Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles)

**3.5 stars**

*Spoiler-free review*

My first epic fantasy that I actually finished! I am giving myself a pat on the back for pushing through!

I went on an interesting journey with this book. For the first 100 pages, I was sure that I was going to DNF. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and keeping all of the world-building elements straight (maybe I'm not smart enough for high fantasy!?!). I was positive that even if I did finish, I would end up giving this book maybe two stars. It just wasn't working for me. However, something unexpected happened around page 150: I got hooked and I couldn't put this book down.

"Finnikin of the Rock" is the first book that I have read by the much lauded Melina Marchetta. I can see why people love her. She has a way of writing that is very clever: She weaves these stories that fold back upon themselves, and it is only later, when more information is revealed, does the reader think back to earlier scenes and think, "Why did I not notice that earlier?" Ms. Marchetta is very skilled at hiding elements about a character in plain sight. I also admire her mature young-adult voice. She writes in a frank way that is very refreshing, and she doesn't shy away from issues like sexuality and violence, and abuse.

I think part of the reason this book isn't a 5 star read for me is that I don't enjoy the genre. I really did have a hard time getting into the story and I was very put off in the beginning of the story. I also wasn't completely wowed by the love story. I think Finnikin was kind of an indecisive pansy, and Evanjalin was manipulative, bordering on a clinical disorder. I understand their reasons, but I didn't feel connected to them as characters and buy their romance.

Will I read the next in the series? I might. I really want to see what happens to Froi so I may continue on. I hope that it wins me over in the end as this one did.

Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.

My Thoughts:

This is a tough book for me, all around the book was well written and the story real and dark.
This book has extremely high ratings on goodreads and I understand why. The characters and their evolution, the description, the twists in the story, and the beautiful ending but, it was an emotional roller-coaster.
The author stated when writing this book, she did it from things she saw on the media that bothered her, such as, loss of faith, identity, community etc. and she did just that. This book is all about loss and the hope required to save.

It took me about 60 pages to really get into it but it is full of depth as it comes to what you really are reading and realizing it in our world today.
Too many of us forget what happens in life when one looses hope and literally looses EVERYTHING. When things like this happen people change and not always for the better. Sometimes such adversities destroy you and/or a whole kingdom.

This book I would NOT recommend to the younger crowd due to STRONG content (not so much description, but due to what is being stated.)

Finnikin-one of the main characters, is intelligent, loyal, and stubborn who lives in the past and forgets to live and more forward in life. He has a destiny which he refuses until he cannot. He is complex with lots of layers which are stripped away when Evanjalin walks into his life.

Evanjalin is clever, very very clever, sarcastic, intelligent, manipulative in a way that if it needs to be done, it needs to be done and is one master of puppets with these characters that don't even realize they are being played. She was my favorite character because it was SHE who carried the hope that brought a kingdom back together through work and sacrifice.

Froi, is a boy you hate. But hate him because he is so evil but at the same time feel utterly sorry for him for how he has become due to the circumstances given to him. The second book deals with just him and I don't think I will read it due to what it's about I just cant...

There are so many other characters that are so worth their time in my review however you would be reading FOREVER and we don't want that so let me just say this, to really understand the depth of this book is hard reading. It effected me reading it. However this is well thought out and well written.

Language: mild

Sexual Content: Heavy (due to many references to rape)

Violence: Heavy (talks about what/how the conquerors conquered this kingdom-not pleasant)

Drugs/Alcohol: mild

Marchetta has written a timeless fantasy that draws you into the world of Skuldenore and and the ravaged land of Lumatere. As the history of this land and its war-torn people is revealed, one by one its mysteries unfold too. I will admit to the book starting rather slowly and quite dark, but once you are hooked on the characters and the story there is no letting go. This is a beautifully drawn tale of the love, trust, and abiding faith humans can have for one another, paired with the unspeakable evil humans can commit especially in times of war. Several of Marchetta's other books are quite different from Finnikin of the Rock, but she is a gifted writer and I have also enjoyed Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca. Her writing is almost mystical, even lyrical at times. My next mission is to read her other novels I haven't read yet! This one is beautiful -- a must read!

Wow. An intelligent YA novel with rich fantasy world-building and a plot rooted in the characters yet with fast-paced action. This is absolutely how it's done. Finnikin of the Rock is such a wonderful, immersive book with full, rich storytelling!

The amazing-ness starts with the characters because of the depth to them - both good sides and bad - they are complex and believable and because they feel so real, the emotions this book delves into sometimes gave me chills, I was so in tune with what the characters were feeling. Although heroic Finnikin is the title character - and the one who must lead his people to their destiny (as foreshadowed in the beginning) - Evanjalin is my favorite character. So strong, stalwart and capable, she is an amazing heroine who doesn't back down from hard truths, and has a resolute, strong will that makes for dramatic clashes in personalities with other characters (I'll give you three guesses for who wins through) but she works for the admiration of everyone around her, including this reader. I love how smart, perceptive and adaptable she is, and the fantastic role she has in this story.

With such deftly created characters I was very invested in the romance and it helped that the story gave it time to grow and develop between the characters - which made the complications that arose feel real and important enough to be the undoing of the couple. It was a balanced relationship - not all sugar, but definitely sweet, but not all darkness either. And it's so interesting in my opinion when an author creates a character that comes off a bit negatively or unlikable in the beginning and then have the reader's opinion completely turn around by the end (or halfway) because to introduce such a complex character seems like a real feat and this book does it twice!

The world-building is richly detailed - the more so because of a history that haunts the main characters which the author has to gradually unfold as the story progresses, and it is done in such a way that the pace never flags, and the reader is never confused, but always kept interested. And the twists and turns in plot help keep the interest up. There are some major surprise reveals, especially when it comes to Evanjalin!

The plot really felt masterfully executed because pieces of a puzzle were slowly given to the reader - in the way Finnikin's life changes, and the importance of the quest that he is pulled into, and the true events of the dark days in Lumatere's past. Yet the story fits the pieces together so well, in an admirable feat of storytelling with lyrical writing and incredible characters. There is so much that happens in this story - some really interesting character arcs and intricate world building - that it has an epic feel without it being a lengthy tome, which is great but I am glad there are two more books in the series for me to savor! This outstanding fantasy adventure novel is highly recommended! Enjoy the world, enjoy the action, and especially enjoy the characters!

Like all Melina Marchetta books that I have read, Finnikin of the Rock is complicated ... and yet not complicated. The themes of this story are universal. What makes us who we are? What happens to our identity when we are torn from all that we have known and loved? Where does our responsibility lie when there are so many who are looking to us for hope? Is it better to settle for security when there is a chance for justice and renewal that could come at great loss? All of these great themes are explored in this epic fantasy tale of a boy who has been torn from his beloved homeland after his royal family was killed, replaced by a false king, and then cursed, preventing anyone from entering the gates, and making all those outside the gates into exiles.

Finnikin once was a great friend to the future king, and now he wanders among the exiles with his mentor Sir Topher, the king's First Man, learning the many languages of the land as he records the names of those who have been lost. Along the way he is called to a place where he meets Evanjalin, a novice who can walk in the dreams of others, and seems to have news that there is still hope for the kingdom. To explain more about the plot of this story would take pages and pages. There is a lot to the story, but all lines come together wonderfully by the end of this book to create a rich and detailed adventure full of intrigue, action, and romance that warms the heart.

This is definitely a rich fantasy novel, so there will be some out there who just will not be able to enjoy this. If you don't like fantasy, this book will be difficult for you. This is a book about a journey, a physical journey as well as an emotional and almost spiritual journey. So there is going to be a lot of time spent wandering. Some might not appreciate this so much. But if you can get past those initial feelings and allow yourself to be patient, growing along with the characters as they travel, I think that you will find much to love about this story.

The characters are wonderful. Finnikin is the right mixture of strength and naivety. Naive, not because he hasn't had lots of life experience (these poor people have had more life experience than anyone should ever have to have) but because he is still learning exactly who he is and how he is meant to fit into this new world of his. Evanjalin has secrets, and I'm not going to reveal them. However, I will say that once I learned what those secrets were, I really, really wanted to go back and re-read the entire novel with that knowledge. I often feel that way at the end of Melina Marchetta's books. The supporting characters are wonderful as well, and they add the the richness of this story. It's high fantasy, so there are A LOT of characters to keep up with at times, but everything flows together nicely.

I don't read a lot of fantasy, so it took me some time to get into the ebb and flow of the story, but by the end I was extremely satisfied. It is a beautiful story. The romance is beautiful and subtle. This story is full of romance, and yet it does not feel like a romance book. I think that it is better described as a story that showcases just what love can do for people, the things that people will do for love, and how love can transform someone. I just adored the story and finished with a sigh and a smile ... truly a sign of a great book. I highly recommend this for those who love fantasy with a nice romance thrown in for good measure. I look forward to continuing the story, hoping to see this kingdom find their way back to happiness in the future. Four stars!

Finnikin of the Rock was AMAZING! This was my first Melina Marchetta book, but it certainly won't be my last. I love how much depth her characters have. Good with a little bit of wickedness. Horrible but redeemable. Hope lost & regained. Evanjalin was capable of such mercy & tenderness, yet did whatever was necessary to attain her objective. She'd kill in the blink of an eye, no hesitation. She was selfless in an admirable and intelligent way. So many books have me wanting to slap the heroine for being such a martyr!
I can't say enough about Finnikin. This story is told mostly from his POV & it's wonderful. In the beginning, I kind of thought he was hotheaded & immature. When I learned about his first kill at age 9, it made me cry. He's flawed & perfect at the same time!
When I first met Froi, I hated him. When he got sold to slave traders for a horse, I cheered. By the end of the book, I actually cared about him.
Captain Trevanion, Sir Topher, Lucian, Tessadora. All these characters were fully fleshed out & elicited a wide range of emotions from me. The world building, er, kingdom building was fantastic. I'm anxious to read Froi of the Exiles & Quintana of Charyn which are both set in this world. Strangely, I'm having a hard time imagining contemporary YA by this same author. I'll certainly be reading those books too!

This is a wonderfully written story about a kingdom ripped away from it's people. The royal family of Lumatere are killed and the kingdom taken over. During this brutal takeover, many are murdered, others flee the kingdom, but most importantly one (witch?) who was being burned at the stake cursed the kingdom. The curse was like an impenetrable shroud around the borders of the kingdom so those who stayed could not leave and those who had left could not return. This story takes place several years later and tells of what became of those people and what it took to bring them back together.

The main character is Finnikin. He is a young-adult, but this is no simple young-adult genre story. The author does not hold back the harshness of their reality. It was brutal at times. Death, rape and slavery were commonplace. Nothing was sugar-coated and it made the story seem that much more real. The story wasn't all doom and gloom. There were happy moments throughout. I'm not someone who tends to like romance in the stories I read but the way Finniken fell in love...the perfect way it was written into the story...the author did a fantastic job of making it feel real. It was just an all-around great story that I would highly recommend!!

Finnikin and his two best friends make a pact when they are younger, then years later, Finnikin's resolve in his promise is tested when he meets the novice Evanjalin. Evanjalin brings back painful memories and asks many hard questions, challenging Finnikin at every turn. Together, they must overcome fierce obstacles and face their past... but, will overcoming the past prepare them for the future?

When I read the premise for Finnikin of the Rock, the setting draws me in. I really enjoy books that have a more medieval setting rather than being just historical fiction. In addition to the setting, I am really looking forward to the dialogue between Finnikin and Evanjalin; it sounds like they are going to be at each-other's throats a bit. I definitely like that Finnikin of the Rock appears to have a physical journey as well as an emotional journey... and I can't wait to pick it up!

Finnikin is an amazing main character. Throughout the story, I root for him, connect with him, and love being there during his successes and failures. Early on, I see that Finnikin is going to be stubborn and a little controlling. He starts out expecting Evanjalin to do everything he asks... man, does that come back to bite him. Finnikin must undergo huge challenges throughout the book and it tests him emotionally. I really connect with Finnikin on a deeper level than in most stories and, more than a few times, I am shocked at how completely Marchetta draws me into the story. I laugh, (almost) cry, and feel huge waves of relief. I feel disgust, remorse, hope, and love-- not only for the characters, but also alongside them.

Evanjalin is one of the strongest female characters that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Her overall attitude is demure (HA!) but right away, I see the spark of attitude in her. She really does NOT take orders well, and she is constantly getting the group into troublesome situations. Out of all of the characters, I have to say Evanjalin is the one who has a knack for getting under my skin. The way she treats Finnikin really annoys me at times. Since Evanjalin and Finnikin are always butting heads (and NOT in a flirting way) it makes their whole relationship run hot and cold.

Marchetta has a beautiful writing style and she makes reading very enjoyable. Overall, Finnikin of the Rock is one of the best Epic Fantasy stories, and I definitely recommend reading it!

The Cover:

This cover is such a great hook! I mean, really, what draws the eye more than a huge jeweled-hilted sword? Not. Much. Add in a hooded figure fading into the background and that is one alluring cover. Not to mention the fantastic symbolism that the swirling red cloud at the bottom presents, and the way the dead forest seems to call me into the picture... basically, this cover is amazing!

* This book did have some sexual content, it isn't very graphic and it is easy to overlook but it is in there*

I give Finnikin of the Rock 4.5 out of 5 hearts: Very Highly Recommended

It would be an understatement to say my pre-reading anticipation of Finnikin of the Rock was intense. In the past month, I worked my way through Melina Marchetta's collection of YA contemporary novels, marveling at their subtle complexity, depth of feeling, and realistically drawn characters. Several reviewers proclaimed that her Lumatere Chronicles series was even better, and as a lifelong fan of the fantasy genre, my expectations were high. Were they met? For the most part, yes.

Let me begin with the good. Marchetta's greatest strength in Finnikin of the Rock is how she tackles real life issues in a fantasy setting. I'd actually call it brilliant that's how clever it is. According to Marchetta, this story originated as she sat observing a multicultural NYC subway car. Everyone was speaking a different language and came from a different homeland. Instead of writing a contemporary novel, she decided to discuss displacement in a fantasy world. I tried to imagine what that contemporary novel would have been like, and well, I probably would've at least enjoyed it because, it's Melina Marchetta, but I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. By translating these characters to a real-world setting, the messages could come off super preachy. As in Marchetta noticed a hot topic and wanted to capitalize and proselytize on it. In the fictional land of Skuldenore, with magic and princesses and swords, the reader and Marchetta can explore national identity and displacement without it being heavy-handed.

I gravitated heavily towards this novel's important themes. I already want to reread Finnikin of the Rock to better understand and philosophize on them myself. Most interesting was the gender relations aspect of the story. I'm a sucker for anything gender studies related because these topics are so relevant today and many facets of sexism and misogyny are constructed in the literature we read. Recently, I read the wildly popular fantasy novel Game of Thrones and wondered why fantasy worlds were always so sexist. It seems like fantasy authors often set their stories in medieval based worlds that are obviously insanely misogynistic. Although Skuldenore is relatively medieval, Marchetta has really turned some of the genre tropes on their head here, making a feminist reading of this novel eminently possible (or at least I think so until I reread it). The relationship between Finnikin and Evanjalin is seductively complex and merits analysis.

Now, unfortunately, onto the bad. I wish I could unabashedly love Finnikin of the Rock, slap five stars on it, and call it a day, but there has to be a "but." I found the world of Skuldenore a bit unbelievable. Don't get me wrong; I think Marchetta's worldbuilding was fantastic. But from the moment I looked at the provided map at the front of the book, I doubted the realism of this land. Any specialist in geopolitics would regard this map as ridiculous because no small island is going to house that many distinctly disparate groups. It was ludicrous that Lumatere still existed when the entire country was the size of a modern metropolis and contained a population the size of a tiny town. Language is also an important facet of this novel; the fact that languages vary and are used to construct identities and to deem foreign speakers as Others was a crucial part of this story. Yet I could not believe that a different language was spoken in each territory. Linguistically, unless there are huge natural barriers between countries, they are going to share similar language origins, if not the same language. Each country would not have a distinct tongue. More important than the impracticality of Skuldenore, however, is that the small sizes and close borders of these nations diminished the scope of the novel. Fantasies are supposed to be epic in proportion. While the smaller sizes of the involved parties focused the novel on the struggles of the characters, thus preventing Marchetta from committing the mistake many fantasy authors make--overexplaining grandiose battles between thousands of creatures and peoples from faraway lands--I would have appreciated a larger world with more room for our characters to play.

Writing this review illuminated a lot of the problems I had with this book, but I think these problems are easy for a reader to overlook. Marchetta has created a fantastic world populated by charming yet flawed characters. Her treatment of xenophobia, refugees, and gender relations in a sexist society is incredible. Prepare to be a little frustrated by some unrealistic elements, but the take-away is worthwhile.

If your favorite author wrote a book outside of their usual genre, would you read it? Would you read a mystery written by Walt Whitman, or Nicholas Sparks' poetry?

In many of the cases above, you would most likely say NO. No, I don't want to read Stephanie Meyer's new literary fiction. No, I do not want to watch Michael Jordan play baseball. No, I do not want to buy a car made by Hewlett Packard.

But in this case, where author of contemporary young adult fiction, Melina Marchetta, creates a new fantasy novel, the results are spectacular, rather than disappointing and confusing.

In Finnikin of the Rock, the world-building is centered on the characters in the land of Lumatere, what happened to them, how they tell their stories, if they tell them at all, and what they must do in the future to secure their place in this imaginative world. It's like the best contemporary novel you've ever read, with sword fighting, magic, prophesies, royalty, intrigue, mystery, and a stunning romance.

While it does take a few chapters to get fully immersed in the story, just like any new fantasy series, once you are hooked, there is no turning back. You must follow Finnikin and Evanjalin to the end!

This is not a joyful fantasy. It is not a whimsical fantasy. It is harsh, gritty, gripping. Marchetta has this uncanny ability to make you care about these characters. Even when Finnikin's being an ass, you still feel like a part of yourself would break if something were to happen to him. Plus, Evanjalin is there to put him in his place anyway... :)

First a disclaimer: I will always read and love Melina Marchetta. Be it contemporary, high fantasy, whatever genre she so chooses to write. Melina Marchetta could write non fiction (stifles a shudder) and I would read it. I will be a member of the Melina Marchetta fan club until the day I depart this earth. With that in mind, I hope you will pardon any repetitive gushing and fan girling you may encounter as you read this review. I really can't help myself. I'm sort of an addict.

Finnikin of the Rock marks a departure for the Printz Award winning author Melina Marchetta. Known for her amazing YA contemporary novels like On the Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca, Marchetta took the plunge into the world of epic fantasy with this work and friends, she has once again made a splash. I love Marchetta's contemporary works. She is a master at creating a character that is so true to life and believable that it will take your breath away. But high fantasy, as those who have read it will attest, is a wholly different animal. Works of high fantasy, in my experience, are not quick and easy reads. The author of an epic fantasy has her work cut out for her. Worlds, that may be very similar or very different to our own, must be crafted. Into this world the author must create people, places, and events that are foreign and familiar in equal measure. Great detail and development are a must, yet there should also be a mysteriousness that will keep the reader engaged and wanting to learn more. With Finnikin of the Rock, Marchetta delivers this and more.

It can not be an easy task to create this fictional world and in addition devise an intricate plot with layered and complex characters at every turn, yet that is exactly what Marchetta does. In the pages of this story are cryptic prophecies and dark curses. Magic and adventure abound. There is heartbreak and triumph, and there is a steady, solid romance between our two main characters that is built upon layers of trust and mistrust, truth and deceit, alliances and betrayals. In Finnikin, Marchetta has written a hero who is not only brave and honest, but like so many of his countrymen, lost. Finnikin can be rash and judgemental, but he is also able to admit his flaws and weaknesses. So much has been taken from him in his lifetime, yet he carries on, always trying to accomplish his mission of finding a new home for his exiled people.

Evanjalin, wow, what can I say about her? The timid, silent girl we are introduced to at the story's start is actually the strongest heroine I have ever encountered in a work of fantasy. She is fierce in her beliefs and will stop at nothing, including deception, betrayal, and manipulation to achieve her ultimate goal of reuniting her people and returning to her homeland. If she sounds vindictive, that's because she is. But she is so much more. She has suffered unspeakable horrors and witnessed hellish events in her young lifetime, yet she somehow manages to never falter in her belief and hope. Evanjalin is always a steady, faithful force moving forward and never stopping, willing to sacrifice whatever, or whomever, she must to fulfill her destiny.

I could talk for days about these two characters and how they got under my skin and became a part of me, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the other wonderful people Marchetta introduces in this book. Strong, well written male voices like Sir Topher, Finnikin's ever present mentor and advisor; Froi, the young thief and fellow exile; and Trevanion, Finnikin's father and Captain of the Guard are just a few that come to mind. In the beginning of the journey we encounter mostly men, but as the story progresses many memorable females join the cast. Lady Beatriss, Lady Abian and the indomitable Tesadora are all forces to be reckoned with and, like their male counterparts, they are all complex and multi- layered adding yet another dimension to the tale. It should be noted that while there are many supporting characters in Finnikin of the Rock, at no point did I ever feel bogged down with the weight of remembering who was who or what part they played, somehow it just continued to flow seamlessly along. And the relationships these characters share with Finnikin, Evanjalin and each other are just as poignant and beautiful as the one between Finnikin and Evanjalin themselves.

As with most great works of fantasy, there are connections to our own world written into the story being told. Religious unrest, division and persecution are all present, as are instances of scapegoating and genocide. And the atrocity of war, coupled with the horrible plight of refugees torn from the own homes and land, is most central to the story.

And it is this tone that resonates through out the book. When old friends and neighbors thought to be long lost are reunited, we feel their joy. When the long suffering exiles are once again brought together to take back their kingdom, we feel their pride and hope. And, without spoiling, I can tell you that everything does come full circle in the end. All the prophecies and dreams are interpreted and I was left feeling very satisfied with the outcome. And a little sad to be leaving all these wonderful people I had met and taken into my heart along the way. I wanted to end this with a little of what Marchetta had to say regarding the writing of this book:

"I was often told that I couldn't write fantasy unless I had read all the greats and knew the conventions well, but I think the first step to writing good fantasy is knowing this world we live in well. I wanted to look closely at that world-- where loss of faith, loss of homeland and identity, displacement of spirit, and breakdown of community are common-- because these are the scenes in today's media that affect me the most. In this sense, the book is a search for identity in the same that my other novels are."

I read this quote right after finishing the book and all I could think of was "Yes!" If the contemporaries On the Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca are about anything, they are about searching for oneself. And Finnikin of the Rock, an epic fantasy, does the same.

This book is why I love Young Adult literature. And why I will proclaim it's awesomeness until the end of time. For all the naysayers, for all those who say Young Adult literature isn't relevant and isn't worthy, I challenge you. I challenge you to read this book, or any book by Melina Marchetta for that matter, and remain firm in that opinion. This book is a masterpiece. If you haven't read it, you must. I will be picking up the sequel, Froi of the Exiles, which released in the US in December, as soon as I can.

5/5 stars

Marchetta's stories are never easy, but I love them nonetheless. And Finnikin of the Rock ousted (On the) Jellicoe Road as my top Marchetta favorite! This is because I am more inclined to fantasy than contemporary. Not to mention Marchetta knows how to make me grin so wide and squeal so loud with Finnikin's and Evanjalin's not-so-easy relationship. *sigh* However, I was heavily disappointed with how the Lumaterans dealt with the impostor king and his men. Yes, Finnikin, I am with you on this, too. And for that, marry me instead of her! =)

Finnikin is the ultimate leader: skilled in fighting, fluent in several languages, compassionate with his fellow exiles. Hardened by their ten-year-exile, he refused to be coerced by a novice into believing the heir to the throne, Balthazar, is still alive. He cannot have hope and have it crushed again. His convictions are pretty much my convictions. His beliefs are my beliefs. And so naturally I felt when he started to fall for Evanjalin... She confused me. She's so unpredictable that I love her one minute, then I hate her the next. Those several tug-of-wars between Evanjalin and Finnikin was like a damp towel that I do not need. But her intelligence, iron will and determination... I want them! The guile and strength on such a fragile girl is enough to earn my respect. Other notable characters are Trevanion, Perri the Savage, and the thief. I cannot wait to read your story, thief. =)

The story is unbelievable. Can you imagine Marchetta wrote contemporaries before this book? I can't; it's a whole different ball game and still, her writing worked. But there are tiny holes in the plot. You might not notice them at first read, but it is there. The only bad thing I cannot let go is how the impostor king and his men ended up. It went against what Finnikin believed and I totally agree with him. It is not a strategic move of a good monarch; it is an indulgent action of a vengeful orphan. Tsk. Tsk. I really did not like that.

Finnikin of the Rock's story is undeniable. You should definitely read it. Marchetta's definition of fantasy is delightfully soaked in blood. =)

Finnikin grew up with royalty. His childhood companions were the prince and princesses of Lumatere, their noble cousins were his partners in crime. Finnikin's father was Captain Trevanion, head of the King's guard and close personal friend of the royal family. Finnikin's beloved stepmother, Lady Beatriss, was carer to Prince Balthazar and Princess Isaboe. Life in Lumatere was near perfect . . . until the five days of the unspeakable.

In those dark days the impostor king slaughtered the royal family and took Finnikin's father and stepmother prisoner. Blood was awash in the Lumatere palace, and a blood curse placed on its inhabitants.

Finnikin's father was deemed traitor and thrown to the dungeons, while Lady Beatriss was accused of treason and sentenced to death - along with her unborn babe.

Finnikin escaped, and for ten years he has travelled with his guardian, Sir Topher. They have trekked the stretch of Skuldenore, looking for a way to free Finnikin's father and save Lumatere.

Ten years of searching - and now a mute novice girl called Evanjalin claims that she can walk the dreams of Lumatere captives, and prophesizes the return of Balthazar to the throne.

`Finnikin of the Rock' is the first book in Melina Marchetta's fantasy series, the `Lumatere Chronicles'. The book was first released in 2008; to much critical acclaim which marked Marchetta's transition from contemporary young adult literature, to the realm of epic fantasy. In anticipation of the second book in the `Lumatere Chronicles' series, to be released in October and called `Froi of the Exiles', I have re-read `Finnikin' and revisited Skuldenore.

