Name: Ashley Wendt's review of Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
Item: Bravely
Rating: 5
Author: Ashley Wendt

Maggie Stiefvater

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.

Bravely

Emma Miller

 Hamish was terrified to do almost everything, and he did a lot of things anyway.

Every star was so bright and shimmering they they seemed as if they’d be wet to the touch.

isabella

Ashley Wendt

I am always hesitant to read novelizations and continuations of beloved Disney characters. Maggie Stiefvater knocked it out of the park with Bravely. The storyline felt true to Merida and her family. She did an amazing job of growing up Merida and her brothers after the events of the movie. We get to see more of the triplets and get insight into each one of their personalities. We get to see Merida's relationship with each of them, as well as, how her relationship with her mother & father had changed after the movie and over the years. We also get to see a new relationship bloom for Merida and one that is truly befitting of the fiercely independent, free spirited, and strong-willed girl turned young woman. Of course, all the magic and folklore and mythology of Medieval Scotland is there and a huge part of the storyline, just as in the movie, and it feels immersive in the writing. The thing I loved most about Bravely was the message of complacency, the need for humans to grow & evolve, the importance of redemption and second-chances. And there was the ending! Chef's kiss!

i really enjoyed this sequel book to brave! merida is one of my favorite disney/pixar princesses, and i’ve always wanted to know more of her story. i loved getting to read more from her, and the rest of her family! 

Lindsey Davis Blanchard 

There is a piece of me that wishes to give the book a higher score. The ideas it explores have such depth and width that it feels wrong to rate it low. Gentle destruction is such a concept that I want to rate it highly. However it’s messy. The ideas never quite solidify into what they actually want to say. It’s neither satisfying nor unsatisfying. Somehow too long and not long enough. The beginning feels like the backside of embroidery that seems to have no structure or image. Than around the middle but it begins to hint that there might be a beautiful picture on the other side. And by the end, it’s reveal is an image but an abstract one that kind of looks like something but doesn’t really. The backdrop of Brave felt wholly unnecessary considering the additions of characters like Leezie which truly knocked out the use of the property. It had its moments though. Elinor’s trip home was particularly moving. 

This book was amazing, feels really the continuation of the fill, the story is lovely and excited the characters like you would expect them to be

Dacil Perera 

Liz Griffin

“I’m a storm moving no roofs.”

I cannot imagine a better choice for an author to continue Merida’s story than the brilliant Maggie Stiefvater. Highly recommend the audiobook by Fiona Hardingham.

Hilarious at points, edge-of-your-seat suspense at others, this whimsical fairytale-like adventure is everything I hoped it would be. I burst into tears midway through chapter 41 and am probably still crying, regardless of when you read this review.

isabella &
Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

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Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater