BEST OF 2014: Favorite Book Trailers

Happy New Year! As is our tradition here at Book News & Reviews, we are kicking off the new year with a look back on our favorite books of 2014. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about our picks for the best books of the past year. First, though, we are sharing some of the great book trailers that have sparked our interest.

So without further ado, here are our favorite book trailers of 2014:


Honorable Mentions


Quest by Aaron Becker
I like the restrained animation, which allows the illustrations themselves to shine. Like the previous year's trailer for Journey, this one gives just enough of a glimpse into the book to convey the magic and wonder to be found in Becker's work. I also think that the music selection is spot on and wonderfully effective.



The Right Word by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Excellent narration, a short summary, and close-ups of Sweet's artwork provide the perfect introduction to this nonfiction picture book.



Us by David Nichols
Short and sweet, but intriguing. I love the sense of movement and design.



Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
This trailer does a wonderful job of setting the scene and leaving us wondering what comes next, and I love the animation frames. Plus, the hazy green used throughout is a nice touch.



The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Creepy and intriguing.



Jellaby by Kean Soo
A new trailer for an older release, this is a sweet and gentle animation of the graphic novel. The brief quotes and piano music provide the perfect accompaniment to the graphic novel panels and light animation.



Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
Evoking the feel of classic film trailers, this one  certainly conveys the novel's sense of adventure. Plus there's the Sasquatch.



Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
The voice over is compelling, with just enough going on visually to add interest. Also, the shoes at the end are a nice touch and may have observant viewers wondering why they aren't red.



The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry
I love the silent-film style intro, the twisty sense of humor, and the wonderfully delivered narration.



Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Hakuri Murakami
The narration and animation work together seamlessly here, and the transitions between the changing geometric backgrounds are flawless.



Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
It's intriguing enough—but then the kicker tagline at the end brings it to a whole new level and begs for a rewatch.



One More Thing by B.J. Novak
A high-concept book trailer centered on elitist French intellectuals may or may not work for some viewers, but when the snobby act crumbles, it's hard not to crack a smile. Plus: fun guest star!



Now I See You by Nicole C. Kear
Dark comedy gets stylized animation treatment here and really makes me want to read Kear's memoir. And the elevator music in the background? Nice touch.


Going Over Beth Kephart
This trailer is visually compelling from start to finish, and I love how the wall is used to display quotes at the end. The text provides just enough information to describe the plot and create interest.



Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Burnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
I love that Mac and Jon are following in their characters' footsteps to dig a hole "because who doesn't love digging a good hole every now and then." Their antics—from digging to resting to playful bickering—are fun to watch in juxtaposition with key illustrations from the book. Like the book, the trailer shows teamwork, fun, and the joys of a job well done (even if no giant diamonds are discovered). Plus, the music is sort of stuck in my head now. In a good way.



The Magician's Land by Neil Gaiman
I adore the concept behind this trailer. (See also: Poison Apples trailer.) Most of the readers are flawless in their delivery, and there is charm to be found in the less polished segments as well. And I love that the author "special guest stars" are interspersed with "regular," anonymous readers, some of whom provide the most compelling deliveries of all.


The Top 5

#5

The Thickety by J.H. White
Intense, dramatic, and ultimately intriguing. It sets the stage without giving anything away. Shortly after viewing the trailer, I went to search the library shelves for the book to check it out.


#4

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming
This comical treatment of history adds interest to the more "serious" subject matter. I also enjoy the news-bulletin presentation, which makes historical events seem more relevant and interesting to potential teen readers.


#3

Jesus Jackson by James Ryan Daley
The music, text, and video all work together perfectly. The pacing creates drama and tension, and the end leaves me wanting more and wondering why I haven't yet read this book.


#2

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Talk about tension. This trailer does an amazing job of building a feeling of eerie paranoia which eager viewers will hope will translate into their reading experience.


#1

Noggin by John Corey Whaley
This trailer seems almost like a movie trailer for a cool indie flick and perfectly communicates the offbeat tone of the novel. From the gushing office lady to the battered, camera-phone-wielding classmate, the quirky characterizations are intriguing. And the Matthew Quick quote gets me every time.


So, those are our favorites from 2014. If you want more great Book Trailers, please check out our Book Trailers and Other Videos board on Pinterest!

