Maresi Red Mantle (The Red Abbey Chronicles Trilogy)

by Maria Turtschaninoff

[Jo]

2.5 Stars.

I was sent this review copy for free by Pushkin Children's Books for the purposes of providing an honest review.

Trigger/Content Warnings under spoiler tags because there are quite a few of them.

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features discussion of sex, a stillbirth, a fatal illness, death, a funeral, broken bones, extreme poverty, homeless people (including children), child prostitutes, sexual assault, off the page rape, discussion of rape, discussion of domestic violence, and murder.

Having loved Maria Turtschaninoff's previous books in The Red Abbey Chronicles, Maresi and the prequel, Naondel, I was really excited for the final installment, Maresi Red Mantle. But while it was an enjoyable read, I was disappointed on the whole.

The story follows Maresi in the two years after her return to her home in Rova after being at the Red Abbey for eight years. But with her return it is almost a return to normal, everyday life. The writing is as engaging as it has always been, but not a huge amount happens, really. Maresi is much changed from the girl she once was; she is educated, and has her own traditions and religious affinities, that are at odds with those of Rova. They think her strange and different, and an outsider, even though they are her people. Even her mother is uncomfortable around her, and dislikes whenever Maresi talks about anything to do with the Red Abbey.

And so the story goes. She helps out on her family's farm, and she tries to start up the school she returned for. However, no-one sees any reason for the children to be taught to read or count over 20. They are farmers, their children will be farmers after them, there is no other life, so what's the need? But Maresi knows so many more options are open to them if they're educated - at the very least, the joy of reading books! The feelings of the people change when her ability to read manages to get the nádor. the governor of Rova's foot of their neck, at least temporarily, and her school slowly grows. And Maresi experiences the joys of sex, and then slowly falling in love, over her two years.

And not a huge amount happens otherwise until near the end. There is some magic at times over the course of the story, and there's a sense that the story is building to something quite big, but even that was quite anti-climatic. While it is a pretty big deal, it lasts for only a few pages and then is over.

As I said, the writing is engaging, and so beautiful, so I was compulsively reading. And I did enjoy the fact that the lives of the farmers felt quite Pagan in how they followed the earth's cycles, and seemed to celebrate at least some of the same sabbats, which I have been learning about in my spiritual path. And there's even the Red Abbey's service to the First Mother and her aspects of Maiden, Mother, Crone, which is pretty much the same as the Pagan Triple Goddess.

But, overall, there just isn't a huge amount in the way of plot as with the previous two books. And it's such a shame, because I absolutely adored the first books! I kind of wish she'd stayed at the Red Abbey, to be honest. Life in Rova just wasn't as eventful. However, if you have read the previous books in the series, do read some other reviews before deciding whether or not to read Maresi Red Mantle.