★★★★★ this book was just SO good, I am struggling to deal with my emotions. If you haven’t read the first three books of the Medoran Chronicles, read no further! This is a non-spoiler review of Graevale but it will ruin things from the previous books!
What is the book about?
Graevale is the fourth book in the Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni, which follows Alexandra Jennings, a girl from Earth (Freya) who finds herself in a new world, similar yet so different from her home. Akarnae, Raelia and Draekora (the first three books in the series) has introduced us to the school for gifted humans, Akarnae, Meya the home of the immortal race and Draekora, the home of the dragon-esq creatures known as Draekons, but Graevale introduces us to more mortal realms as the stakes increase between Aven dal Marta and his claimed Meyarins, and the humans. Aven sits on the throne of Meya, and Alex has to continue to do everything in her power to keep her friends and the rest of the mortals out of his merciless grip. Alex takes on the seemingly impossible challenge of warning the other mortal races and getting them on board to face Aven all while spending every bit of her free time honing her fighting skills, and her mental ones with her mysterious new tutor.
Light or dark, only one can win. This world cannot survive in shades of grey.
Thoughts and Feelings
It has been a long, long time since I have shed a tear because of a book, but let me tell you - this one had me weeping. I also think it was because I was listening to the audiobook and the raw emotion in the narrators’ voice, absolutely brilliantly written and narrated. Ever since the first book, things have just gotten steadily more intense but the books haven’t lost their fun edge. Alex is still so sassy, and now that we get more Niyx and more Kaiden, the sass and the banter just keep going and we love to see it. Once again, we don’t really see that much of Jordan, Bear or DC which was a bummer because I love the vibe between the four of them - but I understand the need for Alex to interact with new people. I really enjoyed reading more about the other mortals that live in Medora, and the way that their homes are so different to the humans - whose world is pretty similar to Freya. Underwater cities that give off an Atlantis feel, humid jungle towns and opposites living in separate halves of the same city. The addition of these new locations with more insight into the races that live there was such a highlight for me, that and the cute, furry new friend Alex makes (which I guess is a way to fill the void of the absent Xira).
To those who can no longer see any light.
Resist the shadows.
Plus, getting to know more about other teachers like Caspar Lennox (the slightly vampiric teacher) and Maggie the archery instructor really cemented the fact that although Alex is still only seventeen, she is in the middle of something that will affect everyone. The stress I felt, the sadness, the humour, this book really had it all. I keep saying this, but this series just keeps getting better and better. Graevale has definitely been my favourite so far, but I have very high hopes for the final instalment. Anyway, I'll just be sobbing in the corner.