I read this book at the recommendation of one of my favorite authors, Veronica Roth, author of Divergent, which I must also review here soon. This is definitely a unique book, unlike anything I've ever read before. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it and figure out what I think about it.
We begin the story in the country of Orovalle, looking in on the second Princess, Lucero-Elisa. She is not heir to the throne but Elisa is special because she bears what is called a Godstone. Every hundred years, a bearer is chosen, selected for an act of service believed to be crucial in God's eyes for the human race. Elisa feels unworthy of this gift and inferior to her sister, who is brilliant and beautiful. Things become worse for her when finds that she will be married to the King of Joya d'Arena, the desert country, at the young age of sixteen. She turns to the one thing that brings her comfort, food.
After her hasty marriage to King Alejandro, Elisa is taken to Joya d'Arena but is asked to keep their marriage a secret until he feels an announcement is timely. Elisa reluctantly agrees, wishing to win the favor of the King, who does not seem interested in her at all. With her nurse, Ximena, as her only friend Elisa feels alone and frightened, threatened by the nobles of Joya d'Arena, who seem to be perplexed by her coming. Also the rumors of war with the Inviernos continue to make her feel unsafe. She must not let anyone know about the Godstone or she could be in great danger. Many would love to have the bearer of the Godstone in their possession.
While in Joya d'Arena, Elisa spends much time with the priest Nicholas. After secretly asking him to meet her in private, she discovers that she has been sheltered from the truth about her Godstone all of her life. Taught to believe it was a gift for a great service, she was never told that the stone would almost certainly lead her into danger, to be exact, into the enemies gates. She also learns that many of the previous bearers died while fulfilling their act of service.
With this new discovery, Elisa has a lot to think about but she doesn't get time. Not long after her arrival in Orovalle, she is kidnapped. Forced to travel across the desert for over a month she finally arrives in a small village on the very outskirts of King Alejandro's territory. There she finds that the war threatening to overtake Joya d'Arena has already begun. Many of the King's people are dead or wounded, leaving only the elderly and children alive. This is the very reason they have kidnapped Elisa. They believe as the bearer she can save them.
As Elisa observes the village and its inhabitants, she begins to see the importance of life and loyalty. Her indifference to the world outside of the Palace crumbles and she quickly identifies with the needs of the people. Feeling the urge to help grow within, Elisa proposes a plan to her new friends. They will put fear into the Inviernos that are marching upon Joya d' Arena by creating the rumor of fear. The Malifico is created and attacks the enemy in small subtle bursts, just enough to create fear but not enough so that the villagers are killed or enter into battle.
Meanwhile, Elisa and four other companions, who have become close friends, travel to the heart of the Inviernos army to observe them. The plan doesn't go so well and Elisa is captured. Upon meeting one of the leaders, an animagus, she learns the power of the enemy lies in stolen Godstones from previous bearers. She manages to escape, killing the animagus and returns to the villagers. Humberto, the boy Elisa is falling in love with even though she isn't supposed to, is especially glad to see her.
They devise a new plan, hoping to force another traitorous noble into siding with the Malifico but when Elisa and her companions arrive to talk about a merger things go horribly wrong. Humberto is killed, crushing Elisa, and it looks like all hope is gone. Things take a turn when one of the King's guards, Lord Hector, comes and rescues Elisa and her friends.
With the war raging at their heels, Elisa returns to Joya d'Arena to take her place as Queen. Alejandro barely recognizes Elisa as she has not only changed in appearance but also in demeanor. Now confident in herself, Elisa continues to pray to God for a plan. She believes it is her time in history as a bearer to act but still doesn't know exactly how.
As the Inviernos breach the walls of the city, things finally fall into place. Elisa combines the power of several Godstones from previous bearers with her own and destroys the animaga. The city is saved but the King dies, wounded in the fight. Elisa takes over the throne ready in stature and mind to lead the people of Joya d'Arena. Since she is still alive we can only wonder if God has more to accomplish with this bearer (maybe in another book?).
This book is deeply spiritual in nature as Elisa is the chosen one. I think after I got over the initial shock of this Godstone being stuck in her belly button, I was okay. I loved the reality that the book portrayed. There were no perfect people or situations. We saw Elisa, in the beginning, fearful and unsure of herself and watched her grow into a woman of confidence over the course of the book. We saw a weak King who gained courage and we saw the beauty of love break through the surface appearance.
I have to admit, the ending was a little weird. The Godstone belly button thing came back to haunt me with her final act and I felt it was a little cheesy. I was surprised, after how intrigued I had been by the rest of the book, to come back to this weirdness. There was such depth and character to the book but it was slightly tainted for me by the weird belly button thing.
Would I recommend the book. Yes, without a doubt. I think aside from the weird belly button thing this was an excellent read filled with love, loyalty and self discovery. Watching Elisa grow is by far the best part of the book. When she finds her confidence, so do you. She isn't a perfect hero, she's an attainable one and sometimes those are the best kind. The kind you could see yourself becoming if you were in her shoes.
Parents, this book is clean to the hilt, although the descriptions Elisa has of herself in the beginning may make a boy feel a little uncomfortable. Spirituality runs deep throughout the book but in my opinion it is not too controversial. I love how Elisa learns to trust God through the book. Even when she doesn't understand what he is doing, she learns to believe in his purpose for her. I don't know if I would say two thumbs up, since I did have some things I didn't like, but I would give it at least one maybe one and a half.
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