BOOK REVIEW: FROI OF THE EXILES BY MELINA MARCHETTA

MELINA MARCHETTA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME ????

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
OKAY. ok. STAY CALM. stAY cALM.

Here's the thing:
■ There are some 5-star-worthy books you finish thinking Wow that was really great! I loved the characters and the plot was captivating! Here are some more specific, concrete things I liked about this book!
■ Then, there are 5-star-worthy books you finish thinking OHMYYGOOOODDDD HE DID THE THING AND THEN SHE DID THE THINGS AND THEN THE OTHER CHARACTERS DID OTHER THINGS AND OMG DID THEY JUST DO THAT AND OMG THAT WAS A PLOT TWIISTTT AND OMG ANOTHER PLOT TWISTTTT AND HOLY MOLY THIS BOOK IS OVER ALREADY I'M CRYING I NEED TO GO ON GOODREADS AND PURGE THESE EMOTIONS

Froi of the Exiles was the latter. That's about the best way I can communicate to you how I felt about this book. I have not consumed a book so voraciously in such a long time. When I was reading this book, I was completely tuned out to anyone and anything around me. When I wasn't, all I wanted to do was to go back to reading it. Needless to say, I was unabashedly and utterly immersed in this book and its story.

Here's a quick checklist of some of the things I loved--and that you might love--about this book:
✔ Doubtful parentage 
✔ People trying to mend broken/complicated relationships (romantic and familial)
✔ EPIC PROPHECIES
✔ Characters who acknowledge and grow from their shitty actions rather than trying to excuse them
✔ A wide array of diverse, differentiated female characters
✔ One-liners that leave you in tears (happy and sad)
✔ Endearing character growth
✔ BEAUTIFUL ROMANCES, OTPs GALORE

Perhaps the most accurate thing I can say about Froi of the Exiles is that is  that it made me feel EVERYTHING. There's no other way I can put it. When Marchetta wants you to feel sorrow, you feel sorrow. When she wants you to feel giddy, you feel giddy.  When she wants you to feel devastated, you feel freaking devastated. Her character development and dialogue never miss a beat, and so her scenes always, always hit their mark precisely and effectively. This book had so (SO) many characters and let me tell you, I LOVED THEM ALL. UNAPOLOGETICALLY. When a character's happiness means so much to you that you cry tears of joy for them, you know you're invested, heavily. There are upwards of ten characters in this book, and the fact that Marchetta gave every one of them purpose and personality never ceases to amaze me. And don't even get me started on the lovable, kickass, fierce, and complex people that are the women of Froi of the Exiles. I owe Marchetta a debt of gratitude for creating some of the best and most memorable female characters I've read about in a while.

Here's another thing: I am the kind of reader who puts characters above all else. Characters so easily make or break a book for me. If I'm not interested in the characters, game over. If the characters captivate me, I'm all in. The reason why I love Marchetta's books so much, Froi of the Exiles in particular, is because they are ALWAYS about characters. With Marchetta, it's not that the characters are at the forefront of the story, it's that the characters are the story. And man oh man do her characters feel remarkably human. It's what keeps pulling me back to her books, and what makes so many of them some of my absolute favourites.

I am so so glad I decided to continue with this series because Froi of the Exiles just completely blew me away.