Review: Firelight

Title: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
Release Date: September 7, 2010

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.—Goodreads

This is a book that really surprised me. Before starting Firelight, I wanted to read it because I was really into the idea of having the female character a) being a draki and b) being all supernatural when her love interest isn't. I feel like you just don't see that all that often and that it was a really refreshing take on the paranormal romance.

Also: DRAGONS.

But when I started reading this, it just, felt a little flat. But I kept with it because I felt like reading and the next time I looked up and I was more than halfway through the book.

This one is sneaky like that.

Needless to say, Firelight has a plot that sucks you in. As you follow Jacinda from her guarded draki home in Colorado to the unprotected mortal life in New Mexico, you find yourself wanting her to defy her mom and sister, who both hated living with the draki and want her to let her draki die, and run away to either a pride of draki or with Will, the guy who makes her draki feel alive despite the harsh environment she's been forced into. (Weather plays a big role in this book . . . it's a little complicated and I don't want to SPOIL anything, so I won't go into it. Just . . . take my word for it.)

But that's not all! Jordan throws in a couple really compelling plot twists, and a couple really compelling guys, that keep the story moving along at a brisk pace, and before you know it, you're finished and left thinking "But. I want more."

Overall, Firelight is a really quick and surprisingly fun read.

Also: DRAGONS. :)