Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

 

Blurb from Goodreads
Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself 

3.5 stars
I hesitated to read this book. I read all the reviews and know how much it is loved by most everyone. So I am sure that I will be drawn and quartered when I say that this was just a good read for me. It meandered in places, and the info dumping in the beginning made me want to pull my hair out. I would have loved for there to be a map so I would know where all the different countries were rather than relying on my faulty memory. I see that there is a map in the next book, and I really wish I would have known before reading this one.

I felt the first part of the book was confusing (I'm still not clear about all of the differing countries.)  The second part was much better. I felt like I knew the characters and who was important and what I could ignore.
When I read, I want to feel part of the world. I want to experiences things with the protagonist, and I just didn't feel it with this book.

I will continue with the series even though I really didn't like Froi. And since he seems to be subject of the next book, I will have to deal with his almost raping Evanjalin. Hmmm... I don't feel that he redeemed himself quite yet for that.

This had several suggestive dialogues and use of language.  There is an attempted rape without any discussion of the implications.