What do you think?
Rate this book
The Red Abbey Chronicles #2
Naondel
Una sacerdotessa, una guerriera, un'aristocratica, una serva, una strega, la figlia di un pescatore e una schiava destinata al sacrificio umano. Sette donne molto diverse unite da uno scopo comune: sono tutte prigioniere del bello, crudele Iskan che le ha imprigionate con una magia oscura in un harem. Le prime sorelle devono superare la loro sfiducia reciproca per scappare. Ma possono farlo solo a caro prezzo. Scrivono le loro storie. Sognano un rifugio, un luogo sicuro dove le ragazze possono essere libere. E, infine, quando la luna si illumina di rosso, avranno la loro vendetta. Questo romanzo è uno sguardo vivido e avvincente su un mondo di oppressione e sfruttamento, lo specchio opposto dell'idilliaco Monastero Rosso. Età di lettura: da 11 anni.
325 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2016
70 people are currently reading
4010 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews
April 1, 2019
I felt grief, but also relief. I had escaped. I was free.
Or so I thought.
I'm not a writer, but I wish I had written this book. It's true that I could have more success and wealth if I had written the Throne of Glass series, or Divergent, but this book is so rich, so different, so dark and full of complexity... I wish I could have the honour of saying something like this was my work.
This is a very dark book in a very dark series. It's a Finnish import, beautifully translated, and maybe that is why it's so unlike anything I've read in YA fantasy. It's in the YA section, but I should caution that it contains a lot of adult themes, including graphic sexual violence. It is a book that made me absolutely furious. But I am the kind of reader who enjoys books that claw themselves up from the darkest of depths. If that sounds unappealing, I would avoid this one.
Naondel is the prequel to Maresi, written two years after. I thought Maresi was very good, but this one just took it to a whole other level. Where I felt the first book was good in a weird way and difficult to widely recommend, I think this is one I want to tell everyone to read. Should you read Maresi first? I think so. But if that book doesn't do it for you because it's kinda weird, can I please ask that you try this one anyway?
I come bearing an imperfect analogy. Maresi is like Kill Bill, Vol. 1. It's weird, it throws you into the middle of a WTF story, and it's compelling but also WHAT?! Naondel is Kill Bill, Vol. 2. It's the backstory. There's a more intricate plot, and the world of the story gets so much bigger and makes so much more sense. It's SO FREAKING GOOD.
The richness of the world here is to die for. The first person narration moves through so many different perspectives, yet it actually works perfectly. It shows the lives and cultures of all these different women, who have been brought together under a powerful and ruthless man who will do anything to further his position. And let me just reiterate: do not read this book if you don't want to spend the entire thing so angry and anxious because of this bastard. Seriously.
At the novel's darkest moments it's hard to imagine how it can be called a "feminist" fantasy, but I think this is ultimately a great example of feminism. Many different women, from different backgrounds and cultures, dark and light-skinned women, queer women, and intersex women, all given their own voice in the narrative.
What a horrible beautiful book.
CW: Rape and sexual violence; suicide; forced abortion; slavery.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
January 1, 2025
I don't think I convinced anyone to read "Maresi" earlier this year, and I probably won't convince anyone to read its prequel, which is very unfortunate. Of many YA fantasy novels published these days, this one definitely offers something different. The novel's main characters reside in a harem, and knowing that "Maresi" takes place on island where women find safe haven from oppression of men, it's no spoiler to say that women of "Naondel" hate their husband/owner/abuser/rapist and seek escape from him. This "husband" is almost cartoonishly villainous, and yet the back stories of his women and their struggle for freedom from him are a powerful thing.
March 18, 2017
3.5 stars
Naondel reads like a mash-up of A Thousand Nights and Memoirs of a Geisha. Like the former, it is a feminist testimony to the outward weakness but inward strength of women. Like the latter, it is filled with hardship, and struggles, and pain, which – balanced by the beautiful setting and writing – made this a bittersweet kind of read, both beautiful and dreadful.
Whilst marketed in the Teens & YA section on NetGalley, the content is brutal and devastating in both a psychological and physical way, and therefore unfit for a teen audience, in my opinion. Furthermore, this is a founding story, but in my estimation, the predecessor does not need to be read in order to understand the plot in this book.
When I first came across Naondel, I had never heard of this author or her works. The premise, however, sparked my curiosity, for it reminded me a lot of A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston, a novel I had adored. The impression hadn't been misplaced. If you didn't like either of the two works mentioned in the intro, then you probably won't enjoy this one, either. Naondel is slow-going, descriptive, and introspective. If there is action, then it is either a verbal exchange of blows or conniving schemes. The focus is usually less on what is happening but on the emotions it evokes in the all-female protagonists.
Naondel is told through several perspectives, which was one or two too many for my liking. Naturally, I formed the strongest bonds with the first two women whose points of view depicted the ordeal the women suffered at the hands of Iskan ak Honta-che, the grand Vizier to the Sovereign Prince. After the third or fourth point of view, the women started blurring in my mind. Turtschaninoff succeded in creating diverse voices, but this was enough. The women, in whose minds the reader plunges, are fleshed out, but with so much pain, it was difficult to bring myself to care for yet another and another and another character. And pain there is plenty. The women are treated like decorations, like playthings, like sex objects to be used and disposed of. After a while, it was hard to keep going, to be honest. Though I can see why Turtschaninoff chose to display an intense rape culture, I got tired of it, as almost every woman was raped by the villain. Perhaps it is their similar fates that made the characters blend together after a while, in spite of their strong characterizations. Rape was not the worst atrocity some of the women in this books suffered at the hands of the villain, and so, not few played with the thought of greeting death with open arms.
Iskan ak Honta-che is a narcissist, if not a psychopath, at his core – power-hungry, oppressive, paranoid, aloof, lacking of a single drop of empathy. Women, for him, are means to an end, used to satisfy his sexual needs or to breed him heirs. He steps into the female lead's (the first POV we meet) life with an air of seductive charm, as most psychopaths do, and then slowly invades every single aspect of her being, rendering her to a useless puppet on a string. Though Iskan serves as a symbol of male dominance, he was a one-dimensional villain. He does have other sides than his cruelty, for example being extremely knowledgeable or a good schemer, but I wanted a morally grey line and I didn't receive it. Iskan is so thoroughly corrupted by dark powers – the only magical aspect in the book – that he is pure evil down to his bone. The catch of the book is that, though he believes women to be beneath him, he hands them the power they require to fight back. The more cruel he becomes, the more the women stick together, and a pack of wolves is always stronger than one lonely bear, no matter how big and strong he may be.
In the face of the despicable content, the beautiful aspects of the book almost went unnoticed. Naondel excites with some excellent Japanese-inspired world-building. From the traditions to the clothing to the food, Turschaninoff thought of every last detail to enrich the world she had created. The simple yet elegant writing further underpinned the beautiful setting. I was surprised by the flow of the writing, for translated books have been disappointing to me in the past, but this novel's translation seemed to have an effortless flow.
Naondel is a memorable and powerful feminist novel, though slow-going and at times painful, even tedious, to read. It is about power, about oppression, and about the greed and ignorance of one. It is about defiance, about suffering, and about the strength found in many, in each other. I wouldn't say the novel was enjoyable, seeing as there was mostly pain inflicted and pain felt, but it will certainly stick with me for a while.
**I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Every Word A Doorway | Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin
Naondel reads like a mash-up of A Thousand Nights and Memoirs of a Geisha. Like the former, it is a feminist testimony to the outward weakness but inward strength of women. Like the latter, it is filled with hardship, and struggles, and pain, which – balanced by the beautiful setting and writing – made this a bittersweet kind of read, both beautiful and dreadful.
Whilst marketed in the Teens & YA section on NetGalley, the content is brutal and devastating in both a psychological and physical way, and therefore unfit for a teen audience, in my opinion. Furthermore, this is a founding story, but in my estimation, the predecessor does not need to be read in order to understand the plot in this book.
When I first came across Naondel, I had never heard of this author or her works. The premise, however, sparked my curiosity, for it reminded me a lot of A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston, a novel I had adored. The impression hadn't been misplaced. If you didn't like either of the two works mentioned in the intro, then you probably won't enjoy this one, either. Naondel is slow-going, descriptive, and introspective. If there is action, then it is either a verbal exchange of blows or conniving schemes. The focus is usually less on what is happening but on the emotions it evokes in the all-female protagonists.
Naondel is told through several perspectives, which was one or two too many for my liking. Naturally, I formed the strongest bonds with the first two women whose points of view depicted the ordeal the women suffered at the hands of Iskan ak Honta-che, the grand Vizier to the Sovereign Prince. After the third or fourth point of view, the women started blurring in my mind. Turtschaninoff succeded in creating diverse voices, but this was enough. The women, in whose minds the reader plunges, are fleshed out, but with so much pain, it was difficult to bring myself to care for yet another and another and another character. And pain there is plenty. The women are treated like decorations, like playthings, like sex objects to be used and disposed of. After a while, it was hard to keep going, to be honest. Though I can see why Turtschaninoff chose to display an intense rape culture, I got tired of it, as almost every woman was raped by the villain. Perhaps it is their similar fates that made the characters blend together after a while, in spite of their strong characterizations. Rape was not the worst atrocity some of the women in this books suffered at the hands of the villain, and so, not few played with the thought of greeting death with open arms.
"Poison," she gasped. I scoffed.
"Why should I poison you? I will drink it first, if you like."
I have since wondered about what she said. That perhaps it was not an accusation, but a request.
Iskan ak Honta-che is a narcissist, if not a psychopath, at his core – power-hungry, oppressive, paranoid, aloof, lacking of a single drop of empathy. Women, for him, are means to an end, used to satisfy his sexual needs or to breed him heirs. He steps into the female lead's (the first POV we meet) life with an air of seductive charm, as most psychopaths do, and then slowly invades every single aspect of her being, rendering her to a useless puppet on a string. Though Iskan serves as a symbol of male dominance, he was a one-dimensional villain. He does have other sides than his cruelty, for example being extremely knowledgeable or a good schemer, but I wanted a morally grey line and I didn't receive it. Iskan is so thoroughly corrupted by dark powers – the only magical aspect in the book – that he is pure evil down to his bone. The catch of the book is that, though he believes women to be beneath him, he hands them the power they require to fight back. The more cruel he becomes, the more the women stick together, and a pack of wolves is always stronger than one lonely bear, no matter how big and strong he may be.
My master did not guard his words in the slightest. Not even admission of high treason was dangerous when only disclosed in the presence of women. We were nobody at all. As unimportant as grass on the ground. As interchangeable.
In the face of the despicable content, the beautiful aspects of the book almost went unnoticed. Naondel excites with some excellent Japanese-inspired world-building. From the traditions to the clothing to the food, Turschaninoff thought of every last detail to enrich the world she had created. The simple yet elegant writing further underpinned the beautiful setting. I was surprised by the flow of the writing, for translated books have been disappointing to me in the past, but this novel's translation seemed to have an effortless flow.
Naondel is a memorable and powerful feminist novel, though slow-going and at times painful, even tedious, to read. It is about power, about oppression, and about the greed and ignorance of one. It is about defiance, about suffering, and about the strength found in many, in each other. I wouldn't say the novel was enjoyable, seeing as there was mostly pain inflicted and pain felt, but it will certainly stick with me for a while.
**I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Every Word A Doorway | Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin
June 5, 2019
5 Words: Power, control, feminism, survival, magic.
I knew from the moment I read about the Naondel in Maresi that I had to know more.
This book is written in a slightly different style from Maresi, with the narrative changing at intervals between different characters. It still has the same feel to the writing, it's still quite blunt and in your face at times, but I loved it. I could easily distinguish between the characters - and quickly realised that I had a favourite. I just love Garai, okay?
I would definitely say to read this after Maresi, even though it is set before. It just felt more natural to read them in that order.
I knew from the moment I read about the Naondel in Maresi that I had to know more.
This book is written in a slightly different style from Maresi, with the narrative changing at intervals between different characters. It still has the same feel to the writing, it's still quite blunt and in your face at times, but I loved it. I could easily distinguish between the characters - and quickly realised that I had a favourite. I just love Garai, okay?
I would definitely say to read this after Maresi, even though it is set before. It just felt more natural to read them in that order.
November 29, 2022
4/5
Vienas mano mėgstamiausių filmų, Mad Max Fury Road, turi nuostabią išsilaisvinančių moterų gimdymo vergių istoriją, kur jos, nėščios ir laikytos tik dėl grožio ir dėl gimdų, pabėga nuo despoto ir bėga į nežinią, į niekur, į svajonę, kuri gal net veikiau miražas dykumoje. Labai šis vaizdinys ir šis filmas man susišaukė su Naondeliu. Jausdamas laisvės skonį, galimą pabaigos pažadą, suvokdamas priešistorės esmę, turi kentėti ir matyti, kaip jos kenčia - prievartą, smurtą, skausmą, baimę, patyčias. Čia ištisas moterų patiriamo siaubo ir genuose užkoduoto skausmo kaleidoskopas, toks ryškus ir tirštas. Bus tokių, kurie sakys, kad tarsi nedera YA rašyti tiek žiaurumų, bet aš tikiu, kad ne tik dera, bet ir būtina. Paaugliai jau anksti turi suprasti, kad tokia yra istorija, tokia karų kaina ir kad nėra ji taip toli. Tiesą sakant, su Ukrainos kančia šalimais, ši knyga atrodo tik dar reikalingesnė. O galios, valdžios ir kitų kančios ištroškęs valdovas – tik dar realistiškesnis.
Puikus, gyvas, įspūdingas Elžbietos Kmitaitės vertimas susilieja su labai žiauriu, labai tikrovišku savo baisumu, bet labai žavingu savo fantastiškumu tekstu. Daug autorės įspūdingo kūrybiškumo, daug susijungiančių pasaulių, daug žavingų smulkmenų, įrodančių, kokia ši istorija apgalvota, kokia išplėtota, nuosekli, įvairialypė. Man pasirodė net daugokai veikėjų, kuriuos tenka prisiminti, o jų sąrašas kažkodėl gale – gerai, kad susiradau beskaitydama ir tikrinausi po to patogiai, nes kitaip, radusi po laiko, būčiau tiesiog nusivylusi. Linkiu neapsigauti ir dėl viršelio – istorija nė per kur ne saldi, labai giliai feministiška ir ypač reikšminga, reikalinga, daugialypė. Patiko, nors kiek mažiau, nei pirmoji dalis – gal dėl to, kad čia tekstas pasirodė labiau paremtas veiksmo, nei kad išgyvenimų perpasakojimu, ne toks pasaulį kuriantis? Bet kokiu atveju, skaitykit ir paaugliams dovanokit, o aš lauksiu trečiosios dalies.
Vienas mano mėgstamiausių filmų, Mad Max Fury Road, turi nuostabią išsilaisvinančių moterų gimdymo vergių istoriją, kur jos, nėščios ir laikytos tik dėl grožio ir dėl gimdų, pabėga nuo despoto ir bėga į nežinią, į niekur, į svajonę, kuri gal net veikiau miražas dykumoje. Labai šis vaizdinys ir šis filmas man susišaukė su Naondeliu. Jausdamas laisvės skonį, galimą pabaigos pažadą, suvokdamas priešistorės esmę, turi kentėti ir matyti, kaip jos kenčia - prievartą, smurtą, skausmą, baimę, patyčias. Čia ištisas moterų patiriamo siaubo ir genuose užkoduoto skausmo kaleidoskopas, toks ryškus ir tirštas. Bus tokių, kurie sakys, kad tarsi nedera YA rašyti tiek žiaurumų, bet aš tikiu, kad ne tik dera, bet ir būtina. Paaugliai jau anksti turi suprasti, kad tokia yra istorija, tokia karų kaina ir kad nėra ji taip toli. Tiesą sakant, su Ukrainos kančia šalimais, ši knyga atrodo tik dar reikalingesnė. O galios, valdžios ir kitų kančios ištroškęs valdovas – tik dar realistiškesnis.
