"Rin is sure that something is wrong with her...something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she's lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies--magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters--as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin's own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure.
Once again, Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale brings readers to a world where great friendships, unexpected plot twists, and a little dose of magic make for incredible storytelling."
For once, there is no romance. Now, for some authors, that is a good relief. But for Shannon Hale, that is all but a good relief. I'm actually worried that Rin is going to end up as an old spinster for life. Ooo! That is scary. That gurl, like what the Fire Sisters say (Fire Sisters meaning Isi, Dasha, and Enna), needs to find a man.
Okay, I'll stop now.
Rin is one unique girl. She is unlike Isi, Enna, or Dasha. She is much different, with different opinions and full of confusion and self-loathing. With all those different sides of her, you can think that she is bipolar. The truth is that part of her is missing, part of her is feared, part of her is gone and taken by the trees she once loved. Her ability doesn't exist in fire, water, wind, or earth (if that exist). It is the trees that she knows. I would also mention her second ability, but that would be a big spoiler. Big spoiler.
Forest Born is a bit different than the two (three, if you look at The Goose Girl in a very unique way) prequels before this book. The enemy in the beginning of the series is the same enemy at end. For some of you, you probably haven't read this series yet, so you don't know who the enemy truly is. But for those of you who read this series, well, sorry guys. Big spoiler alert. Very sorry to you all.
It is fast-paced like all books written by the awesome author, Shannon Hale. Her usual pattern of adventure, self-discovery, and understanding identity plus a hint of romance is gone. As I said before, there is no romance in this book. Maybe flirting, but that is the most. Sorry readers (who really want romance), but this book is all about Elsa the Snow Queen. Just kidding, it is like Elsa the Snow Queen. In fact, no character other than Elsa is the most similar to Rin. Eventually, Rin has to let it go. (Pun intended).
The ending is great. Sure, there are some awesome twists and turns at the end (a bit late, I thought), but they are wonderful. I think the last paragraph of the entire book is the most inspirational quote of Shannon Hale. Of course, there are a few runner-ups. I like Rin telling Isi that she is queen and nothing will change that.
Best moment: Isi taking out all the guards with the force of her power with wind. She is one amazing girl, with character that grows with each book. She turns from an innocent young girl with insecurities to a queen who does not allow anyone to push her around.
Rating: Four out of Five
"Razo has no idea why he was chosen to be a soldier. He can barely swing a sword, and his brothers are forever wrestling him to the ground. Razo is sure it's out of pity that his captain asks him to join an elite mission--escorting the ambassador into Tira, Bayern's great enemy.
But when the Bayern arrive in the strange southern country, Razo discovers the first dead body. He befriends both the high and low born, people who can perhaps provide them with vital information. And Razo is the one who must embrace his own talents in order to get the Bayern soldiers home again, alive.
Newbery-Honor winner Shannon Hale returns the reader to the intrigue and magic of Bayern, first introduced in her critically acclaimed novel, The Goose Girl. Enter a world where even those with no special magical skills find in themselves something they never imagined."
River Secrets is narrated by a guy this time. Not a girl. A guy. And yes, it still ends in Happily Ever After. But who doesn't like Happily Ever After (probably Edgar Allen Poe; all his stuff is depressing as the death of Romeo and Juliet).
But I think it is as good as the previous two books. River Secrets is awesome, told from guy or girl. It doesn't matter. After all, we have a trustworthy writer, who is practically guarantee to write good books. (And yes, this book has been published a while ago, yet I'm reading it anyway. What? I'm the one to read old books. Screw the new books. Old books are awesome).
River Secrets is still on fire. Enna is a secondary character this time, but it is still sweet to see Finn and Enna still active in this book. Geric and Isi takes a backseat. They both rarely appear, but their babies are adorable. Plus, there is a someone for Razo and his good friend, the Prince with no name. Anyway, River Secrets is a good story. It is still about Bayern, but this time, it is about the possibility of war between two kingdoms.
Razo is sent to enemy territory to spy on them in case of war. He is clever and smart, although he has a lot of insecurities. He doesn't win fights. He is always the omega of the pack. He never seems to be good enough. So why is he there? That is the question he always ask himself and others around him. Well, do you want to know why? (Spoiler: It is because he has a gift for memorizing things other people wouldn't notice. See, spy).
The entire plot moves fast. River Secrets is shorter than Enna Burning, but I don't know the comparison between River Secrets and The Goose Girl. All I know is that they are both wonderful stories for both children, teens, and adults. Happily Ever After never outgrows anyone. Everyone has Peter Pan inside.
The conflict is somewhat overused but bearable. The Bayern plot is a little old and used, but it is still working. First, we had the possiblity of war. Then we had the actual war between two kingdoms. Now, we have spying and espionage. Did I mention mystery, romance, and intrigue? Oh, I should add magic in too.
