Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: May 3, 2022
Publisher: Disney Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fairy Tales & Folklore
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.
Maggie Stiefvater's Bravely helps mark the 10 years since Brave released from Pixar,
with this uniquely fresh take on Princess Merida set several years
following the close of the film. Stiefvater is best-known for her ability to steep readers in
age-old cultures, legends, and lore in a way that still feels accessible
and enticing for today's teen. In Bravely, the author brings her talents to
the ancient, rolling hills of Scotland, to the kingdom of DunBroch and
its fiery-headed--and fiery-tempered--Princess Merida.
After a year of traveling to see a variety of different places, Merida comes home for Christmas to face off against the ancient gods of Scotland in this magic-infused epic adventure where each step will bring Merida closer to saving the family she loves -- or losing them forever. DunBroch has fallen into stagnation, and the gods have marked it for ruin and rebirth. Merida never expected 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. Merida has one year to get her family to change or her beloved kingdom will be at the mercy of Feradach to wipe it from the face of the earth. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of three 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?
There is also a growing threat from a nearby king who wants DunBroch to kneel to him, give up one of the triplets or marry off Merida to another kingdom, and an additional promise to reach out to neighboring kingdoms and learn from them. Each of her journey's are with a member of her family. From travel with her brother Hubert where she is uncomfortable in her surroundings, to travel with her father King Fergus who discovers a village already in danger of being destroyed, and lastly her mother Elinor where Merida gets a surprise revelation about her mothers own past.
This Merida is a bit older and wiser, having lived and traveled, but still has the wild heart and stubborn nature. Her evolving relationship with Feradach, the god of destruction is complex and compelling, and I believe most readers will want more than what we get. Feradach is a very interesting character and very contradictory, too. While she's pretty much been left alone by her mother Queen Elinor, learning more about who she was before she met her father is enlightening. There's still some conflict there. She also has to put up with her devious triplet brothers (toddlers in the movie) who love antagonizing her. But the brothers are more than devious boys who love to create chaos.
Overall, I think people who watched Brave, will definitely enjoy this story. It's good getting caught up with the characters we've all seen on TV, or the movies.
