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    The Crown of Embers
    The Crown of Embers
    The Crown of Embers
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Crown of Embers

    Written by Rae Carson

    Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    “Carson joins the ranks of writers like Kristin Cashore, Megan Whalen Turner, and Tamora Pierce as one of YA’s best writers of high fantasy.”—Locus Magazine

    The second book in Rae Carson’s award-winning and New York Times–bestselling trilogy! Betrayal, love, and untold power fuel the heroic adventure of a seventeen-year-old princess turned warrior-queen. Fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Kendare Blake and Sarah J. Maas will be riveted.

    She does not know what awaits her at the enemy’s gate.

    Elisa led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as queen should be secure. But it isn’t. Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from foreign realms and even from within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one remains uncertain.

    To conquer the power she bears, Elisa must journey from the hidden catacombs beneath her own city to treacherous seas and a long-forgotten island. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man with whom—despite everything—she is falling in love. If she’s lucky, she’ll return. But there will be a cost.

    Don’t miss The Empire of Dreams, Rae Carson’s action-packed return to the world of The Girl of Fire and Thorns!

     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9780062221858
    Author

    Rae Carson

    Rae Carson is the author of two bestselling and award-winning trilogies, as well as the acclaimed stand-alone novels Any Sign of Life and The Empire of Dreams. Her debut, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, was named a William C. Morris Award finalist and an Andre Norton Award finalist. Walk on Earth a Stranger was longlisted for the 2015 National Book Award and won the Western Writers of America Spur Award. Her books tend to contain adventure, magic, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. Originally from California, Rae Carson now lives in Ohio with her husband. www.raecarson.com

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    Reviews for The Crown of Embers

    4.5/5

    104 ratings44 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Elisa is 17 years old and ruler of a nation that has been ravaged by war. She not only has the insecurities of most 17 year olds, but she is queen because her husband named her his heir on his deathbed - though she grew up as a princess, Elisa wasn't trained to be a ruler, she hasn't had very long to learn or practice the skills needed, and some of her advisers and the country's condes question her legitimacy.Oh, yeah, and she bears the mark of the Chosen One, a person selected by God only once a century. Her Godstone and the power it imbues in her inspires awe and fear, on top of the whole queen thing. It is with this power that Elisa was able to save her country, and specifically the royal city of Brisadulce, from the invading Invierne, who used the magic of corrupted Godstones to cause fiery destruction.In this time after the war, the country of Joya d'Arena wants to celebrate and relax, but things aren't so easy. Elisa must find a way to bring peace, prosperity, and stability back to her people, but there are many enemies (and politics) out to sabotage her efforts. Besides which, she just doesn't have the experience yet to know what is right.And so, this is how Crown of Embers begins. As the story goes along, Elisa discovers another aspect of what it means to be the Chosen One and embarks on a quest to both fulfill her destiny and amass the power she needs to convince her people that she is not a weak ruler as her predecessors were, and that she is a legitimate and powerful queen. Elisa also must learn to balance her relationships with others, to learn to navigate friendship and romance around the fact that she does, in fact, hold great power.It was frustrating to me to see Elisa's lack of confidence in herself, even as she is obviously capable and knowledgeable about her role. She is stricken with doubt and fear, which then causes her to make poor choices and not act decisively and take what she wants (which then results in her being miserable because of her self-sacrifice). When she finally embarks on her quest, I couldn't figure out what, exactly, she expected to get from it. Her stated reasons just didn't make sense, they were so vague, even though she is usually quite clear about her goals. I won't spoil the end of the quest, but it made me throw my hands up in exasperation with Elisa, even as I thrilled at the way it exposed so much more world-building and creativity.I enjoyed Crown of Embers quite a lot, though Elisa exasperates me in parts. There is a cliffhanger ending, probably introducing a final arc before Elisa is ready to fully take charge of the throne and her country. The cliffhanger was frustrating, but I can imagine very well what the major brushstrokes of the next book's plot will be - and I'm eager to read it as soon as it's released.
    • 4/5
      It's another home run for Rae Carson. I devoured this book. It had a steady plot laced throughout the 400 pages and held me captive from beginning to end.
    • 4/5
      Elisa won the battle, but the war for the hearts and loyalty of her kingdom still rages. In an attempt to quell rebellion and civil war, Elisa is determined to get to the heart of the conflict between her people and the Inviernos and to discover the great mission her Godstone expects from her. Elisa might have had leadership and power thrust upon her, but her ability to rise up and use both wisely continues to grow.
    • 5/5
      Page turner from beginning to end
    • 5/5
      Why can I not give more than 5 measly stars?! This book demands ALL THE STARS!
    • 5/5
      The first book in the series grabbed me and was initially difficult to fully appreciate laced with deep religious connotations. The story was interesting and surprising enough for me to want to continue the journey. This second book in the series was unexpectantly awesome! Although the main protagonist is on a spiritual quest, it doesn't seem to bog down the adventure of the story. The character development is strong and the descriptions of the fantastical land they live in makes this book very special. I can't wait to read the final chapter this Fall. 
    • 4/5
      Oh man, so I wasn't a huge fan of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I was so convinced it was the kind of book I should love that I even read it twice. The reread resulted in a pretty similar result, though I did like the audiobook a bit better than the print version. Despite that, I still resolved to venture through the next book. Y'all, I am so glad that I am so stubborn that I didn't give up because I was so into this book the whole way through.At 11 hours, this audiobook is pretty dang long, but I got through it so swiftly. Believe it or not, I only started listening to this audiobook on Saturday, and I spent most of Sunday and today (I'm writing this review on Monday evening) out of the house and not with this book. Basically, I spent all of the time I could listening to this. I meant to finish three books yesterday, but instead finished a measly one because I could not stop listening to this. I'd tell myself I should go read, but would find myself deciding to stay and listen to just one more chapter or, you know, ten.Elisa still isn't my favorite heroine of all time, but she did not get on my nerves the way she did before. She even makes reference to some of her previous annoying habits and how she has outgrown them. During the course of the book, she continues to grow. In fact, the physical journey she takes really serves to help her on her psychological journey.Why did I love this book? Why was I so unable to walk away from it and read my other review books? Hector. I just freaking love that guy. He is totally the kind of hero that I cannot resist: all broody and inimitable on the outside with a soft, sweet center for the right woman. *melts* Through most of the book, they're right on the cusp of realizing their feelings for one another, and I got caught up in the spiral of will-they-get-together-I-must-know-right-now; I couldn't stop listening for the same reason I can't stop watching kdramas. Pretty much at all times I was yelling at Elisa to "get it, gurrrrrl."Additionally, the plot focused much more strongly on politics than on religion this time. Though religion remains an important theme, I didn't find it to be quite so much up in my face. The political intricacies of trying to rule a kingdom she's only lived in for a short time are much more interesting to me. There were still some annoying religious things, but they took a backseat, so I'm not going to outline it.If you like adventure, there's bunches of that too. The book freaking opens with an assassination attempt. Can you smell the drama? Just like with the first book, there's betrayal and quests and romance. Also, at the end of the journey, there is this scene that creeped me right out. Just saying.So, if you're like me and weren't wowed by The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but really feel like it sounds like you should love it, you might want to try The Crown of Embers, because it might turn out to be worth your time.Jennifer Ikeda again did a marvelous job with her narration. She does a great job with all of the voices, conveys emotion well in the intense scenes, and has a really pleasant voice. I am quite certain that I would not have enjoyed this book so much had I read it. For me, audio is the way to go with this series, I have no doubt.
    • 4/5


      The Crown of Embers is the sequel to 'The Girl of Fire and Thorns' fantasy and political YA novel series about Elisa, a princess who was gifted with a Godstone and who turned into a rebel and now a queen to a wartorn kingdom, Joya d'Arena. At the start of the book, a length of time has past in between the novels which left Elisa a widow and her kingdom in near poverty with her people starting to be violent and hostile to her.

      After the event in the first book, the Invierne has retreated and although Elisa's people have won the battle, the consequences from the war is very apparent to her. Now that the Invierno have come to know of her Godstone, they have sent suicidal threats directly toward her, calling for her surrendering to the Invierne for her kingdom to be spared. In addition to that, she had to face the intense political warfare within her castle where the lords are trying to sway her and discredit her as a ruler. Because of her widowed state and the king who is still a child, Elisa had to find new suitors to secure a consort and restore balance to her neighbouring kingdoms. In the midst of that, she began to hide her feelings on her trusted guardian, Hector, despite their overwhelming dependence on one another. The story progressed into more political maneuvering, mystical answers and quest and the horror of multiple of asassination attempts where Elisa is the centre of it all.

      I wouldn't lie. The sole enjoyment that I received from this book was the gritty politics and Elisa's struggle against the world who wanted her fail. There are prevelant amount of subtle romance in this book and frustration moments where Elisa had to be a queen instead of being herself. Receiving the end of irrational abuse and unfair perceptions of people, Elisa now faced even more challenge as a queen for the unstable kingdom. There are moments where death is just a glance away and intense emotions between the character that inserted neatly between conflicts that Elisa faced.

      I enjoyed the book as the book approach most of the serious subject in adult and mature setting instead of light-hearted fairytale storyline. In this book, it was apparent that ruling a kingdom is never easy and that trying to make decisions involving even more political maneuverings. I do see in some ways, there are some improvement in Elisa's character and her struggle in grasping on things and people that used to matter to her.

      Honestly, I think its a good book. The content is a bit lighter in nature than Melina Marchetta's Lumatere series and probably a kin to A Song of Fire and Ice as the magic realism in this book is also subtle but apparent. Because of the serious overtone in this book, I'm not sure it will attract much younger audience but most would adore the development of Elisa and Hector.
    • 5/5
      It's rare for me to come across the second book in a series that I liked more than the first. Whether that be because not particularly enjoying the first means I don't often pick up the second, or for some other reason, I don't know, but this was a case where I loved the second book in the series. The first just didn't draw me in as much; however, this one really did. I loved Elisa's voice in this book, her struggles, her growth. Also, Hector, well, he was swoon-worthy :) I was invested in Elisa becoming a better queen, in solving the problems of her country, and attempting to find a way to do that. Also, Storm was just a fascinating character to me, and I liked getting to know a bit more about the Inviernos. Plus, the hints of Spanish and culture made me happy. The cliff-hanger of an ending left me happy to know I can go out and grab The Bitter Kingdom right now!
    • 5/5
      I love everything about Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns series. From the strong female character to the romance to all the drama and angst. The Crown of Embers jacks everything up to a higher level -- both the drama and the romance and it is truly fantastic. I adore Elisa as Queen. She's strong, but also confused and overwhelmed. She reminds me of Bitterblue, which is a good thing. I cannot, seriously cannot, wait for the next book in this series. At this rate, I'm going to have to buy them all just so I can read them again (and I never do that).
    • 5/5
      I finished this book in the wee hours of the morning, and have to say that I loved it tremendously! I was entranced until the very last word. It was a bit easier to follow, and I wasn't let down by the romantic aspect. There's a bit of a cliffhanger, but I was satisfied with the resolution of the plot. I LOVE how Elisa has grown into a confident woman,though she doesn't feel it at times. The evolution of the plot had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn't get enough of the romantic aspect of the book! I am soooo glad I can start on The Bitter Kingdom tonight, so I don't have to wait to know what is happening.
    • 4/5
      The Crown of Embers is the second book in a series and picks up where [The Girl of Fire and Thorns] ends. At seventeen years old, Elisa is a hero and a queen with enemies at every side, a war scarred kingdom to rebuild, an army to raise, and the truth about her godstone and destiny to figure out — not to mention choosing a prince consort to marry and ensure her countries stability. Though this is clearly a middle book, strung between the beginning and the end, it was better than the first book. The story opens just a few months after a battle and things seem almost cheery and hopeful, but the ease is quickly ripped away when an assassin comes for Elisa during her birthday procession, causing a rippling effect of panic and riots throughout her kingdom. This is immediately followed by a succession of bloody near-death incidents, court intrigues, and difficult decision making that leaves me never wanting to be the ruler of any country EVER. Elisa grew a lot in the first book and here we see her grow even more as she tries to figure out just what it means to be a queen and rule. Like the first book, there is also a love story and this, too, was a more interesting story to me, more grown up and more complicated. Her reasons behind holding back are understandable; she's a queen, she must show propriety in all her actions, and she must choose a partner who will help consolidate her power. Love has little to do with marriage in her world. Altogether a solid story and I can't wait to read the final book.
    • 4/5
      Not bad for book two. I already started reading books three and looking forward to seeing how this story ends. If you enjoy epic fantasy, I'm sure you will love this series
    • 4/5
      I'd recommend this trilogy for fans of books like Incarceron or Matched, who just love to lose themselves in a breathlessly romantic, rich fantasy world.

