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Quintana of Charyn

(Lumatere Chronicles #3)

Melina Marchetta (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating details · 13,387 ratings · 1,611 reviews

The climactic conclusion of Printz Award winner Melina Marchetta’s epic fantasy trilogy!

Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi and his companions travel through Charyn searching for Quintana and building an army that will secure her unborn child’s right to rule. While in the valley between two kingdoms, Quintana of Charyn and Isaboe of Lumatere com ...more

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Hardcover, 516 pages

Published April 23rd 2013 by Candlewick Press (first published September 26th 2012)

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4.31 ·

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· 13,387 ratings · 1,611 reviews

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Dec 03, 2011 Kat Kennedy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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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Dec 27, 2011 Emily May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, 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 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* ...more

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Aug 01, 2014 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, fave-ya-and-fantasy, knots-in-my-stomach, likeable-mc, fave-characters, made-me-laugh, 2015-read, autobuy-authors, all-time-favorites

Reread 09/26 : As if I could stop at the end of Froi of the Exiles. Please.

"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."

Original review : Truth to be told, I was wary at first, out of fear to be disappointed by this last journey through Lumatere and Charyn. I couldn't have been more wrong - indeed Quintana of Charyn was wonderful, as it cont ...more

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Jul 01, 2017 may ❀ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 500-pgs, aaaaaaaaaa, buddy-read, bye, ded, fantasy, i-am-trash, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship, kickass-heroine, my-heart

Volunteer for someone to hold me bc I literally cannot exist right now.
I don’t know where to start bc I can’t encompass the thought that this is the end
IT’S OVER
MY LIFE IS NOW OVER.

description

Do you know who tells me my worth, Phaedra of Alonso?’
The Princess pointed a hard finger to her own chest. ‘Me. I determine my own worth. If I had to rely on others I’d have lain down and died waiting.”

This book broke me so many times.
SO
MANY
TIMES.

- FROI MY SMOL FARMER SON
- This kid doesn’t stop fighting man
- AFTER ...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Hira rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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...

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Oct 11, 2011 Jo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

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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Jun 06, 2012 Amber ~ The Reading Addict marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: to-read-that-i-own, monthly-goals, 100-books-in-2019

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

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Apr 10, 2013 Basuhi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Marchetta Lovers and High Fantasy lovers.

Shelves: fantasy

Book, did you just try to kill me ?

With that epilogue, I swear, you did.

With the serrated edges of sorrow of bidding farewell to Lumatere and Charyn.

With the indelible silence of completion.

That is fraught with joy so consummating that it aches.

I guess I got carried away, but that happened because I loved this book. I don't know if I was expecting any different but I still feel that it has surprised me.

I must tell you that this review is going to be long, because I have so much to say a ...more

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Dec 17, 2013 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-5-stars, fantastic-fantasy, kick-ass-heroines, ya, re-read, chick-i-want-to-hang-out-with, book-boyfriend-material, quit-crying-robin, o-captain-my-captain

Buddy read/reread Starting Dec 29 with my friends over on Buddies Books and Baubles formerly known as the Lumatere Group Read

Loved it just as much the 2nd time through. What a great, emotional, beautiful story.

let me love you photo: Friends Letmeloveyou_zps9a48634c.gif

Overall Series Rating = 4.75
Quintana of Charyn = 4.5

I will not be able to do justice how much I loved this series, it is impossible. Not all of it is happy and the feelings I felt throughout the series ranged the whole spectrum of emotions. I laughed, cried, got angry, hoped beyond belief ...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: covers-i-love, 2015-reads

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

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Feb 24, 2016 Kells Next Read rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, ebook

photo c903269a-7454-496a-8592-5b8fcb87b28b_zpskfeq1mn6.jpg

This Book Destroyed Me.

Melina Marchetta you have left me needing therapy after reading this Trilogy of yours. You blew breath into each character that you pen, made me love them, hate them, cry with them and experience every freaking miserable fictional feeling. I'm (at present ) trying and failing to think coherently *sob sob*

I can rave enough about this read, this book was a fantastic end to it all. The #Feels were real and the action plentiful. I'm going to sincerely miss all these character ...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Keertana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

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 im ...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Maggie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

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Apr 18, 2014 Ash Wednesday rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: awesome-heroines, fantasy, favorites, heartbreaking, heartwarming, holy-shit-moments, humor, reunions, review, revenge

SPOILERS FOR FROI OF THE EXILES

4.5 STARS
”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.”

I fell in love with that line without knowing who said them or the context of those words.

