Maresi - Maria Turtschaninoff

Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound. 

My thoughts:

A few notes first. I did not read this book that is coming out now. I read the original since it would be pretty silly not to read in my own language when the book is written in it.

Maresi is a short fantasy novel that takes place on an island for women. At times it feels very young, but not at the end as certain things happen.

Maresi is a girl who loves books. For that I have to love her, a fellow booklover and all. Her reason for coming to the island was to save at least one child as the family was starving. She tells the story with her own words as she is writing it down.

The story being how Jai came to the island. And who someone will come after Jai and place them all in danger. An island for women, with no real protection except for their Goddess.

It's a nice little story about their island, their work there, and friendship. I liked the bits we got about how the Abbey got started, but it did made me wonder about the past and those that sailed there. You know I always want more.

Hardcover, 256 pages
Expected publication: January 14th 2016 by Pushkin Children's Books (first published January 1st 2014)
Original Title: Maresi: Krönikor från Röda klostret
Fantasy/ YA
Library

How my copy looked

I also read Arra, and this is a book set in the same world as Maresi,  Arra takes place long long before the events in Maresi. And in another country. Arra is but a legend now.

I wont show the review since that would be rather evil of me since it has not been translated and might never be. But here is my review

And Anache, which takes place long after Arra, and long before Maresi. And also in another country- They are just legends from this world. And since this might never be translated either then here is my review