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jol69's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe 4.5 stars. Still undecided. I love that we are still getting the storyline of our characters from the first book in the series. I don't love Quintana but I loved that she is so flawed. not your typical princess. In fact I think that's what I love about this series so far - the characters are so real because they are all flawed in some way..in other words - human!
lovelyloro's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! Such deep, complex, perfectly flawed characters. This book was OUTSTANDING! I can't wait to see where she takes this series.
auntkat86's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. I accidentally read the third book of the series first and loved it and I fell in love with the character Froi in the second book of the series. Fri of the exiles was the best book in the series and I didn't complain that it was the longest. I'm sad I finished it
bookwyrm76's review against another edition
3.0
Finally! I felt like I would never finish Froi when I started it.
That sounds like the start of a bad review, but I promise it's not. By the end of the book I was loving it and crying for the characters the same way I did with Marchetta's previous book. As with Finnikan, Froi was a very slow start. I really wish the first 100 pages either had a bit more of the characters connecting to each other or was shortened. I didn't start really getting into the story and seeing the deeper themes of the book until the characters started to thaw toward each other. While I am all for realism and these two nations had no reason to trust one another, I do believe from the first book that some of these characters were better people than they acted in the first 1/3 of the book. It was almost like they had forgotten or had to relearn life lessons that they had learned in the last book.
That being said, once they started to connect to each other and the clues to Froi's past started to come to light the pages seemed to fly. While it took me weeks to get through the 1st 200, I think I read the last 2/3rds of the book in a matter of hours. I hated to put it down to drive home and had to resist picking it up at stop lights. The end does leave you hanging, but then it is the middle book of a trilogy. I could even have lived without the epilogue. That teasing info almost makes the wait for book three worse.
I would recommend this ONLY for mature readers. The early themes of sexual violence and brutality to women are very harsh. Once you get deeper into the book, the themes of national identity and what creates a culture emerge as well as family of blood vs family of the heart.
That sounds like the start of a bad review, but I promise it's not. By the end of the book I was loving it and crying for the characters the same way I did with Marchetta's previous book. As with Finnikan, Froi was a very slow start. I really wish the first 100 pages either had a bit more of the characters connecting to each other or was shortened. I didn't start really getting into the story and seeing the deeper themes of the book until the characters started to thaw toward each other. While I am all for realism and these two nations had no reason to trust one another, I do believe from the first book that some of these characters were better people than they acted in the first 1/3 of the book. It was almost like they had forgotten or had to relearn life lessons that they had learned in the last book.
That being said, once they started to connect to each other and the clues to Froi's past started to come to light the pages seemed to fly. While it took me weeks to get through the 1st 200, I think I read the last 2/3rds of the book in a matter of hours. I hated to put it down to drive home and had to resist picking it up at stop lights. The end does leave you hanging, but then it is the middle book of a trilogy. I could even have lived without the epilogue. That teasing info almost makes the wait for book three worse.
I would recommend this ONLY for mature readers. The early themes of sexual violence and brutality to women are very harsh. Once you get deeper into the book, the themes of national identity and what creates a culture emerge as well as family of blood vs family of the heart.
kaulhilo's review against another edition
5.0
i finished this a whole 24 hours ago and i still don't really know what to say. i can't even process this book?? i won't even think about it, im tiredt of all this pain. (also i do love trevanion)
teacupkintsugi's review against another edition
5.0
This was seriously amazing. I wish I could give it all the stars in the world.
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
5.0
Flawless!! I have been well and truly won over. Luckily, I have the third audiobook in the car so guess what I'm listening to next!?
marscandy37's review against another edition
5.0
Ha-ha! Let me beginning by saying that I love how Melina Marchetta writes. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING she writes is pointless. The most trivial thing that was mentioned at the beginning of the book has huge implications some where in the middle and if you're not paying attention you will completely miss the satisfying subtlety.
In all honesty I picked up this book with mixed feelings. Although I enjoyed the first in the series, Finnikin of the Rock, it didn't blow me away.
Evanjelin/Isaboe was a bit annoying to tell the truth. It irritated me that she always thought she knew better than everyone else, but I chucked it up to her being nobility and all and quit my fussing.
In all this, I didn't take to Froi either. I don't find sexual assault forgivable and the fact that they just let it go like that disturbed me. So, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like a book from his point of view because I just kept thinking he was icky.
Imagine my surprise when I didn't only stop viewing him as a sick twisted little twerp and started viewing him as more of a reluctant hero, but I actually really started to care about him too. Melina you sneaky person you...
This story not only had great pacing, but wonderful new characters and character development. All but Isaboe, I still don't like her...
I like that Melina Marchetta wasn't afraid to portray all kinds of love. The relationships are complexed and interesting. From mothers to brothers to lovers to friends.
I can't say enough good things about this book. I will definitely read Quintana of Charyn. I need more of this authors great writing.
In all honesty I picked up this book with mixed feelings. Although I enjoyed the first in the series, Finnikin of the Rock, it didn't blow me away.
Evanjelin/Isaboe was a bit annoying to tell the truth. It irritated me that she always thought she knew better than everyone else, but I chucked it up to her being nobility and all and quit my fussing.
In all this, I didn't take to Froi either. I don't find sexual assault forgivable and the fact that they just let it go like that disturbed me. So, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like a book from his point of view because I just kept thinking he was icky.
Imagine my surprise when I didn't only stop viewing him as a sick twisted little twerp and started viewing him as more of a reluctant hero, but I actually really started to care about him too. Melina you sneaky person you...
This story not only had great pacing, but wonderful new characters and character development. All but Isaboe, I still don't like her...
I like that Melina Marchetta wasn't afraid to portray all kinds of love. The relationships are complexed and interesting. From mothers to brothers to lovers to friends.
I can't say enough good things about this book. I will definitely read Quintana of Charyn. I need more of this authors great writing.
bookdevouringmisfit's review against another edition
5.0
NOW TEARS ARE STREAMING DOWN MY FACE. AND ON CHRISTMAS DAY?????? 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY???? NO. I HAD TO READ A MARCHETTA BOOK SO THIS IS WHAT I GET.