The Journey Home - Wrap-up post + Giveaway!

THE JOURNEY HOME WRAP-UP POST

Charlene: My fellow Lumaterans. We are finally here! We’ve gotten to the other side of this wonderful book called Finnikin of the Rock, and from the feedback of the participants I believe we’ve all been really happy with the journey. THANK Lagrami and Sagrami! And thank everyone for participating!!

Paola: It’s such a good feeling every time we recommend this book and series to someone and they end up loving it like we do! *sobs* Thank you for traveling with us over the past three weeks. For those of you who foresee further adventures in Lumatere, we do have a Goodreads group you can join -- the #PostFinnikinSupportGroup, handing out Trevanion bear hugs since… early 2013… (LOL)

Charlene: Yes! Please do join us! We will be there to support you if you have yet to read the next two books in the series (cause believe me you will need support!). For the last post of the event, we wanted to have a countdown of some of our favorite moments from the book.  And if you have some favorite moments to share yourself, please let us know in the comments!

Paola: Without further ado, here are our favorite moments from Finnikin of the Rock, complete with commentary from your favorite founding members of the Lumatere Tourism Board! (Hey, we’re legit, okay??)

SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY AT THE END

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#10: Evanjalin is welcomed in by the Monts

Well with all the mystery surrounding Evanjalin, to finally find out that she is not the bad guy and is in fact pretty much the hero (sorry Finn) (P: BAHAHA I love you Finn but this is true~) for bringing her people together - for Evanjalin to get a moment to be with family and the way she breaks down when she can let them take some of the burden is a beautiful moment. And it’s a beautiful moment for Yata to be reunited with a granddaughter she thought was dead.

#9: Trevanion is reunited with his Guard

It’s great to go from such a tense moment when Finn and Evanjalin might get attacked by this hulking monster of a man, to Finn mock fighting with him while Trevanion watches fondly. And the emotion of the Guard as they welcome back their leader was too perfect. I can’t believe how many wonderful and varied relationships Melina Marchetta has worked into this book!
(P: Indeed, the bro love in this book is just awesome. Well and in the whole series. *sniffle*)

#8: When Finn reaches the last ridge one mile from Lumatere after being gone for so long.

“He imagined what it would be like to see inside the kingdom, all the way to the rock of three wonders, where once he made a pledge with his two friends, believing in their omnipotence. That they could save their world.”
(C: An instant of perfect feels-inducing Nationalism that is so important to this story!) (P: And some more of those BFF feels from our Lumatere bros haha)

#7: Evanjalin dares to talk to Trevanion about Beatriss

(P: Um, of course she dares. It’s Evanjalin. Hahaha) Since everything about Trevanion and Beatriss is feels-inducing for me, I have to love the moment when Trevanion is forced to hear about Beatriss after so long believing her dead! And we also get a glimpse of Beatriss’ strength taking on the burden of helping and leading her people.

#6: We discover the fate of Balthazar.

Dude was a BADASS. The end. (C: I want Balthazar to be my brother too!! Just please don’t die!!)

#5: Finnikin won’t let his father divert the soldiers while he escapes from the mines

“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 lend 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?”

More chills! How could Trevanion think Finnikin would leave him when he’s just gotten his Father back!  And Trevanion just buckles down and makes their escape happen. #whatneedstobedone (P: ← THIS!!!!!!)

#4: Operation: Save Froi from the crazy Charynite soldiers

After we hear how Froi heroically saves Evanjalin from capture by drawing attention to himself - you know they need to bring him out of there. While Froi still has a long way to go to redeem himself in this series, this was one heck of an awesome first step! (P: Agreed!!! *hugs Froi*)

#3: Evanjalin tells Trevanion his son is in the Sorel mines

It was difficult to understand why Evanjalin turned Finnikin in to the guards, but when we find out how Trevanion has accepted his fate in the mines, it’s crystal clear. And the way Evanjalin threatens Trevanion if he doesn’t get his son out is classic, feels-inducing Evanjalin. (P: That’s my girl!!!) It’s sad to see a strong man broken, and to have this scene bring him to life was a major chills moment for me!

TIE!!

#1 The best proposal ever in any book, period. 

“This hand says you spend the rest of your life with me,” he said, holding out his left hand, “and this one says I spend the rest of my life with you. Choose.”

/Paola explodes into a burst of feels and hysterical sobbing (C: And happiness rainbows) (P: And lifetime supplies of cake because that’s like, baked happiness) (C: Good point!)

#1: Finn and Evanjalin standing at the gates of Lumatere at last. 

And the odds don’t look too good for survival, but they take a moment to talk about the might-have-been. (Sorry/not sorry guys, this ENTIRE quote is getting included because IT IS THE BEST.)

“Tell me about the farm,” she pleaded as drops of blood began to appear on her hands.

“The farm?”

“The farm that Finnikin the peasant would have lived on with his bride.”

“Evanjalin. That was her name. Did I mention that?”

She laughed through a sob. “No, you didn’t.”

“They would plant rows upon rows of wheat and barley, and each night they would sit under the stars to admire what they owned. Oh, and they would argue. She believes the money spent would be better spent on a horse, and he believes they need a new barn. But then later they would forget all their anger and he would hold her fiercely and never let her go.”

“And he’d place marigolds in her hair?” she asked.

He clasped her hands against his and watched her blood seep through the lines of his skin. “And he would love her until the day he died,” he said. He placed his other bloody hand against those imprinted for eternity on the kingdom walls.

/SPOILERS

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Charlene: Please talk amongst yourselves as Paola and I try to get our feels back in order.

Paola: Yeah seriously, I could barely type out that quote, I was being facepunched by feels the entire time… I think I need to go curl up in a corner and cry for a while now.

Charlene: While we recover (these things take time) here’s a giveaway for the participants/incentive for people who have not read the books to get one of the books from the Lumatere Chronicles. It’s winner’s choice for whichever book they would like!

Paola: Whether you’ve been inspired to come to Lumatere or you’re ready to get back on board the feels train, we’ve got you covered! Good luck!!!

(Open Internationally!!)

Ends November 5th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And here's a list of all the wonderful posts that were a part of this event!
WEEK 1
Introduction/Chat @ A Novel Idea
Relationship Post: Beatriss and Trevanion
Why I Moved to Lumatere @ A Novel Idea
First Week Discussion

WEEK 2
Review: Quintana of Charyn
Review: Finnikin of the Rock @ Rinn Reads
Review: Ferragost  (Lumatere Chronicles #2.5)
Finnikin and Evanjalin @ YA Asylum
Second Week Discussion @ A Novel Idea
Thoughts on the Book #2
Discussion Post @ YA Asylum

WEEK 3
My Unconditional Love for the Lumatere Chronicles @ Gypsy Reviews
Finnikin of the Rock: A Reaction @ Rally the Readers
Review: Finnikin of the Rock @ Celestial Carousel
Thoughts on Finnikin of the Rock @ The Sleeping Latte
Review: Finnikin of the Rock @ Doing Dewey
World Building in the Lumatere Chronicles @ Rinn Reads
Duchess Book Club - Quintana of Charyn Review @ A Novel Idea

(if I somehow missed someone's post, please let me know and I'll add it to the list!)