I grew up with Marchetta's books - I mourned John Barton with Josie, fell in love with the St. Sebastian boys and climbed a tree with Jonah Griggs. Marchetta's novels mark my teenage transitions and have pride of place on my keeper shelf. Ms Marchetta is one author whom I trust, completely. And so, in 2008 when `Finnikin' first came out I went into the book with arms and imagination wide open. . . and I was rewarded.

True, `Finnikin' was a genre departure for Marchetta, who in the past favoured the dynamics of private schools, the socio-economic microcosm of the suburbs and the landscape of tight-knit family. `Finnikin' is fantasy - set in an imagined land with a ruined kingdom and epic mythology. But, this is still a Marchetta book - and despite the creation of Skuldenore and a trek for a Kingdom's freedom, `Finnikin of the Rock' is a beautiful book for having a focus on connection.

All those worried readers who didn't want to venture so far outside of Marchetta's genre should be reassured - `Finnikin' stays true to what Marchetta is best at. At its heart, the book is about people, and the myriad of storylines woven throughout the saga are firmly tethered to the characters.

Finnikin was a boy who lost his home and his family. Now, he is a man searching for his father and his place in uncertain times. Evanjalin is a girl with a secret, drawn to Finnikin's fierce loyalty and determination and powered by her own sense of justice. Sir Topher has become surrogate father to his friend's son, and developed a strong bond with his pupil in the ten years that they have lived wandering. Trevanion lost everything in the days of the unspeakable - the woman he loved, the babe he never had a chance to hold and the son he couldn't protect.

All of these characters are searching for home - another constant in Marchetta's books - the sense of belonging and being bigger than the sum of your parts. Josie was reluctant to take her place amidst her large `wog' family, held back by a family curse and secret. Francesca's family had to rebuild itself in the wake of her mother's downward spiral, all while being lost at sea in a school that didn't want her. Taylor needed to understand her past, to carve a place for herself in the present. Likewise, Finnikin and his weary travellers are searching for home, literally - the home that was ripped away from them by an impostor king.

Re-reading `Finnikin', I find myself bringing a new maturity to the novel. Perhaps it is because I am a slightly older reader now, or perhaps it's a reflection of current affairs - but I couldn't help connecting the Lumatere people's exile to that of the ever-present `boat people' debate in Australia, and the case for refugees seeking asylum on our shores.

The Lumatere people were scattered across Skuldenore in the wake of their kingdom's fall - and as Finnikin and Evanjalin seek their countrymen and women, they see the mistreatment they have suffered for being `exiles' and unwanted. They are persecuted and herded wherever they go, left to be ravaged by plague and fever, turned away from every other kingdom's doorstep. This is certainly a subtle reflection of our times - in the wake of Australia's `Pacific Solution', and now the abysmal `Malaysia Solution'. Whoever says fantasy is a complete departure from reality need only look as far as Marchetta's cunning commentary on the Lumatere people's exile to see connecting threads to the current political climate. . .

I am also re-reading `Finnikin' in the wake of `The Piper's Son' - Marchetta's stunning novel about Tom Mackee, a favourite St. Sebastian boy from `Saving Francesca'. With Tom still fresh in my mind, I saw a definite influence between Georgia and Sam's awkward relationship, and Trevanion and Beatriss's equally complex devotion. Both of these couples are learning to love in the wake of heartache - for Georgie it was a betrayal of the deepest order. For Beatriss and Trevanion, it is ten years of brutality and twisted fate. I loved Trevanion and Beatriss's story even more the second time around, and I sincerely hope that they have a large re-appearance in `Froi of the Exiles'.

Speaking of Froi, I paid much closer attention to Evanjalin's Sarnak thief this second time around . . . Marchetta offers us few snatches from Froi's perspective in this first book, but what is there is powerful. Like Froi seeing Evanjalin and Finnikin's reunion after a near-death experience, and interpreting their clear affection through his jaded eyes. Froi definitely leapt off the page in Finnikin's book, and hinted that he was protagonist material. He is a beggar child and a thief, from a brutal background who did awful things in `Finnikin' - but at one point also begged to be killed. He will be a formidable and, I think, uncomfortable narrator - and I can't wait for his book.

`Finnikin of the Rock' is an incredible fantasy novel swinging between bloody violence and great romance. It is a book that showcases the best of Melina Marchetta - her preoccupation with home and connection, fitting in and finding our place in the world. But it is also a novel of dark complexity and brutality, exploring current political climates through the exile of a fantasy kingdom and their harsh treatment by those who should offer shelter. I loved revisiting Skuldenore by re-reading `Finnikin of the Rock', and trekking with the Lumatere people back to their rightful home. Now I can't wait for `Froi of the Exiles', and after that `Quintana of Charyn'.

The land of Lumatere is lost, hidden behind a wall of mist. The thousands of Lumateran exiles living outside in the other kingdoms no longer have a place to call home, and so suffer starvation and terrible diseases as they wander or live in squalid camps. There's a lot of heartbreak in Finnikin of the Rock - its full of the terrors and aftermath of a terrible war, and the plight of the exiled Lumaterans is truly awful. There are refugees from real-world wars that must also suffer in a similar way - it's quite distressing at times.

Underneath it all there is an undercurrent of hope, carried around by Finnikin and later with the rest of his party as they travel across the detailed world that Marchetta has created, trying to rally their people and discover the fate of their lost king.

Each of the main characters in this story were well-described and had such detailed personalities that they practically leapt out of the pages. Even though the story is named after Finnikin, it's Evanjelin who is the star. She's fierce and determined and gets on and does what needs to be done.

The storyline itself is fairly predictable but is told in such a grand way that I really enjoyed it. I did feel at times that the story dragged - there's a lot of talking about what they are going to do and not actually a whole lot of action.

I hadn't read any of Melina Marchetta's books before, but for her first attempt at epic fantasy, Finnikin of the Rock is extremely well-written. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into the next in the series, Froi of the Exiles.

"Everything is evil that humans can't control or conquer"

What kind of book is Finnikin of the Rock?

It's a fantasy book. Evidently.
It's a love story. Certainly.
But not only.

It all starts with three friends, a prophetic dream and a blood pledge.
It continues with an invasion, a terrible curse and the struggle of one people to take back what they lost.

For me Finnikin of the Rock is a book about identities. About a people, the Lumaterans, losing their national identity and fighting to get it back, about a man who's been imprisoned for 10 years and has lost his identity, about a girl who is concealing hers to save her country and about a boy who really doesn't know who he is.

In unmistakeable Marchetta's style, we are presented with a book that not only has got an intriguing plot, is full of action scenes, adventure, amazing and detailed worldbuilding, and as usual, characterization like only Marchetta can do, but also with a book with an underlying message that goes beyond our mere entertainment as readers.
It is a condemnation of war and of its horrors, it denounces persecutions for political, ethnic or religious reasons, it opens a window on people, at any latitude and climate, whose dignity has been taken away together with their homeland.
The words mass graves and ethnical cleansing are words which will be stuck in your throat during some passages of this book and I dare you not feel compassionate for the Lumateran people.

So, end in end, this is a book that is only disguised as fantasy but that, in reality, is well above that.
It's probably superfluous to say that I really loved this book and I can't wait to read its sequel coming out in October, 2011 in Australia (March, 2012 for the US).

My favorite passage:

"Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?"

Finnikin is a young man who has wandered the land, learning languages and apprenticing under a leader of the old army. His people have been scattered and living in exile for the past ten years. Evanjalin claims that the prince, Finnikin's childhood friend is still alive - and can lead their people back to Lumatere and restore their place.

Marketed as young adult fantasy, this reads more like adult epic fantasy. With an impressive cast of characters, there is plenty of drama, political intrigue, adventure, and a bit of romance. My only complaint was that some of the story jumped around a bit, and found it hard to follow. At times, I had to go back and re-read passages when I realized it was a flashback or had jumped forward in time. Otherwise, it was even-paced for an epic fantasy where most of the story is part of the journey. The characters are engaging and the story is full of suspense and adventure. There are several surprises along the way that build to grand and satisfying finale. Finnikin of the Rock is the first in a trilogy, but certainly works well as a standalone story.

This review was previously posted at SciFiChick.

oh.my.Finnikin stars!!

"At night she whispers his name in her sleep with intimacy and reverence. As if their bond is ordained by the gods."

Finnikin of the Rock is revered as a masterpiece in my mind. This book blew me away! My dear friend Tina, gave me a bit of advice before I began my journey with Finnikin of the Rock. She advised me to take my time, and that it is a book to be savored. She was so right. Finnikin of the Rock, is one mesmerizing story. Melina Marchetta has taken my love of reading to a whole new level.

