Showing posts with label Finnikin of the Rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finnikin of the Rock. Show all posts
Rachel reviews Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
So a few weeks of ago, I was looking through the new books for teens and trying to decide what to order. Part of how I do that is reading through the summary of the book and deciding whether or not I would read the book. This is one of the ones I not only decided I would read (the cool cover is a plus too), but I immediately put on request so that I could be one of the first ones to get my hands on it. Yay me!

This book begins with Finnikin as a young boy who is close friends with a prince and princess of Lumatere. At least he is close to them until one horrific night when assassins enter the kingdom murdering the entire royal family and seizing the throne. In the days to come (known as the five unspeakable days), a powerful priestess is blamed and is ordered to be burned alive by the imposter king. However, before she dies she places a curse on the kingdom which allows nothing to either escape the kingdom or enter it until a rightful king returns with the exiles to retake the kingdom.

For ten years Finnikin searches the land for exiles and for any sign that the prince may still be alive. Along the way he meets Evanjalin, a girl who claims that she walks the dreams of their people and can help lead them to the royal heir. However, her unpredictable behavior makes her nearly impossible to trust. She is obviously not all she appears to be, but the truth may be more than Finnikin can handle.

Overall, I really liked this book. The story was full of suspense and was very entertaining. One of my favorite authors, Kristin Cashore reviewed the book as well. Here's what she had to say: "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!"
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Books I Can't Wait to Get My Hands On!
So here are a few a books that I'm really excited about. They are all coming out this year, AND they are all in our catalog right now. That means now is the time to get in your requests for them. (Then maybe you won't be number 287 in line when they finally get here.) Unlike, ahem, the request list for Breaking Dawn.

The first book on my list is Numbers by Rachel Ward (haha! she has my name). In Numbers, a girl named Jem is able to see the exact date when a person is going to die. Creepy enough? Wait until she's in a room filled with people who will die that very day... Would you stick around? Jem finds herself fleeing from the building, which after the terrorist attack makes her look like the prime suspect. I can't wait to see how it turns out. (Available Feb. 1)

The next is Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. Finnikin was only a child when the royal family was murdered. However, years later the land and the people are bleeding and dying. One day Finnikin finds himself guarding Evanjalin, a young woman who claims to know where the last living heir of the royal family is hidden away. Together they set out on an adventure to find the heir and restore peace to the kingdom. This book promises action, adventure, romance, and mystery. It's one I don't want to miss. (Available Feb. 9)

Burned (A House of Night Novel) by P.C. and Kristin Cast is next on my list (which is ordered by publication date NOT preference). Burned promises to pick up where Tempted (book 7) left off. Is Zoey Redbird, the future high priestess for Nyx, really dead? Will she survive the loss of one of the people she loves? All these questions left unanswered... It kills me!

For those of you who haven't read the House of Night series yet, I definitely recommend getting caught up before Burned comes out in April (especially if you enjoy vampires and the paranormal).

I'm also looking forward to the third book in the Hunger Games series. If you'll notice they haven't come up with a title or a cover for this newest book, but that's probably because it won't be here until August 24th! Sigh... I know that's a long time, but I would definitely get your name on the list for it NOW! I cannot tell you how excited I about this book. (And for the record I'm team Peeta!) 

For those of you who haven't read Hunger Games, it is a story set in a time when the United States has fallen apart and a new government has taken its place. The new government squashes rebellion by decimating an entire geographic area with the use of an atomic bomb. To keep the remaining citizens in check, they hold an event each year called the Hunger Games. Two children from twelve different districts are forced into an arena where the object of the game is simple: kill the other contestants and be the last one standing. Let's just say this is a great book for those of you who love suspense!
   
Last, but not least, is Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. This is the fifth book in the Vampire Academy series (which I recommended just a few weeks ago). This one continues to follow the story of the powerful vampire Lissa and her guardian Rose. I  won't give anything away because I know some of you haven't read these books yet, but I will say that this is my second favorite vampire series after Twilight!! I   plan on buying this one as soon as it's out!

   *Impatiently waiting*
         Rachel

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