Firelight discussion

I feel like Jacinda is such a self-centered character. For most of the book, she's complaining about how unhappy she is about the new place. The only reason why her mom wanted to move was all for her protection. She was super ungrateful. She wasn't even really happy where she was before and throughout the whole book she complains about the new place and how unhappy she is. It was so annoying. I'm hoping she won't be like that too much in book 2, Vanish. What do you all think?

I think she was pretty whiney, but her mom didn't have to move them somewhere so hot where her Draki would be killed off. I think that was definitely unfair. She could have compromised and moved them somewhere more lush so that Jacinda could still have her Draki, but they would be moved away from danger.

I agree with Anna. It was pretty mean that her mother expected her to kill off her Draki. Even though it was suppose to be for her own good and to keep her from danger. How can you ask someone to give up half of themselves to be in a situation they are in against their will anyway? I was happy for her when she finally found happiness. The one who really got on my nerves was her sister. She was always blaming her every time things got bad.

I like Jacinda. She is a strong girl. She managed to keep her draki although her mom seemed to dislike the idea.
Her sister is a big whiner...

Stormy wrote: "I agree with Anna. It was pretty mean that her mother expected her to kill off her Draki. Even though it was suppose to be for her own good and to keep her from danger. How can you ask someone to g..."

I agree that killing off her Draki sucked, but her mother was trying to protect her from what the Tribe would make her do. Being in the new place helped her to be able to possibly have a normal high school life where she could just hang out with friends and go to the movies and stuff.

Kimi wrote: "Stormy wrote: "I agree with Anna. It was pretty mean that her mother expected her to kill off her Draki. Even though it was suppose to be for her own good and to keep her from danger. How can you a..."

I do agree that her mom was trying to help her and that being in a new place helped her have a normal life, but the thing is, Jacinda isn't normal. There's no reason for her to have a normal life. I don't think there was any reason for the mom to want to kill of Jacinda's Draki if they moved far enough away from the tribe to protect her and keep her Draki intact.

I agree with Anna and Nurlely. Jacinda's mother should never have tried to force her to lose draki. But, I suppose she would never have seen Will again.

I agree with Nurely, Stormy, Anna and Carey. Jacinda's mother could have gone to a different place then the desert. Then again it was kind of cruel that she wanted her draki to die off. Then again her mother did love her enough to flee the only things that she's known and go out in the world and try to be a fierce mother and protect her child. She did love her.

Yes she does love her and like all mothers, will try to protect their kids in any possible way.

But Jacinda's mother is killing part of her, of what she is. She thinks of Jacinda's happiness from her eyes only, from what she felt will be the right thing.
She forgets that Jacinda is what left of her kind, the fire-breather, the strongest one. It is not an easy task to kill her draki.

And Jacinda's mom seems to forget that a mother should accept what her kid is...:)

Yep, but moms try and try and try and if she thought that part of her would harm her in the future, then she's gonna try to protect her. And just like they were trying to hide, someone still found them. Because she's so important to the pride, they're gonna try to find her. Plus there's hunters everywhere.

But I totally agree with all of you that it really does suck about the situation but mothers will go to all sorts of lengths to protect their children. I'm not saying she's right or it doesn't suck majorly for Jacinda. If there weren't any danger her mother wouldn't have done what she did.

Lucinda's mom taking her away from the pride is part of the plot, so blaming her is useless. What I said was merely figuring out how she felt and the reason behind that act.

The plot is necessary for Lucinda to be able to meet Will....:)

Yeah I understand what you're saying Jacinda's mom. I just wanted everyone to know that initially I was just stating how I felt about Jacinda but I really saw what everyone said about killing a part of her. I hadn't really commented on what everyone was saying.

And exactly, she wouldn't have ever met Will if she'd stayed. =)

I think that Jucinda's mom shouldnt have tryed to make her kill of her Draki. Its a part of her and her mom pretty much wanted to kill a part of her. I think it should have beed Jucinda's decision not her mothers even if it was to protect her. I unterstand thats how they set up the plot but the setting could of been in a different place. I think that her mom deffinatly had good intentions she wouldnt have just killed her daughters Draki for the fun of it and i also believe she was trying to pretect her. I think her mom was still hurt from her husbands death and Jucinda being a Draki was a constant reminder of him and that is very difficult for people.

I understand why Jucinda's sister is the way she acts. Jucinda-
*Manifested
*She got cassian
*The whole Pride loves her

and now she finally gets what she wants A NORMAL LIFE AWAY FROM PRIDE and Jucinda ruined it and that she proably wont forgive her for.