Puikus, gyvas, įspūdingas Elžbietos Kmitaitės vertimas susilieja su labai žiauriu, labai tikrovišku savo baisumu, bet labai žavingu savo fantastiškumu tekstu. Daug autorės įspūdingo kūrybiškumo, daug susijungiančių pasaulių, daug žavingų smulkmenų, įrodančių, kokia ši istorija apgalvota, kokia išplėtota, nuosekli, įvairialypė. Man pasirodė net daugokai veikėjų, kuriuos tenka prisiminti, o jų sąrašas kažkodėl gale – gerai, kad susiradau beskaitydama ir tikrinausi po to patogiai, nes kitaip, radusi po laiko, būčiau tiesiog nusivylusi. Linkiu neapsigauti ir dėl viršelio – istorija nė per kur ne saldi, labai giliai feministiška ir ypač reikšminga, reikalinga, daugialypė. Patiko, nors kiek mažiau, nei pirmoji dalis – gal dėl to, kad čia tekstas pasirodė labiau paremtas veiksmo, nei kad išgyvenimų perpasakojimu, ne toks pasaulį kuriantis? Bet kokiu atveju, skaitykit ir paaugliams dovanokit, o aš lauksiu trečiosios dalies.
May 24, 2021
3,5/5.
Nie pamietam książki,która wywołałaby we mnie aż taki dystans. I proszę,tutaj pojawia się „Naondel”.
Jest to ciężka książka i ciężkie historie w niej zawarte. Mnie zupełnie one nie poruszyły i nie dotknęły. Rozumiem,to jest straszne i miałam to z tylu głowy czytając,ale czułam do tego ogromny dystans i niezaangażowanie. Było mi to bardzo obojętne.
Styl pisania nie był zły i trafiała do mnie taka bezpośredniość. Chyba ten element był najlepszy w tej książce.
To zdecydowanie lepsza,ale też brutalniejsza niż „Maresi”. Interesowało mnie powstanie tego klasztoru,ale naprawdę,jedyne co mogę powiedzieć o tej książce,to to,że czułam do niej ogromny dystans i obojętność. Nic dodać,nic ująć.
Obiektywnie to może być dobra książka. Ba-może być bardzo dobra i może być książką czyjegoś życia i ja to szanuję,ale zupełnie do mnie nie trafiła. Subiektywnie nie jest najgorsza,ale zdecydowanie nie jest moim ulubieńcem.
Nie pamietam książki,która wywołałaby we mnie aż taki dystans. I proszę,tutaj pojawia się „Naondel”.
Jest to ciężka książka i ciężkie historie w niej zawarte. Mnie zupełnie one nie poruszyły i nie dotknęły. Rozumiem,to jest straszne i miałam to z tylu głowy czytając,ale czułam do tego ogromny dystans i niezaangażowanie. Było mi to bardzo obojętne.
Styl pisania nie był zły i trafiała do mnie taka bezpośredniość. Chyba ten element był najlepszy w tej książce.
To zdecydowanie lepsza,ale też brutalniejsza niż „Maresi”. Interesowało mnie powstanie tego klasztoru,ale naprawdę,jedyne co mogę powiedzieć o tej książce,to to,że czułam do niej ogromny dystans i obojętność. Nic dodać,nic ująć.
Obiektywnie to może być dobra książka. Ba-może być bardzo dobra i może być książką czyjegoś życia i ja to szanuję,ale zupełnie do mnie nie trafiła. Subiektywnie nie jest najgorsza,ale zdecydowanie nie jest moim ulubieńcem.
March 20, 2021
I just CANNOT get enough of this series!
I loved both this, and Maresi (the first in the series) in equal, yet different measure.
More books filled to bursting with strong, awesome female characters please?!
This instalment was so much darker.
So much heavier.
Filled with so much more evil and malevolence.
And I loved it!
It was such a great origin story for The Red Abbey, and I can't wait for book number three!
I loved both this, and Maresi (the first in the series) in equal, yet different measure.
More books filled to bursting with strong, awesome female characters please?!
This instalment was so much darker.
So much heavier.
Filled with so much more evil and malevolence.
And I loved it!
It was such a great origin story for The Red Abbey, and I can't wait for book number three!
Read
February 7, 2022“I want to live.”
So What’s It About?
Imprisoned in a harem by a dangerous man with a dark magic that grants him power over life and death, the First Sisters must overcome their mistrust of one another in order to escape. But they can only do so at a great cost, both for those who leave and for those left behind. Told in alternating points of view, this novel is a vivid, riveting look at a world of oppression and exploitation, the mirror opposite of the idyllic Red Abbey.
CW for sexual assault.
What I Thought
I liked this even more than Maresi, which I thought was great. It is by no means an easy book to get through, but I found it incredibly resonant. A while back, I described The Once and Future Witches as Charlotte Catnip, and you KNOW that this is more Charlotte Catnip - a book about diverse women with different attitudes towards their trauma and different ways of coping; they find their way out of captivity by overcoming their divisions, eventually becoming sisters, living in peace as survivors and creating a refuge for other women. It’s a powerful story of survivorhood told with a great deal of grace, thought, and beautiful language. I loved learning about the cultures that each of the women came from - they’re all extremely evocative and interesting, and it truly is a diverse group of women with different ethnicities, sexualities, magical abilities and more (such as disfiguration and intersex identity) that is all incorporated into the story with thought and care.
