Reviews: Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta & Battling Boy by Paul Pope

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Release Date: April 23, 2013 / Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

After the devastating cliffhanger in Froi of the Exiles, I was dying to read Quintana of Charyn! It was my #1 anticipated novel of the year. When I got a copy, I pretty much didn't stop for anything. Quintana of Charyn is probably one of the most satisfying conclusions I've ever read for a series. I was so happy with how everything turned out, and at the same time I was sad to see it end. I'm going to miss these characters and their intense relationships.

I wish I could write an awesome review to match the epicness of this book. It's just... Sometimes I find it a bit intimidating to review a Melina Marchetta novel. Not only because other reviewers have already said what I wanted to say in much better words, but because I'm always in such awe of her stories. It tends to leave me speechless, and I can never find the right words to describe my feelings. But trust me when I say that you should not miss out on this amazing series!

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Battling Boy by Paul Pope
Release Date: October 8, 2013 / Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I only had a vague idea of what Battling Boy was about when I started reading it. But from my experience reading some of Paul Pope's other graphic novels, I knew what I was going to get: awesome artwork, a wonderful story, and badass characters!

It was easy to become immersed in Battling Boy's journey. (Yes, Battling Boy is the main character's name!) He may be young, but he was cool and hilarious. I loved that he was brave, yet unsure of himself. That uncertainty is something that I think we can all relate to, no matter our age. What I also loved about this graphic novel was the humorous and smart dialogue and the non-stop, kickass action. And with that amazing artwork, it wasn't hard at all for me to enjoy this story.

Battling Boy was just a completely fun and engaging read. The ending was a bit abrupt and made me crave more. I'm looking forward to reading the second volume, and I'm hoping we don't have to wait too long for it because I need to know what happens next with these characters!

Reviews: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller & The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Release Date: June 10, 2012 / Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Something Like Normal featured one of the best male voices I've ever read. Probably the best, since I felt such a strong connection towards Travis. It was so authentic. Honestly, if I were guy, I would want to be someone like him. He was so real and honest. His story had me teary-eyed and my heart breaking throughout. Just thinking about some of the things that happened in this book makes me want to cry! But then, it also had me laughing out loud and swooning and smiling like crazy. I loved Travis's relationships with his mother, his fellow Marines, and Harper. Each stood out in their own way and played an important role in Travis's life after he came back from Afghanistan. I'm not sure what would have happened to Travis if he didn't have these awesome people, but I'm so glad they were there for him. He really needed them and their support.

I felt like I could relate to Travis in a way. My relationship with my father isn't the best either, and I know what it's like to have family in the military. It was a pretty emotional read for me, and I loved it. I pretty much adored everything about this book: Trish Doller's writing, the fantastic characters, and the amazing relationships. I was so sad when it was over. I just wanted more and more. I can't recommend this book enough!

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The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
Release Date: March 1, 2010 / Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I love Thomas! Out of all the boys in Saving Francesca, it was definitely Thomas who stood out to me. I was really happy to know more about him and his situation, including the rest of his family's. Melina Marchetta is always so great with family and friend dynamics.

Parts that I loved the most were the ones where Thomas was with the other characters from Saving Francesca like Tara, the girls, and Will Trombal. Awesome friends and hilarious moments. The new characters were great as well. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the Jellicoe Road characters that made cameo appearances. I was fangirling like crazy every single time they were mentioned! I could not help myself!

As with every Melina Marchetta novel I finish, I wish it didn't have to end. But I love that there's always hope in the end and that you just know it will all eventually work out for the characters. I seriously can't wait to read Marchetta's next book. Love them all!

Froi of the Exiles Fanart + Giveaway

Full schedule for the Quintana of Charyn blog tour HERE.

Before I reveal the picture, I want to mention that my sister (who drew the fanart) has yet to read Froi of the Exiles and Quintana of Charyn. It was important to me that Froi and Quintana be the characters featured in the drawing because I feel the last two books were Froi's story. At the same time, the fanart had to be something that wouldn't spoil the story for her too much but still represent something from the series. Those were the reasons why I chose Froi of the Exiles as inspiration for the fanart instead of Quintana of Charyn. She used the Australian and US book covers as references for the characters, and even if Froi and Quintana aren't depicted exactly as how they're described in the books, she did her best to portray the connection between them. At least, from everything I told her. I think she did an awesome job with what she had, especially not knowing Froi and Quintana like some of us do. I'm completely happy and satisfied with the outcome!

Now that I've explained all that, it's time to see the fanart with Froi and Quintana:

I about died from happiness when I saw this. It was exactly what I wanted! This scene actually didn't occur in the book. I felt like it could have though. It was inspired by these three moments:

He woke to a hand splayed across his face and a quiet little snore. He picked up the hand and placed it back on her side of the bed... - Chapter 9

She woke him later. A distracted look on her face, her hair all over his eyes. - Chapter 16

When Froi woke in the early hours of the morning, she was watching him. - Chapter 18

I wanted the picture to show a tender and sweet moment between Froi and Quintana. I imagine that when they shared a bed together Quintana would wake up in the middle of the night or close to dawn and watch Froi and touch his face while he slept. I was really tempted to have him awake too, looking back at her intensely. But I remember instances between them where she acted a bit shy around him. It's why I decided he should be sleeping. It's a chance for her to do whatever she wanted. Also, it's what could have happened after a certain scene in chapter 18. ;)

Okay, I think that's all I had to say about this picture. I can't stop grinning and staring it. hehe I love it so much! Huge thank you to my sister for taking the time to draw this. *glomps* Hope you all like it too and enjoy the rest of the Quintana of Charyn blog tour!

Cover Reveal: Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

I am so excited for this book!! Quintana of Charyn is my most anticipated novel. It's the last book in the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta, who is my favorite author in the world! The book was actually released in Australia last week, but this North American release will be March 2013. Can't wait!

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Release Date: March 12, 2013 | Pages: 528 | Publisher: Candlewick

Pre-order: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

The climactic conclusion of Printz Award winner Melina Marchetta’s epic fantasy trilogy!

Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi and his companions travel through Charyn searching for Quintana and building an army that will secure her unborn child’s right to rule. While in the valley between two kingdoms, Quintana of Charyn and Isaboe of Lumatere come face-to-face in a showdown that will result in heartbreak for one and power for the other. The complex tangle of bloodlines, politics, and love introduced in Finnikin of the Rock and Froi of the Exiles coalesce into an engrossing climax in this final volume.

Review: Ferragost by Melina Marchetta

Title: Ferragost (short story in the Lumatere Chronicles)
Author: Melina Marchetta
Published by: Review of Australian Fiction
Release Date: August 7, 2012

Lady Celie of the Lumateran Flatlands is visiting the Belegonian spring castle on the isle of Ferragost. Cut off from the rest of Belegonia by poor weather, she is confined to the island with four others, including the mysterious castellan of the castle. When the body of one of the guests is discovered on the rocks outside the east tower, Celie is not only considered a suspect, but finds herself embroiled in events that are entwined with her own kingdom's cursed history, as well as the future of the entire land of Skuldenore.

My Thoughts: Every spring the King of Belegonia and his family stay at the Ferragost castle located off the coast of Belegonia. This year they invite Lady Celie of the Lumatere Flatlands to join them at Ferragost. While the arrival of the royal family is delayed by the weather, someone is murdered at Ferragost Castle and Celie decides to help the Castellan of the isle, Banyon, solve the murder. But it becomes tricky when Banyon suspects her of the murder and accuses her of being a spy for Lumatere.

Although it's a short story, Ferragost pretty much has everything I love to find in a Melina Marchetta story! There's always a surprise (or two or three!), something I never see coming. Even when I think I have the mystery solved, I never would have guessed the real reasons behind the characters' motives and actions. It tends to leave me in awe with my mouth hanging open and wondering how Melina Marchetta always manages to do this to her readers.

Melina's characters and the relationships in her stories are some of my favorites ever. Celie and her relationship with Banyon is no exception. On the outside Celie looks frail, but on the inside she's a total badass. I adored her! I also loved Banyon and Celie's interactions with him. Banyon doesn't seem to trust her and comes off as really rude, but there's an attraction there between them. So you can imagine the tension that builds whenever they're around each other. Celie will play a role in Quintana of Charyn, and I'm really really hoping Banyon will too! Even if it's a minor one, I don't care. He is up there with how I feel about the other male leads in the series. It amazes me how quickly and easily I can fall in love with Melina Marchetta characters. They are just that awesome.

According to Melina, Ferragost takes place around the same time as events in Quintana of Charyn but doesn't spoil anything. If you're a fan of the Lumatere Chronicles, I highly recommend you read Ferragost! It'll make you want the final book in the series even more, but at the same time it'll satisfy you and be the fix you need while you wait for QoC's release.

(Ferragost is featured in an issue of the online journal Review of Australlian Fiction. More info here. And it can be purchased here!)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Top Ten Tuesday: Books For People Who Like Melina Marchetta

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It's a weekly meme featuring

book-related lists. This week's topic is 10 8 books, in no particular order, I think people should read if they like Melina Marchetta's novels.

(Note: I decided on only EIGHT books because it had already taken me 2 hours to pick these.)

- Pan's Whisper by Sue Lawson: Guess I should start off with an Aussie book! When I read this book's synopsis, I got Jellicoe Road vibes from it for some reason. That just made me want to read it. Now, don't expect another Jellicoe Road, but it is a heartbreaking and beautiful story.

- Something Like Normal by Trish Doller: I can't help but to recommend this amazing debut, since the main character Travis and his love interest Harper were inspired by Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road! It was an emotional and raw read. I read it weeks ago and still think about it.

- Where She Went by Gayle Forman: Another lovely book that made me cry. It's eerie and awesome how much this book reminded me of The Piper's Son. Well, Adam reminded me Tom. They could totally be friends. And guess what? Gayle and Melina think so too!

- The Queen's Thief by Megan Whalen Turner: How can I not recommend this series to fans of the Lumatere Chronicles? Melina is the reason why I read this series, and I'm so glad I did! My top favorite is The King of Attolia. It's badass, hilarious, and made me 'squee!' so much.

- Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar: If you love Melina's contemporaries for their maturity and rawness, then I highly recommend Raw Blue. Most Melina fans, including myself, love this book. It's a heartbreaking but hopeful story. What makes it even better is that it's completely Australian.

- Graceling by Kristin Cashore: My favorite in the Graceling Realm series. After reading Finnikin of the Rock, I remember thinking that whoever likes Graceling should read FotR. So now I'm going to say the same for those who liked the Lumatere Chronicles: Read this book!

- A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley: Another favorite Aussie book. I know Graffiti Moon is most recommended, but I have such a soft spot for this book! It made me smile so much. A bit lighter than Melina's contemporaries, but still leaves an impact and has beautiful writing.

- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: This is more of a "OMG this book was mentioned in Jellicoe Road!" type of recommendation; however, it is such an amazing coming-of-age and thought-provoking read. Favorite classic I've ever read. And two words: Atticus Finch.

Any Melina Marchetta fans out there agree with any of my recommendations or have any of their own recommendations? I would love to know! Hardcore Melina Marchetta fan right here. :D

Review: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

Title: Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)
Author: Melina Marchetta
Pages: 608
Publisher: Viking Australia
Release Date: October 3, 2011

Blood sings to blood, Froi . . .
Those born last will make the first . . .
For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home Or so he believes.

Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.

And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, Froi of the Exiles is a dazzling sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son.

My Thoughts: It's been about two days since I finished this book, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. All I've been doing is skimming through the entire book and rereading my favorite parts and coming up with theories on how Melina Marchetta is going to resolve everything. When I started it, I stayed up really late the first day because I just could not put it down! It's definitely the fastest I've read through a Melina Marchetta novel. I can't say that taking my time and savoring it ever crossed my mind. EVER. There was no way I would have been able to do that. It was my most anticipated novel for 2011! And usually when I really love a book, I can't keep my mouth shut about it on GoodReads. But I'm glad I've managed to pretty much stay quiet about this book, even only for a little bit, so that I can go back and savor it this time and figure out what I want to say in this review.

