2 posts tagged “book review”
Finnikin of the Rock is an unexpected
fantasy novel from an author better known (and loved) for her
contemporary realist fiction for young adults. Finnikin and his
guardian, Sir Topher, wander the land of Skuldenore, tracking down
refugees from the curse their country was put under a decade ago. Their
plan is to find a place where all Lumateran's can settle, but they are
waylaid by the presence and plotting of a strong-willed young woman
whose magical gifts could bring hope, and their old homeland, back to
the Lumaterans.
Having never read Marchetta before, but well aware of the popularity and genre of her previous books, I wasn't sure what to expect from Finnikin of the Rock. After a slightly shaky start, in which the worldbuilding gave me cause for concern, Marchetta takes control by virtue of her obvious strengths; characters, and the dynamics and dialogue between them.
I suppose the main criticism I have of this novel is that there isn't more of it. More space for worldbuilding would certainly have added to it. It's not that it's under-done, but rather under-explored, something fantasy fans might have trouble with. But many fans of Marchetta's earlier works may not be fantasy readers, and the lighter worldbuilding may just be an asset in winning them over.
Made of strong emotion, terrible acts, and hard choices, Finnikin of the Rock is a tough, brilliant diamond of a novel.
This review appeared in aurealisXpress in December 2008.
Having never read Marchetta before, but well aware of the popularity and genre of her previous books, I wasn't sure what to expect from Finnikin of the Rock. After a slightly shaky start, in which the worldbuilding gave me cause for concern, Marchetta takes control by virtue of her obvious strengths; characters, and the dynamics and dialogue between them.
I suppose the main criticism I have of this novel is that there isn't more of it. More space for worldbuilding would certainly have added to it. It's not that it's under-done, but rather under-explored, something fantasy fans might have trouble with. But many fans of Marchetta's earlier works may not be fantasy readers, and the lighter worldbuilding may just be an asset in winning them over.
Made of strong emotion, terrible acts, and hard choices, Finnikin of the Rock is a tough, brilliant diamond of a novel.
This review appeared in aurealisXpress in December 2008.
Review by Carissa Thorp for aurealisXpress
Sasha, the princess turned warrior, has been exiled from Lenayin and has joined her Master in the trading city of Petrodor. They, and others, seek to prevent a crusade against the Serrin, but disagree about the method to do so. Political, religious, family, and even philosophical differences conspire to light a spark to the volitile world of a too-powerful city.
I enjoyed this second book in the Trial of Blood & Steel series much more than I did the first, though a slow start did not bode well. Jaryd, the main protagonist of a sub-plot in Lenayin, is as tiresome as Sasha was in the first book, and the first part of the book is too long, with too much academic discussion and not enough tangible demonstration of the political, cultural and racial realities. Only when a deadly failure brings Sasha to a personal realisation do things really start taking off; and the wait is worth it. Shepherd is great at building characters and building up to character reversals that really count in the story's climax. Petrodor is a gripping and satisfying read. Apparently there's two more in the series; I'm really looking forward to reading them.
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