Bravely

This book is a perfect continuation of the events in the Disney movie, BRAVE. There is magic afoot as a young god whose job it is to ruin places so that rebirth can occur sets his sights on the stagnant DunBroch castle. An old goddess of growth has a special place in her heart for DunBroch, and does not want it ruined so she gets Merida involved. A deal is struck for a year to bring about change. Merida works hard to see that each family member changes on the inside. The series of events that bring about the changes feel plausible and true to the time period and the established characters from the movie.
My favorite part was the changes in Merida towards the end. In the movie, Merida is presented as so independent that finding love seems like an impossible prospect. While this is not a romance and Merida is not ready to marry by the end, she at least has found someone that is her equal, and the possibility of another story where she will be ready to marry feels likely.
Final Verdict: For part of the story, I listened to the audiobook and found it well done. There are specialized names I would not have correctly figured out without the aid of the audiobook and she sounded so much like the Merida from the movie, Brave. For fans of the movie, this is a great continuation and makes an interesting philosophical point about the need for change and self-improvement.

Absolutely loved this continuation of Merida’s story! Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater isn’t a retelling of Disney’s Brave, but a continuation, picking up a few years after the events of the movie. Merida is stuck, not changing, and so is the rest of Castle Dunbroch. They are comfortable in their routines, living their lives in a bubble, ignoring the outside world around them. Then the god of ruin comes to bring change, but a timely knock on the kitchen door sends Merida out in time to stop him. Striking a deal to save her family and home, the story follows Merida’s journey over the course of a year.

Merida is exactly as I remembered. Feisty, stubborn, and refusing to marry. Can’t say I blame her, she is still young and wants to marry for love as her parents did, not for alliance. Merida’s journey over the year is born of desperation and that leaks out and adds urgency to the plot. Merida has to show the god of ruin that her and her family, that Dunbroch itself, can change. That they all still matter to the world. The stories and legends surrounding what the god of ruin can do haunt her dreams and urge her on her journeys.

I loved her interactions with each of the triplets. Merida has traveled before, learning different customs and things along the way, but has always left her brothers behind. This time, she encourages her family to allow her to visit three different kingdoms ad take a different brother to each. It was interesting seeing how the brothers adapted to different situations. I loved Merida’s relationship with her family in the movie, and it comes out in the story strong.

But her family and kingdom aren’t the only ones that need to change. Merida herself must as well. I loved taking this journey with her. Just as Merida must prove herself to the god of ruin, their bargain says he needs to show her his magic as well. I loved this addition to the story. Seeing him through Merida’s eyes, she believes he is a monster at first, but gradually sees what ruin brings. The dynamic between them is interesting, and I loved the snippets we get from the god of ruin’s POV.

Overall, if you can’t tell, I loved Bravely. It’s an exciting adventure. The desperation to stop the god of ruin drives Merida, but it is all she learns throughout the year about her family and her home that truly makes this story great. If you enjoy fairy tales, historical fiction, and of course Merida herself, I highly recommend it.

BRAVELY is an imaginative and enthralling YA fantasy that takes place several years after the end of Brave. Merida has completed her travels and returned home for the holidays, when she uncovers something dangerous - DunBroch is being threatened by the gods, specifically by Feradach, a being particularly concerned with balance and ready to destroy everything Merida holds dear due its stagnation.

Merida uses a little luck to enter into a bargain with Feradach - she now has a year to prove that DunBroch can change. As she sets out to accomplish what seems like the impossible, she journeys to three other kingdoms to experience their lives. The journeys are sure to change DunBroch - and hopefully the plans of a god.

What I loved: This was a really enthralling story, and I loved the way the gods were presented and crafted, as well as the way that Merida fiercely cares for her family. There are some intriguing themes around change and the power and importance of change that are conveyed throughout the story. Change is really inevitable, and the story embraces it as something to be lauded.

Merida and her family are all really well characterized here with tidbits fans will know and love, but expanded into full characters. Merida's brothers particularly begin to develop in the story, and it was great getting to know them better. Merida herself is still figuring out her life, protecting her family, and forging ahead, bravely.

The world-building and mythology were really fantastic, and it was great to get to experience the other kingdoms with Merida. The story unfolds well through Merida's journey, and it was easy to get caught up in it all.

What left me wanting more: I really just wanted more, as the ending was a bit open. I still loved it, but I just want a sequel to see what happens next (this is a standalone though, but I can dream!).

Final verdict: Enthralling and imaginative, BRAVELY features compelling characters and fantastic world-building to craft a great sequel to the movie, Brave.