Reviews: Book of a Thousand Days & The Crown of Embers

Book of a Thousand Days
Shannon Hale

Dashi the maid accompanies her lady as she is imprisoned in a tower for 7 years for rejecting a potential marriage. While trying to survive, ration out the food, and comfort her lady, she begins to write in a journal the account of what goes on. While there, two suitors arrive, one kind and the other not at all and Dashti must begin to make decisions in place of her indecisive lady.

This story is based on a fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers and is excellently done. As a reader, you enjoy following and getting to know the character of Dashti and the world through her eyes. The style of writing - that of reading a journal - is interesting yet fitting. It works to draw you in and you feel close to Dashti as you share in her thoughts. The plot is unique and compelling, easily pulling you forward to continue reading. And the overall message of the story, that of sincerity, concern, courage, decisiveness, selflessness, and faith is convincing.

In short, I loved it and, as my sister recommended it to me, so I recommend it to you.

The Crown of Embers
Rae Carson

This is the sequel to "The Girl of Fire and Thorns", which I reviewed earlier this year. It is the middle novel of three which often makes people think of a mid-trilogy slump, but I would say the story continues very well. I can't reveal much of the plot due to it being a sequel, but it is action packed, yet thoughtful as it follows Elisa, the main character as she tries to make the right decisions and be strong at the same time.

The only thing in the book that makes me be cautious about recommending this, and I do this to be honest, is that the discussion of sex out of marriage as possibly an okay thing didn't sit well with me and my beliefs. Nothing bad happens in the book and it isn't a major part of the book, but it's enough to make to worry slightly about the next and final installment. I'll withhold my unreserved recommendation until then, but if you've already started the series and you want more of the same, this is a  book that moves the plot forward in good ways and does not disappoint in that regard.

In short, I liked it, but I'm worried slightly about the trilogy as a whole that it may not be a trilogy I keep after having finished it. Still though, "The Girl of Fire and Thorns," the first book of the trilogy, is a good enough to read on it's own and ends in a satisfying way.