Monday, September 21, 2009

Book Review, Blog Tour and Giveaway: Fire by Kristin Cashore



This blog tour is all about getting to know the characters of FIRE. Click on the graphic above to follow the entire tour.

FIRE comes out October 5th and as a companion novel to GRACELING (which I haven't read yet), it is getting a ton a great buzz. And I'm happy to report that the buzz is well deserved.

FIRE is about a "monster" human teen girl named Fire who is trying to live down her father's cruel reputation while trying to help the king avoid a disasterous war in their country with her special powers which include mind reading and persuasion. And I have to tell you, I loved spending time with Fire. Despite being the most powerful being in her world, she has a vulnerability and a fierce sense of loyalty that make her relatable and appealing.

The narrative itself is full of startling revelations, political intrigue and a very realistic and sweet romance. Cashore's writing and plotting is so addictive, it definitely makes me want to pick up my copy of GRACELING soon. But it is the various well-drawn characters that make the novel really come alive, and this is what Cashore has to say about one of them:

"Queen Roen was wife to that loser, Nax, but she doesn’t waste time on regrets. Today, from her fortress in the northern Dells, she dispatches aid to any and all who wish for peace. She has two sons; she has a lot of enemies; she has a cool white streak in the middle of her hair; and… hmm. She has some secrets…"

Does she ever!!

Intrigued? How about reading the sampler?

Fire by Kristin Cashore


And if that doesn't get you, how about a signed hardcover copy of FIRE sent to your US or Canada address?

To enter to win, all you have to do is a leave a comment telling me about a character in a book recently that you loved and wish you could spend more time with.

Extra entries will be awarded for:

+1 twittering a link to this contest and including the hashtag #firetour (please tell me you did so in an extra comment for it to count)
+1 embedding the FIRE eBook sampler on your blog with a link to this contest (please tell me you did so in an extra comment for it to count)

Contest is open until October 3rd at 11:59 PM. Good Luck! And I hope you enjoy FIRE as much as I did.

114 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm so so excited to read Fire! Please enter me :)

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm so so excited to read Fire! Please enter me :)

Anonymous said...

Uh oh, don't know why that posted twice, please delete one!

+1 for tweet!
@lulu_bella

Book Butterfly (Kim) said...

I'd love to read this. Thanks Lenore :)

Kim
bookbutterfly9@gmail.com

Tweeted!
http://bit.ly/SLjz

Karissa E said...

I really liked the main character in "Sun and Moon, Snow and Ice" by Jessica Day George. She didn't have a name most of the book, but I would have like to spend time with her and get to know her better!

Please enter me for the contest, you can reach me at karissae@gmail.com.

Thanks!
Karissa
karissabooks.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I'd love to read this. Please enter me.
+1 Tweeted @wendyreads09

Thanks.
Wendy C.
lulubee183@hotmail.com

Ellz said...

I wish to spend more time with Marc from Rachel Vincent's shifter series. He is so devoted, strong and protective. Please enter me in the Fire giveaway!

zenfoxflowerATyahoDOTcom

brizmus said...

This looks awesome! Enter me!
As for a character that I would like to spend more time with from a book I read recently - I would have to go with D-503 from "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin. Not because I loved him. Because I didn't really. But because he absolutely intrigued me, and I would love to talk to him about what made him think some of the things that he thought and about some of the conclusions that he came to.

jen said...

I picked up Graceling at the library last week, not having ever heard of it, and I could not put it down. It is so well written, and such an enthralling story. I'm a big fan of good writing.

A character I'd like to spend time with? I honestly can't think of any. Though I can tell you some authors I'd like to spend time with . . .

Mel (He Followed Me Home) said...

ohh! count me in please

hefollowedme AT gmail DOT com

I'd love to spend some more time with Brennan from Kathy Reichs' Bone series...she has an intersting job ;)

Charlotte said...

I'd like to spend more time with Hannah from Hannah's Winter, which I just read and reviewed and love to pieces!

Charlotte said...

Sorry Lenore--I was just signed in as the wrong me--this is a me that can be contacted, should I be lucky enough to win!

Rylie said...

I wish I could spend more time with Kate Daniels from Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series. I think that she's interesting and a well-written character.

-Rylie
bcanyon at hotmail dot com

Debbie F said...

I would love to hang with Eve Dallas from the In Death series! She is such a badazz. Love that!

thanks for the giveaway!

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Rebs @ Book-Rants said...