      It was satisfying to watch Elisa's relationships (romantic and otherwise) mature in this second installment. I continue to appreciate the religious and spiritual aspects to this world, since those are so lacking in most modern fantasies. Much about this story reminded me of Bitterblue, as both young queens must figure out how to rule effectively while being true to themselves, and without the full support of their advisors. One of my biggest complaints about Girl of Fire and Thorns was that the Invierne were an unsubtle enemy. I'm glad to see them start to get some depth and sympathy as the tale progresses.

    • 5/5
      Elisa is back in power as the Queen of Joy de Arena. Her position is still wobbly. There is a traitor in her court. Trusting only her two handmaidens and Hector, the head of her royal guard, Elisa struggles to out the traitor while dealing with the day to day problems of her weak kingdom. When her enemies call for her to willingly forfeit her power and come with them as a sacrifice, of course Elisa is scared and frightened for her life. But she still plunges ahead trying to do whats best for her kingdom and her step-son.I am the kind of reader that will pick action over romance anytime, but I have to say my favorite thing about "Crown of Embers" is watching this romance bloom between Hector and Elisa. While I loved Hector in the first novel, I really loved Humberto and was miserable when I finished that book. But Hector is right for Elisa and the romance between them left my tummy fluttering and I maybe even shed a tear or two along the way. I definitely shed more than one tear in a tender scene between Elisa and Rosario, her young step-son.The action and intrigue in this novel was as good as the in the first book. I loved watching Elisa change in the first novel, physically and emotionally. Her weight struggles may be over, but Elisa is still growing and maturing. I loved the plot especially when it led Elisa and her band of companions out of the castle and off on another journey. This time Elisa wants to retrieve a powerful artifact that will lead her to greater power. But she has to face many dangers to get her reward. While all this is intriguing and fun to read, the interactions between all the characters is what makes Rae Carson's beautiful series stand out among the other similar YA novels on the market.These two books are among a very limited amount of current fiction that I think have what it takes to be timeless classics. The books are that good. If you have any interest in fantasy or YA novels pick this one up and give it a try. If you love both these genres, than there is no doubt in my mind that these will become one of your favorite series.
    • 3/5
      This was kind of difficult to get through.
    • 4/5
      A strong sequel to the Girl of Fire and Thorns. Elisa now struggles to rule the kingdom she has inherited and to follow her destiny as a bearer of a Godstone. She's also not quite certain how to handle her attraction to Hector, her personal guard. Elisa clearly has a lot to learn about herself in this book, but the danger and intrigue which surround her make for interesting reading. Fun reading, recommended for fans of YA fantasy.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars. I think this is a great addition to the series. I will definitely keep reading.
    • 5/5
      This was the second book in the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy. The last book will be titled The Bitter Kingdom and is scheduled for a Fall 2013 release. This was an absolutely wonderful fantasy book and an excellent continuation of this series.Elisa is struggling with her position as Queen of a country that has been torn by war and is struggling to recover. She follows the power of her Godstone to go in search of more power to help her kingdom; all the while fleeing assassins. Accompanying her is the steadfast Hector along with others. Elisa learns a lot about herself and what it means to be Queen and grows a lot throughout the story. You see hints of the laziness that Elisa showed in the beginning of the first book in this series. Elisa is kind of enjoying her status as hero of the realm but not really stepping up in her role as Queen. It takes a quest for power initiated by her Godstone to teach Elisa to be the ruler she is meant to be. Elisa is so human and tries so hard. She is smart, but lazy at times. It was wonderful to watch her grow in this book.Elisa’s main love interest in this book is Hector. Hector is an intriguing character and we learn a lot more back story about him in this book. He is brave and steadfast. The romance that develops between him and Elisa is somewhat star-crossed, yet oh so very sweet. Their relationship is based on so much friendship and trust that it was a joy to read about.The other characters surrounding Elisa are all intriguing, interesting, and have stories of their own woven into the story. They are all very well done. This is an intricate and well thought out world. I love the hints we get throughout the book of what the world used to be before Elisa’s people arrived. There is a story behind that that I am eager to see unraveled.This book was less about action and adventure and more about intrigue. That is not to say there aren’t a number of heart-pounding action scenes...but there are also a lot of scenes where Elisa is trying to navigate politics in order to provide the best situation for her people.The story is more religious than most fantasies I read. I am not a big fan of religion in fantasy; but for this book it works. Religion is such a basic foundation of Elisa’s culture that it is woven seamlessly into the story. I will warn that the story ends at a horrible cliffhanger, which has me dying to know what happens next.Overall this is a wonderful addition to this trilogy. The book is beautifully written with touches of humor and a super sweet love story entwined with an excellent world and intrigue filled plot. I couldn't put this book down. It is a bit more religious than most fantasies I read, but religion is such a part of the culture that it flows well with the story. This was just a wonderful book; I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in The Bitter Kingdom. This series is strongly recommended to fans of YA epic fantasy who don’t mind religion driven cultures.
    • 3/5
      I honestly don't know how to rate it because there are so many things I didn't like about this book but on the other hand, I was grinning like an idiot half the time. This time around we find Elisa as Queen and campaigning to gain the trust of her people. It's a lot harder than it sounds especially after a riot that ensues after an invierno sets himself on fire in the middle of the streets right in front of her and because of her. She finds out that there are more invierno spies within her kingdom as well as treasonous people that would rather she abdicate the throne. As the search for answers goes on Elisa finds herself at the mercy of yet another prophecy, one that she thought had already played out in her life. Turns out there's a passage that promises everlasting life for those who find the literal way to a paradaisical type land and only she as the godstone bearer can have access to it. So Elisa gathers up her friends and sets up to find that place even though her life is in danger as well as everyone else who decides to help her. Here's what I didn't like: the writing. I swear I heard something along the lines of Hector's boyish looks about ten times or someone else resembling a kid another twenty times. I feel like it was done deliberately to make the reader be able to connect those characters as being closer in age to Elisa. She's seventeen in this one and to be honest I pictured Hector as being closer to thirty in the first book. Not bad thing by any means but whenever there was a hint of romance to come later I cringed wondering "WTF did he see in this child?" because in the end, Elisa acted very childishly. But I've been informed that he's actually closer to 20-22. I'll give Elisa props for only doing and saying stupid things 20% of the time. That's progress. Then there were times where I got confused as to who was in the scene and they would pop in like three pages later to quip about something - this could be just me though. I get it, it's hard to include everyone in a room and it's also not necessary. Next thing I didn't like: blatant disregard for characters from the first book. So I loved Fire and Thorns #1 because of the side characters. I'm convinced that Cosme and Hector were probably two of the three reasons I had moved this book up my reading list. Carson did a great job introducing characters that were obviously going to be relevant later on but it just annoyed me how then it became a test of how clever those inclusions could be it was like, "oh you want to know why Mara looked so devastated when she joined the rebellion camp? No, it wasn't just because she lost her home, her boyfriend-almost-fiance died in an invierno ambush," and "wanna know why she gave Belen *looks*? It's because she lost her virginity to him". Alejandro was suddenly Elisa's friend that died and apparently, Elodia didn't have a match despite having been the heir to the throne since birth so naturally, we're going to try to pair her off with Hector a well respected, strong, not to mention handsome man. Actually, I would've loved that. COSMEEEEEEEEEE, man