Firelight by Sophie Jordan

    

   Jacinda has always been special. She’s a fire breather, something her Draki pride has not seen in centuries. A fact that they seem to think gives them the right to control her life. But Jacinda isn’t just special, she’s also a rebel. She does not like being told where she can’t go, when she can’t fly, and especially who she’s suppose to love, or at least marry someday. It’s because of this rebellious side of her nature that she decides to fly, just once, in the morning sunlight. It’s pride rule that the Draki, descendents of the long extinct dragons, are only allowed to fly under the cover of night. Flying in the sunlight is dangerous, not only could they be seen by humans but also by Hunters, and if a draki is seen by a hunter the chances are slim that they’ll make it back to the pride alive.
    Jacinda decides to brave the dangers but she realizes, when she hears the thump, thump of helicopter blades, that the rules are worth following. The hunters have spotted her. She tries desperately to out run them but they manage to injure her wing. That leaves her only the option to run and hide. She does manage to find a hiding spot but not fast enough. They have an idea of where she is and they send in one of the hunters to look for her. It’s a boy, not much older then her and when their eyes meet she realizes that its not cruelty in his face but curiosity. For some reason, he doesn’t alert the other hunters but instead studies her. She studies him back and is surprised to realize that he’s beautiful. He reaches out to touch her and a spark flies between them and he whispers one word before he leaves her in her hiding spot alone.
    As Jacinda makes her way back to her pride she can’t stop thinking about that strange hunter but that quickly changes as her pride comes to meet her, along with her mother. They’re all furious. Risking herself, the gem of the pride, just to fly in the daylight. The pride threatens severe punishment and that threat seems to fill her mother with terror. Once safely back home with her twin sister, Tamra, her mother informs the girls that they are leaving the pride. Jacinda is horrified, Tamra is thrilled. Tamra never manifested during puberty so she is basically just human but the pride is Jacinda’s life, as much as she hates how controlling they are she can’t imagine living with out them, outside of her mountains. She has no choice however, as always.
    Jacinda’s mother takes her daughters to a desert city where Jacinda can feel her draki shriveling inside of her. The draki need the earth’s life to stay strong and here, in the barren place, there is no sustenance. Just when she feels like hope is gone, she sees the hunter from the day that changed everything at her school and he seems to strengthen her draki. They’re drawn to each other from their first glance even though he doesn‘t seem to recognize her. This strange reaction may be exactly what Jacinda needs to give her mother and sister the chance at the life they’ve always wanted. There’s just one problem, Will’s not the only hunter in her school and with all the prying eyes around it may not be so easy to keep all that she is hidden inside.


    Firelight is an amazingly imaginative book. I haven’t read anything quite like it. I’ve always been a fan of dragons but this twist is something new and interesting. I was caught right from the beginning. Jacinda is an intriguing character. She’s a strong minded individual who is not willing to let anyone rule her life, not even her mother and sister. At the same time, she wants so badly to make her mother and sister happy and tries to change for them. But, ultimately, she can only be herself. It’s a common theme in books, to be yourself at all costs, especially for YA books but it never seems to get old. I am excited to read the next book in the trilogy, Vanish. It promises as much excitement as Firelight and, of course, I’m anxious to know what’s going to happen in the new and complicated relationship of Will and Jacinda.



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