I just finished Graceling recently, I really liked the character Giddon, I didn't get to see enough of him in the book, I think he should get a happy ending some day.

snicklefritzjerald(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jessy said...

I would like to spend more time with Sam from Shiver because he is sweet and loves to read.

findjessyhere at gmail dot com

Cari said...

I think I'd like to spend more time with Mau (or Daphne if Mau isn't available) from Terry Pratchett's the Nation. They were both intelligent and did what they had to do with what they had to do it with. I liked them a lot.

I tweeted this.

Thanks!
Cari
neohippy10 hotmail

Raspberry said...

Hmm. I'm rereading Princess Ben because I forgot what happens. She's an interesting character that I wouldn't mind getting to know better.
Thanks!

Erica said...

One character in a book I'd love to hear more from is Alec from The Cinderella Society - he was only in a small part but was my favroite character of the book

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

Sara said...

I recently loved the character Alexia Tarabotti from Soulless by Gail Carriger! She was funny, polite, and kicked a**! :)

+1 contest linked in tweet (@thehidingspot)

Thanks!
grochowskis@hotmail.com

devin said...

I'm super excited for FIRE! Please enter me in the contest. And thank you for having it!
Devin
devinredmond at hotmail dot com

Gina said...

Great contest, count me in! I'm loving the Fire tour...each stop has a personality all of its own!

In answer to your question...a character I'd like to spend more time with from a recent book? Well, the very last one I read, it would be P.A. Fludd (from Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. Lafevers). She's a beastologist (cares for long forgotten and magical creatures) and a spritely older lady that would have so much to share!

grgenius(at)go(dot)com

Sarah said...

Great contest! I'd love to be entered, because I adored Graceling.

One character I really enjoyed recently is James from Lament. He's not the main character, but he seemed like a great guy. I'm excited to read the sequel, Ballad, to spend some more time with him.

cait045 said...

I can't wait to read Fire. Enter me in

Tweeted @cait045

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

ST6153 said...

Enter me! I loved Graceling and want to read Fire SO bad!
I would love to spend more time with Finnick from Catching Fire. Pretty and shallow at first but rebellious and in love with a crazy girl underneath. I like his layers. Though I still love Peeta.

holdenj said...

Please count me in! Loved Graceling and have anxiously been waiting for Fire!

I recently read Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen and would love to have spent more time with Catherine Grace Cline. The heroine of the story wants nothing more than to leave Ringgold, GA for the big world. Circumstances change and I would relish the chance to learn how CGC alters her dreams for the life she winds up with.
Thanks.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

melissa @ 1lbr said...

A character I recently loved was Peter in The Magician's Elephant. He was so real to me and very lovable!

I'm really intrigued by this book!

librariansbook(at)gmail(dot)com

Alysa Stewart said...

I'd love to spend more time with Rin from Shannon Hale's Forest Born. What a sweetheart.

Anonymous said...

I would love to spend time with Edward from the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

D Swizzle said...

Definetly Kyle from BEASTLY. I lurv him <3333

danielleeloko78@aol.com

The Candy Heiress said...

A character in a book that I really want to spend more time with is Gemma Doyle from the trilogy of the same name by Libba Bray. She`s fiesty, intelligent, loyal, and kicks butt in a corset! It makes me wish I lived in the late 1800`s, just so I could meet her. :)

ALSO I tweeted about this contest (I`m @CassAndTheLlama).

You can reach me at sweet(dot)starlet(dot)xo@hotmail(dot)com

Katie said...

Sam from Shiver really won my heart. I can't wait for the sequel so I can read about him some more.
katiesbookshelf@ymail.com

Anonymous said...

please count me in...would enjoy this book...i'm reading a book by dorthea benton frank, 'sullivans island' so i guess i would like to spend more time w/ those characters.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kelsey said...

Great contest! I'd love to spend more time with Jacky from the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer. She always is on a fun adventure.

Kelsey
kelseythebookscout at gmail dot com

Jessica said...

I just finished Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. So many of the characters are intriguing, but at the moment I think the one I would like to know better is Cinna. I would love to spend more time with almost any of them though!

Asylumgirl said...

Rose from the Vampire Academy books is someone I''d like to spend some time with.

Deidre
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com

Ink Mage said...

Katniss in The Hunger Games

Magicofink(at)gmail(dot)com

YA Book Queen said...

I want to spend some time with Dimitri from Vampire Academy (I'm on the third book!), but I think Rose would kick my butt, lol.

yabookqueen@yahoo.com

mrsshukra said...

I just finished Sherry Thomas'Not Quite a Husband and am fascinated by the heroine, a doctor in the 1800s who has travelled all over the world!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

GBU Book Reviews said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
GBU Book Reviews said...

This book looks so fantastic! I can't wait for it to come out. But I recently read Catching Fire and I would love to spend the day with Peeta and Katniss and Gale and Haymitch and well Cinna too. How bout all the characters!

Thanks for this contest!
Cassie
GBU Book Reviews

GBU Book Reviews said...

here is where I posted the ebook.
http://gbubookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/09/kristin-cashore-blog-tour-fire.html
Thanks again
Cassie
GBU Book Reviews

Priya said...

Please enter me! One character I'd love to spend time with is Bertie from Eyes Like Stars, just because she's so spontaneous.

priyagan(at)gmail(dot)com

jpetroroy said...

I'd love to be able to spend more time with Mira, from Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.

jpetroroy (at) gmail (dot) com

jpetroroy said...

I also tweeted at https://twitter.com/jpetroroy/status/4158479017

Unknown said...

I would love to know more about Charlie Gordon in Flower's for Algernon. There was a excerpt in my daughter's Language Arts reader that has me intrigued..

brainlair AT gmail DOT com

Debbie's World of Books said...

I would love to meet Dmitri from Vampire Academy! dasuzuki at yahoo dot com

Mrs. Katz said...

I would love to spend time with Katniss from The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Her knowledge and instinct t blew me away.

Mrs. Katz said...

Twittered contest @librarylady23

Cecelia said...

I know you're on Team Peeta, but I love Gale and want to spend more time with him...really find out what makes HIM tick. Can't wait for the third in The Hunger Games trilogy!

I'd love to be entered in this contest!

celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com

Mrs. Katz said...

Embedded eBook on my blog.

http://goldenlibrarylady.blogspot.com/

kristin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristin Cashore said...

Hi Lenore! Thanks so much for hosting me today, and thanks to everyone writing in!

I'd like to spend time with Taylor Markham in Jellicoe Road. Which I'm only telling you because I think it's a fun meme, not because I want you to enter me in the contest. :o)

Beth said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I am reading Percy Jackson now, and I think it would be fun to spend time with him.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Kimberly B. said...

I am so anxious to get my hands on this book! And I love reading the little character blurbs. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

Miss Eliza said...

Oh, love a chance to win. Recently I read the first Amelia Peabody books, I would love to hang with her (of course in her time, the 1800s, not mine, and Egypt is also a given).

eliza.lefebvre[at]gmail.com

donnas said...

Please include me.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Angiegirl said...

I recently read the fourth Heroes book by Moira J. Moore--HEROES AT RISK--and I would really be up for spending some quality time with Taro. The man is an aristocrat shunned by his family, famous for his alleged romantic exploits, and not at all what he seems. He's beautiful.

Thanks, Lenore!

Jenny N. said...

I rencently finished reading The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen and I would like to spend more time with Wes.

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

mysteryflavour said...

I'd like to meet Ned Henry, from Connie Willis's novel "To Say Nothing Of The Dog." Ned is from the future, and it is his occupation as a historian to go into the past (via time travel) and observe culture and details of the day-to-day lifestyles of various peoples. In the novel, he is suffering from a severe case of 'time lag,' the result of too much time traveling, but he has a very important job to do in the Victorian era. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Ned keeps things light with a wonderful sense of humor and his skewed perceptions (result of the time lag). He's very smart and practical and observant, and all around the kind of person I'd love to have in my life.

cpholmes (at) u.washington (dot) edu

Unknown said...

I'd like to meet Beetee from Catching Fire. He's a smart and cool guy.

Yay for Fire, can't wait!

jillkt13 at yahoo dot com

Gaby317 said...

I would love to spend time wiht Tavi from Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series.

Thanks so much for the entry

gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

Gaby317 said...

Tweeted!

http://twitter.com/startingfreshny

Thanks

gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

Michelle said...

I'd really love to read this one. Count me in.

One character I wish I could me and have just loved is kate Daniels in the 'Magic' series by Ilona Andrews. I just want to follow her around one day and see what trouble she gets into ;)!!

mmillet at gmail dot com

Jenn said...

Please enter me! I can't wait to read Fire.

I just finished reading Hate List by Jennifer Brown. The main character, Valerie, seemed like such a real person to me that I would have enjoyed reading more about her journey in life.