Jucinda is all about her but i have to say she did try for her sister but she was gonna take off if she didnt know they wanted to clip her wings and make her a breeder. Then all of a sudden she was like 'oh i guess i should say' and then she had Will who saved her Draki.

Amanda wrote: "I think that Jucinda's mom shouldnt have tryed to make her kill of her Draki. Its a part of her and her mom pretty much wanted to kill a part of her. I think it should have beed Jucinda's decision ..."

I can agree that some of her decisions weren't thought through till the end and then it's easy to understand her sister's perspective by putting myself in her position and then to go back to were they didn't ever treat her right.

Amanda wrote: "I think that Jucinda's mom shouldnt have tryed to make her kill of her Draki. Its a part of her and her mom pretty much wanted to kill a part of her. I think it should have beed Jucinda's decision ..."

Jacinda can't help that she manifested and her sister didn't. And she didn't get Cassian. She didn't even want him and the whole pride loves her because what she can do but not for who she is. I don't see how any of that is her fault. But its easy for her to take the blame with all her sister's jealousy.

Jacinda wasn't jealous of her sister when she became popular and all that in the human world. But her sister still held on to her jealousy knowing that Jacinda was having a hard time and accused her of purposely trying to ruin everything for her every time Jacinda made a mistake. And Jacinda's sister is so caught up in herself that she lets her friends beat up on her sister. You can say that Jacinda's selfish for wanting to keep her Draki life but she was willing to leave the family she loves so they wouldn't be in any danger of the Draki clan because they would really punish her mother for taking her away. I think that her sister was the self-centered one completely and she sort of had right to be after sitting in the shadows all her life but I don't think that its right the way she treats Jacinda.

i think jacinda is whiny, and does everything for herself, so yes, i agree :p but she is still a good character.

I think she is a little self centered, but that she also had a right to be self centered.

Yea, she did kind of but then again she used it as an excuse to get where she wanted sometimes though. Then she did use it to save Will.

I think she's a pretty bratty character overall. I get that she didn't want her Draki to die out and that she didn't understand what her mother was doing, but she goes about a lot of things all wrong. I'm glad she's a strong female character and she doesn't just fall for Will at first sight, but she has a lot of flaws that really need to be dealt with. I suppose that's a good representation of all of us, however.

Stormy ♥'s JJ wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I think that Jucinda's mom shouldnt have tryed to make her kill of her Draki. Its a part of her and her mom pretty much wanted to kill a part of her. I think it should have beed Juci..."

100% Agree!

I think the only reason why some people found her whiney was because her Draki was literally dying. Wouldn't you be upset if you were her? I'm not saying leaving wasn't the thing to do, but her mom and sister really didn't care that she was suffering.

Deondra wrote: "Stormy ♥'s JJ wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I think that Jucinda's mom shouldnt have tryed to make her kill of her Draki. Its a part of her and her mom pretty much wanted to kill a part of her. I think it..."

I thought Jacinda handled it better than I would have. But I'll admit it, I can be a brat. It just blew my mind that her mom could take her some place that would literally KILL a part of who Jacinda was, and then show no compassion at all. They just expected her to let it die and move on. Simple as that. I guess because her mom never wanted that part of herself, she didn't understand how Jacinda could possibly want it. But still for a mother, I thought SHE was was the one who was very selfish.

★ Kimi ★ wrote: "Stormy wrote: "I agree with Anna. It was pretty mean that her mother expected her to kill off her Draki. Even though it was suppose to be for her own good and to keep her from danger. How can you a..."

"Normal" is relative. For Jacinda normal is being able to release her draki and be in a community with others similar to herself. Though her mother wanted to protect her, the process she took did not allow Jacinda to have any say in the matter. Jacinda is self centered, and so is her sister, but they are teens and that is normal. Their mother could have foind a way to let them both have a life they could enjoy, not shortchange one child and call it "for her own good"

I think the real problem between the characters is that they don't really communicate to each other. Everyone of them is right in her own eyes. The mother thinks killing Jacinda's draki is the only solution because she was able to kill hers. But she doesn't realize how that is for Jacinda. The twins never really communicated anything that might make their relationship better. It seems that their relationship desn't lack love, just understanding. If Jacinda has opened up to her sister, she could have had future with Will, without the whole melodrama at the end.

She is, but hey, she's a teen. What else can you expect?

i think some would agree that Jacinda is a big complaner, That Her sister blames her for alll problems they have, and that their mother is unfair by forcing Jacinda kill her draki. but they all had reasons.
Jacinda was expected to do things she didn't want to. then she became ok with living in the dessert once she found Will.
Tamra Had always grown up looked at as the "unfortunate sister" and it wasn't her falt so she blamed her sis.

Their mom might have been trying to protect her daughter, but she was really doing more harm then anything else. First She made Jacinda Move away from her childhood home, to the complete oppisite. then once Jacinda became happy with the place because of Will, Her mom forbid her from being around him.

But the story wouldn't have been the same if that wasn't their personality.

I'll be honest, she was self-centred bu the same time I think she had a damn good reason to be. What her mother demanded of her, the slow death of her Draki, was pretty extreme. I think she had more than enough reason to be mopey, whiney and down right pissed off

What she didn't have reason for was being so damn stupid as to maintain a relationship with a draki hunter - that foolishness was way more of a book breaker for me than her (legitimate albeit numerous) complaints

Jacinda is a self-centered, self-absorbed spoiled brat. Why wouldn't she be? She's a teenager who has lost her father, her home, her pride and is slowly dying from the climate.

Although I don't usually read YA, I bought this book because the author is in the same writing group that I am. She is a very considerate person and a talented writer. I really enjoy her work.

Well, she was whiny, but I agree with the others that her mom was kind of a bitch for taking her into the middle of the desert and forcing her inner draki to die. It was just cruel.
And anyway, don't forget she's sixteen, I'd be more annoyed if she was a totally mature and grown-up girl, because that wouldn't be realistic.

Thing that got on my nerves was her lack of self control. She kept changing her mind all the time. I did like how it was all explained why she did but... it just made me lose faith in the character. You know what I mean? Like, things happened to her instead of her making things happen.
As for being self centered, ya we knew that. She even admitted it, at least she noticed that in her self. Why she doesn't change that, I don't know.

I disagree about the Mom, she was doing her best with a bad situation brought on by Jacinda herself. You have to remember they specifically said there was nowhere they could go where the clan would stop looking for her. Its mentioned several times, the only way they wouldn't want her was if her Draki was dead. NO other known fire breathers and all that. Her mom thought that was preferable to staying and letting them cripple her by clipping her wings remember? And how did her Dad die? Betrayed for trying to find a new clan aka leaving.

Also if you remember ALL of it was Jacindas fault. Who insisted on flying in the day? Who was too special to follow the rules that applied to EVERYONE else for safety reasons? They weren't dumb rules, she almost got Azure killed and didn't care as long as she got to fly in the day....because it was more fun. She brought the censure of the clan on herself, which made her mom run rather than let them clip her.

Conclusion: Jacinda really is a self centered spoiled brat with a swollen ego. She didn't care about her family AT ALL. She had to have what she wanted constantly, and not all teenage characters have to be like that. I was so sick of her and her suicidal decisions I skimmed the second book.

I also like Tam. All she wanted was to have a chance to have people appreciate her and yeah, Jacindas little rebellion ruined it AGAIN with Will. I think she had a right to be pissed. The best part of the entire series is when she finds someone who actually ignores Jacinda and appreciates her.

Ohmyfreakinggosh! Just wait till you read vanish.

Already did :)

Kimi wrote: "I feel like Jacinda is such a self-centered character. For most of the book, she's complaining about how unhappy she is about the new place. The only reason why her mom wanted to move was all for h..."

i agree it got super annoying. She was either complaining about being stuck here or how she wished she could have Will.

My gosh I couldn't wait until the book ended because of how annoying she was! And the sucky thing about it is that when I dislike the main character, the book seems very insignificant and boring to me. She just kept continually making mistake after mistake and I just wanted to slap her for it. That's very unfortunate considering the book had a lot of potential....

Chisom *AngelBooky* wrote: "My gosh I couldn't wait until the book ended because of how annoying she was! And the sucky thing about it is that when I dislike the main character, the book seems very insignificant and boring to..."

I agree. The idea was great. But Jacinda being who she is killed it.

Chisom *AngelBooky* wrote: "My gosh I couldn't wait until the book ended because of how annoying she was! And the sucky thing about it is that when I dislike the main character, the book seems very insignificant and boring to..."

It wasn't just the mistakes, if the book is really good i can deal with mistakes (sometimes). What bothered me was the "reasoning" behind all her decisions was so twisted. She had serious entitlement issues and actually believed she had a right to make stupid decisions as long as they benefited her regardless of the consequences to ANYone else.

