I absolutely love the worlds that Kristin Cashore creates, and the strong female protagonists that completely kick ass :)
Fire is a human monster- a creature with bright, unusual hair, in her case, flaming red, extreme beauty, and the ability to influence the minds of others. Her father, also a monster, used his abilities to destroy lives and send the kingdom into ruin. Fire does not want to lose herself and become like her father, so she tries not to use her powers. However, she is drawn into a plot that could send her kingdom into complete chaos, and she must find her strength and prove to both herself and to others that she is not following in her father's footsteps.