Froi of the Exiles was as epic as Finnikin of the Rock but a whole different experience! It's HUGE. Not only does it come in at about 600 pages, but I felt like the story was even bigger because of the fact that Froi of the Exiles is from more than just Froi's perspective. There was a nice balance of chapters from other characters such as Beatriss, Finnikin, Lucian, Lucian's wife Phaedra...and we get a lot more characters through them. It was so great catching up with the characters from FotR (what happened with some of them exceeded everything I ever imagined and made me very happy!) and getting to know the new characters in FotE. I honestly could not decide who I wanted to read more about. Always at the end of each chapter I would start thinking: 'Noo! Chapter, don't end! I want to read more about [insert character's name here]!' But then I would start the next chapter and, by the time I was done with that one, I would think, 'Noo! Chapter, don't end! I want to read more about [insert character's name here]!' That's basically how it went for me throughout the majority of the book.

There are so many characters and relationships I would love to talk about... But I'll have to stick with a few because I don't want to end up giving spoilers.

• Froi and Quintana: These two have some of the most heartbreaking stories in the book. I wanted to hug and comfort them both. Froi has changed so much since he first appeared in FotR. He's such a great person and proves himself over and over again. Even through all the ridicule and trauma she's had to endure from her people, Quintana continues to do whatever she can to protect her country of Charyn. I really admired their strength. Both Froi and Quinanta want to feel worthy, respected, and loved. There is a romance between them, and I have to say it wasn't easy. Neither has experience with romance, and it didn't help that Froi didn't trust himself at first and Quintana didn't trust Froi. I loved reading about them and their developing relationship, and the way the book ended...let's just say I'm really rooting for them!
• Finnikin and Isaboe / Beatriss and Trevanion: Squee! That's all I'm going to say.
• Lucian and Phaedra: I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading from their perspectives. Phaedra's a new character, and while Lucian was in the previous book, I didn't really know his character. I thought it would take some time for me to warm up to them, but that wasn't the case! Both ended up being favorite characters of mine. Even though I wanted to slap Lucian in the beginning for the way he treated her, I came to understand why Lucian acted harshly and why Phaedra felt worthless. (I admit I was swooning a bit over Lucian... There's just something about him.)
• Rafuel: I had to give a quick mention to this character! This guy is cool. I really hope I'm not wrong about him, and I kind of hope he appears more in the next book.

US cover

Now, the cliffhanger. I didn't think it was a mean way to end the novel. Cliffhangers really don't bother me. They just get me even more excited for the next book. The last couple of chapters were pretty devastating when it came to certain characters. It was so sad! But having the epilogue actually made me feel a bit relieved for the most part, since at least I got to know what was going on with those characters before it ended. Plus, so much happened in the book, and there's many things left to be resolved that I don't believe the story would have been nearly as great if it the ending was rushed to make it feel like it had complete closure. And I loved where Finnikin of the Rock ended, but if I hadn't read Melina Marchetta's blog interviews or her website after finishing that book, I would've had no idea there was a sequel on the way. There would have been less time for me to get anxious and excited and fully prepared for FotE! And the fact that there's a cliffhanger means I can look forward to MORE, which makes me extremely happy.

Everything you expect from a Melina Marchetta novel can be found in Froi of the Exiles. It was amazing, and I loved it! If you haven't even read Finnikin of the Rock, what are you waiting for? I'm so looking forward to Quintana of Charyn, but I'm wondering how Melina Marchetta is going to top FotE! My theories as to what'll happen next haven't gone far... Good thing the next book is only about a year away from being released! Cannot wait!

Finally, big shout-out to Joy @ Joyous Reads for letting me borrow her copy! THANK YOU! Be sure to read her awesome review of this book!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Now, I'm not lazy when it comes to a Melina Marchetta novel. ;D She is my favorite author ever. I cannot wait for this book!! It's the sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, which I loved so much.

Title: Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)
Author: Melina Marchetta
Release Date: October 3, 2011
Page Count: 608
Publisher: Viking Australia

"Blood sings to blood, Froi . . .
Those born last will make the first . . .
For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home Or so he believes.

Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.

And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, Froi of the Exiles is a dazzling sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son."

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Why do I fancy books?

I was bored before I started seriously reading again in 2009, after about 10 years of not reading much of anything except manga (and by then my obsession of anime was gradually fading). My only other hobby before reading was Postcrossing, which was great but there's only so much you can do with postcards and there's not much interaction other than the postcard you send and receive. It can be a pretty lonesome hobby if no one you know cares about postcards and everyone thinks you're weird for liking that hobby. :\

Now, that's not to say that my friends and family like books. Because the majority of them honestly don't care. (Sometimes I just feel like the odd one out! :P lol) But the online book community is MUCH BIGGER than the postcard community. I've met some pretty awesome people through GoodReads and other book blogs, and I've found out about some amazing books because of them. Books I probably never would have considered to read before. Like my favorite book of all time: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

I mean, WOW. That book... I didn't even know books could take you to a whole another level, until I read Jellicoe Road! O_O It changed my reading experience, my expectations, and made me see what I've always wanted (but didn't realize I wanted) out of books! It left me speechless. My mind was seriously blown. And because of that book I found my favorite author. I'm a hardcore fan. A major fangirl of Melina Marchetta! GO MELINA MARCHETTA! :D YOU'RE AWESOME AND AMAZING! ♥♥

So yeah, most of my family and friends still think I'm weird because I'm obsessed with books... But hey, at least I have a hobby I enjoy, right? Reading gets my mind going and keeps me inspired. Books can be life-altering and mind-blowing, and most importantly, books keep me from dying of boredom. That's why I fancy books.

Review: Gorgon in the Gully by Melina Marchetta

Title: The Gorgon in the Gully
Author: Melina Marchetta
Pages: 119
Publisher: Penguin Australia / Puffin
Release Date: September 27, 2010

Beyond the basketball courts and classrooms of St Raph's is a gully where everything disappears forever. Danny Griggs has heard stories about a creature that lives down there. So why does he volunteer to face the Gorgon when he's been petrified of everything all his life?

A gentle story about overcoming fear and looking at things from all angles, from best-selling author Melina Marchetta.

My Thoughts: Melina Marchetta is my favorite author EVER. I will read anything she writes. When I found out that she was releasing a children's book, I knew I wanted to read it. And when I found it was about Danny Griggs, the little brother of Jonah Griggs (my favorite male character of all time) from Jellicoe Road (my favorite book in the entire world), I knew I had to get my hands on a copy! Sadly, Australian books are hard to come by and shipping is pretty expensive to the US, so I thought it would be awhile before I ever got a chance to read it. But then a miracle... FishpondWorld.com! Three weeks after ordering it I finally received it in the mail. I read it as soon as I could, and it was worth the wait! I just loved it!

There's a legend about an evil monster called the Gorgon that lives in the gully at the St. Raph's schoolyard. If any ball happens to fall in the gully, it's lost forever because no one will ever dare risk facing the Gorgon. But after Danny Griggs accidentally hits a classmate's soccer ball (the lucky soccer ball signed by Harry Kewell that will help them win the grand final!) into the gully and gets called a gutless wonder by the school bully, Danny decides he's going to stop being afraid and venture into the gully. With the help of his friends and his older brother Jonah, Danny hatches a plan to retrieve the ball from the gully and along the way learns to overcome his fears and the importance of friendships.

The Gorgon in the Gully had the humor and friendships Melina Marchetta is awesome at, but in a much more innocent form (the characters are little kids, of course!). It was such a cute read. I mean, c'mon, mini-Melina Marchetta characters? So adorable! All the characters were great, and Danny was my favorite! He's a sweetie, and I loved how he wanted to be courageous even though he was terrified. I do think he's a whole lot braver than he gives himself credit for. I loved the relationships Danny had with his friends and how he made new friends, and I also loved reading his interactions with his mother, Jonah, and Jack, his mother's boyfriend. Danny was really such a nice character to read about.

This story actually takes place during the same time as Jellicoe Road, so I think you'll appreciate it even more if you're a Jellicoe Road fan. Especially if you love Jonah Griggs. He was in this a lot more than I expected. And yes, I had a HUGE stupid grin on my face ever single time he was mentioned. I didn't believe it was possible, but I love him even more now!

One of my favorite quotes from the book (Jellicoe fans will understand!):

"The next night he asked Jonah if he could take $9.49 out of Jonah's secret stash that only Danny and his mum and Jack knew about. Jonah kept it in his sock drawer next to a photograph of Jonah and a girl with sad eyes, taken in one of those railway station photo booths."

Really, I could go on and on, but since this is a short story, I don't want to end up spoiling everything. This is a book about friendships and overcoming fears, and it's definitely a great read for children. I also recommended it to Melina Marchetta fans, who need a quick Melina Marchetta fix before the next book release!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Giveaways & News: Melina Marchetta

You know I love Melina Marchetta, so I had to advertise these giveaways for her newest release in the US. :)

Alexa at Not Enough Bookshelves currently has an international giveaway for 2 copies of The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta! Check out her giveaway post here. Deadline is March 4.

If you're on GoodReads and a US resident, Candlewick Press is giving away one ARC of The Piper's Son on GoodReads! Check it out here. Deadline is March 6.

I highly recommend all of Melina Marchetta's novels, so enter both of these giveaways, if you can! If you don't win either giveaway, The Piper's Son will be released in the US on March 8. Only a week away! You won't have to wait long to buy yourself a copy or maybe even request a copy at your local library. ;)

In other news, Melina Marchetta will be at the New York City Teen Author Festival this month starting on the 14th! She posted her schedule on her website. If you're attending or in the area during the festival, be sure to see her! She's from Australia, and I don't believe she makes much author appearances in the US. I would love to be there, but I don't have the time or money to travel all the way to NYC at the moment. (I know... *sniff* So sad.)

That's about all the news I have right now. Remember, enter those giveaways and read her books! You won't regret it. >:3

Book News: Melina Marchetta

This is kind of old news, but I decided to make a post, since I don't believe I've seen any talk about it in the blog world.

If you're a Melina Marchetta fan like me, you've probably heard that there will be a sequel to her fantasy novel Finnikin of the Rock.

"I’m working on Froi, who I introduced in Finnikin of the Rock. Very hard work because he did something pretty despicable in Finnikin and it’ difficult beginning with an incredibly flawed and sometimes amoral character. It takes place three years after the end of Finnikin..." (from Persnickety Snark's interview)

That interview was from March 2010. She hadn't said much more than that until late December 2010, when she updated the news section on her website.

"My major focus for the last four months has been working on Froi of the Exiles which is the sequel to Finnikin. I handed in first draft just before Christmas. Unavoidably, it has one of those cliff hanger endings that people either love or hate, but it will be followed soon after by Quintana of Charyn. Inspired by those lads in Lumatere, I've pledged in blood that there will be no more than a year between the release of both novels. For those who have read Finnikin, Froi's story picks up three years later. There's a batch of new characters but the world of Lumatere is still important to the story, especially Lucian of the Monts."

So not only will there be a sequel (Froi of the Exiles), but there will also be a third book (Quintana of Charyn)! That was something I was not expecting. It's very exciting because I love Finnikin of the Rock. It's is my second favorite Melina Marchetta book. The characters and the story were just amazing, and I cannot wait to revisit old characters and meet the new ones. I wasn't really interested in reading fantasy before I read Finnikin. I decided to read it only because she wrote it and I loved her other books. So now I have more of an open mind when it comes to fantasy books thanks to Melina Marchetta. :)

Anyway, there wasn't any mention of release dates, but I really really hope Froi is released by 2012, which would make Quintana's release year 2013. I'm only hoping for that because I'm dying to read Froi's story and I can't imagine waiting till 2013! D: And here's hoping Candlewick, the US publisher, releases both at the same time their released in Australia. Hey, I can dream.

