Genre: Fantasy
Author: Maria Turtschaninoff
Year Published: 2014
TWs: Violence, Abuse, Death, SA
My Rating: 4.5/5
After visiting the icy landscapes of various parts of Finland last December, I thought to myself, ‘What is summer like here?’ We rarely ever saw the sun and everything was covered in snow. Being from a coastal city myself, I was hidden behind at least five layers of clothing while I was there, so I could not fathom the idea of sweating here (unless it was due to wearing too many thermals).
When I came across a Finnish book set on a faraway island it piqued my curiosity and I decided to give it a try. Although this book is aimed at a younger audience, I enjoyed it quite a lot. So join me as we explore the world of the Red Abbey!
‘I was taught that a woman is nothing without a man’
Synopsis (spoiler-free, always)
After enduring starvation during the Hunger Winter, 12-year-old Maresi arrives at the Red Abbey, an island exclusively inhabited by women. In this new world, women enjoy education, employment, and, most importantly, freedom from the patriarchal society she left behind. The women on the island, varying in age, share dark and sorrowful pasts that they wish to leave behind. Despite their troubled histories, Maresi finds happiness on the island and quickly adapts to life at the Abbey.
A turning point occurs with the arrival of Jai, a new girl entrusted to Maresi’s care. They form a deep friendship, but Jai carries a darker past than Maresi could have anticipated. Jai has escaped from terrible men, and her arrival shatters the peaceful atmosphere of the Abbey. The threat these men pose extends to the point of potentially destroying the Red Abbey, as they stop at nothing to reclaim Jai.
Formidable females, mysterious magic and adrenaline-pumping action await you in ‘Maresi’!
‘I believe that if you live life fearlessly, with your whole heart, then in the end you cannot fear death either’
My Thoughts
When I read the synopsis of ‘Maresi’, I was immediately reminded of a newly released movie that I’m sure you have watched. That’s right, I’m talking about the movie ‘Barbie’. The Red Abbey is a lot like BarbieLand but without the Kens.
I know you must be thinking ‘If there are no men there, is it just a testosterone hate club?’ No, they do not hate men and actually help a wounded sailor who washa up on the island. The reason men are not allowed on the island is for the safety or protection of the girls who come there.
Another reason I loved ‘Maresi’ is because, despite diverse backgrounds, the characters treated each other like sisters. They also had mystical powers and prayed to the First Mother, which essentially embodied Ariana Grande’s song, ‘God is a Woman’, and I loved that.
Secondly, the Abbey is almost entirely self-sufficient. The women there grow crops, do various menial jobs and pass on these skills to the younger girls there. They receive supplies from the mainland and are paid for by the silver they earn from the rare blood snails.
Lastly, in this book, women weren’t portrayed as ‘damsels in distress’. Not only did they deal with trials and tribulations themselves, but they also helped and supported one another, which was truly refreshing.
Happy Reading!
About the Author
Maria Turtschaninoff, born in 1977 in Helsinki, has written six fantasy novels and her first language is Finland’s Swedish. She received a Masters in Philosophy from Gothenburg University and later became a journalist in Helsinki. Her book ‘Maresi’, won the 2014 Finlandia Junior Prize. She has also been awarded the Swedish YLE Literature Prize. Other books by her include Naondel, Red Mantle and Inherited Land
Find more on her Goodreads page!