*****1/2

Cannot. believe. I’ve. finished. this. book. already. Finishing this book felt like I’ve been dragged back to a place called earth but all I want to do is crawl back to place called Lumatere just as I’ve been for the past two days; to forget myself and allow myself to be totally consumed by a world created by Melina Marchetta.

OK, enough with the melodramatics already.

Gosh!! I find it hard to describe in words what I feel for a book I love so much. But here goes.

Finnikin of the Rock, at the age nine had a dream from the gods that he was to sacrifice a pound of flesh to save the royal house of his homeland, Lumetere. He does this and pledges to be Lumatere’s protector and guide for as long as he lives along side his two best friends, Balthazar the royal prince and Lucian (cousin to the prince). Both who also made pledges and sacrifice pounds of their flesh.

Then the five days of unspeakable happened, the royal palace was attacked and the king, queen and all the princesses were murdered except for the youngest daughter, sweet beautiful Isaboe who was slain in the forest of Lumatere

A curse placed on the land caused the land to shudder and split to take the people and the village homes around it. The curse traps the people left on the land and forces the ones who escaped to roam foreign lands as exiles and as the author says “walk the land in a diaspora of misery”

The only hope left to restore what was once lost lies in the promise or sacrifice a now older Finnikin made ten years ago on the rock of three wonders; but only with the guidance of girl called Evanjalin.

A lot of the times you know how a book will end or at least have a good guess, but what we cannot guess is what happens in between, so we read for the journey and we hope to get lost in the adventure and enjoy the ride, well at least I do anyway.

I agree with whoever said Writing fantasy and making the world created around it believable, is always a challenge. First it has to be real enough to you, and then it has to be real enough for your readers, who don't know it when they first come to it. Melina’s story telling is done with sheer brilliance that you can’t help but to appreciate. This book draws you in the moment you the read the very first page. Sure it was a bit predictable sometimes, but most plots are these days and I believe the incredible story telling compensates for any flaw this book has.

I can’t remember the last time I felt so strongly about a book, please don’t get me wrong, there some books that I love but I don’t think I’ve felt such emotional attachments to characters like I do for this book maybe since I read the Hunger games series.

All the characters are so amazing and very easy to like, especially my two favorites Finn and Evanjalin. Finnikin is so strong, smart, kind, loving, he embodies all qualities of a great leader. Evanjalin is ……sigh!!!(please fill in the blank those who have read this book) for I don’t think I can find the right word or words to describe this girl. Urm….. maybe epitome of greatness? I’m still not sure if that will be enough. If I have to however talk about how much love I have for her, I’ll probably go on and on and on, but I’m not going to bore you with such details. lol

All in all, Melina definitely knows how quench the hunger of a reader like me and seriously leaves one satisfied but yet yearning for more (don't know if that makes sense). I seriously cannot believe this book is not widely known or popular than it is right now, because the story is sensational, Mind-blowing, incredible, I can seriously go on and on but I don’t think I could find words that will describe or give the book the justice it deserves.

I want to finish this review with some of my favorite quotes from the book

"Finn, listen!" Trevanion said, his voice raw. "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."
"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?”

‘He just watched the way Finnikin's hands rested on Evanjalin's neck and he rubbed his thumb along her jaw and the way his tongue seemed to disappear inside her mouth as if he needed a part of her to breathe himself’

“Be prepared for the worst, my love, for it lives next door to the best.”

‘He heard them speak of their weariness, but stronger was the desire to be there for their beloved Isaboe, so she could feel the presence of a mother who loved and a father who doted and sisters who cared and a brother who teased. No one was more an orphan to the land than their queen’

Phew !!!!!! finally, I thought I’d never stop yapping. Now I can go to bed.

Note: BTW Arlene, I owe you one for this ;)