Rating: Four out of Five
"Enna and Princess Isi became fast friends in The Goose Girl, but after Isi married Prince Geric, Enna returned to the forest. Enna's simple life changes forever when she learns to wield fire and burn anything at will. Enna is convinced that she can use her ability for good--to fight Tira, the kingdom threatening the Bayern borders--and goes on secret raids to set fire to the Tiran camps and villages. But as the power of the fire grows stronger, she is less able to control her need to burn. In her recklessness she is captured by the Tiran army and held captive by a handsome, manipulative young captain who drugs her to keep her under his influence. Can Isi and her old friends Finn and Razo rescue her without sacrificing themselves? And with the fire still consuming her, will Enna find a way to manage the gift that threatens to destroy her?"
Enna Burning is as amazing as The Goose Girl. In fact, I loved it as much as The Goose Girl. I think they are both great. Enna Burning portrays the consequences of talking to wind (which Ani possesses). Enna learns the power of fire speaking but with a price. If she doesn't control it well enough, she will soon burn out. I mean, burn. Literally.
Side note: Enna calls the princess Isi instead of Ani. It took me a few seconds to get used to it, but I just wanted to point that out. It is quite interesting, because The Goose Girl and Enna Burning are told in different perspectives, thus the different names of the future Queen of Bayern.
Enna is one sharp girl. She notices things more than Princess Ani/Isi. Plus, she has more friends than Isi, who prefers to hide in silence because of wind's whispers and hauntings. But she is also more daring. She walks right into enemy's territory. All of it is for her brother. Isi, on the other hand, is pregnant (squeals!).
Enna Burning is a great story. It may be of adventure and war, but it is a story about two kingdoms who hate each other so much that they want to destroy each other. It is a story about two friends who fought against each other. It is a story of true love, no matter how cheesy that sounds. Most importantly, it is the story for a cure. It is a story about forgiveness and the ability to forgive (although Enna does most of it in the next book). It is a story about friendship and about how far friends would go to save their friends.
Shannon Hale is great at keeping the reader entertained throughout the entire book. Maybe, just maybe, it might be shorter than most books, but it is perfect being like that. (You are perfect with all of your imperfections). With a fast-paced plot and storyline, Enna Burning is easy to fall in love with.
Plus, it teaches that you should never, ever, ever, ever fall in love with captors. (Enna gets kidnapped). Yes, he may be handsome and sweet, but he is a demon inside. He has people-speaking ability. He is pretty much a walking contradiction (much like Neal Caffrey from White Collar). Enna thinks she is in love with him, but is he? No, he only wants her power (and that part makes me cry! Darkling, forever!).
(Finn is the One for Enna).
Rating: Four out of Five
"Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life under her aunt's guidance learning to communicate with animals. As she grows up Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but is never comfortable speaking with people, so when her silver-tongued lady-in-waiting leads a mutiny during Ani's journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani is helpless and cannot persuade anyone to assist her.
Becoming a goose girl for the king, Ani eventually uses her own special, nearly magical powers to find her way to her true destiny. Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can become queen of the people she has made her own."
Well, The Goose Girl is definitely a book that makes me smile. This is not a stupid 2D fairy tale with stupid princes with little character and princess who are guided/controlled by fairies. This is The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, which is definitely a book I had my eye on for many months. When I finally get it, I have to say that I'm pleased to finish it and finally close the file on this long search.
The Goose Girl might be based on a fairy tale, but that isn't likely. It is truly one unique book, with a Prince Charming in the end. Girls, there is a Happily Ever After in the end and it is beautiful. I really liked it. I really liked it.
Anidori is certainly one heck of a character. She is sort of soft and weak in the beginning, but her character growth is astounding. She learns how to be brave. She learns how to make friends, real friends. She learns how to fight. She learns how to survive without help. And when she finds help, she doesn't depend solely on it. She learns how to stand for herself. And most important of all, she finds her words.
The story of The Goose Girl is compelling and beautiful (as I said before). All the twists and little turns make it delightful. It is somewhat predictable, but I will admit that some aspects of The Goose Girl was pleasantly surprising. Even the true Prince Charming was delightful to read and pore over. And the Prince Charming? Well, he is more awesome than any Disney Prince Charming (with the exception of Li Shang, Flynn Rider, and a few other guys).
Is there any other good parts? Why, yes, of course, there is some good other parts. Shannon Hale has some tricks up her sleeve.
Every story has a villain. Anidori's lady-in-waiting is The Goose Girl's main villain. Of course, there is some other conflicts here and there, but Sophie is one of the biggest players. (Conflicts include possibility of war, identity crisis, and other things). Sophie may not be compelling, but she is certainly crafty.
Overall, I think The Goose Girl is best in all hands. Maybe some boys will act inappropriately to it, but I think it is great.
Best part: The moment when Geric proves Anidori is innocent/the moment he lends her a helping hand.
Rating: Four out of Five
