The Girl of Fire and Thorns ~ Rae Carson

Elisa is my new favorite character. This is a girl who has power and learns how to wield it, and it has absolutely nothing to do with her looks. In fact, she is fat and brutally honest with herself about that. (Which is very confusing for several chapters, given the book's cover which depicts a lovely young woman.)

Elisa is wedded to the king of a neighboring country in exchange for support in battle. Her new husband is older, but not very old. He is very handsome, and he has a lover. He also has a son. He keeps their marriage a secret largely because he does not have the backbone to admit to it. He is not a strong man in any respect, and very quickly he begins to lean on Elisa for advice and support.

Elisa has just begun to adapt to this marriage and her new life when it is cut short. She is kidnapped by the desert people who have, for generations, born the worst burden of the war with the magical kingdom of Invierne. They think they will use Elisa as leverage to have more soldiers sent to the border, but Elisa soon disabuses them of that notion. She, herself, had advised the king and his Council to fall back and relinquish the desert wastes, abandoning these people. Advice that she very quickly comes to regret as she learns to love these people and their lands.

As in all good epic adventures, there are so many plot elements twisted together that it becomes a tapestry. A short review can't possibly encompass the scope of this story. You just have to read it!