Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles, #3)

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Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3)

by Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author)

4.64 of 5 stars 4.64 · rating details · 1,970 ratings · 564 reviews

There's a babe in my belly that whispers the valley, Froi. I follow the whispers and come to the road . . .

Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi must travel through Charyn to search for Quintana, the mother of Charyn's unborn king, and protect her against those who will do anything to gain power. But what happens when loyalty to family and country...more

Paperback, 516 pages

Published September 26th 2012 by Viking Australia

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Oct 06, 2012 Hira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-expectations, ya, fantasy, favorites, series-complete, to-review, cried, aussie-nz

Perfect ending to the story, Melina Marchetta, I fall in love with your writing more each time. Never stop writing, please. Review maybe to come later. Read it in one sitting.

Pre-reading
October 2012?! Too, too long...

56 likes · like · see review

Jan 29, 2013 Amber Skye marked it as next-up

Shelves: absolutely-must-have, to-buy

Edit: GUYS. Guys. I went to Amazon to preorder this book, and it said that it will not be released until MARCH 2013. WHAT.
__________________________________________________________
How I feel about having to wait for this book

51 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Kat Kennedy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian-writer, fun-fantasy, kat-s-book-reviews, leaves-awesomeness-behind

Quintana of Charyn is a masterful novel. Hauntingly beautiful, powerfully written and the perfect end to this brilliant fantasy series.

But this is nothing different. Marchetta's novels only come in shades of amazing. By far her strongest and most compelling ability as a writer, is the way in which she crafts her characters and their struggles in the context of the world they live in.

If you have read Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of the Exiles than fear not. Quintana of Charyn will not disappoint...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Mitch rated it 5 of 5 stars

Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles is like the crowning jewel of the young adult fantasy genre, so of course I had huge expectations coming into Quintana of Charyn. Twice now, Marchetta has delivered indescribable stories of a cursed land, a nation of refugees, a series of powerful characters who exemplified hope, vengeance, and forgiveness rising from great tragedy, all through two unforgettable books. And with so much on the line, a lot can go wrong, but I’m happy to report every word is w...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya-na, 2012

I am a little unsure about this rating because it's Melina Marchetta - how can her books be anything less than five stars? She's the queen of young adult who can jump across genres and still create something spectacular. But, though I really enjoyed Quintana of Charyn, I liked it significantly less than the other books in this series (particularly Froi of the Exiles) and I think I can quite easily pinpoint the main problem: the plot. Or lack thereof. Where I think Froi of the Exiles could easily...more I am a little unsure about this rating because it's Melina Marchetta - how can her books be anything less than five stars? She's the queen of young adult who can jump across genres and still create something spectacular. But, though I really enjoyed Quintana of Charyn, I liked it significantly less than the other books in this series (particularly Froi of the Exiles) and I think I can quite easily pinpoint the main problem: the plot. Or lack thereof. Where I think Froi of the Exiles could easily be read and enjoyed without reading the first book, this installment was far from the same. In fact, this book is an entirely different creature; brilliant, in its own way, but still not as strong, in my opinion.

Froi of the Exiles was a brilliantly complex novel that took us into the heart of Charyn and introduced us to life and politics within its borders. It was such a fantastic novel that I remembered exactly what happened in it without needing a recap, and it also made me completely fall in love with Froi. And he is still my favourite character after finishing this novel because of his many sides, his issues and his complicated background. The road for him has been difficult and he's done many bad things on his way to where he is now... and yet he has earned redemption - in my eyes, anyway. But Quintana of Charyn is a far less plot-focused story, no more main characters are introduced and the story progresses only slightly from where it's prequel finished.

In this book, Marchetta focuses on what she already has and builds on it. Relationships are developed and explored, loyalty is questioned, opinions of certain people start to change. Almost everyone is challenged mentally and physically in this book and the characters experience a very emotional journey. It is, for me, Marchetta's most romantic novel to date. And the one with the most sex scenes. When it comes to Marchetta, neither of these is a complaint because she handles them masterfully, depicting love and sexual relationships in a very honest way that I really appreciate. The saucy scenes include bathtubs and a "game" between Finnikin and Isaboe - you know you're curious.

Quintana of Charyn wraps things up well but I think the land of Lumatere (and all the Skuldenore lands) still has a lot more stories to tell and I hope Marchetta will return to this beautiful story. One of my biggest complaints about this book is that the title character doesn't appear in it anywhere near as much as I'd like. Quintana really interests me and the glimpses of her character just made me more curious; I think if this book was told mostly from her point of view, then she could have been a character I loved even more. But I understand that Marchetta had many different stories to address about many different people in this novel.

Marchetta has definitely not let me down, even though I couldn't love it as much as Froi of the Exiles. This woman is truly amazing and I cannot wait to see what she produces in the future. Bye bye, Lumatere *sob*(less)

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Sep 29, 2012 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars

How do you even begin to do justice on a review for such an amazing end to a truly amazing series? I have yet to read a better series because 1) the stories had me intrigued; 2) the characters moved me and 3) the books made me think the whole way through and kept me on my toes.

First of all, I think it's a bit of a misnomer that the book was entitled "Quintana of Charyn" because I thought this book was going to be about her. I actually didn't see very much from her perspective, and I felt she sh...more How do you even begin to do justice on a review for such an amazing end to a truly amazing series? I have yet to read a better series because 1) the stories had me intrigued; 2) the characters moved me and 3) the books made me think the whole way through and kept me on my toes.

First of all, I think it's a bit of a misnomer that the book was entitled "Quintana of Charyn" because I thought this book was going to be about her. I actually didn't see very much from her perspective, and I felt she showed far more character development in book 2. This book was about SO much more. (view spoiler)

Each character - no matter how big or small - played their role in each intricate detail of this elaborate web Marchetta has woven. For me, the stars of this book were Lucian and Phaedra (much like Trevanion and Beatriss in book 2) because the two of them showed far more character development than all of the other characters combined. I was very moved by their love for each other, as well as each one's own struggles (that I mentioned in the first spoiler).

But going back to the point, Marchetta created such masterpieces because this book, and all the others for that matter, had it all - past tragedies and how they have brought such suffering to the land, action and adventure as the characters made their journeys through the land, strong character development from all of those involved, and such a clean yet masterful way everything tied together in the end.

The kicker was that the gears in my head were constantly turning as I thought of different theories to explain the curse; trying to figure out who was who and who belonged to which parents and how the story of the day of weeping affected each individual character; or guessing what was going to happen next only to have Marchetta throw in another twist. And mind you the twists were never things that made you say, "What the hell?!?" Nope, they were things that Marchetta dropped hints along the way - some you did picked up on and guessed right but some that totally caught you by surprise.

There were two things that I was disappointed with... First was (view spoiler) The other was (view spoiler) But neither disappointments were enough for me to knock down the rating.

I'm sadden to see the end of such a wonderful series, but I just loved how Marchetta tied it all together - tidying all of the different side stories; Finnkin coming to terms with his jealousies; Quintana saying hello to everyone like she did when Froi first met her and she greeted everyone at the table despite them not responding back to her; and everyone looking on the side of wonder. What a way to come full circle. Marchetta has truly outdone herself, and I wonder - though totally hoping - if she will ever be able to top this.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, epic, fantasy, favorite-series

Check out this review and others like it at BadAssBookReviews

Melina Marchetta, where the heck do you get your ideas? I can't think of very many authors who are able to cross over into a different genre and successfully write a brilliant and captivating novel? *drums fingers on table* Margaret Atwood? Stephen King? J.K. Rowling? I guess it depends on how we are determining the distinction between genres. What is clear is that Marchetta’s earlier books are realistic young adult fiction and the Lu...more Check out this review and others like it at BadAssBookReviews

Melina Marchetta, where the heck do you get your ideas? I can't think of very many authors who are able to cross over into a different genre and successfully write a brilliant and captivating novel? *drums fingers on table* Margaret Atwood? Stephen King? J.K. Rowling? I guess it depends on how we are determining the distinction between genres. What is clear is that Marchetta’s earlier books are realistic young adult fiction and the Lumatere Chronicles are epic fantasy. I do, however, see some striking similarities betweens her earlier books and this fantasy trilogy.

The Characters. The Lumatere Chronicles tell the story of people who have been affected by war. Many fantasy books tell the story of nations, kingdoms, magic, families, etc. but Marchetta’s fantasy trilogy is primarily focused on individual characters. The structure of the story, the creation of the world and the political issues are well done but their strength lies, in my opinion, in being a beautifully deep and textured setting for the characters to interact.

The Pain. If you have not read a Marchetta novel before – and I have only read one (On the Jellicoe Road) - -then you might not know that Marchetta has a talent for writing about emotional pain embedded so deep that people are forever altered by their past experiences. She is somehow able to take a starting point, where an individual is seemingly damaged and then weave in the past in a non-preachy way that instead of being confusing or boring is done so skillfully that as a reader I am not sure if I want to be living in the character’s past or the character’s present.

The Joy. There is so much mystery and pain in this trilogy that the end is damned satisfying. It isn’t perfect, but it just feels …. Well-earned. My one complaint is that I saw the resolution of all the problems from the beginning of the book and okay, I have two complaints - -the epilogue was just a little to neat and wrapped up for my dark tastes. But ultimately, I still really enjoyed this trilogy, this book and I still cried with joy at the end.

The sexual tension is delicious and slow building. The men and women are equally matched; there is give and take and there is truly no submission by one to the other except for perhaps by both together to each other.

I highly recommend this series to fans of Marchetta, fans of epic fantasy who also enjoy character driven novels. And if you were not thrilled with the first in this series, I promise you that it is worth it to stick with this series. The second book in the Lumatere Chronicles (Froi of the Exiles) is amazing and Quintana perhaps matches Froi. So if you thought Finnikin of the Rock was only a 3 star book, keep going. You will not be sorry. (less)

15 likes · like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Keertana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie, kick-ass-heroines, teary-eyed-reads, wishlist

Rating: 4.75 Stars

Well, call me a coward, but I have been avoiding writing this review like the plague. Actually, worse,considering I'd run towards a plague before I ran towards writing a review for this. I always have two feelings when I finish a Melina Marchetta novel. One, of being incredible happy, content, and simply awe-struck for the novel is always amazing beyong belief; and second, of feeling ever-so-slightly nervous because, let's be honest, how could I ever possibly even think or ima...more

21 likes · like · see review

Sep 17, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, action-adventure, bosom-friends, aussie-mate, romance, series-completed, there-is-a-message, writers-i-love, ya-mature-new-adult, 2012-aussie-ya-rc, all-time-favorites, amazing-storytelling, beautiful-prose, books-that-linger, favorites, held-me-captive, im-crushing-on-the-boy, oh-how-i-laughed, oh-god-the-suspense, snotsobs-and-tears, swoon-swoon-swoons, i-own-it

**NO SPOILERS**

The biggest thanks to Melina Marchetta. Thank you for affording me and and all your other ardent fans the opportunity to indulge in your brilliant writing and works.

It is embarrassing how slowly I read the last 80 pages of this. Clinging desperately for it all not to end! Alas, it did, and it's so bittersweet.

Complete review to come after its official release.

For now I'll say this: Every other page I was laughing or crying from joy, sadness, despair, or just beautiful moments o...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie, favorites, everyone-should-read, kickass-heroines, swoon-worthy-boys, reviewed

This review is also posted on my blog, Natalie Reads Books.

I know I said I was going to wait until I'd done a series re-read before I wrote this review, but, well, I lied. Because I just can't stop thinking about this book, and I really haven't been able to since I finished it at 2:30 this morning (It's gonna be a yawn-filled day). It was that good. It was incredible. And I know that I will revisit this review soon, when I finally make it to the end of Quintana again, but for now I just need to...more

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Dec 02, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- marked it as need-to-read

Shelves: covers-i-love

I think I love you, Melina Marchetta, for making a series/trilogy after the wonderfulness that was Finnikin of the Rock.

34 likes · like · see review

Sep 27, 2012 Navdha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-am-so-excited-to-read-it, i-cried-okay, it-made-me-giggle, it-was-a-w-e-s-o-m-e, oh-god-i-laughed-so-hard, oh-my-god, reaallly-gooood, why-oh-why

This is not an actual review, more like a confession of my love towards this series. If you don't want to read me blabbering about how awesome everyone in this series is, and want an actual review, you shouldn't read further. Kay? Thanks.