I really wanted more interaction with her and we didn't even get some quip from Belen ugggghhhhh Other things I didn’t like include: ditzy Elisa doesn’t notice anything or anyone that looks at her. She values her mind the most yet doesn’t make the smartest moves. The more than one romance, okay I’ll admit when it did happen I thought Hector was really cute at trying to hide his affections but the other couples were bleh. Lame attempts at explaining why Elisa’s special rock works magic sometimes.So why did I have fangirl moments? Because Elisa made a name for herself. In the first book, despite how much I liked it, there was no reason for people to be listening to her even if she was the queen. I find it hard to believe that her strategies for war were so amazing that no one else thought of them. Here she lets herself be counseled and picks and chooses the best pieces of advice to act on. Yes, it still annoyed me how she wasn’t always the smartest cookie but she grows from her mistakes this time. The friendship between Elisa and Mara was based on trust and affection for the other which was nice to see that Elisa could be friends with another girl. (Though I did cringe a little at their bonding moments over taking birth control. Or am I the only one that would never giggle like a little kid while taking the little blue pill with my BFF?) She finally stood up for herself with Ximena and it didn't completely blow up in her face. Other things I did like: Storm, the journey to the South, Hector’s background being explored, Rosario. Dangerous situations actually being dangerous instead of feeling like “well they kind of have to survive because reasons”.Upon further self-examination the only three faults for me were 1 - lack of Cosme 2 - the hinted romance between Belen and Mara (yes side character arcs way too important to me) 3 - The insta training that Elisa went through: one minute she was searching for this magical place that would grant her superpowers. She gets there, gains the powers then gives them up *BIGGEST SIGHS EVER* In conclusion, 3.5 stars.
    • 4/5
      Seventeen year old Queen Elisa relies not only upon her Godstone but her developing intuitiveness and advice from her ladies in waiting to help her guide her small country away from threatening turmoil and sorcery from a neighboring country. In this sequel, Elisa finds romance and adventure following her every step, especially in her own castle. Royal Guard Hector proves valiant and true, and becomes an ally much needed in a world full of espionage and sorcery. Elisa’s greatest quest appears to the one where she must decide who to follow—herself or counsel from others? Carson allows Elisa to mature and step a little aside from the religious rituals defined in the first book. A little slow in the first half of the book; it appears Elisa will never leave the castle, but when force comes to shove, she moves a quick pace.
    • 5/5
      I adore this series; can't wait for the third one! Elisa is believably unsure due to inexperience, but continues to grow into herself. Carson has created such an unusual high fantasy world and I'm so enjoying watching it continue to expand and build.
    • 4/5
      Elisa is a hero, she has survived war but can she survive politics and fulfil the goals of her god as he tries to direct her through the jewel in her navel. She finds that the political reality of her role as queen isn't sitting well with her heart.The journey is complicated and you can see how the author thought through some of the realities of the situation. The hints of being taken from a previous dying world and taken by gods hand to this new world makes me wonder about SF roots and potentials.
    • 5/5
      ***Second in a series - spoiler warning for The Girl of Fire and Thorns.***As the new queen, Elisa knows she has to be a strong ruler in the midst of turmoil at court. She's shown her mettle in battle, but still doesn't know why she is the Godstone bearer of this century, and what great service that means she must perform.I really enjoy this series because Elisa is such a fresh and interesting character. She isn't your average kick-butt heroine. She does what she has to do, but she's sometimes unsure of herself and struggles with her conscience over her actions as ruler and as a person. Though it had been awhile since I read the first book, I didn't feel at all lost picking this one up as important plot points were reintroduced subtly and as-needed throughout the story. And then there's the pacing, which is pitch-perfect, pageturning without getting frantic. I started reading it before bed a couple of nights ago, and before I knew it, I had read for a couple of hours and was over 100 pages into it. It's just that hard to find a stopping point, because I want to know what happens next to the characters I've come to love.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this as much as the first book in the series. If possible it has more action and certainly more romance. However, it finished on such a cliff-hanger that I can't wait for the next instalment to see how it all ends. When does book 3 come out?
    • 5/5
      I knew one thing about Rae Carson's The Crown of Embers going into it. Without discussing the details of the story, every reader I stumbled across who'd read it before me mentioned the romance. On more than one occasion, it was even called "steamy." Considering the disastrous romances of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Elisa, seventeen year old queen and bearer of the Godstone, is due a break.It would be a mistake to call the novel a romance in the sense that there's a great deal more going on than passionate glances and fervent kisses and the like. Elisa has inherited a kingdom ravaged by war, desperately poor, and politically unstable. She is raising a young prince, entertaining suitors, and uncovering the truth behind obscure prophecies that seem to center directly around her. There are daggers and arrows, assassins and desert caravans, and ships traversing stormy seas. And let's not forget magic. In short, this book is epic.But it is true that the most powerful story you're left with at the closing of the final page is the heady passion between Elisa and the man she loves, as their friendship matures each step of the journey. Second books often suffer from lack of narrative, serving as a bridge from the opening story in book one to its conclusion in book three. It's the love story that keeps The Crown of Embers together, unifying each disparate plot twist with one steadily growing theme.Beyond that, Elisa herself is a character you want to stay with through anything and everything. She's a flawed character, but so very strong. Her strength is in her intelligence and her courage, yet she is not afraid to rely on those she trusts. She's a good example of love allowing you to be vulnerable without making you weak. Nothing about this series is moralizing, but I cannot help feel that a reader could learn a great deal from these characters about wisdom, courage, and power - the very things Elisa asks for in the sacrament of pain, the lessons she herself takes from her own experiences.You must know before you begin that the series does not end here. Much more than with the first book, The Crown of Embers concludes with a serious cliffhanger. You'll be aching for book three. So much happens between Elisa's marriage to Alejandro in the opening pages of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and the final scene of The Crown of Embers, that you'll probably have to reread them both before the next release. So carve out the time now, and gather yourself a book club. The Bitter Kingdom is coming in the fall of 2013.
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Elisa struggles with being a strong leader for a kingdom that’s falling apart. Meanwhile she starts to fall in love with her most loyal and trustworthy friend. Opening Sentence: My entourage of guards struggles to keep pace as I fly down the corridors of my palace. The Review: Elisa has come home a war hero, but the glory is short lived. After an animagus displays an unimaginable warning to the queen, death has been stalking Elisa night and day. As the sole ruler of a crumbling country, Elisa’s authority is questioned everyday. She needs to be a stronger monarch, but her council suggests she marry, only to hide behind a king. Nobody trusts her to make the right decisions except the Commander of the Royal Guard and her best friend Hector. But as they grow closer and the pressure to make a strategic marriage increases, Elisa must make one of the hardest decisions of her life. Can love conquer all? Will Elisa embrace her role as queen and bearer of the Godstone? Carson weaves yet another intense, sweet and suspenseful story with quests, magic and love. I LOVE this book. I wasn’t a major fan of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, but Crown of Embers blew me away. Although there is a decrease in action compared to Fire and Thorns, there are plenty of heart-stopping moments and fast-paced events. In this book, adventure is replaced with palace intrigue and a cute, but short romance is replaced with a deep, intense star-crossed lovers. There are multiple twists that caught me by surprise but most of the book was predictable. Of course predictable can still have suspense and intrigue, just more in the how department than the what