I don’t know how to review this book. I really don’t. This book has killed me. I am dead, deceased, resting in a grave, drowning in my own tears and feelings. It was incredible. This whole book. I actually have zero complaints and too many praises, and I have no idea where to start.

Just reading the prologue of this book had me shaking. And then I conveniently forgot the significance of it until almost midway through the book where I was like “Oh nonono, this isn’t happening, please don’t be happening.”

One of the wonderful things about Kristin Cashore is how she writes plot and characters. I honestly don’t think I’ve come across many books in the last few years that come close. She has a way with twisting in minor plot threads and secrets and reveals when you least expect them, except it all fits and doesn’t feel like the author randomly decided to plop in something shocking just to please the readers. It all needs to be there and fits with the stories and the characters and their motivations.

One thing I loved was how much we get to learn about each side character. Brigan spends a lot of time away from the palace in this book. And even the others…they come and go and are busy with their own duties. But every moment we get with anyone is significant and necessary to their character development. I am honestly shocked with where some characters started and where they ended up. Nash being one of them. Everything fits and is so perfectly done, it honestly makes me cry out of hopelessness, because how am I supposed to reach this level of excellence.

Kristin Cashore excels in everything, but one thing she can do so well–honestly other authors should fall to their knees and beg her for guidance–is romance. You all know how picky I am when it comes to romance. I detest it 90% of the time, but I will never ever hate anything Kristin does with her characters’ relationships. They are slow burn and soft, and full of yearning and unspoken words and feelings. They completely throw away the annoying tropes I hate and embrace the ones I love. Brigan starts off as what you would think a quiet, broody male love interest would be, but we get to see so many levels and depths to his character. I have a soft spot for men who are kind and considerate, and who like to talk about their feelings, who are not afraid to show emotion, and don’t hide behind a glamour of darkness because that’s cool and totally in right now. I think people think the only way a person can be strong and powerful, especially when it comes to men, is if they push away all that softness and love and tenderness, and hide behind a moody exterior. Yes, they’ll have moments when they soften up, but that only happens when the other half of the relationship shows up and conveniently melts their cold heart. I hate that. It’s overdone and stupid and unrealistic and not what we should strive to show how men should be. I love Brigandell with all my heart because he shows he cares about others before he shows he cares for Fire.

The other relationships in this book really stood out to me. Fire as a whole is a wonderful mix of a plot driven and character driven book. Both aspects shine so brilliantly, but honestly the relationships and friendships are what made me fall in love the most. The plot itself is fast-paced and the world is unique and interesting, and there are so many twists and turns and high stakes. I loved every second of it. But getting to know the characters, watching Fire get to know her guard and learn to care and love them, seeing her slowly form a friendship with Garan and Clara and eventually Nash, watching as she plays with Hanna and Blotchy, and cares for her horse Small. It’s all so precious and pure and heartwarming. It makes every character so endearing. Every memory and backstory adds so many layers to this story. The reveals hurt twice as more. When someone is injured you feel the pain Fire feels. It’s just all so ughhh. I want to scream and squeal and make everyone read this book and technically most of this review should be in all-caps, but I’m still in a half-fugue state where I can’t believe how amazing this book was and just how good the last 60 or so pages were. There were so many moments where I wanted to cry my heart out, but alas I am a stereotypical male character and my heart is frozen and will never be thawed cause eww love.

100000/5 stars. One of the best books I’ve read this year. Such an excellent way to end off 2019. This will be a book that I will reread over and over and over again.

Would just like to add a few things:

Fire is a cancer. There’s no question about it. She’s kind and loving and compassionate and a healer.

“Will you carry me, Papa.” Is the quote that killed me in 2019

Men with children make me weak at the knees

Fire struggling with wanting children when she shouldn’t was a huge mood and I felt for her so much.