REVIEW: Quest by Aaron Becker

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Series: Journey Trilogy #2
Genre: Picture Book/Fantasy
Audience: Preschool–Grade 3

Summary: A king from a magical realm escapes into the ordinary world just long enough to meet two children in a seemingly ordinary city park. He gives them a map and the tools they need to rescue him just before several soldiers seize him and take him back through the door. After the king is recaptured, the intrepid kids find their way into the magical place and embark on a quest to free the king and lift darkness from the kingdom.

Tracy's Thoughts:
Last year I raved about Aaron Becker's Journey. It was one of my frontrunners for the 2014 Caldecott Medal, and I was thrilled when Becker nabbed an Honor for his majestic artwork. In Quest, our heroine and her new friend return for yet another journey into the wonderful kingdom of imagination and must face new challenges and dangers. But it is through quick thinking and teamwork that the kids overcome obstacles rather than confrontation or violence. Like Journey, Quest is a wonderful foray into creative problem solving and an ode to the twin powers of art and imagination.

The artwork here is more muted than the vivid landscapes of Journey, featuring a rain-drenched park, a dark kingdom under siege, and foreboding mountains. And yet the children are able to bring color into the world of gray. The scenes are rich and layered; the details of several scenes evoke the ancient temples and the ruins of different civilizations. There are also intriguing parallels between the the statuary of the real-world park and the children's magical adventures. Observant or history-minded children will delight in examining the various scenes and are sure to tease out new details with each encounter. Tiny details are carried over from the first book while others hint at adventures to still to come. The publisher blurb promises that fans will have one more addition to the series, and I am eager to experience the magical adventure that awaits!

Fall 2014 Giveaway Winners + Last-Chance Giveaway

And the winners are... *Drumroll, please*

  Holly-  Wild Rover No More, The Cuckoo's Calling, Goat Woman of Largo Bay

  Kaci K- The Cuckoo's Calling, The Book of Strange New Things, The Madman of Piney Woods, The Aviator's Wife, Blowing on Dandelions

  Rebecca- The Cove, How to Be a Good Wife, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

  Jeannie- Frida & Diego, I Stand Corrected

  Sarah J.- The Saint, Saving Grace, Girl in the Garden

  Donna K.- The Greenglass House, The Aviator's Wife

  Christin- The Beekeeper's Ball, Love by the Morning Star, Blowing on Dandelions

  Beth- Buzz Kill

  Becky H.- The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Friends, Foes & Faux Friends


....But wait! We still have several unclaimed books! Maybe you missed out on the giveaway the first time around or simply didn't list it as one of your selections in the last round, but now's your second chance to win!  Here are the titles up for grabs:

Glorious by Jeff Gunn
WESTERN/HISTORICAL FICTION (Adult)
"Rising to a life of influence and wealth after a hard-luck youth in late 19th-century Arizona Territory, Cash McLendon flees in the wake of a tragedy and tries to win back the heart from a woman from his past only to be targeted by his former father-in-law." –NoveList

Silver People by Margarita Engle
HISTORICAL FICTION/NOVEL IN VERSE (Middle grade/tween)
"Fourteen-year-old Mateo and other Caribbean islanders face discrimination, segregation, and harsh working conditions when American recruiters lure them to the Panamanian rain forest in 1906 to build the great canal." –NoveList

The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde
HUMOROUS FANTASY (Tween/Teen)
"The Mighty Shandar returns to the Ununited Kingdoms and vows to eliminate the dragons once and for all -- unless sixteen-year-old Jennifer Strange and her sidekicks from the Kazam house of enchantment can bring him a legendary jewel: The Eye of Zoltar." –NoveList


 

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva
REALISTIC FICTION/GLBTQ ROMANCE (Teen/Young Adult)
"When Alek's high-achieving, Armenian-American parents send him to summer school, he thinks his summer is ruined. But then he meets Ethan, who opens his world in a series of truly unexpected ways" –Publisher







Each book goes to the first person to claim it with a comment below (be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can arrange pickup!). Please only choose one book per day, but if a title remains unclaimed the following day, you may choose another title. Ready... Set...Go!

Fall Giveaway Update + New Giveaway Title!

Guess what I found on my doorstep yesterday? St. Martin's Press sent me an Advance Reader's Copy of Jane Green's newest novel, Saving Grace, due for release on December 30, 2014!

Saving Grace seems to be a slight departure for this bestselling author of chicklit or women's and domestic fiction. This one veers into the territory of psychological suspense. Check out the back-cover copy:

Literary power couple Ted and Grace Chapman are the envy of all who know them. But beneath the surface lies Ted's temper and the precarious house of cards that their lifestyle is built upon. When they hire a new assistant, things begin to crumble, sending Grace on a dark journey that could cost her her marriage, her reputation, and even her sanity.