That's it for the Melina Marchetta book news! :D

US Cover: The Piper's Son

There's been a couple of book cover reveals this week, but I haven't seen anyone mention this awesome book! The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta was released in Australia back in March 2010. The US edition will be released by Candlewick on March 8, 2011. Here is the US cover and summary:


Description: The award-winning author of Finnikin of the Rock and Jellicoe Road pens a raw, compelling novel about a family’s hard-won healing on the other side of trauma.

Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

Quote from Melina Marchetta:

"Tom’s aunt Georgie spoke to me first, and Tom found me through her. At the time, I didn’t actually think Tom was a big enough character to carry a story. If it had to be anyone from Saving Francesca, I thought, it would be Will Trombal or Tara. But the line in Francesca, ‘I want to be the first male in the Mackee family to reach 40 and still have a liver’ stuck with me, and in the end, Tom has been one of the biggest surprises. I’m glad I didn’t kick him out of my head."

Australia cover

Cover Thoughts: The cover's not bad, but I don't think it's as great as the Australian cover. The Piper's Son is labeled young-adult; however, from the reviews I've read, it's more of a book for older readers / adults. And I can imagine, since the book is about Thomas, who is 21, and his 40-something-year-old aunt. When I see the US cover, I don't get the impression that it's a mature book, and without reading the description, it seems like it'll be about a teenager and his music.

What I do like about the US cover is the colors, the font, and the fact that he's holding a guitar. Like I said, though, I just wish it looked more serious / mature like the Australian cover. (I also wish we didn't see the faces in the crowd, but that's just me being picky.) Maybe it's one of those covers that looks better in person, when you're holding it in your hands. That's how I felt about the US cover of Finnikin of the Rock. It has a light metallic shine to it, which makes it a bit more interesting to look at. Anyway, we'll just have to see in March! So, what do you think of the US cover? And what do you think when you compare it to the awesome Australian cover? :)

Together in the Games - Hunger Games fanart

My sister drew me another Katniss & Peeta fanart. Yay! It was a birthday present for me. :) Gahh... I love Peeta's expression. Just wanna hug him and kiss his cheek and eat him. And guess what? 11 more days till Mockingjay! *gasps*

Oh, and a little update on the Jellicoe Road fanart situation that I mentioned here. I FINALLY e-mailed Ms. Marchetta about 2 weeks ago (I know, I waited till the last second), and she replied! She told me though that she didn't really give her characters physical descriptions, unless it's important to the story. She also said that she wouldn't want to interfere with how readers saw the characters in their head. Which I can totally understand. So, it seems it might take me longer to convince my sister to draw Taylor/Jonah fanart, but..! I will manage to do it one day. >:) Or get someone else to do it at least. ;p

Jellicoe Road Fanart?

I love Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

My sister draws.

So...

I want her to draw Taylor/Jonah fanart! :D

She hasn't exactly said yes to me yet, but I'm working on it. When she's drawing, though, she likes to have references (like an image) of the characters. However, I don't believe their looks were described that much in the book. I think I can convince her to draw Taylor and Jonah fanart if she had a better idea of what the characters look like.

What I remember about Taylor: wavy golden-brown hair, blue/green eyes, tall & lanky.

What I remember about Jonah: cropped hair, 10 centimeters taller than Taylor, a tank.

I might have missed or incorrectly remembered a detail though. If I did, I would really appreciate it if you let me know. Anyway, there could possibly be a reference out there! Melina Marchetta's profile picture on GoodReads:

The boy in the tree and Taylor? I think it's them! I mean, none of her other books have a scene like this, and I don't believe it's just a random picture. What do you think? :)

You all might be wondering why I don't just ask Melina Marchetta for more descriptions of Taylor and Jonah. Well... The thing is... I'm too nervous! And I don't want to ask her if I'm not entirely sure my sister will even draw them. (I know, I'm a wimp. :p) So far now, while I try to gain the courage to go through with sending her an e-mail, I wanted to ask those who liked Jellicoe Road some questions:

- What is your favorite Taylor and Jonah moment?
- Are there actors or anybody that you believe could look like Jonah and Taylor?

Any answers, comments, and advice will be greatly appreciated! Or if you have any questions for me regarding anything I mentioned, then let me know. Thank you! :D