304255960

    I am a follower. I would love to win this book, well because I love books. I am a hoarder. Compulsive reader and book buyer. It would be nice to win!

    meanmisskittie [at] gmail [dot] com

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  21. I'm Kandace & I'm 26. I follow on twitter as thisblondereads.

    I would love to win this. I'm a prett big sophie fan since I've read & loved all her romance & Adored the ebok Fireligt I read. I Rally wanted to buy a hard copy but would be so excited to have a Signed copy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. dang just saw your timestamp shows you are in an earlier timezone. Does it end aat midnight your time?? Hope not! :)

    ReplyDelete