From the New York times bestselling author of Tempting Fate, comes a searing and emotionally charged novel about one woman's search to find herself, and another woman's obsession to make her disappear.

The description certainly caught my attention, and I thought that several of you might want the chance to read this before the late December release. So I decided to add it to our 2014 Fall Giveaway! As a result,  I have also extended the contest entry deadline until 12:00 AM on Wednesday, October 29th. For those who have already entered but would like a chance to add Saving Grace to their prize wish list, please just add a new comment to the original  Fall Giveaway Event blog post using the same post name and relisting your choices. Good luck!

Enter the 2014 Fall Giveaway Event! »

Fall 2014 Giveaway!

It's time for another giveaway! This time around, I have Advance Reading Copies (ARCs) of highly anticipated new releases, a few older ARCs, and several new,  finished copies of best-selling fiction titles.

As always, the rules of entry are at the end of the post. Please note that all prizes must be picked up at a BCPL location within two months of notification. Contest ends at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.   Update 10/15/14: Due to the addition of a new giveaway title, the contest has been extended until Wednesday, October 29, 2014!


So without further a do, here are our giveaways for Fall 2014:


Final Copies/Finished Publications:

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
* Trade Paperback (2 copies available) *
A story inspired by the marriage between Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh traces the romance between a handsome young aviator and a shy ambassador's daughter whose relationship is marked by wild international acclaim. –NoveList

Blowing on Dandelions by Miralee Ferrell
Love Blossoms in Oregon #2
* Trade Paperback (2 copies available) *
Widow and single mother Katherine struggles to run her Oregon boarding house by herself, but she learns to find the faith, wisdom, and courage to transform her life and relationships when she meets widower Micah Jacobs. –NoveList

The Cove by Ron Rash
* Trade Paperback *
Living deep within a cove in the Appalachians of North Carolina during World War I, Laurel Shelton finally finds the happiness she deserves in Walter, a mysterious stranger who's mute, but their love can't protect them from a devastating secret. –NoveList

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Cormoran Strike #1
* Trade Paperback (2 copies available) *
Private investigator Cormoran Strike has a day he'll not soon forget. The 35-year-old, who lost a leg in Afghanistan, spends the night in his bare-bones London office after a relationship-ending fight with his girlfriend. That morning, he sports a cut on his face (she threw an ashtray) as he rushes out the door, barreling into a new temp secretary he can't afford, almost sending her down a staircase. The forgiving temp, Robin, quickly proves useful when they get a case: a famous young model supposedly jumped from the top of her penthouse apartment, but her brother believes she was murdered. Entering the realm of the mega-rich, Strike and Robin question celebrities and fashionistas, trying to uncover the truth in a beautifully written book that was pseudonymously written by none other than J.K. Rowling.  –NoveList

The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair
* Hardcover *
A conflicted young woman seeks clarity about her impending marriage by remembering a childhood summer when she discovered a long-hidden secret while visiting her mother's ancestral home in an Indian village outside a mysterious jungle. –NoveList

The Goat Woman of Largo Bay by Gillian Royes
Shad Mysteries #1
* Trade Paperback *
Working at the side of an American employer who would rebuild a Caribbean hotel, Shadrack, a bartender and amateur detective, encounters a woman on the run who is being targeted by a group of election riggers. By the author of Business Is Good.  –NoveList

How to Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman
* Hardcover *
In the tradition of Emma Donoghue's Room and S.J. Watson's Before I Go to Sleep, a haunting literary debut about a woman who begins having visions that make her question everything she knows. Marta and Hector have been married for a long time. Through the good and bad; through raising a son and sending him off to life after university. So long, in fact, that Marta finds it difficult to remember her life before Hector. He has always taken care of her, and she has always done everything she can to be a good wife--as advised by a dog-eared manual given to her by Hector's aloof mother on their wedding day. But now, something is changing. Small things seem off. A flash of movement in the corner of her eye, elapsed moments that she can't recall. Visions of ablonde girl in the darkness that only Marta can see. Perhaps she is starting to remember--or perhaps her mind is playing tricks on her. As Marta's visions persist and her reality grows more disjointed, it's unclear if the danger lies in the world around her, or in Marta herself. The girl is growing more real every day, and she wants something.  –Publisher's Description

Advance Reading Copies (ARCs), in order of publication:

Saving Grace by Jane Green
ARC - Book Release Date: December 2014
A literary power couple hides behind a carefree public face the painful realities of the husband's raging mood swings and the wife's past secrets until a too-good-to-be-true new assistant enters their lives, with dangerous consequences.
ADDED TO GIVEAWAY on 10/15/14

Wild Rover No More by L.A. Meyer
Bloody Jack Adventures #12
* ARC - Book Release Date: November 2014 *
In 1809, just when it looks like Jacky Faber and her beloved Jaimy will finally find their romance, Jacky is accused of treason and must flee Boston while her friends attempt to clear her name. Of course that means wild adventures for our fun-loving heroine, who manages to secure a job as a governess--and run away with the circus. –Publisher's Description

The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
 *ARC - Book Release Date: October 2014 *
Called to perform missionary work on a world light years away where the natives are fascinated by the concepts he introduces, man of faith Peter Leigh finds his beliefs tested when he learns of natural disasters that are tearing Earth apart.  –NoveList

The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde
Chronicles of Kazan #3
* ARC - Book Release Date: October 2014 *
The Mighty Shandar returns to the Ununited Kingdoms and vows to eliminate the dragons once and for all -- unless sixteen-year-old Jennifer Strange and her sidekicks from the Kazam house of enchantment can bring him a legendary jewel: The Eye of Zoltar.  –NoveList

I Stand Corrected by Eden Collingsworth
* ARC - Book Release Date: October 2014 *
A fascinating fusion of memoir, manners, and cultural history from a successful businesswoman well-versed in the unique challenges of working in contemporary China. During the course of her long and successful business career, no country has fascinated Eden Collinsworth more than China. After numerous business experiences that might best be called "unusual" by Western standards, she had a crucial insight: despite the growing status of China as a world economy and the unprecedented range of Chinese investments overseas, businessmen in mainland China--well-educated and speaking English--were fundamentally uncomfortable in the company of their Western counterparts. This realization spawned a Western etiquette guide for Chinese businessmen, which went on to be a huge best seller in China and formed the basis for new curriculum supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education. In I Stand Corrected, Collinsworth tells the story of the year she spent writing that book, creating a counterpart that both explains Chinese practices and reveals much about our own Western culture. She explores topics including the non-negotiable issue of personal hygiene; the rules of the handshake; making sense of foreigners; and that which is considered universally rude. She also scrutinizes some of the Western etiquette that has guided her own business career, one which has unfolded in predominately male company. At the same time, I Stand Corrected is a retrospective journey, a wry but self-effacing reflection on the peripatetic career she led while single-handedly raising her son. Like all parents, she didn't always have answers, and here she details the many, often ludicrous, attempts to strike a balance that was right for both of them.  –NoveList

The Madman of Piney Woods by Christopher Paul Curtis
Companion to Elijah of Buxton
* ARC - Book Release Date: September 2014 *
Even though it is now 1901, the people of Buxton, Canada (originally a settlement of runaway slaves) and Chatham, Canada are still haunted by two events of half a century before--the American Civil War, and the Irish potato famine, and the lasting damage those events caused to the survivors. 
–NoveList

The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Friends, Foes & Faux Friends by Megan McCafferty
Jessica Darling's It List #2
* ARC - Book Release Date: September 2014 *
Twelve-year-old Jessica Darling receives another cryptic list from her older sister, Bethany. While hosting a slumber party and planning a Halloween costume, Jessica tries to navigate the seventh grade social scene, with mixed results.  –Publisher's Description

Greenglass House by Kate Milford
* ARC - Book Release Date: August 2014 *
At Greenglass House, a smuggler's inn, twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers' adopted son, plans to spend his winter holidays relaxing but soon guests are arriving with strange stories about the house sending Milo and Meddy, the cook's daughter, on an adventure.  –NoveList

Frida & Diego by Catherine Reef
* ARC - Book Release Date: August 2014 *
A biography exploring the tumultuous lives, marriage, and work of the artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera is illustrated with archival photos and full-color reproductions.  –NoveList

The Saint by Tiffany Reisz
The Original Sinners #5
* ARC - Book Release Date: July 2014 *
Eleanor is determined to break from her Catholic upbringing, but when her life is saved by a priest she offers him complete obedience and enters into a world of desire as he reveals his deepest secrets to her.  –NoveList

The Beekeeper's Ball by Susan Wiggs
Bella Vista #2
* ARC - Book Release Date: June 2014 *
While transforming Bella Vista, her childhood home, into a destination cooking school, chef Isabel Johansen finds her plans interrupted by war-torn journalist Cormac O'Neill who has arrived to dig up old history.  –NoveList

Love by the Morning Star by Laura L. Sullivan
* ARC - Book Release Date: June 2014 *
Mistaken for one another when they are sent to the grand English country estate of Starkers on the brink of World War II, Hannah, a distant relative hoping to be welcomed by the family, and Anna, sent to spy for the Nazis, both unexpectedly fall in love.  –NoveList

Glorious: A Novel of the American West by Jeff Gunn
* ARC - Book Release Date: May 2014 *
Rising to a life of influence and wealth after a hard-luck youth in late 19th-century Arizona Territory, Cash McLendon flees in the wake of a tragedy and tries to win back the heart from a woman from his past only to be targeted by his former father-in-law.  –NoveList

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva
* ARC - Book Release Date: May 2014 *
When Alek's high-achieving, Armenian-American parents send him to summer school, he thinks his summer is ruined. But then he meets Ethan, who opens his world in a series of truly unexpected ways.  –NoveList

Buzz Kill by Beth Fantaskey
* ARC - Book Release Date: May 2014 *Seventeen-year-old Millie joins forces with her classmate, gorgeous but mysterious Chase Colton, to try to uncover who murdered head football coach "Hollerin' Hank" Killdare--and why.  –NoveList

Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly by Conrad Wesselhoeft
* ARC - Book Release Date: April 2014 *
Seventeen year-old dirt-bike-riding daredevil Arlo Santiago catches the eye of the U.S. military with his first-place ranking on a video game featuring drone warfare, and must reconcile the work they want him to do with the emotional scars he has suffered following a violent death in his family.  –Publisher's Description

Silver People by Margarita Engle
* ARC - Book Release Date: March 2014 *
Fourteen-year-old Mateo and other Caribbean islanders face discrimination, segregation, and harsh working conditions when American recruiters lure them to the Panamanian rain forest in 1906 to build the great canal.  –NoveList

Crossover by Kwame Alexander
* ARC - Book Release Date: March 2014 *
Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.  –NoveList

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee
* ARC - Book Release Date: January 2014 *
Ophelia, a timid eleven-year-old girl grieving her mother, suspends her disbelief in things non-scientific when a boy locked in the museum where her father is working asks her to help him complete an age-old mission.  –NoveList

Rules of Entry

1. To enter the drawing, you must complete two tasks. 
First, you must leave a comment at the bottom of this post stating which ARCs you would like to receive. If you do not leave a comment at the bottom of the post, I will not know which prize(s) to give you if you win the drawing. You may choose up to ten titles; you are not guaranteed to win your top choices, but I do my best. Second, you must log in to the Rafflecopter Widget with your e-mail address or Facebook account and Click "+1" and "Enter" on the widget only after you have posted your comment below. After completing the first task, you can also earn bonus entries by following the directions in the widget.

2.  All ARCs must be picked up at a Bullitt County Public Library location. Contest ends at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. Updated 10/15/14: October 29, 2014. Winners will be notified via e-mail and will be posted on this blog. Winners will have up to two months from the time of notification to colllect their prizes.


Rafflecopter Widget: Enter the Giveaway Drawing Here
(Don't forget to leave your comment in the Comments section below!)

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GUEST REVIEW: The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls

Tonight we have a special guest review from a new library employee! But Donna isn't new to Book News & Reviews; in 2012, when we Donna was simply a library patron, she contributed reviews of Home at Last by Bonnie Leon and Siobhan Fallon's linked short story collection You Know When the Men Are Gone. Glad to have you back, Donna!

Donna's Rating:4/5 Stars
Genre: Mainstream Fiction/Love Story
Audience: Adult

Summary: Thirty-something Bess Gray despairs of ever finding "the one." Then she meets a charming Irish musician and becomes instantly smitten. After a couple of months of dating he proposes. The problem? Rory has already been married EIGHT times before. Before deciding whether to follow her heart and leap all in, Bess embarks on a journey to meet each of the past wives and learn where Rory's past marriages went wrong.

Donna's Review:
It took a little bit to get used to the jumping back and forth from the his and her viewpoints during the reading of this book. Once I got past that, the story did stick its fangs into me. It kept me coming back for more. I wanted to know all about the hows and whys of Rory’s eight wives. How in the world did he end up being married that many times? More than one is not that uncommon in modern times, but eight?