I don't think its all about jacinda. I think her mother makes her out to be since her sister isn't like Jacinda. Jacinda is trying to deal with having a normal life because her mom doesn't want to deal with the whole draki thing. Her sister thinks its all about her since she's the normal one in the family. I hated how tables turned so Jacindas sister could be self center but she kind of deserved it. In the end I bet everything will all work out in the end and Jacinda and her sister will both have a fair life. All Jacinda wanted was to live in her fathers footsteps.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Her draki is withering! You know, the one thing that connects her to her dad and reminds her who she is?!!!! DID YOU MISS THAT PART?? I mean, putting a draki in the desert would be like putting a lizard in the North Pole or an otter in the Badlands! It's just cruel! Sure her mom was trying to protect her, but out of all the places they could have moved to, she picked the place that would physically and emotionally tear her daughter apart!!! HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION LATELY???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tracy wrote: "I don't think its all about jacinda. I think her mother makes her out to be since her sister isn't like Jacinda. Jacinda is trying to deal with having a normal life because her mom doesn't want to ..."

I see what your saying but her mom wasn't making it all about Jacinda. It ended up that way because Jacinda would not control herself. She was constantly getting in trouble like she did when she met Will. Her mom knew what they would do to her so she was always trying to clean up her mess, defending her, fighting the council. In the end that meant moving so they wouldn't clip her, not just to hide from dealing with the draki.

Erika wrote: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Her draki is withering! You know, the one thing that connects her to her dad and reminds her who she is?!!!! DID YOU MISS THAT PART?? I mean, putting a draki in the desert wo..."

We were all paying attention....its why we are discussing the book. Fyi, excessive punctuation and caps lock doesn't make your point any clearer and is interpreted by many as yelling which is unnecessary.
Her mom chose the area least likely to be searched after Jacinda made some deliberately and repetitively stupid choices that endangered herself and others. It was a bad situation all around, but if Jacinda hadn't insisted on flying by day her draki would have been safe in the mountains. The location was a severe BUT well earned (if not deserved) consequence.

I absolutely hated her and couldn't even finish the book because of her.

Star wrote: "Erika wrote: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Her draki is withering! You know, the one thing that connects her to her dad and reminds her who she is?!!!! DID YOU MISS THAT PART?? I mean, putting a draki in..."

While Jacinda made some mistakes, my point still stands that her mother could have moved anywhere but chose the one place that would be most excruciating for her. Even if it was less likely to be searched, Cassian still found her, so it didn't even matter.

Her mom just wanted to protect Jacinda by killing her draki. Jacinda could've been trying a little harder to protect herself and her family. She's so selfish. It's not only her happiness and safety at stake if they get caught. Btw how did it end? I'm not even going to touch that book again but I'm curious as to how Cassian found her.

I think that maybe she was being a little unfair to her mother. But you have to remember that Jacinda was used to the cool mists and humidity of her homeland and her mother just up and moved to a desert. And let's not forget she was trying to kill her draki off even though she knew Jacinda loved being in her draki form. So... i can kind of understand both sides...

yes, i agree that she is very seflsentered. and that doesn't change in the 2nd book btw.

But her mom annoys me though.. making such decisions. i think that does give jacinda a reason to behave like she did..

Well she was just trying to protect Jacinda.

Maari wrote: "I think that maybe she was being a little unfair to her mother. But you have to remember that Jacinda was used to the cool mists and humidity of her homeland and her mother just up and moved to a d..."

lol she really didn't "just up and move to a desert"....she ran in the middle of the night to HIDE to prevent the council from clipping Jacindas wings for exposing the dragons, drawing hunters and almost getting herself and Azure caught by flying during the day...Why on earth would the mom have taken Jacinda somewhere where her Draki would thrive when all she would do is selfishly and stupidly repeat her actions until someone killed her? The mom was weighing her daughters life against her Draki, I can completely see why she chose as she did.

Nurlely wrote: "I like Jacinda. She is a strong girl. She managed to keep her draki although her mom seemed to dislike the idea.
Her sister is a big whiner..."

I agree jacindas mother moved so she wouldn't be a draki anymore she didn't want her to be who she truly was i would've acted just like her.

Stéphanie wrote: "But her mom annoys me though.. making such decisions. i think that does give jacinda a reason to behave lik..."

I think you have the order backward... They move because of Jacindas behavior, so she was acting this way long before the Mom did anything. Remember how she met Will? Her being selfish and rebelling was not a result of her moms decisions, she just wanted her own way no matter what since the beginning. Its hard to hate her mMom when she was just doing damage control.

Ashley wrote: "Well she was just trying to protect Jacinda."

Exactly. In response to your earlier question, I dont remember exactly how he found her but he does. I skimmed the last book, and was really satisfied with Tam's story. Cassian got the short end of the stick obviously and has no happy ending unless you count not ending up with Jacinda a good thing; which I do. But back to Tam, I wish she had been the main character, there is tons of development there. She comes into her own, finds happiness AND takes charge and helps restructure the Draki council system to make it better. Jacinda of course, runs off with Will.