Firelight Review

Firelight (Draki #1) by Sophie Jordan

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release date: September 7, 2010

Source: Publisher

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

Review:

I've been looking forward to reading Firelight for months. The cover was gorgeous, the early reviews had been full of praise, and the summary sounded AMAZING. Luckily it lived up to all my expectations. Mysterious, romantic, and exciting, Firelight was an overall fantastic YA debut and I'm dying to read the sequel!

To begin with, the plot was extremely original and intriguing. The main character is a draki, a descendant of dragons that can transform into a human. She can also breathe fire- a really rare ability among the draki. Reading about Jacinda and her family history was so interesting to me, and it was amazing how the pride kept their existence a secret from so many. I understood why the pride valued Jacinda and wanted more fire breathers, but I felt sorry for her that she was supposed to mate with someone she didn't really love. The twist involving the hunters was frightening and unique. Especially once Jacinda, her mother, and twin sister escape in the night from the pride and into a real home.

Tamra, Jacinda's twin sister, was a great character, and I really felt her connection with Jacinda even though she was so jealous of Jacinda's abilities and the attention the pride gave her. Tamra just wanted to live a normal human life, while Jacinda longed to keep her draki half alive and strong. Other than Tamra, I really liked a lot of the other characters. Catherine, Jacinda's good friend at school, and even her neighbor who at first seems rude and reclusive. All of the characters, good and bad, major and minor, were well developed and original, and just seemed so real to me.

I love Will! Even though he was a hunter, meant to destroy Jacinda, he cared for her so much. He was protective, loving, and just an overall sweet guy. Jacinda and Will were perfect for each other. She was strong, determined, and a little shy- just like him. Both Will and Jacinda wanted something out of life that their families didn't, and it was great that they had each other for support and understanding.

There is a lot of excitement and twists in the plot, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what was going to happen next. Sophie Jordan is a terrific writer, and I loved Firelight from the start. Her descriptions make the characters and settings come alive.

In the end, I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Firelight as soon as possible. It is a daring and original YA debut, and the characters (especially Will and Jacinda) are two of my favorites. My only complaint is: When will the sequel will be released??!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars