Title: Froi of the Exiles
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publisher: Viking Australia
Published: Oct 03, 2011
Buy: The Book Depository
Sometimes (all of the time where Melina Marchetta is concerned), I tend to get very attached to certain stories and can barely think about anything else for days. It happened with Finnikin of the Rock - the first book in the Lumatere Chronicles - and it happened again, and more powerfully, with Froi of the Exiles.
Froi. I don’t even know where to start with his character. I can’t say I was overly fond of him in Finnikin of the Rock, but the staggering amount of growth and maturity he shows in this sequel is astonishing. I was a little unsure of him at first but grew to love - genuinely love - him as the story progressed. Three years later and he is quite a surprising improvement. More than anything, my heart ached for him. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so invested in a character before. With so much depth and so much soul, he has easily become one of my favourite characters of all time – and I never thought I would say that.
We also have Quintana of Charyn, who refused to listen to the rules and skipped straight to the top of my list of favourite characters. All of this before I even got to know her properly. (Though to be quite honest, I don’t think I did get to know her thoroughly – more reason to look forward to the third book). What a strange character she is. With two versions living inside her body, her personality is… undefinable, to say the least. Maybe I am drawn to the peculiar types that like to substitute ‘we’ for ‘I’ and ‘us’ for ‘me’, the types who cannot comprehend winking, and are prone to regular acts of snarling and teeth-baring. Whatever is was about her, I ended up relishing her character as much as Froi’s, maybe even more so. Her past, her life, everything she has had to endure previously tore my heart to pieces. I wish I could give her a hug, even though she would probably hate that.
The story itself is rich in detail and as complex as it leading characters. Quite a few twists caught me off guard, and that ending especially left my jaw on the floor. Nearing 600 pages, Froi of the Exiles is not a light read in the slightest. It is quite a mammoth book to get through, but never did my attention float elsewhere or did I wish parts had been condensed. I actually forgot to eat at one point as I was so absorbed. Choosing between the next chapter and leaving my stomach painfully empty was a surprisingly easy decision to make.
I put off reading Froi of the Exiles for several months now, the reasons to which even I don’t know. Thankfully this means the wait for the next book, Quintana of Charyn, will not be too excruciating. I know I can look forward to an epic conclusion to this series, and if anyone can deliver on my high expectations, it is Melina Marchetta.
Rating: 5 stars
Yay Sam! Although Froi of the Exiles is one of the few Melina Marchetta novels I haven't read-yet-I'm so, so thrilled you loved this and I planned to do the same time (how could I not? It's Melina Marchetta). Lovely review, as always! Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review! Now I feel like I really have to read Finnikin of the Rock so that I can read this one :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with this series but I'm going to look into it now. Great review. I love the authors name :)
ReplyDeleteLove those books that I can't stop thinking about, reminiscing!!! I really need to read this series since you loved it that much!! I have been lacking in head throbbing (in a good way) books lately. I'm really curious in the character Quintana. I love rule breakers and am curious of what her, as you put it, "two versions", are. Fabulous, wonderful review Sam!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this one Sam! I think writing reviews for Marchetta novels is one of the hardest tasks ever, but yours is amazing! Like you, I was never overly fond of Froi but I really grew to appreciate him as a character and he's steadily become one of my favorites. I can't wait till Quintana of Charyn comes out, although I do have to admit I'm more eager to see where Lucian and Phaedra's relationship is headed in the sequel rather than anything else. I really grew to love them and their subtle romance, so I'm hoping there's more of them in the next installment! Yet another absolutely fantastic review Sam! :D
ReplyDelete~Keertana
Ivy Book Bindings
Awesome review, Sam :D I've never, ever heard of this series, but it looks so freaking great and everybody I know gave it a 5-star rating on Goodreads... I'll have to check it out imediately. Thank you for putting this on my radar! I think I'm missing a wonderful fantasy novel.
ReplyDeleteAHH CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS ONE! I've been putting it off because I heard about the cliffhanger but I really want to read it now. I can't wait to see what Melina Marchetta does with fantasy!
ReplyDeleteGah, I really really really need to read a book from this author! Fabulous review, and to have it stuck in your head for a couple of days really does prove how amazing a read this one was <3 Froi sounds like a really interesting character, to have you dub him as a favourite *o* Super convincing review, I am so going to go check this one out right now! <3
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought about Froi or Quintana in a while but your review took me back to their world, I loved this review!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, so many twists that I didn't see coming, this book was full of surprises! Just under 2 months until Quintana - yay!
I'm deeply ashamed to call myself Australian and admit to having only even read ONE Marchetta book, and that only because it was assigned reading for school. I really must fix this :S
ReplyDeleteESPECIALLY given it's high fantasy. And I ADORE high fantasy. Sam, it sounds PERFECT, and I'm so glad you loved ♥
Sam, lol I was reading this and thought it sounded exactly like a review I read on goodreads. Well, duh lol!!!
ReplyDeleteJust as good the 2nd time ;) I can't wait to pick this up! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Melina Marchetta is do hard to review because she is just so good.
I haven't read this series yet, but I've heard really great things about it. Since you gave it 5 stars, I definitely need to check it out some time. The characters seem really wonderful! Plus, it's got plenty of twists. That's sure to please me!
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Sam! :)
I've heard nothing but good things about this series! I haven't read the first book yet, but I think I'll have no choice but to pick it up because I'm just too intrigued--and impressed--by now. :P
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
Great review, Sam! You totally had me sold, so I went to add it on GR and saw a lot of people I like give this and the 1st book high ratings. I feel so left out - lol. I added it to my wishlish! I'm really curios now about the series.
ReplyDeleteI need to start this series soon! A five-star from you means straight to my tbr! Haha! I can't believe I din't try to check this series out before, so many people loved this! Lovely review, Sam! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I must be the only one to pick this series up! I know an epic fail on my part! I have a read-athon coming up next week I think I should try and read it then, because it sounds like I'm missing out on so much epicness! I will come back and read your review properly once I've picked this series up, I'm sure it's as awesome as usual! :)
ReplyDeleteHoly whoa... one of your favourite characters of ALL TIME? Way to lay on the expectations there, Sam :P This book sounds... amazing, without question.
ReplyDeleteIn the past, I lusted over that kind of page count, but then blogging came along and I grew much fonder of the 300-400 page books... HOWEVER. That's not even putting me off. Your brilliant review has made me SO crazy eager to hurry up and get started on this series!! If only just to get to the sequel!
Oh a different cover! I have seen this one and Finnikin COUNTLESS times on my Goodreads feeds it went crazy for a while and I was a bit wary of the hype - and about the fact that I didn't love Jellicoe Road as much as others. But it sounds like a truly brilliant series and call me curious for sure! I definitely want to give them a try.
ReplyDeleteI like this cover. It says sexy to me. Being a big fan of fantasy, I've been clamoring this book for months now. Problem is, our local bookstore doesn't carry this title at all. *sad* I think this book will finally get me to purchase a book online for the first time.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Sam :D
I really need to read more Melina Marchetta! I read Saving Francesca and loved it, but this one sounds even better since I much prefer anything supernatural to contemporary. Quintana's characters sounds utterly fascinating, I love characters who are strange and unique and quirky, and she clearly fits the bill. Do you have to read Finnikin of the Rock to understand this one Sam?
ReplyDeleteGorgeous review!
It's definitely better to read Finnikin first, but I don't think it's completely impossible to understand Froi without it. I would recommend you start with Finnikin though. :)
DeleteAww, Sam. I love your review. :) So glad you loved this book. <3 I loved it too :D But I think I loved Finnikin of the Rock more ;p Cause, well, it was a bit easier to love Finnikin than Froi ;p But I did love Froi in this book. But oh. I didn't love Quintana much :p She was such a hard character to understand. But I did like her most of the time ;) And ah. 600 pages. This book is so so so long. And hard to read. But I loved reading it. Even though most is just pain. Heh. But it is awesome. :) Glad you enjoyed it too ;) <3
ReplyDeleteAnother fantastic review, Sam! You just keep spoiling us with these! It's been months since I finished this book, but I still think of Froi and Quintana so often. And you're right about her, it's interesting how Marchetta made us all adore such an odd heroine (or rather anti-heroine). She was such a big change after Isaboe, but not an unwelcome one.
