Once upon a time...

I never would have thought a book could have me sobbing my heart out at four in the morning.
And then Melina Marchetta wrote On the Jellicoe Road.
I never would have thought I'd like traditional fantasy novels.
And then Melina Marchetta wrote Finnikin of the Rock.
I never would have thought characters could get any better than Finnikin and Isaboe.
And then Melina Marchetta wrote Froi of the Exiles.

I think that if Ms Marchetta were to ever write a bad novel, the earth would simply slip off its axis and the universe would implode because the natural order of things would have gone completely askew. Every time I stop and think "THIS IS IT. This is the pinnacle of literary perfection and books just don't get any better than this", Marchetta goes right ahead and releases the proof that I was wrong.

This book is just so much better than Finnikin of the Rock, and that sounds like I'm insulting the prequel - I'm not. I honestly loved everything about the story of Finnikin and Isaboe, I thought it was a fantastic beginning to this series, both well-written and pulse-pounding. But Froi is just more of what I like to read about. Finnikin is a nicer character than Froi, he had many sides and was interesting to follow through his adventures (because Ms Marchetta does not create poor characters), but it was exactly the complications of Froi's character - the battle to control his temper, the struggle to part with the horrors of his past - that made me love him so much more.

And Quintana! Oh Quintana, how I'm looking forward to getting more acquainted with you in the next book. I'm not going to spoil this wonderful character for anyone who is yet to read Froi of the Exiles, but she is fantastic and weird and I can't wait for Quintana of Charyn!!!!

I love how so many characters came into this book and I can remember very clearly the personalities of them all. None were wasted and everyone who was introduced had their part to play that was key to the overall story, not a single one will easily be forgotten. Like The Queen of Attolia was just so much more than The Thief, I felt that Froi of the Exiles was so much more of everything that made Finnikin of the Rock amazing. It was more exciting, faster-paced, funnier, nastier... even sexier. I got hot flushes at the mention of Froi's "wicked tongue"!

I don't really think anyone can say anything else about Melina Marchetta. I tend to mention her in most of my reviews because I find her talent for story-telling and creating a variety of complex characters just incredible. She astounds me. How else can I make you Marchetta virgins pick up her work? Let me know and I'll write it in my next review! I hope I've managed to do Froi some justice with this review and that it wasn't just a mess of adoring mushiness. But then, how do you review a perfect book? This is my crappy attempt.