The Crown of Embers

by Rae Carson (Author)

The Crown of Embers
The second book in Carson's fantasy trilogy. Elisa is the hero of her country, but she is only 17 years old. As the country begins to crumble beneath her, Elisa will take another journey. She crosses the ocean in search of the perilous source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds.
Select format:
Hardcover
$17.99

Find books about:

More books in the series - See All

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Carson's sequel to her debut, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, is a superb fantasy built around an exceptional heroine. Just months after leading her adopted country to victory against the sorcerers of Invierne, 17-year-old Queen Elisa has to deal with spies, a possible traitor in the palace, and pressure from her own council to marry or cede power to a regent. Additionally, the Inviernos are back, and they want her to sacrifice herself willingly to them, or they will rain destruction and death on her people. Dodging attempted assassination and kidnapping, Elisa is pulled by the mysterious Godstone embedded in her navel to find the zafira, the soul of the world and the source of its magic, embarking on a gripping journey that ramps up the tension and sets up the finale. Carson avoids the dips that often haunt bridge books: expert pacing and well-drawn characters are masterfully integrated with Elisa's continued growth as she deals with the shifting political situation, resulting in a dramatic and gratifyingly romantic novel that smoothly follows its predecessor. Ages 13-up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Sept.)

Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up--In this sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns (HarperCollins, 2011), several months have passed since Elisa, through the power of her Godstone, destroyed the invading animagi sorcerers. Although the forces of Invierne were successfully driven back, the outer perimeter of the city still burns. Elisa is now queen of Joya d'Arena, and the crown is proving to be a heavy burden in more ways than one. The Inviernos still seek to capture her to manipulate the power of the Godstone she bears. There is massive civil unrest, and there are those at court who seek to undermine her rule. Although her husband has only been dead a few months, she is being pressured to remarry to secure an alliance with one of the noble houses in the kingdom. After several attempts are made on her life, she sets off on a perilous quest that is part of the fulfillment of her destiny as the bearer. As in the first book, Elisa's narration conveys a sense of immediacy. Carson has created vivid, palpable settings and complex multifaceted characters, and delivers a fast-paced novel that is emotionally charged, suspenseful, and filled with plot twists. The cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment of this series, which will especially appeal to fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce.--Francesca Burgess, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"There are books you like, and books you love, and then there are the ones that make you go past 'love' and straight into, 'I think I may need to marry this book.' The Crown of Embers was that type of book for me. I adored it."—Rachel Hawkins, author of the New York Times bestselling Hex Hall series
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780062026514
Lexile Measure
730
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Greenwillow Books
Publication date
September 20, 2012
Series
Girl of Fire and Thorns (Hardcover)
BISAC categories
YAF052000 - Young Adult Fiction | Romance | General
YAF019000 - Young Adult Fiction | Fantasy | General
YAF053000 - Young Adult Fiction | Royalty
Library of Congress categories
Magic
Love stories
Love
Kings, queens, rulers, etc
JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
Kings and rulers
JUVENILE FICTION / General
Prophecies
JUVENILE FICTION / Royalty
Sequoyah Book Awards
Nominee 2015 - 2015

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!