Review: Magonia

Title: Magonia
Author: Maria Dahvana Headley
Links:Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository.
Synopsis:

Aza Ray is drowning in thin air.

Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak—to live.

So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn’t think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.

Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who’s always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world—and found, by another. Magonia.

Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power—and as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war is coming. Magonia and Earth are on the cusp of a reckoning. And in Aza’s hands lies the fate of the whole of humanity—including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?

Review:

Magonia was one of the most unique and beautifully written books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  It was also one of the strangest, and imaginative books I have ever read. The characterisation in this novel was spectacular- all of them had their different facets, a great factor in what made them all so real.  Aza was  strong and witty, despite her struggles with the rare disease that affects her lungs; she doesn’t let that get her down – in fact, she often talks about her disease in her sarcastic and somewhat dark sense of humorous way. That’s not all there is to Aza, though, she is brave, and develops greatly throughout the book.

The premise was amazing. I loved that the fantasy was blended with the perfect amount of science and realism to make it believable, and it was all woven in such a way as to make it completely compelling.  The story was based off of mythology that was not overused in anyway, and was quite unknown amongst most people. It was completely unfamiliar to me, and I loved that. It was unique – I can honestly say that I had never heard of Magonia before this book. Combine this with beautiful descriptions and absolute creativity and you have the perfect setting.

There was a little bit of a love triangle in this book – sort of. I’ll have to be vague, so I don’t spoil 😀 – though it was done in a way that was understandable and believable, given Aza’s situation. It becomes apparent quite soon in the book that Aza is very close to her best friend, Jason, and I loved how natural and strong their relationship was.

The writing just added to the magic that was Magonia. It was amazing; elegant, gripping, and again, unique in a way that I cannot describe. You’ll just have to read it yourself to find out ;).

I absolutely loved Magonia. I can honestly say that it is not only one of the best books of this year, but one of the best books I have ever read.

Rating: ★★★★★