Finnikin of the Rock - Softcover

Marchetta, Melina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0670072818 ISBN 13: 9780670072811

Publisher: Viking Australia, 2008

Synopsis

2008 Printz Award Winner Melina Marchetta crafts an epic fantasy of ancient magic, exile, feudal intrigue, and romance that rivets from the first page. (Age 14 and up)

Finnikin was only a child during the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere were brutally murdered, and an imposter seized the throne. Now a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escaped roam the surrounding lands as exiles, persecuted and despairing, dying by the thousands in fever camps. In a narrative crackling with the tension of an imminent storm, Finnikin, now on the cusp of manhood, is compelled to join forces with an arrogant and enigmatic young novice named Evanjalin, who claims that her dark dreams will lead the exiles to a surviving royal child and a way to pierce the cursed barrier and regain the land of Lumatere. But Evanjalin's unpredictable behavior suggests that she is not what she seems -- and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her, but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

About this title

Review:

"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!" -- Kristin Cashore, author of GRACELING and FIRE -- Quote

"A tremendous achievement; a wonderful story full of vivid characters and landscapes. . . .Spellbinding and fantastic." -- SYDNEY MORNING HERALD -- Quote

"A hauntingly beautiful fantasy allegory. . . . A daring departure from Marchetta's previous books, and it works brilliantly." -- THE CANEBERRA TIMES -- Quote

From the Hardcover edition.

Magic, romance, intrigue, and adventure all play their parts as this dense, intricate epic unfolds, and flawed, memorable heroes fight for their kingdom's redemption.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Filled with questions about the impact of exile and the human need to belong, this standout fantasy quickly reveals that its real magic lies in its accomplished writing.
--Booklist (starred review)

Readers will be rewarded by a shining story of romance, adventure in all of its gritty realism, and high ideals.
--School Library Journal (starred review)

Marchetta transforms what could be just another epic quest into an innovative fantasy; it's driven almost entirely by the intense relationships among its multidimensional characters, giving the readers a unique perspective on the Lumatere situation as both a personal and political crisis.
--Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books (starred review)

This fantasy has it all -- magic, intrigue, bloodshed, and romance. . . the plot and the characters are complex and truly believable.
--Library Media Connection (starred review)

Standard fantasy characters people this book, but they develop in surprising, non-stock ways. . . . Fantasy readers will enjoy the rousing and complex plot, filled with political intrigue and frequent red herrings and dotted with abductions, arrests and close escapes from a variety of dangers.
--Kirkus Reviews

A fully realized medieval world of bloody battles and dark mysticism, the fantasy is a clear allegory for the real-world atrocities of war, addressing sickness, hunger, violence, even rape. Swagger and swordplay among the men and tender moments between the young lovers lighten their hardships and hint at a hopeful ending.
--The Horn Book

A wonderful engrossing reading experience with strong characterizations and a rich fully realized setting Marchetta is a marvelous storyteller.
--BookPage

A magical, memorable story that will not soon leave you. If you like your protagonists (both male and female) smart and strong, and you like your romance heart-stopping, this is the book for you.
--Shelftalker (PW blog)

Book Description:

A gripping, beautifully woven fantasy about a broken kingdom and a blossoming romance.

About this edition

• Publisher: Viking Australia
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0670072818
• ISBN 13: 9780670072811
• Binding: Paperback