Firelight by Sophie Jordan a review by Brandi Breathes Books

 Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan 

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away; if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Publishes in US: September 7th 2010 by HarperTeen
Genre: YA fantasy
Source: library
Series? Firelight #1

Buy it: IndieBound.org
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Other fun stuff:
HarperTeen interview with Sophie Jordan
HarperTeen podcast with Sophie Jordan

Author stalk away:  ~site

    I have wanted to read this for ages now, because I have watched the beautiful covers for years and wanted to read about the girl who shifted into a draki, a dragon. So, I finally found the ebook at my library and had a bit to read it, so jumped at the chance. 

    I connected with Jacinda and liked being immersed into her world. She is energized by the mists and water from the earth, and she is a part of a tribe. But her mom doesn't shift anymore and her twin sister never transformed, so she feels like a bit of a loner even in her own family. She loves them a lot but their priorities and the way they perceive draki, the tribe, and their hidden existence has a huge gap. When Jacinda breaks a huge rule, her mom pulls them into the regular world and Tam, her sister couldn't be happier joining a new school and being away from the draki culture. But Jacinda hates the desert, it makes her uncomfortable, and hard to maintain her shifts there. 

    But at school she meets the boy, the hunter that didn't kill her for some unexplicable reason and she feels amazing around him. She is trying to hide as a human in the regular world but her skin changes and she feels fire in her chest. The draki in this story all fall into different talents and she is the only fire breather, which made her special in her tribe, but also a commodity. 

    I enjoyed the chemistry and the build up between Will and Jacinda. Its a case of forbidden love, because he is a hunter and she is the prey. But there is something different about Will. She learns things about him that shocks her and maybe makes sense with some of his differences from his family and the draw between Jacinda and him. 

    So, Tamra and Jacinda's mom. In some aspects I enjoyed the family dynamics and that even though Jacinda didn't understand that her mom is acting in her best interest. No matter how painful or against it Jacinda is. There were also times that I didn't like Tamra much. She seemed so selfish at times and mean to Jacinda, with unrealistic expectations. But the story is also through Jacinda's eyes, so we're biased. But I can also take a step back and imagine how Tam would feel. For most of her life she has been the outsider, the one who didn't fit in because she didn't manifest, and had to watch Jacinda be fawned over and such a big deal while I am sure she felt like a failure. 

    The twists towards the end as well as things revealed about the pride and their intentions were pretty shocking. I also couldn't quite figure out Cassian and whether he was truly a faker or if there was a bit more beneath the surface. I will be continuing with this series and can't wait to find out what is next with the draki, Jacinda and Will, and how they will make everything wrap up with an HEA.

Bottom Line: Great premise, intense forbidden romance and great start to the series.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
What would you chose to shift into if you had the choice?