Finnikin of the Rock

By: Melina Marchetta

Narrated by: Tom Wren

An epic fantasy of feudal intrigue, ancient magic, bloodshed and exile, and two opposing lovers destined to unite....

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh in order to save the royal house of his homeland, Lumatere. And so he stands on the rock of three wonders with his childhood friend Prince Balthazar and the prince's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood.

Lumatere is safe, until the "five days of the unspeakable", when the king and queen and their children are slaughtered in the palace, and an imposter king takes the throne. A curse is put on Lumatere, which traps those caught inside and forces thousands of others to roam the land as exiles, dying of fever and persecution in foreign camps.

But 10 years later, Finnikin is led to another rock to meet the young novice, Evanjalin - a girl plagued by dark dreams, who holds the key to their return to the land of light.

©2008 Melina Marchetta (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing

Mispronounced words were distracting

Any additional comments?

I have really mixed feelings about this one. The audiobook was so, so good in some ways and really not good in others. Wren's narration was well done for the most part and some of his voices - like those of the older men in particular - were brilliant. But other voices were awful - Froi's was one that was very grating. And certain words and names were so badly mispronounced it drove me batty every time I heard them. I could also hear him swallowing at times which wasn't very pleasant. But I found myself loving the book perhaps even more than I did the first time, nonetheless. Still, I probably wouldn't recommend this as a way to experience Finnikin - certainly not for the first time.

Top Title, Top Author, Top Reader

If you could sum up Finnikin of the Rock in three words, what would they be?

The best ever.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Evanjalin is a continual surprise throughout the book. She's gutsy, independent, fit and ruthless to her own detriment when she believes there's a need.

Which character – as performed by Tom Wren – was your favorite?

All characters were read as the author wrote them. Tom Wren trusts this author completely. His voice reading this text has the music and rhythm of poetry. Frankly, they are all excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. Over and over. I've just begun listening 4.

Any additional comments?

There are so many beautiful quotes to call upon from this book. A short one repeated several times is this: “Be prepared for the worst, my love, for it lives next door to the best.”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock

And a longer passage: “Finn, listen!" Trevanion said, his voice raw."I prayed to see you one more time. It's all I prayed for. Nothing more. And my prayers were answered. Go east, I'll lend them west."

"We have a dilemma, then," Finnikin said fiercely. "Because I prayed that you would grow old and hold my children in your arms as you held me. My prayers have not been answered yet, Trevanion. So whose prayer is more worthy? Yours or mine?”
― Melina Marchetta, Finnikin of the Rock