LiddypooL2(at)aol(dot)com

Ash said...

I really liked Loup Garron from Jacqueline Carey's recent release Santa Olivia. Fortunately, she's at least thinking about writing a sequel, so maybe I'll get to spend more time with her after all! (Here's hoping...although I think Santa Olivia did just fine as a standalone.)

Thanks for running the giveaway!

phoenixterran (at) gmail (dot) com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I'm currently reading Death Comes as Epiphany, a mystery set in 12th century France. The heroine is Catherine LeVendeur, who is a scholar under the famous Heloise (of Heloise and Abelard fame.) Catherine is a very brave and intelligent woman in an age where women were expected to be submissive and generally unseen and unheard. She is very endearing.

amanda n.
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

tweet tweet:

http://twitter.com/fitz12383/status/4170953189

amanda n.
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

Megan said...

Count me in! What a great contest. I reread Harry Potter recently and I have to say that I would want to spend more time with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Thanks for the chance to win!

Megan
Megala872@aol.com

Zibilee said...

I'd love to be entered in this contest, and if I could spend some time with any character from a recent read, it would be with Gio, the healing woman from In the Arms of Immortals.

zibilee(at)figearo.net

KR said...

Juliet in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.


mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Mozi Esme said...

Katie in A Cousin's Prayer...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Megan said...

There are so many to choose from! I recently read Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee, and I'd love to spend more time with Maybelline Chestnut - she had so much vivacious personality, and I'd love to see what happens next, especially now that her mom has joined her in L.A.

And yes, please enter me in your Fire giveaway!

megandm2(at)gmail(dot)com

Kate A said...

I'm so excited for this book! Please enter me for the contes :D

k8_a_723@hotmail.com

Krista said...

I'd have to say my favorite character is Peeta from The Hunger Games! Boy, would I love to spend more time with him....

Please enter me
kristacole64(at)yahoo(dot)com

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

I just finished Graceling last night, and I like Prince Po. =)

thesweetestpetunia [at] gmail [dot] com

maryh said...

I would love to spend time with Sorcha from Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest. Like Fire and Katsa she is a strong girl with a long journey ahead of her. I love her commitment and love she has for her brothers. The family bond is strong and endures a lot and this book sets the stage beautifully for the amazing seven waters trilogy and I think that Sorcha was the perfect person to start the journey!

malicerh@gmail.com

Misty said...

I just finished reading The Name of the Wind, and I would like to spend some time with Kvothe. Or Katniss from The Hunger Games.

~Misty
mbradenwf@gmail.com

andrea b said...

I'm really interested on this book as I've heard great things about Graceling... I've been listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks and I'm falling in love with them all over again (I'm glad that they are so long because the books won't be over so soon...)

adbcoz (at)gmail(dot)com

Marie said...

I'd really like to spend some time with Peeta from Hunger Games and Catching Fire -- he just seems like a very interesting character!

marielay@gmail.com

andrea b said...

+1 Tweeted about it here>
http://twitter.com/andreadbc/status/4319373233

adbcoz (at)gmail(dot)com

Hailey Miller said...

This sounds like an AWESOME book! I absolutely ADORED Gracling. Please enter me.

I love the character Max (Maximum Ride [Female]) from the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. She’s really funny and sarcastic (my kind of people!). I could spend all day just watching her (within a safe distance since she’s always being attacked [LOL])!
I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Shadowofwonder47[at]yahoo[dot]com

Ladytink_534 said...

My favorite character recently is Charles Cornick from Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega series.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Niveau said...

I'd like to spend more time with Mercedes from Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series. I can't wait for Silver Bourne to come out!

lynzajw[at]gmail[dot]com

Niveau said...

+1 I tweeted (twittered?) about this contest.

lynzajw[at]gmail[dot]com

Booklogged said...

I'm reading Cleopatra's Daughter and am impressed with Octavian's sister, Octavia. I would like to spend some time visiting with her because of her pleasant way of dealing with life.

booklogged AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I just read the book The Otherworldies. I'd love to meet Fern. She doesn't have many friends and is picked on a lot. But she's also a really strong person.

+1 tweeted (justkeepreading)

foltzsfantasticbooks at gmail.com

Unknown said...

I recently finished the book "Dull Boy", and I absolutly loved avery's character, definitly boyfriend material. I would love to actually meet him.

bookmac13@gmail.com

Brittany said...

I'd love to win this! Someone I've recently wanted to spend more time with is Tasmin from Once a Witch just because it would be an adventure.

thanks

teensatthelibrary[at]yahoo[dot]com

Julie Ke said...

I really love Thomas from the Dresden Files. I wish I could hang out with him some more! ;)

jkbanwell@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

John Matthew from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series needs to spend more time with me...in my bed! I can't wait for his book to come out next year!!

Anonymous said...

I tweeted.

http://twitter.com/thebookvixen/status/4385762539


thebookvixen [at] gmail [dot] com

Becca said...

Please enter me.
In answer to your question I'm going to say Skulduggery Pleasant from the book of the same name by Derek Landy. It might take a little getting used to, him being a skeleton and all, but he’s hilarious and things would never be boring.

Thanks
rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net

Michelle said...

Let's see.. I'd love to meet Jax from the Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre -she's tough, she's a little crazy - I love her.

Thanks!

mmillet at gmail dot com

Pissenlit said...

I'd really love to spend some time with Fix from Mike Carey's Felix Castor series. He sounds like loads of fun to hang out with. I recently read the third book, Thicker Than Water.

Steph Su said...

I really want to spend more time with Morgan, from Kirstin Cronn-Mills' debut novel The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind. She's a wonderful blend of snarky and poignant, very off the wall and thus seemingly an interesting character to be around. :)

stephxsu at gmail dot com

Jess said...

I'd love to be entered for Fire. I'd also love to spend more time with Roo from E. Lockhart's The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, & Treasure Map of Boys. I can't wait for #4 in the series next spring!

Mrs. F-B's Books Blog said...

I recently read Adam Canfield of the Slash and I'd like to spend more time with Phoebe because she's so smart and funky. I'm hoping there will be a series coming out of this. It definitely has potential.

Kristen said...

I really love Coriander from I, Coriander. Such a fantastic book and character.

bittahsweetharmony@yahoo.com

ST6153 said...

I am SO looking forward to "Fire", and want to win it:)
I would like to spend more time with Thresh from Hunger Games. What the hell was he doing in the field of wheat the whole time??

Andrea said...

I recently read the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix, and I wish I could spend more time getting to know Lirael. I loved her character, and she's a librarian who became a hero, which I would be very excited to do.

Staysi said...

Please enter me. I'd love to spend time with Katsa from Graceling. She's kickass!!


+1 Posted the thing on my blog.

http://lostininkreviews.blogspot.com/

staysil7 [at] yahoo [dot]com.

@llie said...

I love Graceling and can't wait to read Fire. Please enter me in this contest!

Anonymous said...

Hmm I just read Kissed By an Angel. I wish I could spend more time with Tristian! Or Will!

Julie102794@gmail.com

Sonya said...

I would love to spend time with Catniss from Catching Fire.

Please enter me, I'd love a signed copy!

Leslie said...

I would love to spend more time with Katniss from The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I thought she was a fascinating character and one of my favorite heroines.

lgladnick(at)gmail(dot)com

Ashley said...

heyy, cool contest! i would love to get to know ever in the book evermore by alyson noel, much better. she seems cool, and would be fun to talk to.

Ashley
arudd908@gmail.com

Aubrey said...

I would love to win! I have only heard wonderful things about Graceling and so I bought it and I'm excited to read it and get ready for Fire!

A character that I really enjoyed was Sam from Shiver! I would love to spend time with him...that is if he liked me as much as he liked me as much as Grace. ;)

CherylS22 said...

I just finished reading "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin & I would like to read more about one of the main characters, Darcy. I didn't exactly love Darcy because she was self-centered & manipulative. But the next book, "Something Blue", centers around Darcy & maybe she will redeem herself in that one.

Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Elizabeth said...

I loved the incredibly lame narrator in HOW I BECAME A FAMOUS NOVELIST. I would spend time with him just to feel better about myself!

Nancye said...

I would like to spend time with Jennifer in "Sam's Letters to Jennifer" by James Patterson. She went thru and I would like to be a friend to and maybe a shoulder to cry on.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Paradox said...

One of my favorite characters I've read about recently is Elijah from Flight of the Raven by Stephanie S. Tolan.

paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com

Lenore Appelhans said...

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Winners will be notified shortly.

Rhiannon said...

I really enjoyed this book as well, the charecter of fire really intrigued me...But you must read graceling! I have a review of both posted over on my site: http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/search/label/Graceling%20Review, and http://www.thediaryofabookworm.com/search/label/Fire%20review
See if it peaks your interest.