I like Shannon Hale's writing and enjoyed Goose Girl. This book seemed to drag. I couldn't get behind Enna's choices or understand where she was coming from. She was too passive for a Hale main character. I was disappointed.
This sequel to The Goose Girl has a much darker tone. Enna's brother Leifer discovers an old parchment buried in the woods that teaches how to harness the power of fire. But it is a dangerous power, almost uncontrollable, and when Bayern is attacked by the neighboring kingdom of Tira, Enna's resolve to never use what she learns from it eventually crumbles, and she struggles to contain the fire within her even as her country struggles in war.
This story too struggles a little to keep from running wild as the fire. In the middle it felt like it wasn't sure where it wanted to go, and after a few interesting twists and turns it manages to come to a satisfying enough end which is just a shade too pat but tolerable. It does not have the same magic as The Goose Girl, what with its darker theme, but it is still a wonderful coming of age story that brings back familiar characters that fans would be eager to hear more about.
This story too struggles a little to keep from running wild as the fire. In the middle it felt like it wasn't sure where it wanted to go, and after a few interesting twists and turns it manages to come to a satisfying enough end which is just a shade too pat but tolerable. It does not have the same magic as The Goose Girl, what with its darker theme, but it is still a wonderful coming of age story that brings back familiar characters that fans would be eager to hear more about.