This was such a breathtaking reminder on why I read books.

Because in the culture fostered here in Goodreads, underneath the insurmountable TBR pile, the endless galleys that you burden yourself to review before their release day… it’s so easy ...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Mitch rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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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Apr 23, 2012 Kristalia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, favorites-absolute, unique-or-different-story, cut-my-heart-out, dark, 6-stars, favorite-couple, be-my-heroes-please, sob-fest, age-new-adult

Final rating: 6/5 stars

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!

This book was so wonderful, I just didn't want to put it down. Every sentence was beautiful and her writing style is amazing.

I am very, very sad to see that this is how it ends. There are those times where I love to read long series (more than 3 books) and when I don't. This series fa ...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Ari rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, once-upon-a-time, great-books, emotional, aussie-and-nz, beloved, rereading-material, best-of, male-approved

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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Feb 03, 2016 Vinaya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-kool-aid, books-i-loved, fantasy, favorites, hmm-that-was-interesting, speshul-snowflake, wish-that-was-me

The whole time I was reading this book, I was thinking "This. This is what those Syrian refugees are experiencing. The despair, the frustration, the terror, the unexpected acts of kindness, the persistent hope for a better future..." For a book that is not, presumably, written as an allegory, it is eerie how representative this book (and Froi of the Exiles) are of the state of affairs today.

I loved Finnikin of the Rock. It was a mostly straightforward epic fantasy-type book, written beautifully The whole time I was reading this book, I was thinking "This. This is what those Syrian refugees are experiencing. The despair, the frustration, the terror, the unexpected acts of kindness, the persistent hope for a better future..." For a book that is not, presumably, written as an allegory, it is eerie how representative this book (and Froi of the Exiles) are of the state of affairs today.

I loved Finnikin of the Rock. It was a mostly straightforward epic fantasy-type book, written beautifully (as is usual for Marchetta), and moving and engaging from the first word to the very last. But the other two books in this series are an entirely different beast. They are scary, thought-provoking, heartbreaking and yet full of the poignancy and humor that afflict everyday life.

Froi, oh Froi... what a journey for a "little feef" from the streets of Sarnak. I fell a little in love with Froi way back in Finnkin, when he had a couple of chapters from his POV. And he just grew and grew and grew from thereon, until he now firmly holds a piece of my heart (Marcus Darling, move over!)

Isaboe was possibly the most annoying thing in these books. I have noticed that a consistent fantasy trope in these epics fantasy is to make sure that the ruler of a kingdom, especially when they are a protagonist, or otherwise a sympathetic character, is often forced to make "hard decisions" and these decisions generally tend to be of the type that calls for the abandonment/death of another sympathetic character/cause for "the greater good". Whatever, man. Isaboe's consistent hostility to the Charyn refugees often felt like those Americans and Europeans who refuse to accept the refugees because "all Muslims are bad" (yes, yes, that's a redactive statement, but mostly true), or "they will impose Sharia law in our country". Yes, you have suffered at the hands of the bad apples, but when you cannot see beyond the imposed identity of a peoples to the common suffering at the hands of a common enemy, you stop being a sympathetic character. I don't think Isaboe was all that great a queen, frankly, despite what all those characters kept reiterating. (Like in Scandal, where people keep trying SO hard to keep Fitz in office, saying he is a "great President", when really, none of his actions actually prove any such thing).

These two books (Froi and Quintana) are a beautifully written tale, and one of the best illustrations of the resilience of the human spirit that I have every seen. Terrible, terrible things perpetrated by terrible, terrible people happen to the protagonists (and a bunch of other people) in these books. But none of those terrible things ever quite manage to overcome the hope and honor and humor of the people living between these pages.

As a lifelong fantasy enthusiast, I have to point out that there is minimal worldbuilding, some characters/storylines are mentioned in passing, or just vanish without resolutions (the heir of Yutlind Sud, anyone?) and there are many, many tropes that regular fantasy readers will recognize in an instant. But the thing is, this series is not beautiful in the same way a Sanderson book is beautiful. A Sanderson book is technically perfect (and amazing and riveting and all the other good words), but this series is beautiful in spite of its lack of technical perfection, because of the warmth and realness (not a real word, I know!) permeating every character and every scene.

Read it, read it, read it. But beware - it'll make you cry. A lot.

(But maybe not as much as Daughter of the Forest) ...more

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Aug 14, 2015 Elena rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

A brilliant (and VERY underrated) trilogy just came to an end.. I will miss these characters so much!

Everybody who's looking for a YA high fantasy series: Read this. Just do it. You won't be disappointed!

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Sep 25, 2012 Katy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 s 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. ...more

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Jan 13, 2014 Liz* Fashionably Late rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Marchetta's groupies

Shelves: me-and-marchetta, yes-a-thousand-times-yes, adventure, amazing-heroines, alternating-povs, aussie-author, author-we-should-be-friends, awesomefest, badass-hero, badass-heroine

Reading a Marchetta, always:

_______________

...leaning on the side of wonder.

I'm genuinely moved by this series, I really am. I'm not good with words, I'm not good expressing myself and that never upsets me until moments like this when I really need words to work.

I'm in love with the Lumatere Chronicles series. Even when it broke my heart at one point, I will probably read it again in the future because this was perfection, from beginning to end.

Every character, every love story and every traged ...more

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Sep 01, 2014 Duchess Nicole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-read, big-thinker-book, favorites-of-all-time, genre-fantasy, epic, highly-rated, kids-in-the-picture, lessons-learned, read-in-2014, rape

I couldn't possibly do this series justice with a review. It's honestly unlike anything else I've read...just the style of writing that Melina Marchetta has...it's unique to her. Her characters are flawed...some to the point that you never really like them, but you can certainly relate to them. Quintana is a great example. I don't think I really like her all that much. But I understand her, and she makes Froi happy. There's so much more to that but what a fantastic character.

This is the biggest ...more

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Sep 22, 2017 prag ♻ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: you

Recommended to prag ♻ by: may ❀

Shelves: fav-author, deserves-a-shrine, classic, favorite, laugh-till-i-cry, lgbtqiap-plus, otp, this-is-how-you-write-a-book, who-allowed-you-to-be-so-cute, changed-my-life

i could build a shrine in marchetta’s name and you wouldn’t even see one hundredth of how much i love her for writing this series

📢📢 friendly reminder that gargarin and arjuro smiled because with froi they found the better future they were dreaming of twenty years ago 📢📢

it's been more than a week since i finished this book but i can't stop thinking about it (or crying about it) so life's #fun

ibelieveinlove.jpg (in which five strangers make me sob because they’re a family)

● listen
● i'm not even ki ...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Wendy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: alternative-history-future, aussie, award-winner, awesome-inner-dialogue, because-i-can-t-not-read-the-sequal, everyone-should-read-this-book, 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) ...more

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Sep 22, 2015 Gillian Berry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bookish-boyfriends, but-i-am-the-chosen-one, cried-until-i-shriveled, cuter-than-puppies, fantasy, favorites, feelsy-feels, hardcopies-i-own, lolz, mind-f-ckery

I am a shell

this book is a horcrux

ARE BOOKS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO THIS

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Jul 09, 2012 Joie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 25, 2011 Limonessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-aussie-challenge, australian, fantasy, favorites, ya-lit

Well, we've come a long way since the little feef that roamed the streets of Sprie in Sarnak. A long, long way.
Final book in the trilogy, Quintana of Charyn does not disappoint; it's full of joy, horrors, tears and laughter as well. Truth be told, thanks to the grumpy Charynites, it's even more humorous than its predecessors.
As usual, Froi stars in every way, at least for me. The parallel stories all pale in comparison to the strength of this character, whose development throughout the trilogy ...more

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Jan 12, 2014 Ellis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: binge-this-series, anticipaaaation, awesome-hero, blame-everybody, book-datemate-please-materialise, boss-heroine, damn-they-hot, dj-play-this-girl-a-love-song, high-hopes, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship

4.5 stars

This book is such a strange mixture of laughter and tears. The strangest thing of all is that it completely worked.

Froi + Quintana forever.

Tesadora + Perri forever, but really just Tesadora forever.

Isaboe + Finnikin forever.

Trevanion + Beatriss forever.

Lirah + Gargarin forever.

Arjuro + De Lancey forever.

Phaedra + Lucian forever.

Lord Augie + Lady Abian forever.

Yata forever.

Jasmina forever.

Tariq forever.

Every single character forever.

Lumatere + Charyn forever.

Ellis + Marchetta forever.

RTC

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Dec 05, 2011 Natalie Williamson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites, 1-read-in-2015

Update 11/12/15 - Just realized I've read this series twice this year and I REGRET NOTHING.

Update 3/10/15 - Five million stars forever.

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 ...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Regina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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

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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 L 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. ...more

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Buddy Read Zone: Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3)	111	39	Nov 08, 2014 01:12AM
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About Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta

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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