ReplyDeleteOoo, this sounds like something I'd enjoy! And 5 stars? It's now on my TBR list! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful review with us, Sam. :) xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that you ended up enjoying and loving Froi's character in this book - I had a hard time liking him in FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK, so I've been holding off on reading FROI. I should go grab a copy soon, because this one sounds like yet another excellent Marchetta book!
ReplyDeleteLovely review! :)
A 5 star rating from you?! This must have been FLAWLESS! Froi is one of your favourite characters ever?!?! Okay, this is a must read. Quintana of Charyn sounds like such a geat character, definitely my favourite kind [doesnt follow the rules? LOVE her!]. Thanks for an awesome review, Sam. (:
ReplyDeleteWow what a cool review. I grabbed a copy of this after Maja spoke so highly of it! To hear you say Finnikin made your heart ache and that he is now your favorite character of all time speaks volumes! I must endeavor to read this series soon!
ReplyDelete5 stars?!??!?! Awesome review Sam!!! I haven't heard of this one before but it sounds really interesting. The characters sound super fabulous and the storyline itself looks really cool too!!! Thanks for sharing :-)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, mammoth book (LOVE that you call this thick book mammoth, Sam! <3) with five stars always go into INSTANT BUY for me! x) I honestly haven't paid many attention on this book, but WOW WOW WOW. I think I've done one of the biggest mistakes ever! I'd read anything you recommend, Sam, so I have to start this series soon!! x)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you can do justice for this book in your review! Your review is GORGEOUS, Sam! ;)
I looooved this book! I didn't like Froi in book 1 either but I loved him in this book! I didn't like any of the characters at first actually and I thought Quintana was really weird. Well, I still think she is. But I grew to love them all! Can't wait for Quintana of Charyn and I seriously hope nobody dies, except the bad people!
ReplyDeleteYAY! Yet another book to add to my TBR list. And all thanks to you, Sam! <33 I really have to start getting into this series now.. I mean, I've read at least over 10 awesome reviews of it, and the fact that I still haven't picked these books up makes me a real idiot. Froi seems like an... interesting character. :P But I love that he's shown a lot of growth in this book. I love it when characters grow and change and develop before our very eyes! It makes me feel so motherly. :P
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY AMAZINGLY CONTAGIOUS AND FABULOUS REVIEW, SAM!! *haha you've made me go ALL caps-lock*!!! Like Hilda, I would read anything you'd recommend. xx
MM is so talented to have made us care for Froi. Of all the characters I would've never guessed how much I'd love him. Then there's Quintana with all that winking and squinting and those teeth! Lol! Yet they're the perfect broken couple. I want happy ending for all the couples. So glad Quintana is coming soon. Thank goodness for international book sellers because I'm NOT waiting til 2013! Wonderful review Sam. :)
ReplyDeleteFroi breaks my heart again and again. I loved all the new characters we meet in this book too. I cannot wait for Quintana. Great review, Sam! :)
ReplyDelete-Maggie
Wow, this is new to me but you amazing review has convinced me I need to pick up the first book very soon, I think I will check the library today! Froi sounds very intriguing & I can't wait to meet him. I'm glad you loved this so much, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Jellicoe Road, I found it to be completely lovely, so I am so intrigued to see what Melina Marchetta can do with fantasy -- it sounds like she definitely weaves something amazing. Such a great review!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Sam, everyone raves about Marchetta but I've never read any of her books. Are they all series? And which one is your favourite?
ReplyDeleteAhem. I (as I've mentioned before) am ashamed to be Australian. I haven't read ANY of Marchetta's books even though EVERYONE's been urging me to read them already!! But WOW...this one's a REALLY long book (I get intimidated by books with over 400 pages :S) Anyway, I'm so glad you enjoyed this Sam! I'll definitely read it...one day :D hahaaa
ReplyDeleteWow! great review,Sam! I've added this book to my TBR list ! I'll buy this book the next time I go out.Thanks for sharing!
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