department. Okay, I liked Humberto, but I’ve been rooting for Hector since we first met him in Fire and Thorns. Carson dropped insignificant hints in Fire and Thorns that something more than a friendship would develop between him and Elisa, but I was never for sure. In Crown of Embers their relationship starts like lava then ends in a volcano (yes, that’s backwards, I know.) Hector sort of reminds me of a big huge cuddly teddy bear that can snap your arms if you endanger someone he loves. He tries to be stoic and polite, but as Elisa grows more attached and desperate to keep him, his wall crumbles. Yet they both know it won’t last. Elisa is, as always, brave and vigilant against those who think her weak. And in truth, she was a weak ruler. Although she thinks that she has fulfilled her prophesy as bearer of the Godstone (a blue jewel that acknowledges her prayers and warns her of danger), she finds out that she has yet to enter the gate of her enemy. As she struggles to find and hold power in her city that’s breaking into riots, Elisa goes on a quest to find more power through her Godstone in hopes of bringing her city back together. But it comes with a price. Carson writes yet another beautiful and intricate story that ends in such a cliffhanger that I threw it on the floor (don’t worry, there were no books harmed in the making of this review — I was already reading on the floor.) If you haven’t read this series yet, I suggest you get to it! It’s worth every tear and laugh. Notable Scene: “You are in grave peril, Your Majesty. I have seen the signs, and I know Invierne will make another play. Soon. But this time, there will be no army to defend against. this time, they will come at you like spirits in the night, and you won’t recognize the danger until it’s too late.” The animagus uttered similar words. I swallow the panic that rises in my throat. “Why? Why warn me?” “I like my life. My secret village turns a nice profit on river scavenge. The people I lead are stupid and filthy, but they treat me with respect, even worship. All my needs are tended to. I would like things to stay exactly the way they are, and I know the city of Brisadulce has its best chance of remaining stable if you are in power and well aware of the Invierne threat.” Hector leans forward, nostrils flared, face hard. I have never seen him so angry. “The Inviernos will find that Elisa is very difficult to kill,” he says, making the dagger dance in the air by some gymnastic wrist and fingers. Storm laughs, and the sound is as brittle as breaking glass. “Did I say kill? I don’t believe I did. Invierne wants her very much alive. Though I assure you that if one of Invierne’s innumerable spies gets ahold of her, she will wish herself dead.”FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of The Crown of Embers. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      I am still in love with this so so so much. It continues to be unique and authentic. I was a little sad the princess began to sound like she's looking like any average ya heroine, removing one of the qualities I loved best about her in book two. I continued to be in awe of the size of the cast and the odd/glorious twists and turns the author decides to take.

      I am in love with Hector and the Little Prince and our heroine, too. I am still in grand adoration for this writer showing, across long, hard, arduous times how you earn people. And thus Storm has a place in my heart just like the Not!Maid from the first one did. Yes, the romance was a little predictable, but it never dwarfed the actually story or what the character complications *should* be.

      I'm fantastically wanting of the next book.
    • 4/5
      3.5 Stars.. The cliff hanger ending didn't do much for me. Romance is much more developed in this one as opposed to the first one.
    • 5/5
      I preordered this about 2 seconds after I finished the first in the series.

      Loved this one even more, and I really enjoyed the first.

      The world-building (esp. that it's a Spanish based culture, rather than Anglo-Saxon), the mysteries, the character development, the romance, Elisa, Hector, and so on, and so forth.

      It is the 2nd of a trilogy, so new readers definitely should start with the first, but I also appreciated how skillfully Carson reminded us of what had happened in book one. Some authors beat you over the head, some don't do enough, but this was just exactly perfect.

      I had a really terrible day yesterday, and was thrilled that I had this book to come home to. And yes, I read it in an evening (and stayed up waaaaay too late reading it....).

      I will definitely read all of the books again in the future, and I don't reread very much.