Firelight/Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan; young adult, fantasy, romance; 336 pages

I'm not sure where I got the idea that this was a readalike for Graceling (by Kristin Cashore). It's not. It's still a great book, but comparing it to Graceling would be comparing apples and oranges, so I'll leave Cashore's books out of this review.

Firelight is the story of Jacelyn; she's a draki, a race descended from dragons, who can take human form to hide from the hunters that are a constant threat. Jacelyn is encouraged to do a lot of hiding, because she's the first draki in centuries to be able to breathe fire, and her people want her kept around as long as possible. Of course, none of that sits too well with a headstrong teenage girl, and it isn't long before Jacelyn, her mother, and her twin sister Tamra find themselves fleeing the wrath of the other draki in her pride. They take refuge in a small desert town, hoping the heat and dryness will kill off the dragon part of Jace's nature, while Jace desperately searches for a way to keep her draki side alive in the barren environment. She finds it in Will, a boy at her school with whom she shares a strange connection, and who seems to make her draki side come alive--so alive that Jace can barely keep her human disguise around him. The only problem is that Will comes from a family of hunters, and they cannot know about her people's ability to change form...

This book had a very Twilight-y feel to it, with the star-crossed lovers, love-at-first-sight theme that runs SO strongly throughout. In fact, the breathless romance tended to overwhelm most of the other story elements, until it felt like the only thing going on. That's not to say it wasn't a compelling read--I tore through it in about two days--but it's definitely more about the characters and emotions, not the plot. In fact, I advise that you not think about the plot too hard while reading--it doesn't hold up to scrutiny very well. Overall, this is a fun, light read, clearly intended to be the first in a series. Just make sure you're looking for a romance, not a detailed fantasy novel.

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