Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

It’s why I read ‘Looking For Alibrandi’ (1992) and ‘Saving Francesca’ (2003) and I have/own ‘The Piper’s Son’ (2010) to read). Marchetta is renowned for her honest and realist approach to contemporary life within various places of Sydney – AKA ‘the real world’.

So you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled across ‘Quintana of Charyn’ (late 2012) and noted that the book was first a fantasy/epic saga, and second that it was book three in a series I had never heard of? Naturally this combination made me a bit wary, because although I’d heard a lot about Marchetta and her work, I’d never heard her name mentioned in relation to fantasy books of any type little know a trilogy. So much so that ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ was successfully made into a movie in 2000. In some ways, its these two novels that have formed Marchetta’s trademark style, whilst almost becoming interchangeable with her name.

Her best selling, award winning novels ‘Looking For Alibrandi’ and ‘On The Jellicoe Road’ are constantly raved about with good reason. In a bold departure from her acclaimed contemporary novels, Printz Medalist Melina Marchetta has crafted an epic fantasy of ancient magic, feudal intrigue, romance, and bloodshed that will rivet you from the first page.Melina Marchetta is a well kn own and much loved Australian author. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock-to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.īut all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta