October 29, 2020
Fire by Kristin Cashore
The basics
Title: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Series: Graceling Realm #2
- Graceling (October 2008) - Fire (October 2009) - Bitterblue (May 2012) - Winterkeep (January 2021)
Add it: Goodreads
Goodreads Summary:
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men. This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own. Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom. If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
Read a full summary of Fire by Kristin Cashore below. If you can’t remember what happened in Fire and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.
What happened in Fire?
- Fire is a monster who once had a manipulative father called Lord Cansrel. Cansrel managed to get the king to pretty much destroy his kingdom. Thankfully, they’re both dead, and now Nash is the king and is trying to make the kingdom a better place.
- Fire is shot by a poacher in the woods, and she uses her powers to make him take her home.
- Archer locks up the poacher and plans to interrogate him, but by the morning the poacher has been killed.
- Fire and Archer head to see Queen Roen. They want more guards from her, and they hope she can tell them something about the strangers in the woods.
- While at the castle, Fire bumps into Nash and Brigan. Nash falls in love with Fire because of her powers. Brigan, however, isn’t a fan. He remembers what Cansrel did and believes Fire is capable of the same thing.
- A village is being raided and the royals head over there to defend it. They’re attacked by monsters, so Fire saves them.
- Nash and Brigan ask Fire to come to the capital to interrogate their prisoners. Fire agrees to this, and heads off with a bunch of guards. Brigan starts to accept that Fire isn’t the bad guy.
- Fire reaches the city. There, she meets Clara and Garan. She agrees to use her powers to help the kingdom return to its former glory, but she refuses to force anyone to give information. They let slip that Brigan has a small daughter called Hanna.
- Archer shows up and immediately gets jealous of Brigan and Fire’s friendship and deal.
- Archer starts sleeping with women at the palace, namely Clara and Mila. Both become pregnant with his children.
- Fire learns of this and becomes scared of having her own monster children. She takes a herb that will make her infertile.
- One day, Fire bumps into a young boy with one red eye and one grey (I wonder who that could be…) who is torturing animals. The boy tries to manipulate her, but Fire is immune to his mind control. Fire notices that the people around him have empty minds, like the strangers from the woods.
- Archer lets slip that Fire killed Cansrel. This was supposed to be a secret so no one is impressed. Fire recalls how she led her father into a cage full of monsters, and they tore him apart. The whole kingdom thought it was suicide but THINK AGAIN.
- Archer, feeling terrible about his recent actions, heads off to find the creepy boy.
- The gala happens, which is where the royal family are going to try to assassinate the rebels in the kingdom. Two of the rebel leaders are killed,but Fire is kidnapped. Oops.
- Fire is kept drugged, and it turns out that the creepy boy ordered this. The creepy boy is also Leck, from Graceling. Oh dear. Leck tells Fire that he wants to rule the kingdom with Fire at his side.
- Fire is quite disgusted with the whole idea and manages to escape. Along the way, she comes across Archer’s body.
- This puts Fire into a rage, and she burns down Leck’s mansion. She runs away.
- Leck manages to find Fire, and tells her about the country that he comes from, where many people have mismatched eyes and powers like him. Leck continues to threaten Fire, but her horse kicks him in the face (lol) and he falls into a crack in the mountain. Is he dead?!?! (No.)
- Fire wanders and almost dies, but she’s rescued by some villagers. They get her back to the capital, and she’s mostly okay apart from being traumatised and losing a couple of fingers to frostbite.
- Fire learns that Archer was killed by his father, Jod.
- Fire and Brigan are reunited, and they’re also now realising that they’re in love. Brigan goes off to battle with Fire refusing to give into her feelings because she’s scared he’s going to die.
- Garan gets Fire to work in the hospital and help people through their pain. Fire actually loves this, and she finds a reason to live again.
- Brocker tells Fire that Brigan is actually Brocker’s son, not the old king Nax’s.
- Brigan returns from battle and he and Fire finally get together.
- The rebels show up again and say they want peace in return for Fire. Brigan and co. are like hell noooo, and then Nash is shot. It’s all fine though, as he survives.
- Brigan’s army finally wins the war against the rebels and the Dells falls into peace.
- Everyone at the capital loves Fire and praises her efforts.
- A funeral for Archer is held. Mila tells Fire that she’s now with Nash, which I guess is nice. Fire plays a song at the funeral with her fiddle, and everything is adorable and lovely.
This is a full plot summary of what happened in Fire by Kristin Cashore. Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!
