I now blog over at The Eyre Guide! This blog is an archive of my past posts.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Review: Quintana of Charyn

Posted by Charlene // Tags: , , , ,
Quintana of Charyn (The Lumatere Chronicles #3)
by Melina Marchetta

Plot Summary:

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 conflict? When the forces marshalled in Charyn's war gather and threaten to involve the whole of the land, including Lumatere, only Froi can set things right, with the help of those he loves.

Review:

The is the third and final book in the Lumatere Chronicles, and what an amazing ride this series has been.  From a first book that is full of beautiful moments with characters we are just getting to know and understand to this final installment where the full realization of who these varied and complex people truly are; I was completely blown away by the awesome scope of this trilogy.  With the first book centering on the tragedy of Lumatere at the hands of Charyn, and the second book examining the circumstances that led to the corrupt government of Charyn, the third book tells the story of how these two lands can start to heal.  There are so many plot threads from the beginning of this series that find a different meaning in the third book as the reader starts to see the complete picture.  It's perfect interweaving of plot threads and characters by an author who I'm fast believing has a completely unearthly writing ability.

This series is high fantasy, but often gets put into YA as a category and I think that fits because as so many people point out, YA has stories where characters feel very strongly and dramatically over every little thing, but with this series those emotional moments are rightfully dramatic and feel life and death.  Whether it's filial or romantic love, love for your land or your child, the stakes are so high in this story that its hard not to feel just as invested in every love story and every heartbreaking plot twist as these characters who must fight for justice and healing.  It's again incredible how Melina Marchetta writes such realistic characters with believable emotional development who are not always likable, but real and relatable.

Quintana as the title character of the book, doesn't have much more scenes than the other characters in this book in my opinion, but she does change the most throughout the story - especially in the final chapters - where you see how much she has learned from the people who took care of her during her pregnancy.  It was so touching to read how this group of women who almost hated each other for most of their forced time together, became so close at the end of it and Quintana was able to grow so much because of that.  It's also interesting to see the parallels in the fierceness of the two Queens in the story - Quintana and Isaboe and their interactions was a joy to read.

There's something that Melina does in this book that I like to think of as deferred pain - because there are so many moments that as a reader I was eagerly awaiting because I knew it would pack an emotional punch, but when it finally happens there is something else very important that needs to play out before that emotional punch can land, so that the emotional set-up of the moment is brought to fruition some pages later resulting in immediate tearfulness for me.  No set-up needed.  It was kinda fun actually being put through the emotional wringer with this book!

I can't recommend this series enough - the story never let me down, it's a moving and engaging portrait of strong, wonderful characters against a backdrop of broken lives, patriotic love, hope and friendship.


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6 comments:

  1. I think I'm definitely going to have to check out this series. I've really enjoyed a couple of Melina Marchetta's books in the past and you've made it sound very promising indeed...I think I actually have the first book on my bookshelf somewhere too! :)

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    1. Yes! Especially if you have the book on your bookshelf - I'm think I hear it begging to be read. :D I really hope you enjoy it - if you like Melina's writing, then it's just more of the same awesomeness really. :)

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  2. Ah! I'm so happy that you've loved this series so much, since it's obviously terribly fantastic. :) I think I was a blubbering mess for most of the end of this one--largely simply because it was ending, but also, how can you not be?

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    1. So true! I'm really holding out hope that Melina will revisit this series someday cause these characters will never leave me! And I want to know more about them!

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  3. I am obsessed with The Lumatere Chronicles. Someone told me that you were also a huge fan of these book. Have you read her short story, Ferragost , about lady Celia and her travels in Belgonia??
    Stop by bookhangoversbb.blogspot.com Yesterday's Feature & Follow, I obsess about The Lumatere Chronicles, LOL :) xoxo

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    1. Oh awesome!! Definitely glad you stopped by my blog! I did read Ferragost - posted a review here: http://bookishwhimsy.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-ferragost.html And I have to say I am extremely partial to Banyon! :) Going to check out your blog now!

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