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A review by rallythereaders
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
5.0
Also posted on Rally The Readers.
This book. Was. Amazing. I’m still recovering. It is hands down the best book that I’ve read so far this year. There were bawl-your-eyes-out-sad moments. There were triumphant moments. I laughed. I almost cried. I need to find a copy of the next book in the series ASAP.
Where do I begin with the gushing? Finnikin of the Rock is a superb piece of epic YA fantasy. Once you enter this world, you don’t want to leave. Ever. The writing is phenomenal; it captivates you from the first sentence of the prologue and never flags. The characters, especially the female ones, are masterfully crafted. They’re so real that it’s very easy to forget that they’re fictional. The dialogue is sharp, fluid, and vibrant. If I hadn’t been so obsessed with finding out what happened next, I would have taken more time to write down my favorite quotes.
It’s really difficult for me to choose what I liked best about the book. If I absolutely had to, I’d say it was the relationships between the characters. Whether the bonds are romantic, familial, or of friendship, they are all depicted with stunning depth and realism. There’s no love-at-first-sight here, which suited me just fine. Even when characters are reunited after years apart, the scenes are not always fairytale perfect; they can be awkward and tense, too. I liked this unflinching approach. The relationships in this book are refreshingly complex instead of cookie-cutter simple.
Although I adored all of the characters, I have to give Evanjalin a special mention. Throughout the book, she kept me guessing about what motivated her actions. I loved how she went from a seemingly meek novice who had taken a vow of silence to a fierce, determined, kick-ass heroine. Evanjalin is a shining example of how to write a strong, female literary character. I really admire Marchetta for that.
Even if you’re not into fantasy, Finnikin of the Rock is an engrossing, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking read with a fully realized world, a brilliantly plotted story, and unforgettable characters.
This book. Was. Amazing. I’m still recovering. It is hands down the best book that I’ve read so far this year. There were bawl-your-eyes-out-sad moments. There were triumphant moments. I laughed. I almost cried. I need to find a copy of the next book in the series ASAP.
Where do I begin with the gushing? Finnikin of the Rock is a superb piece of epic YA fantasy. Once you enter this world, you don’t want to leave. Ever. The writing is phenomenal; it captivates you from the first sentence of the prologue and never flags. The characters, especially the female ones, are masterfully crafted. They’re so real that it’s very easy to forget that they’re fictional. The dialogue is sharp, fluid, and vibrant. If I hadn’t been so obsessed with finding out what happened next, I would have taken more time to write down my favorite quotes.
It’s really difficult for me to choose what I liked best about the book. If I absolutely had to, I’d say it was the relationships between the characters. Whether the bonds are romantic, familial, or of friendship, they are all depicted with stunning depth and realism. There’s no love-at-first-sight here, which suited me just fine. Even when characters are reunited after years apart, the scenes are not always fairytale perfect; they can be awkward and tense, too. I liked this unflinching approach. The relationships in this book are refreshingly complex instead of cookie-cutter simple.
Although I adored all of the characters, I have to give Evanjalin a special mention. Throughout the book, she kept me guessing about what motivated her actions. I loved how she went from a seemingly meek novice who had taken a vow of silence to a fierce, determined, kick-ass heroine. Evanjalin is a shining example of how to write a strong, female literary character. I really admire Marchetta for that.
Even if you’re not into fantasy, Finnikin of the Rock is an engrossing, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking read with a fully realized world, a brilliantly plotted story, and unforgettable characters.