Bravely

by Maggie Stiefvater. Pub Date May 3, 2022

4.5*s. Best Enjoyed when you need a life-changing adventure.

Publisher’s Synopsis (Disney Publishing Worldwide):

“What if you had one year to save everything you loved?

ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love. 

TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences. 

THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself? 

FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER.”

My Review Synopsis:

I’ve always been a lover of the Disney/Pixar movie Brave. This novel by Maggie Stiefvater follows Merida’s journey home from abroad after the events of the movie. 

Merida returns to Dunbroch to find that nothing much has changed about her home. The people, the comfortable wear and tear, the broken down parts and pieces that all have stories with no resolution. The only thing that has seemed to be an actual change is her. Little does she know that she’s not alone in noticing that Castle Dunbroch and its occupants have resisted the flow of time. 

Late one night in the dead of winter, Merida is in the kitchen when she hears three distinct knocks on the door. She sees a figure in the courtyard that shouldn’t be there and she decides to give chase, only to discover it is Feradach, a lesser god of destruction and renewal who has his hand set on destroying Dunbroch. Luckily for Merida, the ancient goddess of creation, Cailleach, has a special interest in Dunbroch and interferes on its behalf. The princess and the god decide to strike a bargain: in one year, if Dunbroch has not experienced a significant change, he will set forth and do his work. The Cailleach requires the two of them to check in on one another’s work throughout the year, an extra task that neither wants to partake in. How are the god of destruction and the princess of Dunbroch to make this work?

Feradach is not the only one who wishes to see change at Castle Dunbroch, and a third player also makes themselves known, a slowly encroaching warrior King who is bent on Dunbroch bending the knee. Merida and her family also make a bargain with him to make inroads toward uniting Dunbroch and the surrounding lands. Merida also makes the deal to take three journeys to neighboring castles in allyship and must complete her tasks in this within the next year as well. 

As Merida sets off to create change amongst her family and the castle, with Feradach showing up as both a warden to her tasks and a thorn in her side, she pushes to find ways to enact change in her family. But is Merida ready for change? And is Feradach the enemy she wishes to make of him, or is there a greater enemy that will intertwine their fates like they never thought possible?

I honestly adored this entire novel. Merida is just as tough as a woman in her twenties as she was in her teens. A hugely enjoyable part of the book is getting to explore her character’s depths and to watching her grow into a new form of herself as she in turn watches the things around her change, whether it’s in ways she hoped or not. It’s an interesting exploration into life and becoming who we are meant to be. There is also a chaste and sweet growing of hearts that wasn’t the main plot, but was well-placed and heartfelt. 

There are so many lessons to be learned and taught through this book. I think it would be an excellent book club read for young adults and older adults alike. 

Thank you Netgalley and Disney Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for this fair and honest review.