Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

Finnikin of the Rock review
Froi of the Exiles review.

Let's start with the cover. I love the cover art. I love how fierce Quintana looks, love the dagger, love how it matches up to the previous books in the series. Love, love, love. They did a great job of providing a cover that is interesting and will draw people in to the series.

I'm obviously coming at this book from the point of a fan. Even though the harsh reality of the books is a little too much for me at times (how much can people go through!?! Seriously, 'cause they go through a lot in here) I still find myself drawn to them and thankfully this latest installment didn't disappoint.

And the greatest thing? It is all tied up and concluded. I mean, I suppose that the author could start up 15 years later with the kids and a new drama, but as far as Finnikin, Froi, et al are concerned? Finito. Curtains for them. Case closed. Over. And it is a happy ending at that. If I'm going to nitpick, perhaps not everyone should have ended up so happily, but come on. After all they've been through? I damn well wanted that happy ending. There may have been mutiny had I not gotten it.

Let's back up a little though - because before our happy ending, there is plenty of crap they still have to wade through.  At the start we've got Froi fatally (or is he?) injured, we've got Quintana living in a cave, and the two Countries of Lumatere and Charyn are still on very rocky ground. The secret plots set up in the second book are continued on. Froi's loyalties are tested and questioned. It is very dramatic and I could not put it down.

I won't go into what happened, as you can imagine, there are lots of intertwining plot lines and it takes a while to sort through the intrigue to get to the truth, but as always our heroes manage (in such a way to make it as heart-pounding and thrilling for the reader as possible of course).

My one complaint is that the book changes voices at time and sometimes it is a little choppy. Other than that? No complaints. I loved it.

=================================
Book Source = ARC provided by publisher