by Rae Carson
September 2011
Greenwillow Books
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Whew boy, this was some book! Elisa is a chubby, awkward, younger princess with a slender, competent older sister. She never would have believed herself capable of greatness, or even getting out of bed every day, if it wasn't for the Godstone that she carries in her belly. Every century, a child is born with a Godstone, a gem with magical properties, and destined to change the course of history. Married to an extraordinarily handsome, widowed King on her sixteenth birthday, Elisa is expected to use her powers to assist her new husband with his struggling kingdom. She makes a little effort, but ultimately finds that sitting in her bedroom and stuffing her face with pastries is easier. (A choice that I can't say I disagree with.) It is not until she is kidnapped for the stone she carries that she is forced to see the weight of her responsibilities to her people, and to herself.
While the first part of this book moves a little slow, mostly due to the fact that you can't get through a whole page of the whiny Princess's dialogue without trying to suffocate yourself in a pillow, soldiering on is very rewarding! A forbidden desert romance, unlikely friendships, surprising plot twists, a unique world, and the story of a girl who struggles with her self-image, all make this one of the best books I've read so far this year.
Readers who enjoy stories about magical Princesses who struggle with their weight and self-image may also like Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
The Fire and Thorns Trilogy
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
The Crown of Embers (TBR Fall 2012)
The Bitter Kingdom (TBR Fall 2013)
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