The Crown of Embers

Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns #2
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: She does not know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.Elisa is a hero.
She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.
Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from foreign realms and even from within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.
To conquer the power she bears, once and for all, Elisa must follow a trial of long-forgotten—and forbidden—clues, from the deep, hidden catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man whom—despite everything—she is falling in love with.
If she's lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost.

Rating: êêêê

Review: I really enjoyed this book. Elisa continues to grow on me - I love that she does things in her own way. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns in this book that led to lots of unanswered questions. The romance was well written and I don't want to say more than that in case you haven't read the first book. I am really struggling with my feelings about the ending - it was predictable in that you could sort of see the direction things were headed, but it wasn't predictable at the same time. Regardless,  I am invested in Elisa and her journey.