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A review by ihlonial
The Naming by Alison Croggon
4.0
This series gets many comparisons to the likes of "The Lord of the Rings" and I totally recognize the similarities that make people see that, things like barrow wights, dead marshes, immortal beings similar to the Valar, there's a deep relationship to language within the story that is reminiscent of the same languages Tolkien studied. Cadven feels like a typification of Aragorn. The majority of this book is mostly about the harrowing travels throughout the land of Annar - reminiscent of the sweeping, generously descriptive travelling sequences in Tolkien's work. However, I would say that "The Naming" was still able to hold itself up as its own book and compel me to continue reading into this series.
However, there is a major complaint that I have with this book that absolutely cannot be brushed over. Our main character, Maerad, is sixteen years old, but the author has written her to be more at the maturity level of a much more mature, young adult woman. Maerad seems to be associating with people who are all adults with authority, and on multiple occasions her relationship with men much older than her was put into question and she was placed in many unnecessarily uncomfortable situations. I don't think the age of this book really has an excuse to write a grown adult man kissing a minor because he's a talented bard with deep feelings. Thank goodness it was nothing more than that, but genuinely, I have to ask why this felt necessary? Please, to anyone wanting to write stories, either make your characters adults or stop putting them in these positions.
Beyond that, I actually really quite enjoyed this story. I'm very invested in many of the characters and the plot is really pulling me in. It's just the kind of adventure story that I can easily fall in love with due to its lyrical writing, it's comprehensive worldbuilding and the quest for light to conquer dark.
CW: slavery, violence, mention of rape, death,
However, there is a major complaint that I have with this book that absolutely cannot be brushed over. Our main character, Maerad, is sixteen years old, but the author has written her to be more at the maturity level of a much more mature, young adult woman. Maerad seems to be associating with people who are all adults with authority, and on multiple occasions her relationship with men much older than her was put into question and she was placed in many unnecessarily uncomfortable situations. I don't think the age of this book really has an excuse to write a grown adult man kissing a minor because he's a talented bard with deep feelings. Thank goodness it was nothing more than that, but genuinely, I have to ask why this felt necessary? Please, to anyone wanting to write stories, either make your characters adults or stop putting them in these positions.
Beyond that, I actually really quite enjoyed this story. I'm very invested in many of the characters and the plot is really pulling me in. It's just the kind of adventure story that I can easily fall in love with due to its lyrical writing, it's comprehensive worldbuilding and the quest for light to conquer dark.
CW: slavery, violence, mention of rape, death,