SIXTH REVIEW for ALMENDRA'S QUEST

A great and very detailed review from Emmy Foster on Goodreads:

3,5 stars from me, and a big thank you to the author, because I enjoyed this read. 

Almendra's Quest was my first introduction into Farida Mestek's Highland Court Chronicles fantastical world, and what a good one! I must admit this story surprised me in probably every way possible. Highland Court Chronicles is a true YA fantasy book. Most of the story unfolds during a journey from one fantastical place to another where MC Almendra comes face to face with mysteries, violent enemies, magical wonder and surprising friends.

When I started the story, for the first few pages I wasn't quite sure if it was labelled properly as YA and I wondered if it would have been better off as a late middle grade.....I was wrong. Not only is the MC in her late teens, and goes on a journey that a middle grade student should never realistically take on by themselves, but the story also contains a few villainous situations that might be just a bit outside of the middle grade comfort zone (this is not to say that the story is very gory, but there are one or two moments in the story where the details might be a bit too much for a young student under 10 yrs).

The reason I originally wondered about the category is because Almendra has a very playful, young and slightly naive personality which comes especially to the foreground at the beginning chapters. Throughout the book we see how come she's developed this way though, and that the themes of the story are a bit more mature. So that was surprise one for me.

Surprise two was Mestek's humorous tone, which I absolutely loved. I would probably pitch Almedra's Quest as: Harry Potter & Terry Pratchett's stories had a high fantasy hero's journey baby. I LOVED the interactions between Almedra and her animal companion Woo the wolf. I really enjoyed her excited, but cheeky nature and her passion and it was so easy to root for her from the beginning of the story till the end.

The rest of the surprises I think I'll have to leave unsaid as they have to do with the plot twists and the ending. However, I will say that throughout the first 1/3 of the book I thought I had the story quite well figured out and that knew roughly how it would end. ......I was wrong. Highland Court Chronicles had some very surprising plot twists, and I quite enjoyed the ending. I'll be looking forward to book 2 in the series.

So if I loved it, then why not 4 stars? I really missed more frequent chapter headings. The book consists of a few big parts, and I like to finish a reading session with the ending of a chapter. Because there weren't many clear chapters, I ended up either reading really big chunks in one go, or having to finish in, what felt like, the middle of a story. So that's something I would have preferred.

Another thing is that I sometimes felt like the big important moments in the story felt just a little anti-climactic. Not all of them, and the story definitely gave me 'the feels' in a good way and was immersive, but I felt like sometimes it could have done with a little longer lingering on certain moments, if that makes sense.

Sexual content: none

Coarse language: none

Violence and gore: moderate

In conclusion

My three favorite aspects of this story were:

1. The super creative, non-cliché, worldbuilding that was just done SO well, and was such a breath of fresh air;

2. The surprise plot twists in the second and third parts of the book;

3. Farida Mestek's humour that just made the tone for this story so very enjoyable.

So if you like a classic fantasy story, and the above three things sound like fun to you, then I would definitely say Highland Court Chronicles may very well be your thing!

Henry Chadderton through other people's eyes

Lady Sophia –

There is not a single woman, young and unattached, recently engaged or happily married these ten years, whose head has not been turned by the man. I declare his appearance always causes a stir in my drawing-room and all the young ladies inevitably flock towards the entrance in order to be the first to get a glimpse of his dashing person, while all the young men take a note of his carriage, his hairstyle and his attire so as to adopt them the next day. Well, I can hardly blame them. Henry Chadderton is vastly handsome, charming and witty, and his manners are excellent. He always smiles, pays compliments, tells anecdotes and dances every dance with a new partner. In fact, one hardly remembers that his father is a tradesman, for in all respects, but that of his birth, Henry Chadderton is a perfect gentleman. His fortune is large; he has several estates and the finest cottage that he inherited from his grandparents. I wish he would take one of my nieces off my hands for I have ever so many. It is a pity, though, that he prefers to spend so much time in the company of his gentlemen friends and, from what I gather, has no intention of taking a wife.

Eliza Grant – 

We grew up together, Henry and I. Henry's father has been my guardian since I turned five and I love Henry as a brother. He is the most caring, funniest and absurd person that I know. Mr. Chadderton says that he is obstinate and headstrong and only ever does what he pleases and that it was a mistake to give him so much freedom as a youth and indulge his every whim for now he is quite ungoverned. But I think that Henry is a sensible man and as such one can rely on him and trust his judgment. I always do. When I was a child he gave me riding lessons and, when his father was away, taught me how to fish and shoot, for, I dare say, my accomplishments in the latter he would disapprove of. It is a pity that once I left school I was not allowed to stay at Spencer Lodge anymore, even though Henry said that I was the only woman who would ever set foot inside the house. But Mr. Chadderton believes that now when I am out it will be highly improper if we were to live under the same roof as we are not blood relations. I do not agree, but I cannot act against my dearest guardian's wishes. He has been as much a father to me as Henry a brother and I am determined to act in such a way as would leave him in no doubt of my deepest affection, gratitude and deference. 

Emma Montford – 

Well, you shall certainly hear no encomiums from me on the subject of the illustrious Mr. Henry Chadderton. He is a commoner and a scoundrel and neither his money nor his fancy dress will change that. I was once duped by him like the rest of the world and I paid a high price of a broken heart and tears that would not dry. But I have long since availed myself of the knowledge of his true person and am thus at liberty to warn others against him, for I speak from experience rather than appearances. They say that he is a devil at cards and that he has no conscience. But his dueling skills, I've heard, are lacking and nowadays he has a weakness in the person of my brother Edward. It is beyond my comprehension in what manner he became the man's dearest friend, but I am certain that the only reason why Edward has become his friend at all was to aggravate me. He has always suffered from neglect and was always overlooked by all our friends and he must have envied my place in the family. Naturally, when Mr. Chadderton offered him his friendship, instead of refusing, he chose to accept it, knowing perfectly well how much his association with the only person who had ever snubbed me, would injure me. 

Mr. Hartley – 

I'm afraid I have made quite an exhibition of myself the other day, frothing at the mouth with pique and calling for retribution. I was not myself, having consumed a large quantity of port that was made by the Devil himself. I was all aflame with passion and could not control the imaginings of my agitated mind. Therefore, I beg you to forgive me for such an unbecoming display and forget whatever I might have said in the feverish agony that consumed me. You must not think that I am plotting against Henry and his plaything. I confess I despise Montford with all my soul and I wish him nothing but ill. However, whatever ill might befall him, it shall not come from me. You must believe me when I tell you that I am not the villain of this story. For it was not I who betrayed the most devoted and lasting of friendships. But how can I speak ill of my dear friend? How can I scheme and act against someone I consider a brother? I shall not be responsible for any blemishes that may ever darken Henry's good name! I shall not bear the blame for such treachery! I shall never turn my back on him and he will always be welcome in my home that I now share with my darling wife!

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