That being said, however, there are some definite flaws to the overall structure of the book that impact the story’s efficacy. Because they are the first women brought into Iskan’s harem, we get a great deal of characterization and narration dedicated to Kabira and Garai, but each woman gets progressively less and less time and depth as she is brought to the palace after that. I mentioned that there are amazing descriptions of different cultures, but this is really only true of Kabira, Garai and Orseola. Orseola and Sulani barely get any narration time after they are brought to the palace; Claras is the one who actually decides to escape, but we barely get to know anything about her or what brings her to this decision after she was the only woman who came to the palace willingly; Etstegi doesn’t even get a perspective for some reason, even though I think the book would have really been strengthened by the voice of a woman outside the harem. Speaking of voice, it’s also notable that the prose is pretty much the same for every woman’s narration, even though they have drastically different experiences and personalities.
The one real exception to this is Daera, whose voice is sweet and hopeful and optimistic; she is the last of the First Sisters and comes into existence during their flight from the palace. She embodies all of the joy and innocence that the other First Sisters were denied; she owns her body/sexuality and embraces her freedom. I think she’s a fascinating character.
Kabira has a great deal of the interiority that the others lack - we see her madness and despair and grim, numb acceptance after her loss of her family and her children, her complex relationship with her daughter Esiko, who she has in a final act of self-determination and resistance, her tentative friendship with Garai and her inability/unwillingness to care at all for the plight of the other women in the harem. I can only imagine how much more amazing Naondel would have been if each of the women had interiority to match hers, but at the same time, I just don’t know how feasible that would be.
Speaking of characters’ interiority, readers who like a villain with some amount of nuance or humanity won’t find that in Iskan. Except for the very beginning, he is nearly unequivocally monstrous and just grows more depraved and ruthless with time. I don’t know if this needs to be said but there is a LOT of rape in this book, and while it’s absolutely a story of trauma and survivorhood, I think the book could have been a little more varied and expressive with the women’s reactions to what happens to them - this happens to a certain extent, but I think more could have been done. This definitely stems back to the greater issue of juggling so many characters all at once. The pacing is fairly slow for most of the book but moves incredibly quickly at the end, but I’m not too bothered by this as I think it comes with the territory of telling a story about ongoing oppression and then escape.
It is far from technically perfect, as I’ve just outlined, but the story is such a powerful one that is told with such grace. Yes, I sat crying in an airport over the last few pages, and overall I know that this is one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
So What’s It About?
Imprisoned in a harem by a dangerous man with a dark magic that grants him power over life and death, the First Sisters must overcome their mistrust of one another in order to escape. But they can only do so at a great cost, both for those who leave and for those left behind. Told in alternating points of view, this novel is a vivid, riveting look at a world of oppression and exploitation, the mirror opposite of the idyllic Red Abbey.
CW for sexual assault.
What I Thought
I liked this even more than Maresi, which I thought was great. It is by no means an easy book to get through, but I found it incredibly resonant. A while back, I described The Once and Future Witches as Charlotte Catnip, and you KNOW that this is more Charlotte Catnip - a book about diverse women with different attitudes towards their trauma and different ways of coping; they find their way out of captivity by overcoming their divisions, eventually becoming sisters, living in peace as survivors and creating a refuge for other women. It’s a powerful story of survivorhood told with a great deal of grace, thought, and beautiful language. I loved learning about the cultures that each of the women came from - they’re all extremely evocative and interesting, and it truly is a diverse group of women with different ethnicities, sexualities, magical abilities and more (such as disfiguration and intersex identity) that is all incorporated into the story with thought and care.
That being said, however, there are some definite flaws to the overall structure of the book that impact the story’s efficacy. Because they are the first women brought into Iskan’s harem, we get a great deal of characterization and narration dedicated to Kabira and Garai, but each woman gets progressively less and less time and depth as she is brought to the palace after that. I mentioned that there are amazing descriptions of different cultures, but this is really only true of Kabira, Garai and Orseola. Orseola and Sulani barely get any narration time after they are brought to the palace; Claras is the one who actually decides to escape, but we barely get to know anything about her or what brings her to this decision after she was the only woman who came to the palace willingly; Etstegi doesn’t even get a perspective for some reason, even though I think the book would have really been strengthened by the voice of a woman outside the harem. Speaking of voice, it’s also notable that the prose is pretty much the same for every woman’s narration, even though they have drastically different experiences and personalities.
The one real exception to this is Daera, whose voice is sweet and hopeful and optimistic; she is the last of the First Sisters and comes into existence during their flight from the palace. She embodies all of the joy and innocence that the other First Sisters were denied; she owns her body/sexuality and embraces her freedom. I think she’s a fascinating character.
Kabira has a great deal of the interiority that the others lack - we see her madness and despair and grim, numb acceptance after her loss of her family and her children, her complex relationship with her daughter Esiko, who she has in a final act of self-determination and resistance, her tentative friendship with Garai and her inability/unwillingness to care at all for the plight of the other women in the harem. I can only imagine how much more amazing Naondel would have been if each of the women had interiority to match hers, but at the same time, I just don’t know how feasible that would be.
Speaking of characters’ interiority, readers who like a villain with some amount of nuance or humanity won’t find that in Iskan. Except for the very beginning, he is nearly unequivocally monstrous and just grows more depraved and ruthless with time. I don’t know if this needs to be said but there is a LOT of rape in this book, and while it’s absolutely a story of trauma and survivorhood, I think the book could have been a little more varied and expressive with the women’s reactions to what happens to them - this happens to a certain extent, but I think more could have been done. This definitely stems back to the greater issue of juggling so many characters all at once. The pacing is fairly slow for most of the book but moves incredibly quickly at the end, but I’m not too bothered by this as I think it comes with the territory of telling a story about ongoing oppression and then escape.
It is far from technically perfect, as I’ve just outlined, but the story is such a powerful one that is told with such grace. Yes, I sat crying in an airport over the last few pages, and overall I know that this is one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2019
Feministu fantasy!
Bet ļoti labā nozīmē. Spēcīgāks, krāsaināks un sāpīgāks stāsts par Marēsi, tāda pieaugušo versija autores iepriekšējai grāmatai.
Bet ļoti labā nozīmē. Spēcīgāks, krāsaināks un sāpīgāks stāsts par Marēsi, tāda pieaugušo versija autores iepriekšējai grāmatai.
January 10, 2019
Jā, tas tomēr bija skaisti. Kaut kādā ziņa man pat negribētos ierindot šo romānu pie fantāzijas literatūras, bet drīzāk pie pasakām. Nu tādām loti drūmām pasakām. Katrā ziņā šis ir fantāzijas atzars, kas mani ļoti uzrunā - ja atņem mistiku, tad viss ir diezgan reālistiski.
Nevar noliegt, ka mani iepriecina, ka tas ir sievietes rakstīts romāns sievietēm bez rozā puņķiem, bet par sieviešu draudzību, vienotību, māsību.
Nevar noliegt, ka mani iepriecina, ka tas ir sievietes rakstīts romāns sievietēm bez rozā puņķiem, bet par sieviešu draudzību, vienotību, māsību.
September 13, 2019
Nav gluži mans iecienītais žanrs, bet tāds teiksmains austrumu stāsts par sieviešu spēku nevar nepatikt. :)
January 8, 2022
Plusi - skaists un mazliet dzejisks stāsts, tiešām pilnībā uzbur autores pasauli un liek noticēt. Burvīgi apraksti par Spēka vietām, Kabīras un Garai tēli ir dzīvo, interesanti, ticami, vnk super.
Mīnusi - vai nu autorei apnika, vai plānoto tēlu pārāk daudz, vai laika pietrūka - nezinu, bet pārējie tēli ir diezgan pavirši.
Plusu ir vairāk, kaut vai Kabīras dēļ iesaku izlasīt!
Mīnusi - vai nu autorei apnika, vai plānoto tēlu pārāk daudz, vai laika pietrūka - nezinu, bet pārējie tēli ir diezgan pavirši.
Plusu ir vairāk, kaut vai Kabīras dēļ iesaku izlasīt!
October 19, 2020
Cudowna😍
November 14, 2019
Ehh, I read this without knowing that this is a sequel (or actually a prequel). Anyway, it was a very good read with a lot of interesting characters. Love the settings and the writing was good. The only thing I didn't like is that the main villain is toooo evil and basically rapes every women he encounters :/
I am going to look for the first book now :)
Recension finns på Boktycke.
I am going to look for the first book now :)
Recension finns på Boktycke.
July 16, 2019
Niesamowita historia. Pokazuję jaką siłę mają kobiety, zarówno gdy się zjednoczą, jak i w pojedynkę. Wciągająca, wywarła mnie ogromne wrażenie, uzupełniła to, czego brakowało mi podczas lektury „Maresi” i była według mnie o wiele od niej lepsza.
April 8, 2025
Zdecydowanie najlepsza książka z trylogii. Chociaż nie aż tak dobra jak się spodziewałam. Była ciekawa, wciągająca i ciekawie poprowadzona, a końcówka była zdecydowanie najlepsza.
Końcowa ocena: 7,5/10
Końcowa ocena: 7,5/10
July 24, 2024
Kurcze trochę za duże oczekiwania miałam. Moim zdaniem nie dorównuje "Maresi", które btw bardzo mi się podobało.
Nie uważam, że ta książka była zła, ponieważ wątek magiczny był bardzo ciekawy,
a z pośród innych fantastycznych młodzieżówek będzie się wyróżniać, ale czegoś mi zabrakło i sama historia mnie nie pochłonęła jak w przypadku pierwszego tomu 🫤
Nie uważam, że ta książka była zła, ponieważ wątek magiczny był bardzo ciekawy,
a z pośród innych fantastycznych młodzieżówek będzie się wyróżniać, ale czegoś mi zabrakło i sama historia mnie nie pochłonęła jak w przypadku pierwszego tomu 🫤
October 25, 2017
Let me just preface this with a little note on Maresi, the first book in this series.
Maresi was a pleasant read that touched briefly on how terrible it can be to be a woman, but over all was a positive book with a really uplifting vibe. Woman escaped bad situations to come and live freely on an island that let them work and learn in a safe haven that men couldn't access. It was a nice coming-of-age tale about sisterhood and the potential that a woman can have if she's given opportunity.
This left me completely unprepared for the onslaught of miserable realism that was Naondel.
Noandel is the prequel to Maresi, following different characters completely, and though you should read Maresi first, Naondel really, really makes the positive flavor of Maresi so much more precious.
Naondel follows 7 women who all, for one reason or another, end up living in the harem of a powerful and really, truly awful man. The book spans over 40 years and follows all the woman that are affected by this one man as he grows to take over and conquer all the lands around him.
It's depressing and enraging and heart wrenching to read, but I found myself becoming so invested in these women who all came from different places, and had different talents, and found camaraderie with each other because of the suffering caused by one man.
I always think that the "best" kind of bad guys are the ones who are rooted in truth, and though Iskan was a man imbued with powers from a spring, he was one of the most realistic antagonists I've ever read. All the evil things he did had nothing to do with the power he had and had everything to do with the fact that he was a powerful man.
Everything he pursued was a means to gain more power and more ways to make himself feel larger by belittling those around him. Woman were collectables that he could choose from to suit his mood.
For years it followed these woman who had nothing to fight for and nothing to fight with until they found each other. All you wanted by the end of the book was just a little bit of happiness for them, so Maresi isn't really complete without Naondel, but neither is Noandel without Maresi even though it follows different women.
Naondel is the story of the suffering behind the hard-won positivity of Maresi and the legacy left behind by the women who fought back for a future, and boy does it make you want to cry.
October 7, 2016
Maria Turtschaninoffin vastikään imestynyt nuorten fantasiaromaani Naondel on kertomus naisista, jotka perustavat jo Turtschaninoffin edellisestä romaanista Maresista tutun Punaisen luostarin. Vaikka teos on itsenäinen jatko-osa Maresille, se sijoittuu aikaan ennen tätä. Luostaria perustamaan päästään vasta kirjan lopussa, ja sitä ennen tarina kertoo naisten elämästä vankeina Karenokoin visiiri Iskanin haaremissa. Iskan on paha ja vallanhimoinen ja pitää naisia ja koko valtakuntaa kynsissään maagisesta Anji-lähteestä ammentamiensa voimien avulla.
Teos on upeaa, naiskeskeistä, kaunista fantasiaa. Turtschaninoff on taidokkaasti kirjoittanut tarinalle useita eri kertojanäkökulmia, minkä huomaan olevan yhdistävä piirre monissa suosikkikirjoissani. Kokonaisuudessaan pidin kirjasta hyvin paljon mutta en sanoisi, että olin missään vaiheessa koukussa sen lukemiseen, vaikka luinkin kirjaa mielelläni. En päässyt tunnetasolla niin lähelle kirjan hahmoja kuin täydellinen lukukokemus olisi vaatinut, mutta en silti missään nimessä pidä kirjaa huonona. Suosittelen kirjaa erityisesti perinteiseen fantasiaan kyllästyneille ja yleensä muunlaista kirjallisuutta lukeville, jotka haluavat päästä fantasian makuun.
Lisää mietteitäni Naondelista blogissani.
Teos on upeaa, naiskeskeistä, kaunista fantasiaa. Turtschaninoff on taidokkaasti kirjoittanut tarinalle useita eri kertojanäkökulmia, minkä huomaan olevan yhdistävä piirre monissa suosikkikirjoissani. Kokonaisuudessaan pidin kirjasta hyvin paljon mutta en sanoisi, että olin missään vaiheessa koukussa sen lukemiseen, vaikka luinkin kirjaa mielelläni. En päässyt tunnetasolla niin lähelle kirjan hahmoja kuin täydellinen lukukokemus olisi vaatinut, mutta en silti missään nimessä pidä kirjaa huonona. Suosittelen kirjaa erityisesti perinteiseen fantasiaan kyllästyneille ja yleensä muunlaista kirjallisuutta lukeville, jotka haluavat päästä fantasian makuun.
Lisää mietteitäni Naondelista blogissani.
November 11, 2023
Ai miten mahtava ja jännittävä kirja! Rohkea, väkivaltainen ja naisvoittoinen!
Kiinnostavat, monimuotoiset päähenkilöt ja kertojanäkökulmat pitivät otteessaan ja ylläpitivät mielenkiintoa loppuun asti. Juoni ja siinä esiintyvien naishenkilöiden elämät kietoutuivat sulavasti yhteen ja kokonaisuus oli viimeisen päälle hiottu. Fantasiaosuus oli hienovaraista ja pelkistettyä, mikä sopi mielestäni kirjan maailmaan loistavasti.
Tämä olisi tosin ollut täydellinen, jos tarinassa olisi esiintynyt edes yksi miellyttävä mieshahmo. Kirjasta tihkuva miesviha jätti vähän oudon fiiliksen ja pisti pohtimaan vaikuttimia. Muuten juoni oli upeasti punottu! Suosittelen!
Kiinnostavat, monimuotoiset päähenkilöt ja kertojanäkökulmat pitivät otteessaan ja ylläpitivät mielenkiintoa loppuun asti. Juoni ja siinä esiintyvien naishenkilöiden elämät kietoutuivat sulavasti yhteen ja kokonaisuus oli viimeisen päälle hiottu. Fantasiaosuus oli hienovaraista ja pelkistettyä, mikä sopi mielestäni kirjan maailmaan loistavasti.
