Hidden From Hunters and the Pride Alike

~Hidden~
Firelight
Book 3
By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....


A meh finish to a meh series. Besides not liking the characters much, I didn't find the trilogy led them anywhere. Jacinda didn't seem any different at the end than when she began, other than being able to make decisions because shitty people weren't in charge anymore. Will never changed. Cassian's only change came in accepting that he wasn't irresistible to Jacinda, and Tamra only changed physically and situationally. Things happened in the series, but nothing changed in the characters, just to the characters.

The Shader of Our Pride

~Vanish~
Firelight
Book 2
By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?


Though not as infuriating as the first book, I still wasn't thrilled with the characters, especially Jacinda. I guess I'm not big on the cult-ish pride the draki live in either. Everybody keeps talking about how there are big things planned, but that usually just means making babies. Yes, they're still on about forced child bearing being normal. Ugh. But I will go on the record as being team Cassian. He seems like they only one with any conscience, logic and real feelings in the entire town. Of course, I'm also for him getting with Tamra, since I can't stand Jacinda.

Long story short, this book doesn't have the main character improving, just being in a terrible place so we can feel sorry for her. It's what I call the Gone With The Wind Effect.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Pride's Precious Fire-Breather

~Firelight~
Firelight
Book 1
By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

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 drakia 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.


Maybe I'm getting too old. Maybe this book is too old compared to the current climate of strong females in YA lit. Maybe I shouldn't read this type of stuff after coming off of a long run of books featuring literal heroines. But...