I grabbed my notebook and my favorite pen, sat down and started my journey into Marchetta's world.

This story is about 3 best friends, a pledge, a royal family and the land they love and call home. Lumatere has been taken over by an imposter king and the royal family has been murdered. This is a journey to take back Lumatere, and bring its people back to their homeland. There is such a deep, intriguing story within those pages that you must read it for yourself to get the full experience.

The plot is solid, the writing phenomenal and the characters will leave an imprint on you. Finnikin was an outstanding character to read about. He has a deep love of his land and the people within those walls of Lumatere. He grows from a boy to a man. Finnikin thought he had it all figured out and knew what he wanted to be when he grew up, but fate had other plans for him and his friends. There are trials, action, adventure, romance, a prophecy and a deep commitment and love that combine together for one amazing story. Evanjalin appears simple, but she's a force to be reckoned with, a true warrior. The secondary characters brought so much to the story. There are a lot of them, but it wouldn't have been as intense and meaningful without all of them. Then there is Froi, the thief from Sarnak. He is another amazing character and will touch your heart. I love how he stayed true to what he believed in.

My favorite quote:

"I prayed to see you one more time. It's all I prayed for. Nothing more. And my prayers were answered. Go east, I'll lead them west." (Trevanion, Fin's father) "We have a dilemma, then," Finnikin said fiercely. "Because I prayed that you would grow old and hold my children in your arms as you held me. My prayers have not been answered yet, Trevanion. So whose prayer is more worthy? Yours or mine?"

Finnikin of the Rock has been traveling with his mentor, Sir Topher, for nearly ten years. Finnikin's father and mother died, along with most of the Lumeratens during the five days of unspeakable, when the Lumeraten country was taken over by an imposter king. Finnikin and Sir Topher believe the heir to the throne, Balthazaar, is dead until Finnikin is visited in his dreams by a goddess, who calls Finnikin to find her. The goddess gives Finnikin the novice Evanjalin, a silent girl with a bald head who claims that the heir of Lumatere is alive - and that she can take them to him. Loyal to his country but annoyed by this strange girl who won't speak to him, Finnikin and Sir Topher set off on a journey to find the heir and bring their country back together.

I don't really know how I feel about this book. For certain aspects, I love it. For others...not so much. It was strange, but when I put it down, I felt that it could have been epic, but part of its epicness was overshadowed. By what? Well, I'll start with the bad, and end with the good.

Bad: For one, there were several sexual implications or references. Some were obvious; some had hidden meanings. They were scattered all throughout the book. On top of that, I felt a bit lost, especially toward the beginning. While the book was written excellently, at times I felt there was too much information, and at others I felt there was too little. I found myself skimming over certain parts with little interest and then would read the scenes that had huge impact on the story, or I found interesting.

On the other hand, we have the good of this story: Melina Marchetta definitely has a talent when it comes to forming her sentences, and her characters. The characters had strong quirks or "handles" that made them singular. But the one thing about this book that struck me most was the culture, the desperateness of a people ruined and lost. The countries and peoples were fell formed and described. I was deeply moved by the plight of the Lumeratens, the scenes of Finnikin carrying a dead baby to its dead mother, of men and women fighting for all that they have lived for - all that their fathers, brothers, mothers, and sisters have died for. It was these things, as well as the powerful love story, that gave the book a mood and a feel to it that most books long for.

So whether or not you want to read it is your choice. While I can't really point you in either direction, I wish I could. And I hope there's a sequel that will be exactly what this one could have been - epic.

Knowing Melina Marchetta by her excellent contemporary YA novels, I was reluctant to read her first fantasy effort. I shouldn't have hesitated, this book is a success. Actually, I even found myself amused by the fact that this book was blurbed by Kristin Cashore, an American YA fantasy writer, because clearly Marchetta is much better at it even though she had never written a fantasy before.

This novel offers everything that a good fantasy story should offer: a well established world (with maps! love those), an interesting political intrigue, magic, a quest to save one's homeland, a love story, and a cast of memorable character with compelling back stories. On top of it, Finnikin of the Rock is a story about uniting a country torn by an invasion and dark magic, and about a man who struggles to accept his destiny.

The strength of the book undoubtedly lies in the way Marchetta depicts interpersonal relationships and human nature - this is something that is so well done in her contemporary novels (Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, Jellicoe Road). Her characters are real, their struggles are real.

The weakest part of the story is pacing. I think the novel is a little too long. It's not that it gets boring, but the length of the Finnikin's quest seems to lose momentum and when the climax of the story finally comes, it is rather understated. All Marchetta's books are a little anti-climatic, but it is more noticeable in this fantasy novel, because this is the genre where you expect a story to end with a bang.

However, as a whole, Finnikin of the Rock is a satisfying, thought provoking work. According to Melina Marchetta, her intent was to create a story about a world "where loss of faith, loss of homeland and identity, displacement of spirit, and breakdown of community are common." That she definitely accomplished.

I have been a big fan of Marchetta's contemporary young adult novels (Looking for Alibrandi, Jellicoe Road, and Saving Francesca) so when I heard that she was writing a fantasy for young adults, I knew I had to pick it up.

Ten years ago, Finnikin's homeland of Lumatere suffered the massacre of its royal family and the vengeful curse of a mysterious priestess that caused an impenetrable dark mist to descend on the kingdom and prevent anybody from going in or out. Since that day, Finnikin and this guardian Sir Topher, along with many other Lumateran exiles have been trapped outside, with not even an inkling of how the citizens of Lumatere inside the kingdom are doing. Then, one day, Finnikin and Sir Topher are summoned to a religious cloister where it is revealed to them by a mysterious girl named Evanjalin that Balthazar, the son of the murdered king, is actually alive.

Together, the three of them set off together in search of the heir and the hope that one day Lumatere can be freed from its curse. Along the way, they encounter many refugee camps where the exiles of Lumatere now live; these camps are often nothing more than groups of tents, with people ravaged by fever and bereft of a future. The sight of these refugees drive our protagonists along on their quest to save the kingdom of Lumatere. But as they continue their travels, the mysterious Evanjalin unwittingly reveals that she is much more than what she claimed to be originally, and Finnikin must decide whether or not to trust her.

Everything about this book-the story, the characters, the plot, the history, the adventure-had so much potential but in the end it just didn't work out for me.

One of the reasons I am such a big fan of Marchetta's is because of her ability to draw in the reader with her writing, and make every emotion ring true. I connected very much with her protagonists in her contemporary YA novels, and I felt very emotionally tied in with the stories. However, this was not the case with Finnikin of the Rock. It felt like every chapter ended with an overwrought and overdramatic revelation or emotional realization by a character. There was no basis for it, it happened all the time, it felt fake and it made me want to roll my eyes.

The characters were at first intriguing, especially the mysterious Evanjalin. She was unpredictable, but at times to a point of being kind of out of character. Finnikin, the hero, had traditional hero characteristics (bravery, a quest, a mentor, fighting ability, honor) but not much more than that. Additionally, the romance that the author tried to inject into the plot was strangely plotted. At first our hero and heroine could barely remain civil to one another, and then a chapter later he was burning with lust for her. I didn't get it. There wasn't an ounce of sexual tension or emotional development. I didn't feel like they were even friends yet, and then the romance was thrust upon us.

There was also some logistical weirdness, and all the distractions kept me from being able to enjoy the story. The world building was not solid. Marchetta's fantasy geography and the history of the kingdoms within her world felt slapdash, stereotypical fantasy-land, and it did not stand out to me or make me care about the world in any way. I felt a large problem of the world building (as well as the characterizations, the romance, and the plot) was that there was too much telling, and not enough showing.

This book was extremely up and down for me. I would be reading along for a few pages and it would be smooth and well written and promising-but immediately it would go for some strange characterization, or awkward dialogue, or too-dramatic emotional revelation in a strange place in the story, and it would be downhill for awhile from there.

I'm still a big fan of Marchetta's because her other books have been so amazing and are some of my favorites. However, her first foray into young adult fantasy didn't wow me.

I was recommended this book and I was not disappointed. The complexity of the characters is way beyond what you typically find in fantasy. Here I have taken it as a lesson in writing.

Also, the author creates a particularly complex world with many different peoples, each with their customs, characters, and gods. Very well done.

If there is a weakness, I would say this: while she tells a great story, she is not a great story-teller. - But then, very very few are. Let me explain. The story is very very good, and engaging. The language, however, was not above average. For example, take the opening to The Hobbit:

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that meant comfort."

WOW! there is story-telling, there is the use of language! Rhythm and alliteration and sound magnify the meaning

Marchetta's story is engaging, the characters draw you in, but the language is unexceptional. In Great fiction, the language itself draws you in, enchants you, almost mesmerizes you. This is of course rare.

To really see the kind of story telling to which I refer - watch the move "The Secret of Roan Innish" (John Sayles) Watch yourself as you are brawn in by the magic of their language. This is what I mean.

You know when you see something truly breathtaking and your in awe over how beautiful it is, well I think that is the right thing to say about Finnikin of the Rock. It is everything that makes a story perfect, but the book talks about a dystopian world. Melina Marchetta creates a story that has hauntingly real imagery, with words that flow nicely like a calm lake. She gives enough description to easily understand the situation and the word, and won't have readers falling asleep. The maps in the book are easy to follow, and I found myself looking at it quite a few times. The world is well built and it's easy to picture, it is also unique in the fact that you can see the cultural difference between each land as the characters travel through it. The emotion is strong and well put and will have readers at lost for words. The readers can really feel sad, angry and horrified as they read about the exile and fever camps, and hear of the five days of the unspeakable. But you will also feel hope that maybe, by the end of the book the people will regain hold of Lumatere. The characters are developed nicely, in a way that will have you make a soft spot for each one of them in your heart. Evanjalin and Froi were probably my favorite two characters. Evanjalin was such a strong, passionate and hopeful women/girl in the story. Anybody would envy that, and I certainly was proud to read about a strong women lead. Froi was someone who you hate at first, but then after hearing his POV you really feel for him. He's just a mischievous s little boy who envies people around him and wants to belong. Something that anyone can relate to. A lot of the situations were truthful, and how they were dealt with was faithful to how I can imagine them being laid out. Example of this is Trevanion's & Lady Beatriss relationship.
The story's narration, which was from different characters POV, was amazingly well crafted. The romance in the story (between Evanjalin & Finnikin) was really well developed. Probably the first real romance that I truly enjoyed the development of. It wasn't to slow and it wasn't to fast, it was just right. It felt honest and good.
Some of the plot twists were a bit obvious. What I would of liked to seen developed more was more knowledge of the impostor king. Who was he? I also think the battle to regain Lumatere should of been more descriptive and longer. It was a bit short, and was sort of a downer as it was what the whole book was leading up to.

Usually I don't read fantasy, I find it to confusing. I enjoyed Eragon but found it confusing. It might of been because I was young when I read it. But this novel wasn't confusing and probably the first fantasy I actually really enjoyed. I really hope there is a sequel, though this book does work as a stand-alone to. So when I was reading the author's bio, I was very surprised to find that this was her first fantasy: "I was told often that I couldn't write fantasy unless I had read all the greats and knew the conventions well, but I think the first step to writing good fantasy is knowing this world we live in well. I wanted to look closely at that---where loss of faith, loss of homeland and identity, displacement of spirit, and breakdown of community are common--- because these are the scenes in today's media that affect me most. In this sense, the book is a search for identity in the same way that my other novels are." -Melina Marchetta. You wouldn't think after reading this book, that this was her first fantasy. And if this review doesn't intrigue you enough, well then take it from Kristin Cashore: "The world of this book is dark and beautiful and utterly believable; and, as I've come to expect of Marchetta's work, the characters are wonderfully complex. Here is an author who writes fantasy as well as she writes realism -- and in the case of Melina Marchetta, that's high praise, indeed!"

The last thing I want to talk about is the ending. BEST ENDING EVER. I mean I've read endings that are satisfying and good, but never really the best. This ending is the first that I really enjoyed and couldn't stop thinking about afterwords. It was romantic, funny and ends the book in a way that wants me to give it 10 stars. The last impression I had of this book, was brilliant. And I know my review probably won't sum up how amazing this book was, but I hope everyone gives this one a try.

I picked up this book shortly after reading the very disappointing Graceling. I felt like the author of Graceling went a little overboard with the feminism in Graceling, and I wanted to see a strong heroine without a bunch of baggage. Someone suggested Finnikin of the Rock, so I picked it up. I really liked this book. I adored Evanjalin. She was a strong character that recognized loving (or marrying) a man didn't make her weaker. I think the author did a fabulous job illustrating this throughout the book.

I loved the world Marchetta created. Although I agree that she could have made this a longer, more detailed book, I think she did a great job of describing Skuldenore in the limited space she had. Unlike some readers, I did feel the connection between Finnikin and Evanjalin and was rooting for them the whole time. I LOVED the ending, although, I wanted to smack Finnikin on the back of the head during the several pages leading up to that ending.

It's no Lord of the Rings, but it's a great YA fantasy novel--very entertaining. And yes, there is a little mention of sex and a whore, but there is no detail and nothing graphic in the least. I would pass it on to my kids with no issues whatsoever.

Melina Marchetta is famous in Australia because her book Looking for Alibrandi was made into a very well received movie. I believe I saw Looking for Alibrandi at they movies when it was released.

Finnikin of the Rock was recommended to me. I enjoyed it very much. It is an Arthurian themed fantasy novel with the main characters being two young people who have a shared destiny. I really liked the two main characters. I wanted them to succeed and be happy.

The adventure of the main characters were good fun. They were presented with great challenges and dangers, which they overcame with magic, bravery and loyalty.

I really like books by Australian authors. This is the first book in a three book series. I will read the next two.

"'Then I choose to drown," Finnikin said. "In hope. Rather than float into nothing.'"

A recurring thought while reading this book: I don't know what just happened; all I know is that it was AWESOME.

Melina Marchetta stays true to her title as one of the best YA authors with her spellbinding storytelling and wonderful characters.

I will have to admit that I was bored in the first hundred pages, and that I did get overwhelmed by all the names and titles. Which is why I had trouble keeping up with the plot at times. Although this detracted a bit from my enjoyment of the story, it certainly didn't keep me from becoming engrossed in the plot line.

Things I admired:
-The gruesome past that Marchetta creates. It was a lot gorier and sadder than I thought it would be, and the description of it made the hopelessness and sadness in the kingdom more real and cutting. It was amazing because there's one thing I'm afraid of, and that's when authors make a big deal out of nothing. Which Marchetta definitely did not do.
-World building. Okay, this one is actually debatable because there were tons of times when I'd get thrown for a loop because of extra details and not enough explanation. However, explanations did make the book slow at times. But you have to respect these high fantasy writers. They don't get to bootleg places from real life; they have to create entire worlds out of their own imagination. And the complex world that Finnikin and his friends live in is one that I could completely believe in.
-Theme. Or what I thought was the theme. I thought Finnikin of the Rock spoke miles for the concept of hope, just like I believed Jellicoe Road did when I read it. There was something so uplifting about this destitute kingdom with so many hopeless, memory-burdened people being saved. It made me want to do that fist bump that Judd Nelson does at the end of The Breakfast Club.
-Characters! I cannot emphasize enough how much I admire Marchetta's skill in creating so many characters that all seem to have outstanding personalities. We have Finnikin, the sword toting badass, and Evanjalin, who is the antithesis of the damsel in distress. Evanjalin, who I did despise a couple of times for the betrayals she seems to make, is one of the strongest female characters I've read because of her unfaltering determination to support the greater cause. But there's also Trevanion and Beatriss, Froi...I love that they all had their own side stories, but none of them overshadowed the story in general. And, of course, the romance was equally sweet and special.

In conclusion, I liked this book, though there were some shaky moments when I thought I wouldn't. Melina Marchetta has a special voice, one equal parts humorous, humbling, and brilliant. Everything is meaningful; all the dreams and actions and words will culminate into something in the end. Nothing happens without a reason in this story. The biggest way I learned that was through Froi. I had no idea that the nameless street urchin would play such a large part in the story, but he did, and now I very much want to learn how his story ends.

Finnikin has had the world on his shoulders since the age of nine. Although not yet men, Prince Balthazar, Lucien, and he promised to protect the royal family for the rest of their lives.

The boys are unaware that in a short time their world will be torn apart; the royal family murdered, and their country in despair.

In ten years time, Finnikin and Evanjalin, a novice of a Goddess, work towards ending the terrible rule over the people of Lumatere.

FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK is spoken through the hand of a true fantasy writer, Melina Marchetta. Validly, a world is created all on its own full of mystery, adventure, and both romantic and horrifying surprises.

From beginning to end, every character is cherished and their flaws and strengths are examined openly - especially in the prolonged development of the relationship between Finnikin and Evanjalin, when each reveal they want something more than companionship but believe the fate of the world is more important than happiness.

Reviewed by: AdrienneBe

Years ago, Lumatere's royal family was brutally murdered, an imposter king placed on the throne, and a curse levied on the land, forever locking it away from the rest of the land of Skuldenore, with many of its inhabitants cast out to the winds. Finnikin has spent the decade after Lumatere's fall traveling, collecting stories of his scattered people and trying to ease their plight. Then he and his mentor are called to safeguard Evanjalin, an enigmatic young woman who claims to know the location of Lumatere's long-missing heir, who can break the curse and bring the exiles home.

Okay let me just lay it out on the table...I straight up loved, loved, loved this book! From the opening prologue I was hooked and I didn't just read it, I devoured it.

In the style of Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore, Melina Marchetta spins an epic tale of adventure, intrigue and destinies intertwined. Every page holds something different and I often found myself reading faster and faster to get to the next scene where I would find out something new about a character that would bring me to another "wow" moment.

Finnikin is absolutely swoon worthy and not in a mushy teen-crush kind of way. Think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart...a flawed young man with truth in his heart, someone a girl could depend on. Something that Evanjalin knows as they journey back to their homeland. Let me just say that Evanjalin is a way complex character and leave it at that...

I know I used this word before but this is an epic story...something classics are made of. Marchetta's writing style is a force to be reckoned with and will leave you constantly amazed at the next twist and turn. This story has so much depth and inter-connectedness between characters that I don't want to diminish any of your reading experience by writing too much about it!

Fantasy writing at its best, a story that will keep you enchanted and characters that you won't soon forget. Loved it!

Recommended for 14 years and up due to violence and sexual references.

Melina Marchetta notes (about writing this book), "I was often told that I couldn't write fantasy unless I had read all the greats and knew the conventions well, but I think the first step to writing good fantasy is knowing this world we live in well." It's a very telling quote, in that Finnikin of the Rock proves both of these 'truisms.'

Any long-time fantasy reader is apt to be driven nuts by certain elements of this book. A glance at the map reveals a smallish continent (more of an island, based on the distances traveled) divided into eight or nine kingdoms by disturbingly arbitrary (i.e., strangely straight) borders. Another glance reveals that the continent's major river flows...get this...FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN. *boggles*

The first step in creating a setting for a fantasy novel: a basic understanding of physical and political geography!

Another thing that bothered me was the fact that each of these arbitrary countries has its own language, most of them apparently unrelated to each other. The text offers no clues about how or why this situation came to be, which is ironic since the book spends so much time obsessing about languages. At one point, the male protagonist talks about how he loves his guttural and earthy native language, despite the fact that almost all the names of the characters from that country (Lumatere) are not guttural in the slightest: Evanjalin, Travanion, Beatriss, Isaboe, Lucian....

It's as if someone told Marchetta what elements are important in world-building for a fantasy novel, but she lacked either the time to research or the aptitude to apply those elements in a way that experienced fantasy readers would find credible.

Which is really too bad, because her *storytelling* skills are otherwise quite good. The plot is fairly complex for a YA novel, and I found the tale of these characters who are magically exiled from their native land as a result of a horrible tragedy very compelling (even though I guessed the heroine's true identity as early as chapter 2--but I think that's just me). Occasionally the author lapses into attempts at various types of 'social consciousness' (including the rather appalling attempt at the very beginning to tie the story, thematically, to the Holocaust), but fortunately Marchetta listens more to her muse than to her inner activist. She also has a intriguingly spare style that I found as compelling as the story itself. (It's too bad that her other books have plots/settings that don't interest me in the slightest.)

So, is this book worth reading? Well, yes...I'm not sorry I did. On the other hand, the basic concept of this book bears an almost inexorable resemblance to Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana, which may be one of the finest fantasy novels ever written. Consequently, for those who have read it, this book may feel like 'Tigana Lite'--an unfortunate position for a story that stands up better on its own merits than in comparison.

I didn't doubt Melina Marchetta, author of the Printz-winning Jellicoe Road, had the skill to write such a complex story. And yet, Finnikin of the Rock completely blew me away.

At its core, Finnikin is the story of a people displaced. In fact, the novel starts with a poem by Primo Levi, the famous writer, chemist and Holocaust survivor. It's allegorical to all the real-world exoduses and genocides -- not only the Jews, but also the Armenians, the Cambodians, the Darfuris, and the people of Serbia and Bosnia and Croatia, countries I backpacked through recently with FOTR's Lumateran massacre still on my mind.

So yeah, there's heavy stuff there. But with the exception of certain parts, the book is hardly dreary. It's packed with adventure and magic and battles and dreamwalking and humor and peripheral characters that shine. There are surprises too -- the kind we'd expect from the author of Jellicoe Road. Even if you guess a couple ahead of time, it only enriches the revelations, because you so want to be right. In other instances, Melina pulls off near-impossible feats of character development: specifically, the redemption of a character I absolutely despised (you'll know who I'm talking about).

But my favorite parts of FOTR are smaller moments. The parts that reflect Melina's gift for human connection. An arm slung playfully around a son's neck. Words spoken close at a cliff's edge. In the book's most heart-singing part, a Mont cousin approaching with alarming speed. And of course, the romance. Sigh, swoon, sob. Melina's romances tend to creep up on you, just as they do her protagonists... right before they slap you in the heart.

While a measure of magic can be attributed to her careful pacing, the swoon factor is mostly because of her characters. They're rich, they're real, they're infinitely dimensional. Although Finnikin leads the story, fierce, compassionate Evanjalin is the true star--one of my all-time favorite characters, badass and broken and entirely unwavering in her quest to unite the severed kingdom of Lumatere. You'll adore her.

~review from YA Highway, [...]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A mesmerizing story that brings you deep into a fantasy world, that you will never want to leave.

Opening Sentence: A long time ago, in the spring before the five days of the unspeakable, Finnikin of the Rock dreamed that he was to sacrifice a pound of flesh to save the royal house of Lumatere.

The Review:

I believe that Marchetta writes stories that mesmerize you. She puts you in her trance and let's you follow along like a pied piper. There are a few authors that I love, and Marchetta has quickly made her way into my heart. Finnikin of the Rock is my second Marchetta book, and I felt that since I loved Jellicoe Road so much, there wouldn't be anything that could rival how I feel. I was wrong.

Finnikin of the Rock is a world filled with magic and lore. It is filled with wonder and fantasy that makes it possible to believe in. Finnikin of the Rock is the story that made its way into my heart, along with each word, each chapter, each page, and each character. The world that was created and each detailed scene adds to the story. It's like I'm watching the story unfold with myself in the background.

To say this is a masterpiece would do it injustice.

Finnikin of the Rock is an epic journey of a young man, who is destined to help bring Lumatere's people back from exile. Finnikin is the childhood friend of the crowned prince, Balthazar and son of the captain of the guard. He was warned that he was to sacrifice a pound of flesh to save the royal house of Lumatere. Then the five days of the unspeakable happen, when the royal family is murdered. See? Epic.

Ten years later, Finnikin has been wandering the lands, searching for anyone who survived the five days of the unspeakable. Along with his mentor, Sir Topher, they work towards recording the deaths and improving the conditions of those who were exiled. Finnikin is summoned to another rock, where he meets Evanjalin, who says she knows where Balthazar is. Together, they are to seek out others who could help bring the people of Lumatere out of exile.

Finnikin is the boy who could. After the tragedy of the five days of the unspeakable, he continued on, learning as much as he can to help bring back his people. His determination and loyalty is something that I covet. It's like that movie, Rudy. He never gave up, despite the obstacles and challenges that he met. The way Marchetta built his character was simply amazing. He was strong, weak, smart, and witty. While he had determination, he also had guilt. There was a fire that breathed in him that you couldn't help but love.

I loved Evanjalin. Her story broke me into a million pieces and her hope mended it with the passion that she showed. She was beautiful even before I knew what she looked like. While she seemed guarded, it was nice to see a vulnerable side around Finnikin. She was well developed and felt so real. I loved her like one of my own. Her stories will make you cry, but her passion will give you strength. She really is a remarkable character.

Marchetta blew me away with this book. I could never have imagined to be brought into a world just like this one. The kingdom, the past, the people, the culture...it all was so well developed and well written. Once you read this, you will understand. There is a realism in her writing that allows you to get lost in her breath-taking world. And the emotions that you will feel! She brought me on the verge of tears every few pages. I swear, every chapter had that moment where you felt your heart ache with that warmth of emotion.

Words cannot express how amazing this book is. Another example of why I love to read. There is an empowerment in her writing and in her characters. There is a sense of pride that resonates throughout the book that has you thinking about it for days. Marchetta said it best when she said, "Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words."

FTC Advisory: I purchased this copy of Finnikin of the Rock. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

This book was suggested to me by a knowledgable friend and she prefaced with the warning: "The first 50 pages are slow going, and then no force on the planet will let you put it down."

She was right. I have to say it is such a satisfying experience to read a stand-alone novel that so completely crafts an entire world- without dragging on in excessive detail or requiring sequels that span decades. This is a wonderfully constructed story with characters that might walk right out of the pages and strike up a conversation.

I'm still so blown away by this that I've run out of constructive things to say. If you like Hunger Games or the Chronicles of Prydain you will eat this book like it is headache-free ice cream. I certainly did.

I literally believe that Melina weaves her words and characters with magic because every sentence and plot line is soo intricate and beautiful that I am amazed on every page. It astounds me that she hasn't been given critical fantasy acclaim because these stories are incredible. I particularly loved the relationship between Isobea and Finnikin, they were both soo loyal to each other! I would reccomend this book to anyone who loves fantasy.
I figure myself to be vry lucky, because I just haphazardly picked this book off of my library shelf and went into it blind. I really only grabbed it because bk 2 was sitting next to it and it boasted 600 pages. Since I love series and long books I went for it, and I am very glad I did.

Brilliant. Absolutely effing brilliant.
I can't begin to express the multitude of feelings this book has awaken in me. I'm like a damn rainbow of feelings here right now.
All the characters were extremely well done. I don't think I've read a book with such a good and strong hold of its characters until now.
I loved them all.
This is a must read book if there ever was one.
I will absolutely read the whole series because it was so worth my time.

I admire authors like Melina Marchetta so much- not only is she a fantastic writer, but she also isn't afraid to write outside the genre she's known for. Too often I see people who pigeonhole themselves into what has been successful in the past; perhaps it's what they truly love writing, but I believe that a person isn't limited to one sole interest, or, in this case, genre or style. Anyways. FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK is hardly the high school contemp you're used to, and it's a solid fantasy with just the right amount of epicness.

Right from the start, you'll be swept up in a grand narrative spanning years, with all sorts of fantasy elements; kingdoms, knights, prophecies, and evil. And yet, there's still a lot of quiet moments for character development. Finnikin himself wasn't without flaws, but he is in no way the same person he was before his journey begins. The supporting characters are diverse and come from all walks of life; Evanjalin was a bit too much of a standard `feisty heroine' but this is one of those stories that win you over as time goes on. Even Froi, a seemingly minor street urchin (who I just found out will narrate the next book in the series) grows as a character and comes into his own.

Lumatere is a dark kingdom, nearly in ruin, with people dying in despair and little hope to be found. The entire book is quite grim and the action is gritty, but real. It took a while for me to really get into the plot, and it lags on some points; there's a lot of going from town to town without much in between, but the final battle is spectacular.

FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK is a complex journey filled with twists and darkly atmospheric turns. Although it may not be for everyone, it has a nice place as one of the best YA fantasy novels in recent years.

This book has captivated me from the very start, which is rare for the books I read. It had a very creative story plot, and I adored the ending. If you enjoy classic fantasies like kingdoms fighting for freedom, jealously of the ruler, and good prevailing all, this is your kind of book. It's important to pay attention to little detail in this novel, because in the end, everything is wrapped up perfectly like a breakfast burrito. I have to admit that on very few occasions, I found it kinda slow, but after the 6 chapter or so, more fast action takes over. There are some parts that I was somewhat timid about, which is why I recommend readers no younger than 13 to read this. But if it were real, it would be historically accurate. It describes the troubled times of exiles, and slaves. I adore it's realistic situations. This is by far the best book I've read in a very long time.

The complexity and beauty of prose is definitely the strong point in this truly epic, allegorical tale. Clearly, Marchetta has a huge understanding of World history on multiple levels. I found myself making connections with real life events constantly. The concept of the cultural displacement of a nation that is so prevalent in this novel eloquently forces the reader to adequately feel for not just the characters we learn to love, but for the society as a whole. For readers who are ready to delve into the dark nature of a truly brutalized people, Finnikin of the Rock is not only an emotional read, but an uplifting one as well in that hope and joy persist despite the most downtrodden situations. Finnikin and Evanjelin are a perfect set of complex and evolutionary mutual protagonists who take the intelligent and enlightened mind into the world of a disjointed, but realistically brutal fantasy.

I loved Jellicoe Road -- but this was pretty mediocre. It's hard to believe it was the same writer -- the writing is kind of cliched and flat -- characters are pretty unappealing (especially the the two mains! ) and the plot was oddly unsatisfying (and strangely complicated -- without much payoff). For a much more satisfying read, try Kristin Cashore's Graceling -- great writing and likable characters.

Reviewed for [...]

I have previously enjoyed (and recommend) several of Melina Marchetta's contemporary novels including Looking for
Alibrandi, Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca so I was interested to try her first foray into the lucrative fantasy young adult market.

Having read the novel I am not sure how to put my thoughts into words. Objectively, I admire this book - the characterization is interesting, the plot is unexpected (except for the main twist which I am sure everyone will see coming from the introduction of the main characters) and the writing is up to par; however I can't say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Firstly, this is perhaps the darkest young adult fantasy I have ever read. Marchetta pulls no punches in describing incidents of violence, rape, death, slavery and torture. She succeeds in conveying her themes of loss of identity, spirit, homeland and community. Yet in a way I felt that she succeeded a little too well for at the end of the story, I was left feeling a little cold and a little ill. I am not squeamish by any means, but I don't necessarily read YA fantasy for this level of gritty realism.

Characterization has always been a strong point in Marchetta's works and this novel is no exception. I will leave aside the titular character, Finnikin, to delve into the enigma that is Evanjalin - it is very rare that I read such an interesting female character in fantasy. Evanjalin is vaguely and understandably (considering the circumstances of her life) psychotic. She manipulates the people around her like chess pieces to accomplish a grand scheme that exists entirely in her mind. Finnikin is of more standard fantasy fare. He is brave and intelligent with a strong sense of justice yet he mistrusts his own motivations.

I wouldn't necessarily qualify the relationship between Finnikin and Evanjalin as romantic. She spends so much of the time manipulating Finnikin that I am not sure when he had the chance to fall in love with her. Though I felt there was a lack of chemistry between Finnikin and Evanjalin, their interaction and the imbalance of power (girl power! yay!) between the two was refreshing.

The secondary characters are equally well drawn with true depth and feeling yet I feel that in making her main characters as intelligent and complex as they are, Marchetta has sacrificed their likability. Sure, I empathized with the character's plights and hoped that they would accomplish their goals, but I felt that every character was so emotionally scarred that it was rather uncomfortable to continue reading their stories.

The plot itself has several sweeping and epic arcs as the characters travel hither and yon across various kingdoms to visit refugee camps, gather supporters and pick up key characters for the final scenes as they break the curse and take back their kingdom. I was rather confused at times; however I was too lazy to study the maps provided that would have, no doubt, clarified the geography in my mind.

This novel has so many factors in its favor that I definitely feel that my reaction to it won't be common. I admire the concept and execution, but emotionally, this book didn't quite reach me. Therefore, I would certainly recommend this novel for sheer interest value; however I don't guarantee that you will love it.

Apparently, this was Marchetta's first Fantasy novel, and let me just tell you, it was spot on. I was completely enthtralled from beginning to end. In fact, I hated for it to end at all. I wanted to keep on reading about Finnikin and Evangelin. Oh how they moved me with their sweet romance. Oh how I worried when one of them came so close to death. There's adventure, magic, intrigue, humor, romance, and yes, even a little darkness to keep the reader on edge. There may have been predictable outcomes here and there, but it didn't matter. I was enjoying this oh so juicy morsel, and would definitely devour it again and again.

I liked the story itself (5 stars), but felt that the characters didn't have enough depth, never developed or progressed. It always remained at the surface and, as a reader, I wanted more.
It almost felt a if this novel was an outline and would have needed a few more months to add details and depth.

I'm a fantasy/historical fiction reader and I have read only a few really great books in this genre. This is one of the best I've read. I was taken in by the story immediately and could not put this book down. Marchetta's plot and character development is some of the best I've seen in a very long time. It was a total surprise to be drawn in to this story and to really enjoy it as it got more and more complicated. There are moments in the story-telling that are uncomfortable (it is a book about war and humanity) but they were never inappropriate. I can also recount only a few instances of bad language. Basically this is an extremely well-written book that allows the reader to enjoy it, rather than get distracted by vulgarities. It's very refreshing.

I was reluctant to start a YA series however there is a lot of promise in this series. I have read book two and can honestly say it's so worth it! Read this series it's very heart wrenching with wonderful payoff.

It's nice to see such a well respected Australian author do well time and time again! Finnikin of the Rock builds to a brilliant climax and has a romance that is quite unique and memorable. Evanjalin and Finnikin both seem to bare the weight of their world on their shoulders which leads them into a deep, emotional relationship that is in no way your stereotypical fantasy romance! Combine this with action, enigmatic characters, plot twists and the overwhelming emotions of a people in refuge [as well as Marchetta's writing abilities]- and you get Finnikin of the Rock- an epic tale of loss, love, determination and hope! Hopefully more Australian titles such as Tallow by Karen Brooks will reach and US market!
5 stars!!!!

Interesting situation and the main characters were prickly, which I liked. But the "unspeakable" or whatever it was called--I never got a really good sense of what happened. After they got back in, I thought the story got a lot weaker.

a non-fantasy writer comes to fantasy - and creates something fresh, delightful, exciting, touching, imaginative, fun, romantic. great creative world-building, an excellent mix of characterization, action, magic and mystery. more please!