Tämä olisi tosin ollut täydellinen, jos tarinassa olisi esiintynyt edes yksi miellyttävä mieshahmo. Kirjasta tihkuva miesviha jätti vähän oudon fiiliksen ja pisti pohtimaan vaikuttimia. Muuten juoni oli upeasti punottu! Suosittelen!
January 7, 2017
Ei tämä kyllä mikään nuortenkirja ollut, ja oikeastaan hyvä niin. Osui ja upposi, erittäin mainio kirja. Ainoastaan haittasi lopussa päähenkilöiden suuri määrä ja siitä seuraava hahmojen sekoittaminen toisiinsa.
January 27, 2022
4,5
naprawdę świetna młodzieżówka, zdecydowanie godna polecenia
naprawdę świetna młodzieżówka, zdecydowanie godna polecenia
December 10, 2016
Aluksi en ollut ihan varma tykkäänkö tästä vai ei mutta kyllä tästä kehkeytyi edeltäjäänsäkin vahvempi ja kauniimpi kirja. Fantasikirjallisuudessa tämänkaltainen naiskeskeisyys on harvinnaista ja Turtschaninoff kirjoittaa sen loistavasti tarinaan, feminismi on läsnä muttei hyökkää vaan toteaa.
dnf
July 8, 2019Dunno why this is YA when the people get older, it is really rapey, and ugh some of the people. DNF
I still think Arra one of the best book I have read and that one should get translated!
I still think Arra one of the best book I have read and that one should get translated!
July 4, 2024
i hate men
September 4, 2017
"Anji schenkt leven en voorspoed, als je haar water op het juiste moment gebruikt." ~ p35.
Wat een prachtig verhaal!! Ik vind het gewoon jammer dat hij alweer uit is. Ik ben echt door de pagina's heen gevlogen, en elke letter opgezogen alsof het de laatste was....
"Ik was dan van andersmans dromen af, maar die van mezelf waren ook niet fraai." ~ p155.
Naondel is het tweede deel uit de Kronieken van het Rode Klooster en verteld het verhaal van de Oerzusters. Je leest de memoires opgeschreven door de vrouwen zelf, opdat de herinneringen nooit vergeten zullen worden. Een verhaal van 8 sterke vrouwen, wiens levens onlosmakelijk met elkaar zijn verbonden, of ze nu willen of niet, alle gevangen door de macht van één man, Iskan. Je leest hoe de sterkte vrouwen gebroken worden, hoe ze hun eigen krachten verliezen, hoe verdriet hun leven tekent, maar ook hoe sterk zij uiteindelijk blijken te zijn. Echt een prachtig verhaal die mijnsinziens de YA is ontgroeid en zich gevormd heeft tot een prachtige roman. Ik heb genoten van elk verhaal van de vrouwen en de manier waarop zij zijn samengekomen tot 1 verhaal. Turtschaninoff heeft zich in dit tweede deel echt overtroffen door een prachtige geschiedenis neer te zetten van de vrouwen die je in het eerste deel slechts oppervlakkig heb leren kennen.
"Ze was niet zo moedig dat ze haar dood met open ogen tegemoed kon treden." ~ p289.
Echt een dikke 5 sterren voor dit prachtige boek. En ik hoop echt dat er nog vele verhalen zullen volgen van deze auteur. Haar manier van schrijven neemt je mee alsof je er zelf bij bent en er vanaf een afstand naar mag kijken. De manier waarop zij de emoties van personages kan omschrijven, maken dat je voelt wat je leest. Echt heerlijk!!!
Wat een prachtig verhaal!! Ik vind het gewoon jammer dat hij alweer uit is. Ik ben echt door de pagina's heen gevlogen, en elke letter opgezogen alsof het de laatste was....
"Ik was dan van andersmans dromen af, maar die van mezelf waren ook niet fraai." ~ p155.
Naondel is het tweede deel uit de Kronieken van het Rode Klooster en verteld het verhaal van de Oerzusters. Je leest de memoires opgeschreven door de vrouwen zelf, opdat de herinneringen nooit vergeten zullen worden. Een verhaal van 8 sterke vrouwen, wiens levens onlosmakelijk met elkaar zijn verbonden, of ze nu willen of niet, alle gevangen door de macht van één man, Iskan. Je leest hoe de sterkte vrouwen gebroken worden, hoe ze hun eigen krachten verliezen, hoe verdriet hun leven tekent, maar ook hoe sterk zij uiteindelijk blijken te zijn. Echt een prachtig verhaal die mijnsinziens de YA is ontgroeid en zich gevormd heeft tot een prachtige roman. Ik heb genoten van elk verhaal van de vrouwen en de manier waarop zij zijn samengekomen tot 1 verhaal. Turtschaninoff heeft zich in dit tweede deel echt overtroffen door een prachtige geschiedenis neer te zetten van de vrouwen die je in het eerste deel slechts oppervlakkig heb leren kennen.
"Ze was niet zo moedig dat ze haar dood met open ogen tegemoed kon treden." ~ p289.
Echt een dikke 5 sterren voor dit prachtige boek. En ik hoop echt dat er nog vele verhalen zullen volgen van deze auteur. Haar manier van schrijven neemt je mee alsof je er zelf bij bent en er vanaf een afstand naar mag kijken. De manier waarop zij de emoties van personages kan omschrijven, maken dat je voelt wat je leest. Echt heerlijk!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews