This is the sequel to Graceling (my review here), Kristin Cashore's debut. One thing I particularly liked about this book was the fact that it was a companion, and not a direct sequel. I feel like it must give you so much freedom as an author, because you are pretty much at liberty to do whatever you want with the novel (as long as you can tie it back to the original). 
 This book did take me a little bit longer to warm up to than Graceling did, and I'm not even entirely sure why. As much as I did like the companion aspect (maybe more so after finishing?), that could be part of the reason. I went into it expecting the same world and the world of the Dells had a whole other sort of thing going on. 
 Monster animals? Monster humans? Monster kittens? They want her blood? What? Who said what, now? Once I got over that part (and once Fire got away from her house and got this story on the road - literally) I was much more invested! 
 See my full review at Bring My Books!