Thursday, November 10, 2011

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Pages: 416
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: February 9, 2010
My Rating: A

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock--to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.


Review:
I always get afraid when I read high fantasy/adventure books. For me, I either really love them, or really hate them. Finnikin of the Rock falls into the former. I. Loved. This. Book.

I will be the first to admit that I haven't read Jellicoe Road or Saving Francesca or any other of Marchetta's novels. I'm half tempted to pick one up, though, because this book was amazing.

The characters in this book were really well fleshed-out. There wasn't one I feel didn't have some sort of development throughout the story.

This is a very serious book, but also had its light, funny moments. I could help but laugh at all the sexual references. Yeah, this book is definitely for older teens.

I loved how the romance between Finnikin and Evanjalin wasn't rushed. They didn't lay eyes on each other for the very first time and automatically fall in-love. No, they first actually got to know each other before Finnikin wanted to bang her they got all lovey-dovey. Well, actually, they never really did get too lovey-dovey, but you get the idea. They wanted to make little ginger-babies.

The thing that brought this down that .5 of a point was the beginning. It was soooooo slow. I almost didn't want to read it. But, trust me. Just get through the first 100 pages. It does pick up a lot.

Ya know, I find it a lot harder to review books that I like. ._.

3 comments:

  1. Great Review, I enjoyed this book too! Are you going to read "Froi of the Exiles"?

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  2. Of course! I cannot wait until it comes out.

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  3. LoL, of course it's officially already out that is if you're in Australia!! But we'll have to wait till March I guess.

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