Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Title: Firelight
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen (A division of HarperCollins)
Copyright 2010 by Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan’s Website
Sophie’s Twitter

Synopsis:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

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.

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I really was not interested. I am not a dragon fanatic, or maybe I should say, I wasn’t a dragon fanatic. However, during that time there wasn’t another book I really cared to read, so hey – why not? I recently had the privilege to review the second book in this series, Vanish: A Firelight Novel, so I thought I should probably reread Firelight so I could review it also. Definitely not a difficult task.

I enjoyed the book so much the first time - that it was a nice, fuzzy, warm feeling to read it again. Sophie Jordan does an amazing job creating mythical creatures, I am completely fascinated by the Draki.

• Jacinda – All Jacinda lives for is to fly. She’s not much of a conformist, never obeying they rules. This time she risks everyone around her…more than once. She is deeply coveted by her Pride because she is the only Fire-Breather that has been born in several centuries. The Pride hopes to bond her with the Alpha’s son, Cassien.
• Tamra – Jacinda’s twin sister who never manifested; and now that she is 16, she has given up and dreams of a life away from the Pride. She has always pined for Cassien, but he only has eyes for Jacinda.
• Cassien – The Prides Alpha Heir. He is handsome, strong, and wants Jacinda to be his. Will he convince her he truly cares or will she find someone else?
• Will – The sworn enemy of Draki, a Draki hunter. He is the best tracker in his family, and is destined for the family business, except he doesn’t really want any part of that.
• Catherine – Jacinda’s human friend she meets at her first school outside of the pride. She is full of gossip, especially about Will and his family.
• Xander – Will’s evil cousin. Seems like everyone in this book has an evil cousin. He takes his duty seriously, without concern or consciousness.
• Az – Jacinda’s Draki friend who she must leave behind and misses deeply.

Jacinda loves being a Draki, the wind in her face, the feel of flying, every part of it, except the inability to make her own decisions. When she breaks the rule to fly during the day, she is sentenced to severe punishment. Punishment that her mother is desperate to protect her from. Fleeing in the middle of the night - Jacinda, Tamra, and her mom leave the Pride behind in search of a safe place for them to start over.

Jacinda has many difficulties adapting to this new climate. The only thing keeping her spirits up is Will, a boy at school with many secrets to hide. He stirs something inside her that she is afraid to lose, but he may prove to be a dangerous threat to Jacinda.

Cassien volunteers to hunt for Jacinda in order to protect her from the punishment of the Pride. Showing up when she least expects him, he may save her life. Personally, I am team Cassien, especially after reading Vanish…but I really have no idea how this trilogy will play out. Jacinda has spent most of her life believing that Cassien only wanted her for what she is, not who she is. Cassien’s actions speak much louder than words.


Forced to run again, Jacinda is deeply unsettled. Where will they go? What will they do? Will they ever be safe? You will just have to read the books to find out.


My thanks goes out to Sophie Jordan for writing such an enticing book.

ARC Review of Vanish: A Firelight Novel by Sophie Jordan

Title: Vanish: A Firelight Novel
Author: Sophie Jordan
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Courtesy of NetGalley
Sophie Jordan’s Official Website
Sophie’s Twitter

Synopsis:
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

Sophie Jordan had me hooked from the first chapter, of course that is what happens when a book begins with a truly terrifying action scene. I couldn’t stop reading then...duh! And when I would think…I really need to go to sleep…another intense part would come and pull me in – keeping me from sleep. So sad. (Not Really)

• Jacinda – One of the most powerful Draki alive. She is invaluable to her Pride, but her mom has taken her and her sister away…hoping for a “normal” life. Then Jacinda, not wanting to leave the Pride in the beginning, met Will and everything changed.
• Tamara – Jacinda’s twin sister who had never manifested, was thought to be defunct – until now. And now she has manifested as a shader - the only type of Draki that can rival Jacinda’s power and the affection of another Draki.
• Cassien – the Draki son of the Pride’s Alpha…Severin. He has been after Jacinda for a long time; partially believing that she was his only option. They would make the perfect Draki couple, since they are both very powerful. Cassien cared enough to bring Jacinda back, and to promised to protect her and her family. But now Jacinda may not be his only option.
• Will – The human and Draki hunter (yeah, that is what I said!) that Jacinda falls in love with while on the run with her mom. Will had leukemia as a child, his father captured and killed Draki to cure Will with their blood. Will bleeds purple, the color of Draki blood. He also appears to have some latent powers that manifest throughout this book.
• Corbin – Cassien’s cousin, making him another all-powerful Draki. He is vying for Jacinda’s bond…by manipulation and threats. I really don’t like this guy.
• Az – Jacinda’s best Draki friend who welcomes her home with open arms, until she finds out that Jacinda risked everyone’s assistance to be with Will.
• Miram – Cassien’s witch of a sister. She is the one Draki that can find out what secrets Jacinda is hiding. She possesses the power to turn invisible and hypnotize. She may be the Draki that changes everything and everyone.

I recently read an article Are These Filter Words Weakening Your Fiction on the Write It Sideways website. Sophie does an excellent job of eliminating filter words from her writing, which gives you a greater ability to feel the story. Vanish is perfectly written and flows beautifully. Jacinda’s story is one I want to experience over and over again.

Jacinda is forced to return to the pride when Cassien comes to Chaparral  in search of her. In the process, she manifests in front of humans, not just any humans – Draki hunters. The ramifications for this action will bring Jacinda much suffering. Upon returning to the Pride, Jacinda learns that many things have changed. Curfews enforced, restricted flying, and changes in work assignments.  She is no longer treated like she is of importance – assigned to a lowly job, loosing the affection of Cassien, and her mom is being punished are only the beginning.

Cassien attempts to break loose of Jacinda, knowing she will never love him the way he deserves. However, he realizes that he truly wants to be with her and no one else. Will protecting Jacinda from unthinkable torture be enough for her to realize she belongs with him? 

Will continues to fight for Jacinda, putting them both in terrible danger. He tells her that he loves her, but in my opinion, his actions do not prove his words. Cassien would do – does do – anything  for Jacinda. Will seems to be driven only to get Jacinda away from the Pride, not realizing that there are some things that are very important her, that she can’t leave behind.

Many adversities face Jacinda, Tamra, Cassien, Miram, and Will. Can they survive? And if they do, at what cost will it be?

A truly suspenseful and enchanting story. A definite must read.

To be released on September 6, 2011. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and The Book Depository will be more than happy to sell you a copy.

*This is an Advanced Reader Copy Review. It is an Uncorrected E-Proof meaning changess can still be made to Vanish: A Firelight Novel at this time. I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to review this surprisingly intriguing book. Anything quoted or alluded to is subject to change. All opinions are 100% mine. I do not work for any entity that may cause bias nor am I compensated for my reviews in any other way than by my followers who read and comment on my reviews!