I liked getting to see Rory mature with each of his wives, what could have been just relationships if not for his very giving and romantic nature. I also liked seeing how Bess came to terms with each of them, as she definitely wanted to know about each of them. As we women all do, she wanted to see if each one was prettier than her, smarter than her, etc. Bess’s grandparents and gay friend, Cricket, liven up the main story line.They show the  reader there are always different shades of gray in relationships.

I think the end could have gone either way, or any way, and I don’t want to spoil it for you! The whole story, and for me, Bess’s thoughts, were something that any woman would want to think about. Every woman wants to know about her predecessors and sometimes ends up finding out too much about them. This book might change the way some women think about finding out too much information. In my opinion, this book is a 4-star read. It is funny, sad, and has much romance to offer while showing the loneliness and vulnerability of people, whether single or in a relationship.


Are you interested in contributing a guest review to Book News & Reviews?

• We encourage BCPL patrons and members of the community to share thoughts on what they are reading and welcome guest reviews. Find details here.  
• Or, if you would like to share your favorite recent reads but think writing a full review is too much trouble, join our What Do You Recommend? collaborative board on Pinterest!

REVIEW: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Series: Lumatere Chronicles #1
Format: Audiobook/Book on CD
Genre: High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult/Adult Crossover

Summary: Exiled from his homeland after the royal family was slaughtered and a dying woman cursed the land, Finnikin is determined to find a new home for his people. He was only a child at the time of the murders of his friend Prince Balthazar and the rest of the royal family, but Finnikin struggles with feelings of guilt related to a cryptic prophecy. Then he meets a young novice who goes by the name of Evanjalin who says the prince lives and there is hope of reclaiming Lumitare from the impostor king who butchered the royal family. Finnikin is skeptical, but Evanjalin remains stubbornly committed to her course and the two set off on a mission that take them across kingdoms, collecting allies and exiles along the way back to Lumitare.

First Line: "When it finally appeared in the distance, Finnikin wondered if it was some phantom half-imagined in this soulless kingdom at the end of the world."

Tracy's Thoughts:
This novel has been on my to-read list since its publication in 2010, and I'm kicking myself now for not reading it sooner. Of course, having waited, I have the added benefit of not having to wait a year for each of the sequels to be released. So if I look at it that way, perhaps I did myself a favor because now I can't wait to begin Froi of the Exiles!

I listened to this book on audio, and initially I thought I would never get through it. The novel jumps straight into the action and provides key back story right away, and all of the places, characters, and relationships were a little overwhelming. Unlike with a traditional book, it wasn't easy to flip back several pages as a reference point. I think this is a recurring issue for me with rich fantasy series like this one or Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, but at least with A Game of Thrones I had the TV show to orient myself (yes, I was late to the game there too). Here I was on my own, but within the first few chapters I was utterly hooked and gradually the pieces came together. Of course, there were still plenty of intentional plot twists and turns to keep me guessing. I usually listen to my audiobooks in the car, and more than once I sat in my driveway listening long after arriving home, absorbed in a particularly well-written passage.

In Finnikin of the Rock, Marchetta introduces a world rich with intrigue and secrets, where characters are far more than they first appear. Most of them are wonderfully complicated, both light and dark. Take the secondary character of Froi, for example. Froi is a young thief with a bad attitude and no outward compassion or loyalty toward his fellow man. He is crude and mocking, and yet he also gradually shows redeeming qualities that make readers care about him even as they are appalled by his actions. Marchetta does an excellent job showing the toll Lumatere's terrible history (aka the Five Days of the Unspeakable) and subsequent curse has taken on its people, and no one embodies this better than Froi, although the story of Finnikin's father Trevanion and Lady Beatrice is heartwrenching.

Though the novel is published as YA and does not have any particularly graphic scenes, it has a very adult sensibility in that it deals frankly with issues like violence, rape, and sex. The violence of war is neither glossed over nor glorified, and the characters act like real people rather than one-dimensional archetypes. Marchetta's world-building is well done and the various kingdoms and their history have me intrigued to learn more. Like A Song of Ice and Fire, the series has a historical-style setting with hints of magic, but this is a fantasy series that will appeal even to readers who generally don't like fantasy. The magic here is more mystical than fantastical, and the storytelling is wonderfully compelling.

For readers like me, it may take a bit of patience to become acclimated to the world of Finnikin and Evanjalin—not to mention sorting out all the different characters. But the effort is well worth it. I can't wait to visit Lumitare and its inhabitants once again and am looking forward to discovering more about the treacherous kingdom of Charyn, which, like Marchetta's characters, will likely be far more nuanced and surprising than we might expect.