Dear Melina Marchetta,

A few months back I had no idea that a talented author like you existed and I still feel ashamed of my ignorance. You walked into my life with Jellicoe Road. That book had me convinced that I needed to read more of your work. Instead of re...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-favorites

4.5 Stars

To all of my readers who considered me possibly deranged (or just quit reading) when I didn’t fall head over heels for Marchetta’s Froi of the Exiles, I hope you’ll be willing to forgive me now. See, neither Froi nor Quintana of Charyn stand alone well as stories. The fact that they were initially intended to be a single volume rings so true while reading, and had a strong effect on me as a reader. Separate, I find them lacking. Together, I find a much stronger and more compelling story...more 4.5 Stars

To all of my readers who considered me possibly deranged (or just quit reading) when I didn’t fall head over heels for Marchetta’s Froi of the Exiles, I hope you’ll be willing to forgive me now. See, neither Froi nor Quintana of Charyn stand alone well as stories. The fact that they were initially intended to be a single volume rings so true while reading, and had a strong effect on me as a reader. Separate, I find them lacking. Together, I find a much stronger and more compelling story; while still not quite what I was hoping for when I initially picked up The Lumatere Chronicles, I leave this world satisfied, happy, and content.

Yes, Quintana, this is the story I was banking on all along. It’s a bit stunning how much more irresistible these characters’ stories become when we shed the focus of curse and prophecy and focus more on the humanity. By the time we as readers pick up Quintana of Charyn, we have a pretty rounded idea of all of the reveals and twists of The Lumatere Chronicles, and I felt this volume was stronger when Melina Marchetta stopped attempting to make readers’ heads spin and simply work her magic. Yes, in Quintana MM still has a few (largely predictable) tricks up her sleeves, but I didn’t find them to be as overplayed as I had in Froi.

In Quintana, we really get to see our characters shine. We finally are offered bits of the story from Quintana’s point of view, which MM chooses to set off from the rest of the story by molding them in first person rather than third like our other perspectives. This personal insight into the mad princess’s mind as she struggles through pregnancy and trust without Froi at her side is what finally drew me around to their relationship. I adore Froi as a character, but felt he had so much more than he realized to live for. Quintana, on the other hand, had very little other than Froi, their child, and the ungrateful country she suffered to keep safe. As we see the women (and others) forming a connection to Quintana that is unarguable, we begin to understand her better than we could merely through Froi’s eyes. She is not at all crazy, she is incredibly quick-witted and fierce, but with a feral edge that is reflected upfront. There is a continued parallel between the two queens, Quintana and Isaboe, which is played out beautifully (despite the fact that it meant I had to suffer through way too many Isaboe scenes–yep, still don’t like her one bit), in which they slowly come to realize just how similar they are in their suffering and intense need to protect the children of their nation.

As in the previous two installments, it was again the secondary characters who truly stole my heart–though I am happy to say that Phaedra and Lucian took nearly as large a part in Quintana as Quintana and Froi did themselves. Can there be any doubt that this slow burn, learning-to-love-the-hard-way relationship was my favorite among the three ‘young’ couples in this series when the other pairings seemed to go from zero to 60 in three seconds flat? The quiet, nearly unspoken pasison between the two was, for me, the most heart-wrenching in the book. Lucian and Phaedra’s love for their people is no less than that of their rulers, though they may suffer more lost love in the end if they are unable to strike a balance. Phaedra is, after all, “dead”.

One of the perspectives I was missing in Quintana was that of either Trevanion or Beatriss. It seems we saw their HEA in Froi, and so we get merely glimpses of them in Quintana. Still, I felt a strong parallel between them, Gargarin and Lirah, and Perry and Tesadora. All were couples who had created children in love, and all had those children taken from them through one cruel circumstance or another. Because of this, and the separate hardships they endured over the years, we get to see these couples struggle to come back together and be more than a mere shadow of what they once were.

I find it funny that in the end, The Lumatere Chronicles were really more about Charyn than they were about Lumatere. All were about the relations between these two countries for certain, but if we’re talking strait up page-numbers, Charyn got the bulk of the story. Which is maybe one of this series’ greatest weaknesses in a way. MM has a deft skill for making readers love those characters they once hated, but she did not manage the same fate for her counties. Because of Finnikin and Isaboe we love Lumatere from the start, and while we feel pity for Charyn and recognize them as a nation of people who have suffered greatly, we never love them the way we do the forest, flatlands, river, mountain, and rock of Lumatere. Quintana continues to have the small irksome issues that have bothered me throughout, including an almost way-too-neatly-packaged ending, but on reflection I admit this didn’t detract for me. The Lumatere Chronicles won’t be listed among my favorite series, but it does have its strength in being a character-driven tale unlike many things I’ve encountered in fantasy. It wasn’t perfect, but neither were its heroes, and in the end it’s that reality that warmed my heart.

Original review posted at Bunbury in the Stacks.(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya, own, good-grief, down-under, gorgeous-prose, heart-skipped-a-beat, just-been-cutting-onions, of-epic-proportions, soul-sister-heroine, when-can-i-move-in

This poem does not contain spoilers for Quintana HOWEVER if you haven't read Froi of the Exiles, be off with you. Shoo.

Finnikin of the Rock.
Froi of the Exiles.

Here she is. Crazy as ever…

You may think that it would be difficult to get behind
A heroine who snarls at people, keeping them at arm’s length.
But, for me at least, Quintana will always be my ultimate heroine,
As she’s a girl who survives because of her resilience and strength.

And I want her to be my life coach, my best friend,
Because I can’...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Isamlq rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites, aaw-yeah, favorites

I felt everything again. This is what this author’s books do to me. Every. Single. Time. Because it’s either about family or about friends or about roads that lead them to each other or away from each other. It’s the individuals and how one links to another then another then another that makes me feel all these things. Right now? I’m looking to the side of wonder with them.

Perhaps, the most delightful part is how there’s a playful bit that’s wove through the rest of those emotions. Oh, yes, The...more I felt everything again. This is what this author’s books do to me. Every. Single. Time. Because it’s either about family or about friends or about roads that lead them to each other or away from each other. It’s the individuals and how one links to another then another then another that makes me feel all these things. Right now? I’m looking to the side of wonder with them.

Perhaps, the most delightful part is how there’s a playful bit that’s wove through the rest of those emotions. Oh, yes, The Feels, this book has them in spades (getting to a point when I just wanted someone to hold my hand through it.) Because even when it’s hard and sad and maddening, there’s always someone who manages to say something that has me laughing. Like, how all of sudden here’s Lucian acting out of character, or there’s Arjuro being his surly self or even Quintana being scary and fierce, then letting you catch a glimpse of her that’s more than that. And that’s it too, that each of them is more than you think them at first.

A subtle magic here, not the spell weaving or the wand wielding or anything big like that; but one that’s basic, rooted in the people involved. And it’s a lovely idea because it goes back to this being a story of people, each faced with paths to follow and decisions to make… none of those ever being easy.

One links to one then to another. Connections basically, because beyond the magic, these are stories of love between man-woman, then that between parent-child, and that of bother to brother; all perfectly balanced out by them tangling with their enemies. It’s complicated as said… and I felt everything! Because they’ve each their parts and circumstance had them acting outside it.. it’s what had me feeling the strongest. Out of character jealousies by plenty, sudden bravery by others, but the sudden fears by one… all had me reeling.

They've each have their part, but not sticking to it. Isaboe is still adored but she’s a pain that drives her toward something unexpected. Finnikin likewise, it’s his actions that infuriated me for one expect much more, that it’s when he’s doing what’s expected that elicits this feeling of ‘There’s the man I know, adore.’ And I adored the people in here, Quintana especially. She’s different from the rest, with a coolness to her, that’s fierce as well. But throw Froi into the mix? And, this is me declaring my love for the pair. I loved each moment with them, individually then and as a pair. How there’s so much in Quintana and then in Froi too. They’ve surpassed all my expectations because where she’s terrifying and fierce then strong and sure, so is he. Except, it’s when they’re not those things that surprised me more because it’s also what’s made me love them more.

Marchetta’s strength is not in focusing on just one or two of these people. She builds them up for us, paints this clear picture of who were dealing with and getting invested in, faults and all; but makes things more complicated and emotion heavy by linking them to all those others, who’ve stories that are equally compelling. With Isaboe and Finnikin, then Phaedra and her Lu-cien, with them it's about connections and then about being sure, about loyalty, and about doing the right thing... the good thing. And yes, about Hope. Hope. Hope. as well.

I loved this. I loved them…

(less)

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May 03, 2013 Joie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, all-time-favorites, amazeballs, arc, favorite-heroines, aussie

Me before reading a Marchetta book:

Me after reading a Marchetta book:

description

Melina Marchetta (authoress divine) is one of those rare authors whose writing is constantly improving, constantly pushing the limits of how much I think I can love a book. When I read FINNIKIN, I felt like I had found The Best Book Ever (aside from Jellicoe Road, of course). But then she wrote FROI and now QUINTANA and I just have no words. At least, none that I haven't said before.

QUINTANA OF CHARYN is, undoubtedly, a conclus...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, once-upon-a-time, great-books, series, emotional, aussie, beloved, rereading-material, best-of

If there is a book that I can read with my eyes filled with tears and my heart full of happiness, it is one of Marchetta's stories..

FULL REVIEW:

This story took my breath away!
It's an ocean of emotions that I've been sinking in and it's not like I haven't expected it, because I really did. I knew it was coming and even thought I was prepared for the force of it, it still blew my mind away - I loved it from the first page to the very last one .. and I guess my love for it will still go on forever...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Kay marked it as to-read-asap

UPDATE 10/24/2012 : Just got Quintana of Charyn in the mail! If only I didn't have a job and bills and rent and errands and obligations to family and loved ones!!!! WHY ISN'T THE WEEKEND COMING FASTER RAWR!

-----------------------------

If I make a really cute face, will you please release this book in the US before 2013? No?

But but but how about this one? Huh? HUH???

8 likes · like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Sara McClung is currently reading it

I would pretty much do ANYTHING for a copy of this book. Just saying.

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Sep 21, 2012 Matilda Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

Still waiting for this to arrive on the shelves, excited excited excited :)

Update:

Simply amazing. I think that's all I can say. I loved it.

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Sep 25, 2012 Mandee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie, penguin, ya-lit, sept2012release, fantasy, for-review, aussieya2012, aww2012, grab-a-box-of-tissues, i-have-a-copy, male-pov, review-on-the-blog

Wow. I’ve just finished reading Quintana and I really don’t know where to start, there are so many different stories in this book, and I don’t want to spoil anything but I also know most readers of this series are dying to know what happens next! The story picks up after the events of Froi ofthe Exiles. Froi is recovering from his injuries; he’s in the godshouse of Trist with Arjuro. He’s desperate to leave so he can start searching for Quintana but he’s not the only one looking for her and the...more Wow. I’ve just finished reading Quintana and I really don’t know where to start, there are so many different stories in this book, and I don’t want to spoil anything but I also know most readers of this series are dying to know what happens next! The story picks up after the events of Froi ofthe Exiles. Froi is recovering from his injuries; he’s in the godshouse of Trist with Arjuro. He’s desperate to leave so he can start searching for Quintana but he’s not the only one looking for her and the other searchers don’t have her wellbeing at heart, namely Besitano. In Lumatere there are concerns about Gargarin of Abroi and it is decided that Finnikin, Trevanion and Perri should seek him out. Meanwhile Quintana has taken refuge in a cave in the valley but she’s in danger from the people around her.

I really enjoyed getting back to this world, after reading the previous two books I have such a clear image of what Skuldenore looks like, particularly Lumatere and Charyn, and spending time with the characters again made me immensely happy. It’s clear that so much research has gone into the language and setting of the Lumatere Chronicles and I’m sad to see this series end.

All of the characters are so well rounded and I kept waiting to favour one over the other but that moment never came. I love Finnikin and Froi equally and the same goes for Isaboe and Quintana. Froi really has had the most dramatic growth in any character I’ve read about, he has come such a long way from the boy he was in Finnikin of the Rock, and it is so pleasing to see the type of man he’s become. So many of his scenes made me teary, both with sadness and happiness, and all I wanted was for him to get what he wanted. Quintana is another character that undergoes development thanks to the people she stays with; they show her love, kindness and protection. By the end I really do think she’s made progress while still keeping her wild nature.

Not only did I love the characters but I loved their relationships, too. The bond between Finn and Froi made me smile, likewise Finn’s relationship with Isaboe and their daughter Jasmina, their love is so pure and real. I enjoyed Quintana’s interactions with the people around her, she is always highly entertaining, and Froi’s relationship with Gargarin, Arjuro and Lirah was wonderful to watch, I enjoyed their new family dynamic. I was also thrilled by the change in Lucien and was hopeful for a reunion between him and Phaedra. The characters’ actions and conversations often had me laughing out loud or becoming teary as there were some genuinely sweet and touching moments between them all. Melina is so skilled at writing about groups of people interacting and becoming friends and it’s the same case in this book, I loved seeing people come around and change their opinions of each other.

The story flowed along at a good pace, it neither felt slow nor rushed, and that is always a positive aspect when dealing with a lengthy book such as this one. I was never in a hurry to find out what was happening elsewhere, I was always content with the plot line that I was reading at the time and I enjoyed the back and forth between the different stories, it was easy to follow and always captivating.

The strongest theme in this book is that of belonging and the idea of home. Froi struggles with it now that he knows his true identity and wants so much to belong to both of the families that he is lucky to call his. The idea of home is such a universal theme, one that I am sure most readers will be able to connect with.

My anxiety went up towards the end, I felt like there was still so much time left for plans to go awry and I was worried for so many of the characters but I was extremely happy with the way the story, and the series, was wrapped up. I was clutching at my heart while crying and laughing on and off and that is my absolute favourite reaction to a book. This is now one of my favourite of Melina’s books!

Quintana of Charyn is a compelling, entertaining and beautifully written story involving realistic and loveable characters that will have you laughing and crying throughout the journey.

Thanks to the lovely people at Penguin Australia for my review copy(less)

25 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: frenzied-anticipation, aussie-aussie-aussie-oi-oi-oi, 2012, aussie-2012, i-ve-just-read-you-and-i-love-you, crushworthy-guys, dawson-leery-cried

What can I say about this book but faith rewarded? How do I begin to talk about a series that turned me onto a new genre?

Marchetta took me on a journey through an unfamiliar genre and story landscape, through curses and the Citavita. Looking back on Finnikin, I couldn't even finish my review because I was so unused to fantasy. I was exhausted by the little I did manage to write. By the time I read Froi , I was better prepared and any exhaustion I felt was due to the emotional ride from the book....more

25 likes · like · see review

Oct 17, 2012 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed, aussome, aussie-challenge, aussie, favourites, cant-put-these-down, marchettaisagod

Quintana of Charyn is the third and last book from The Lumatere Chronicles. Questions will be answered, curses will be broken, romances will be rekindled (one will be reborn) and a kingdom will be rebuilt. As usual, Melina gave us everything we wanted and left us screaming at the injustice of having to wait for another one of her books. BUT. This trilogy ended the way it was meant to end, regardless of how much I want this to go on.

The story begins with Froi recovering from his injuries while h...more
Quintana of Charyn is the third and last book from The Lumatere Chronicles. Questions will be answered, curses will be broken, romances will be rekindled (one will be reborn) and a kingdom will be rebuilt. As usual, Melina gave us everything we wanted and left us screaming at the injustice of having to wait for another one of her books. BUT. This trilogy ended the way it was meant to end, regardless of how much I want this to go on.

The story begins with Froi recovering from his injuries while he waits for word on Quintana’s whereabouts. In the meantime, his people from Lumatere are hearing unpleasant news about his possible betrayal. The remaining Charynites in the valley have learned to live under the reluctant generosity of Queen Isaboe while Lucian of the Monts grieved for the wife he lost.

It’s never easy to write a short synopsis for her books; because as always, Melina’s stories are never about just her characters and a tidy plot. It's a weaving of complicated tales and twists leading to amazing stories of uninhibited love and unending sacrifices. I am always at a loss when I endeavor to describe her novels because it's nearly impossible and I can't give them justice that they deserve. Her characters tell stories from their hearts, their souls. I feel a profound loss with each book I finish because her characters are like those temporary people you meet and learn to care about in the short time you've known them. I rest easy in the knowledge that I'll always have her books. I can always go back; reread and get to know them over again.

The trilogy is simply flawless, faultless and breathtaking. This is not your cookie-cutter fantasy. Nope. There are no dragons to slay just so the prince could rescue the princess. There are no woodland creatures, fae, and wizards. Nope. What it lacked in mythical creatures is compensated with stories of courage from people whose incomparable love for their own knows no bounds. Hope. Hope. Hope. You’ve never known stories about hope lest you read Marchetta’s books. Her stories are always borne out of heartbreak and impossible challenges; difficult relationships, unforgiveable sins. But see? It’s that foundation that makes her stories so amazing. It’s not so much as the happy ending but the difficult journey it took to get there.

Ms. Marchetta is a trailblazer; you'll never find her keeping up with the norm or writing about the ordinary. You just...just need to read her books to experience the love, the sorrows and the unbelievable strength each of her characters possess. Her words are like love poems; her phrases like uncomplicated sonnets that are easy to decipher. Reviewing her books is always a daunting task. I feel so much but words don't come easy. How could it? She hoarded them all.

So to you, Ms. Marchetta, I hope you will have a nice break from writing. But please know that it’s a sad literary world without you. Hiatus. I don’t. I can’t. [Goes fetal…proceeds to suck thumb] I am left in the void of emptiness, folks. I don't know how to deal.
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Sep 28, 2012 Christine Bongers rated it 5 of 5 stars

All that I wanted and more: joy, triumph and tears in this searing, majestic, and moving finale to Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles. There is so much to love in these characters, in this world, that it grieves me to say goodbye. Come on HBO, what are you waiting for?

9 likes · like · see review

Jun 03, 2013 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I need this so bad. I need to know that Froi gets a happy ending with his mad princess.

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2012 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

Just WOW!! What a great end to a trilogy. It was everything that I hoped it would be and actually a little better than i thought it might be. Complete review to come if I can figure out how to write one.

Not sure how to go about review so I’m just going to give some thought on the experience. It took a little time to get back into it. I should have done a reread of Froi but I just wanted to sink my teeth into this book. There are a gazillion characters and it took a little while to remember who e...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Kristalia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, all-time-favorites, unique-stories, cut-my-heart-out, dark, 6-stars, best-couple-award, be-my-hero-plz, sob-fest-its-so-sad, new-adult, must-write-review, review-which-needs-rewriting, kick-ass-heroines, favorites

Final rating: ★★★★★★/★★★★★

let me tell you about my feels.

This was.....fantastic. At least for me. I always loved Lumatere, especially after Froi of the Exiles, which was NOT what i expected of young adult fantasy to be. Great job Melina, great job!

description

I loved, loved, loved, loved every freaking word of this ♥♥♥ I read it in a day and it was just that awesome!!!!!!

So........I just didn't want this awesomeness to end. I need more. More. MOREEEEEEEEEEEEE. But i guess it won't happen.

Anyway, this was really interesting, because i h...more

13 likes · like · see review

Oct 13, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-for-sure, alternative-history-future, an-annual-read, aussie, award-winner, awesome-inner-dialogue, because-i-can-t-not-read-the-sequal, everyone-should-read-this-book, mock-prints-2012, read-book-because-i-like-the-author, reading-for-my-job, ya-loved

I'm just ... speechless at this point.

I need to ruminate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If I could sum up this series with one word, and MM uses it copiously throughout the entire series is fierce . It's a fierce story, full of fierce characters and stories with even fiercer emotions.

It has the ability to tear you to shreds, believe me.

So, last night I finished reading this and I want to say that it just really hasn't hit me yet. The full impact that a story I've invested a good threes years of my life in.

I was so so so looking forward to reading this that I think it's almost unfair to have to rate it. Do I give it 5 stars because I just KNEW this would be awesome and epic? Do I give it less because it didn't go in a direction I wanted or was too heartbroken?

I know that I'm going to re-read this very soon, as there is just a lot going on. In fact, even though I read Froi just a few weeks ago, I think I need to re-read that again too!

Spoilers below...ye be warned. Also, the more I think of things, I will be adding to this review.

(view spoiler)(less)

13 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 Jordi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Quintana of Charyn is everything it should be, and a fitting conclusion to the Lumatere Chronicles. Like Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of the Exiles it has horrifying twists, humour, and heart. I wish I could stay with these characters forever.

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 29, 2012 Jennie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, best-of-the-best, book-boyfriend

Too many emotions.

8 likes · like · see review

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Does anyone know if Melina Marchetta is going to write more books?	5	21	15 hours, 14 min ago
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About Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta was born in Sydney Australia. Her first novel, Looking For Alibrandi was awarded the Children's Book Council of Australia award in 1993 and her second novel, Saving Francesca won the same award in 2004. Looking For Alibrandi was made into a major film in 2000 and won the Australian Film Institute Award for best Film and best adapted screen play, also written by the author. On the...more

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Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles #1)

Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)

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Quotes from Quintana of Charyn

“Our bodies aren't strangers,' he said, his voice ragged. 'Our spirits aren't strangers'. He held her face in his hands. 'Tell me what part of me is stranger to you and I'll destroy that part of me.'
And she wept to hear his words.” — 76 people liked it

“Do you love me?’ he asked instead. ‘Because if you don’t, I’d wait until you did. I’d wait weeks and months and years.” — 67 people liked it

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Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3)

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