Series Review: The Lumatere Chronicles

Title/Author: The Lumatere Chronicles (Finnikin of the Rock, Froi of the Exiles, Quintana of Charyn) by Melina Marchetta

Publication Date/Publisher: 2008-2012/ Viking Australia

Series: Yes, The Lumatere Chronicles

Source and Format: Owned and borrowed from library

Rating: 4 stars

From Goodreads:

Critically acclaimed and universally beloved, the Lumatere Chronicles – consisting of Finnikin of the Rock, Froi of the Exiles, and Quintana of Charyn – is now available in its entirety in this e-book collection! Discover the fantasy trilogy that reviewers have called “thrilling, romantic, and utterly unforgettable” and that School Library Journal recommended for “fans of the intricate fantasies of Megan Whalen Turner or George R. R. Martin.”

 

I am a series binger, for sure. I read a LOT of books and the best way for me to keep the story straight is to just read the whole series at once. The only problem with this is that it becomes one giant story, instead of three consecutive ones, if that makes sense. So I can never quite remember if something happened in one book or the next.

I really enjoyed this series! I had been slightly worried that Melina Marchetta was maybe a “contemporary only” kind of author, but I am happy to be wrong.

Though each book seems like it should focus on the titular character, it only kind of does. Finnikin of the Rock is mostly Finnikin’s tale, but it’s so we can meet Froi. Froi of the Exiles is definitely Froi’s story…but so is Quintana of Charyn, though we do get her perspective sometimes. The Lumatere Chronicles is almost pushing the limit of “too many different perspectives” but it’s such a sprawling story that they’re needed.

The issue I had was with the side characters. They’re at least not similarly named (for the most part), but over the course of over 1500 pages it’s hard to keep them all straight with all the little ways they’ve helped or hindered our heroes.

For a series that is all about warring lands that are cursed in different ways, there is little to no magic happening in The Lumatere Chronicles, which is both refreshing and confusing in a time of so many wizards. A thing I never expect, and am always pleasantly surprised by, is humor in fantasy. Usually the subject matter is so serious – cursed kingdoms at war, no babies, loved ones being savaged – that the humor always stands out. What I enjoyed most about these characters, besides how different they are and how brave and strong and terrific they are, is how FUNNY they are and the jokes they can make as they’re breaking my heart.

Series Review: Newsflesh

Title/Author: Feed, Deadline, and Blackout by Mira Grant

Publication Date/Publisher: –

Series: Yes, Newsflesh Trilogy

Source and Format: Own

Rating: 5 stars

From Goodreads (Feed Only):

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop.

The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED. Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives – the dark conspiracy behind the infected.

The truth will get out, even if it kills them

It’s not often you come across a series that is so consistently great. There are series that are great, with maybe a clunker book (or two), but the Newsflesh Series is completely 5 stars all the way through.

This is surprising to me based on the fact that, at first glance, this is a series about living in a world plagued by zombies. On top of that, they’re zombies created by scientists, so the science jargon and smarty pants terms are plentiful. What saves it is that the information is presented in a way that makes sense, even to those of us that don’t have a Ph.D. But still, zombies.

I’m not a horror person, so I definitely gave the zombie thing the side-eye. Luckily, these are not horror books. It’s a scary situation, true, but our heroes are smart and brave enough that we don’t worry about them until it’s too late.

I was extremely surprised at how emotional I became while reading. In the zombie apocalypse death is a given. Rising from the dead is almost a given, but can still surprise you. Underneath the zombie exterior, the Newsflesh Trilogy is very much about humanity, all different kinds of love and family, bravery, and sacrifice. I thought (several times) while reading yet another character giving up their lives to save their friends that I could never do that. I mean, maybe in a zombie infested life where I have to plan on dying every day.

The Newsflesh Trilogy is very Joss Whedon-y: supernatural/horror with humor. The most popular name is George, for George Romero, and it’s SO popular that even girls are named after him. In this series, we start with Shaun, Georgia (George), and Georgette (Buffy) at the center, with their merry band of misfits just on the outside. Every character feels very real and important and amazing and I just love them all so much.

I recommend binge reading. You won’t be able to NOT do it, so you might as well go into it knowing not to start unless you have all three books at your disposal.

(I read this series in February 2014…approximately 5 months before The Rising. That was pretty crazy, honestly. And I think Kellis Amberlee is a really pretty name.)